Spray Painting an Apple Keyboard

[MobsterOO7]

Hey all, this is my first post at XtremeSystems.

I have decided that my next keyboard will be the Apple Keyboard (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=37D1C1AB&fnode=standard/home/shop_mac/mac_accessories/mice_keyboards&nplm=MB110LL/A). But as it is the keyboard matches none of my other stuff. I want to paint it black with a dark shade of gray. I have found a few places with helpful guides on how to do it with a standard keyboard, but this keyboard doesn't seem standard at all.

Do the keys on this keyboard come off just like standard PC keyboards do? This is the most critical part of my project.

What spray paint should I use to paint the aluminum body of the keyboard?

If I do end up painting the keys. What would you guys suggest I do about keeping the markings on the keys intact? For painting the keys I would use Krylon Fusion.

[phelan1777]

Hey all, this is my first post at XtremeSystems.

I have decided that my next keyboard will be the Apple Keyboard (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=37D1C1AB&fnode=standard/home/shop_mac/mac_accessories/mice_keyboards&nplm=MB110LL/A). But as it is the keyboard matches none of my other stuff. I want to paint it black with a dark shade of gray. I have found a few places with helpful guides on how to do it with a standard keyboard, but this keyboard doesn't seem standard at all.

Do the keys on this keyboard come off just like standard PC keyboards do? This is the most critical part of my project.

What spray paint should I use to paint the aluminum body of the keyboard?

If I do end up painting the keys. What would you guys suggest I do about keeping the markings on the keys intact? For painting the keys I would use Krylon Fusion.

First, Welcome to the asylum commonly called Xtreme Systems.

I am the unofficial greeter here :P.

As for painting Alum, since it is a metal, I would suggest using a primer to help the paint stay.

As for the paint itself, you can find types of paint @ auto body places, like Pepboys and related if you are in the US, or Wal-mart and Lowes, Home depot.

I would say look for paint designed for metal, though you can use just regular spray paint, its a matter of the look and quality of paint as well as number of coats.

As for taking the keyboard apart, I can't speak for the Apple boards, but if they are similar to standard PC boards, then it shouldn't be a hassle.

Key thing to remember if you don't know already is Key placement when you reassemble.

I painted my Saitek, though it was plastic, none the less I primed it as well to help the paint stick.

You might want to check out Apple related forums and ask around there if you can't find an answer or while waiting for a response.

[MobsterOO7]

Okay I have found that the keys do in fact come off.
http://skeltoac.com/2007/10/22/apple-keyboard-aluminum-keycap-removal/

So as far as I can see the procedure would go something like this.

-Remove keys
-Primer coat
-Dry
-Several Coats of my actual color
-Dry
-Reassemble

Are there any other tips you guys have for me?

-What about sanding? I've seen mention that if there are metal parts they should be sanded with something like 600 grit sandpaper. I've also seen that I'm not supposed to sand the plastic parts, I would assume thats just because the sandpaper would scratch too deeply.
-Just one coat of primer?
-I'm considering painting the keys too, any suggestions how to mask the markings on the keys? Or maybe there are really small stencils that I could get to just redo the marks?

[phelan1777]

Okay I have found that the keys do in fact come off.
http://skeltoac.com/2007/10/22/apple-keyboard-aluminum-keycap-removal/

So as far as I can see the procedure would go something like this.

-Remove keys
-Primer coat
-Dry
-Several Coats of my actual color
-Dry
-Reassemble

Are there any other tips you guys have for me?

-What about sanding? I've seen mention that if there are metal parts they should be sanded with something like 600 grit sandpaper. I've also seen that I'm not supposed to sand the plastic parts, I would assume thats just because the sandpaper would scratch too deeply.
-Just one coat of primer?
-I'm considering painting the keys too, any suggestions how to mask the markings on the keys? Or maybe there are really small stencils that I could get to just redo the marks?

Light sanding wouldn't hurt cause it would help the primer grab hold.

As for the plastic? Umm, use a little finer grit paper? At the very lease wash the pieces in warm water and some dish soap to wash off any manufacturing grease. Other then that, can't help you with marking off the keys.

[3lfk1ng]

You could always anodize the keyboard... that would be my #1 choice.

But painting the keys... I don't recommend. The paint will wear off over time and whatever matte or shine you have will fade.

To mark the keys you would have to purchase the decals online and individually apply them to each key (any slant or application that isn't perfectly straight is 100% permanent and will look absolutely shoddy)

Why not just get a Celesta Keyboard (http://www.aevoe.com/shop/moshi.asp?PDLS1=23)?

[MobsterOO7]

Thanks for the info about the sanding phelan1777. I've also heard of sanding in between coats. Is that a good idea?

3lfk1ng, if I am to paint the keys, I plan to use Krylon Fusion which apparently bonds with plastic at a molecular level. Would this still fade with use? BTW thats a very nice looking keyboard but its far too expensive for me. I was kinda worried about mucking it up if I ended up using decals.

Also, how should I go about changing the color of the cord? Spray paint may or may not flake off because of its bendiness.

[phelan1777]

Thanks for the info about the sanding phelan1777. I've also heard of sanding in between coats. Is that a good idea?

3lfk1ng, if I am to paint the keys, I plan to use Krylon Fusion which apparently bonds with plastic at a molecular level. Would this still fade with use? BTW thats a very nice looking keyboard but its far too expensive for me. I was kinda worried about mucking it up if I ended up using decals.

Also, how should I go about changing the color of the cord? Spray paint may or may not flake off because of its bendiness.

if you want to be able to shave with the reflection from your paint job, but really, a previous post made a valid point, that your paint job will get worn down with grease/oil from your hands even if you wash them a lot.

Paint it to look nice, but not worth putting to much time into it.

You could try latex paint, but ask yourself, is it really worth it?

Maybe try sleeving it, if you really want to change the color. Most don't pay attention to the cord.

[cirthix]

Consider that it's an apple keyboard, so the keys are *probably* glued down. It'd be a pita to carefully remove 100+ keys, sand them, paint them, and then reattach them, only to be worn down by continual use. Get a different keyboard.

[Justintoxicated]

Consider that it's an apple keyboard, so the keys are *probably* glued down. It'd be a pita to carefully remove 100+ keys, sand them, paint them, and then reattach them, only to be worn down by continual use. Get a different keyboard.

I second this, but if you must, I would also recommend using dye for the plastic instead of paint. Beyond that I am no help since I have never actualy bothered to use vinyl dye (but I will soon on some RC car wheels). I would not want to upset my PC using an apple keyboard, its bad enough it will likely have to put up with vista in the future ;)

Also they sell special adhesion promoter for aluminum, but I have been unable to locate it. Not sure what paint your using but on the back of my metalcast can it says to apply Adhesion Promoter CP199 first. I have no idea where to locate this stuff but I might check back to see if you find a location that does.
Your best bet if going black would be to hard annodize (HA Type III) or at least annodize the aluminum; if you can seperate just the aluminum that is.

BTW welcome to the forum.

[MobsterOO7]

Yeah the anodizing looked really cool, but the kits were way expensive and there will probably still be electronic guts on the inside of the housing.