How to maintain a frosted polycarbonate keyboard.

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[@ronbxmb]

Ryan this was so helpful man. Not sure if you're on here, but this was truly a godsend. Couldn't find anyone actually do this anywhere. Bless.

[@mirage1265]

The quality your videos maintain to be is quite incredible! Keep up the nice work man!

[@InnerCityZoo]

Ryan this was not a video to endure, this is super helpful and i periodically check back in when im cleaning up other polycarbonate boards. Thank you for making this

[@paulgrant5740]

Thanks so much for the tip, within days of building my PC mode65 there were quite a few light surface marks and I took a new dish cleaning sponge that has the green scotchbrite pad and lightly buffed it back to a perfect finish within seconds

[@karellen00]

That's a really cool feature to be able to restore the finish so easily! What's odd is that this is the first time I see someone describing this feature, despite the fact that this is not the fist polycarbonate keyboard around. I think this tells us something about Ryan's knowledge about materials and surface finishing!

[@RyanNorbauer]

Because of my history with the hobby of making replicas of sci-fi film/tv props, I've had a longstanding obsession with different approaches to surface finishing and how they interact with different materials--something that has happily proved useful in my other passion: keyboards. :)

[@krisreddish3066]

I know how to finish it and other plastic surfaces too, it must be my time painting battle mechs,... oh wait, nope a close to minimum wage job fixing cars I used to have. It must be cool to have passion, I never felt it. But I do like a comfy keyboard, I use it all the time. I like your case though. That will last a long time. In the 500 years into the future folks will find that sucker and be like, "holy crap this is a nice keyboard".

[@kandyrew]

came across this video of yours - going to give it a go on my pc moontower! thanks for the guide!

[@Goguma-]

I enjoy this.

[@winstonedwards1683]

Have you ever thought about starting an asmr channel. Your voice is so calming.

[@ReeceConrad]

now you're making me sad I didn't buy one. I'll just keep telling myself the VHS finish is the best finish :)

[@RyanNorbauer]

Well, I'm with you on that. :)

[@shynnsup8383]

So you just scratched your whole polycarbonate to make it less frosty?

[@andrestoledo9504]

Heya there Ryan, came across your keyboard through Taeha Types! just wondering what the desk is that you're using in the video?

[@gianlazzarini]

Andres Toledo I would also like to know this.

[@RyanNorbauer]

It is the Apollo Cart from Inovativ here in Los Angeles. Expensive, but I love it.

[@andytypes8271]

keyboards are cool and all, but that shirt is awesome!

[@RyanNorbauer]

Haha. You have excellent taste, my friend.

[@kelvynchan1998]

may i know what grit did you use?

[@maximbaazov]

isnt frosting it is just scratching removeing the top layer of the polycarbonate ?

[@BareSphereMass]

What type of jacket is that? (Brand or style)

[@lac29]

Hi Ryan, I was just discussing colored polycarbonate keyboard cases with someone and learned that one way it's done it essentially painting using poly specific paints. I don't know if this is the main way manufacturers do the poly coloring process and how much it penetrates the poly, but can you shed light as to your understanding of colored poly and if this video applies to them or if it may ruin colored poly cases by revealing underlying clear/white poly underneath?

[@RyanNorbauer]

Polycarbonate can have a translucent pigment mixed into the resin, in which case the method described in this video would work fine. However, you could theoretically also color polycarb by spraying on a translucent finish (what would be called a "candy" finish in the world of urethane automotive coatings), and in that case you would need to take a different approach.

[@GallagherChristie]

With the grey could you in theory polish it completely clear?

[@ohwell5761]

How do you clean polycarbonate keyboard?

[@Dinkin_Flicka]

Hey Ryan, hope all is well. I've been in the keyboard game for a couple years now, have owned a couple dozen enthusiast-grade boards, but have never given poly a chance. I've only ever purchased aluminum boards. With two kids at the house and a lot of gaming time at my desk, I've always felt I'd eventually crack it or damage it in other ways. I might drop my phone on it (which I've done a couple times now), or I might smack it with my mouse if I'm playing games (not hard, but I digress). Being that you're the expert here, can you sell me on it besides the fact that it's absolutely gorgeous? A board in question is the new Archetype Minerva that has an aluminum bottom and polycarbonate top. I know the issues with overtightening, but I'm more concerned with everyday use. I will not be displaying it, I'll be typing on it for several hours every other day. If you're able to spare time to see this and respond, I really appreciate your input.

[@incongruous4]

My pc heavy grail has pretty damn thick walls. I don't think it's fragile and has withstanded daily abuse from me for the last 4 months or so without a single scratch, crack or anything.

[@woodrowjang]

Dreaming of Polycarbonate Hhkb

[@RyanNorbauer]

Not only that, but I'm also working on polycarbonate switch plates for my hhkb housing.

[@LuisFKA]

@@RyanNorbauer Oof oof.

[@thelaughinghuy]

@@RyanNorbauer compatibility with the latest HHKB release pls? :)

[@harmonicposting]

what I'd like to know is how to make a polycarb case for myself lol

[@rrexie]

What grit were those?

[@krinkedsurface]

Hey man! This method still leaves scratches from the abrasive sponge. If you look well, the original matte (frost) finish on acrylic and polycarbonate products are just perfect, no scratches with the direction of the movement done to wear the material that’s intended to be matte, I mean: how the hell do they get this finish on the factories?? I’ve tried different chemical products and I couldn’t achieve the result. I’m starting to think they sandblast the surfaces... what do you think?

[@ella4406]

Yes it is sandblasted

[@paulgrant5740]

I used the green scotchbrite on my frosted PC mode 65 (very light marks) and I ever so lightly buffed them out and the finish looked perfect just like the unaffected areas. I'm sure if I buffed harder it would have been a different story and you would see directional scratches

[@ArsRoch]

Does this work in smoke pc

[@ignacioruizalapont7978]

So the parts aren't sandblasted fisrt? Just the high abrasive pad?

[@RyanNorbauer]

No, they are sandblasted at the factory. The abrasive pad is a way of replicating and maintaining that frosting almost as uniformly as blasting.

[@ignacioruizalapont7978]

@@RyanNorbauer Oh okay, I see. I'm curious if you know what kind of grain they use in the factory to achieve that result with polycarbonate. Thank you.

[@sasori5163]

That was a big PP

[@tobiasvl]

8:37 Ryan caught himself using the plebeian word "think" instead of "suspect", but quickly corrected himself

[@RyanNorbauer]

To be fair, those words are not semantically equivalent. One can suspect a thing to be true but not think it so.

[@reviewforthetube6485]

This didnt take out scratches I saw more scratches after lol that isnt fine enough to tske out scratches what it did is it msde more fine scratches lol almost covering up the other scratches I saw a few deep scratches turn into tons of little scratches I clearly see it

[@leathefifth]

say the word scratches again

[@paulgrant5740]

If you repeatedly go over it pressing lighter and lighter eventually all you will see is the frosting and no directional scratches