Bought these same molds recently. Here's how I get rid of the air bubbles at the base: after I fill the mold, place the backing on and let the extra resin spill over, I use a weight (I use a silicone popsicle stick, you can use anything else you see fit) to press down on the backing. This helps push the resin inside upwards and fill in the holes. Then I cure for 30 - 60 seconds, take the weight off, and if I still have big bubbles in the corners, I simply fill them in with more resin and continue curing. Works every time! No more air bubbles at the base of my keycaps :)
I clipped all the corners to allow air to escape more. I think used keys and put them into the molds aligning them off of that. I then drilled 4 holes to insert 4 wooden sticks to align it 100% of the time everytime. I also use a dental vibrator before i use in vacuum.
I've been thinking about buying these molds after watching a youtuber called "Mani Land" using them. She's made several sets and they looked fine. But now I'm seriously reconsidering. I don't look for frustration when it comes to my hobbies.
Either she's gotten used to the design of these molds, or she's getting them close enough for them to look good on camera like the one in my thumbnail. I'm planning a couple of projects that require me to make full keycap sets and I would never trust these molds for that.
Mani only uses UV resin thats why she control the process, also mani have the OLD version of this keycaps, where she can put the center where she wants, also sadly you get a bad batch of this new set :( !!! a good batch allow you to center the stem based on the cuts on the middle of the mold, at the 4:47 you can notice some corners, thats the way to align, also for avoid bubbles whit pressure pot and this molds, you need to overfill a little the molds.
I bought a cheap set of these (all for $15), and have been using them the way Mani does. I work in layers with UV resin. I've made very cute caps for my own keyboard, and really enjoy it as a low stress craft! If you follow her methods, your keys will turn out just fine! (Work in layers, use a heat gun or torch for bubbles, take time centering each backing piece, carefully fill your stems to avoid bubbles, etc.)
I’ve bought these and have been using them with uv resin and have getting awesome products! You just have to be patient with it, I haven’t gotten bubbles or problems with the stem
I think you should continue your Cly Tries series and show you making some sweet key caps or maybe you should try to buy a busted old console and try to fix and play on it something like that i feel like would really be sweet to see on your channel
You could use a heat gun next time to help with the air bubbles. Also if you let your resin sit for a few minutes after mixing, just to help let any air bubbles might be there pop. Just a thought
Yeah, I tried a couple of those methods with the mica and dollar caps, but it was no good. If I could reasonably overfill the mold without it draining into another chamber I'd be better off. Maybe I need to cast every key at once, but I dunno.
Great review! I was considering purchasing a set but am reconsidering now. I've nvr worked with resin before so good to know it may be a bit more involved as far as tools than I expected before I get into it. Going to search your videos now to see if you have any mold making instructional vids to maybe make my own.
I bought a set of these molds from Amazon, and have started making a keyboard. I figured out how to make the connectors perfect with no bubbles(blowdry them, use a toothpick to drip resin in, then a lighter on top). A problems I'm having is that the keys are different sizes? So I made an entire row, but there is only 1 mold that makes the low profile keycaps. The others are taller. So that means I can only make 3 keys at a time, and it takes 3 days to dry. Why are the molds different sizes?? I'm worried that the caps lock or enter keys will be tall, so I'm going to have to check to either make all tall keys or short keys. I tried sanding them shorter, but so far that isn't working for me very well. Also, I made a space bar, but it's too heavy! You can change out the springs I guess, but that seems like a pain, and I don't want to break my keyboard. I'm thinking about making my own custom mold, but I've never done that before and I'm kinda lazy. So yeah, the keys are pretty and fun to make, but the molds aren't truly molds to make functioning keycaps with right away. Ugh.
@@literallystingy2858 You're right, they really mostly take one full day. It was because I was drying them outside in the cold. And I found a map for the diff size thing. Each row has a totally different profile, ha. Still learning over here!
have you come across any key cap molds that work for you yet? i came across your video after i found these molds and made a set of key caps only to discover the mold sucks.
@@literallystingy2858 None for molds, but I did find some for basic caps on Thingiverse (I think, but it might have been a different site). I've been modifying them in my free time to turn them into molds, and I'll hopefully have a moment to test my first one soon. Things are crazy at the moment. 😅
True, I've used that method a few times. However, I'm currently testing some molds that I designed that are keyed and have reservoirs added. It's a much better experience than even using an alignment key.
@@ClyFaker ya, I use these cheap molds for UV resin keys. Quality control is non existent 50% of the time you get batches that weren’t degassed properly out of the factory mold and will embed themselves to the resin after the first cure. Mold release makes them foggy. Etsy molds are way better but they’re not same day shipped with 30 day returns lol.
@@ClyFaker thats great hahahaha i meant if youre going deeper into the hobby, be prepared tho with the components being costly yet exclusive. just keep the idea of FOMO not as important as practicality hahahaha
@@faultyyogurt9 whit this molds? mostly like 50 bucks being sincere, but ... whit a professional set of tools, between 1000 to 1500 based on where you live
Ahhh this is killing me. You’re using the mold in a wrong way. You need to remove the small part off the mold (use a knife or something) first so the air can go out instead of stuck there and become a huge air bubble.
![Lethal Company Music Video 🎵 "Follow The Orders" [VERSION A]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QeooZB4Z7RA/mqdefault.jpg)
Bought these same molds recently. Here's how I get rid of the air bubbles at the base: after I fill the mold, place the backing on and let the extra resin spill over, I use a weight (I use a silicone popsicle stick, you can use anything else you see fit) to press down on the backing. This helps push the resin inside upwards and fill in the holes. Then I cure for 30 - 60 seconds, take the weight off, and if I still have big bubbles in the corners, I simply fill them in with more resin and continue curing. Works every time! No more air bubbles at the base of my keycaps :)
noted thanks :D
I clipped all the corners to allow air to escape more. I think used keys and put them into the molds aligning them off of that. I then drilled 4 holes to insert 4 wooden sticks to align it 100% of the time everytime. I also use a dental vibrator before i use in vacuum.
I've been thinking about buying these molds after watching a youtuber called "Mani Land" using them. She's made several sets and they looked fine. But now I'm seriously reconsidering. I don't look for frustration when it comes to my hobbies.
Either she's gotten used to the design of these molds, or she's getting them close enough for them to look good on camera like the one in my thumbnail. I'm planning a couple of projects that require me to make full keycap sets and I would never trust these molds for that.
@@ClyFaker good to know. I think I'll stick with my original plan of making my own molds.
Mani only uses UV resin thats why she control the process, also mani have the OLD version of this keycaps, where she can put the center where she wants, also sadly you get a bad batch of this new set :( !!! a good batch allow you to center the stem based on the cuts on the middle of the mold, at the 4:47 you can notice some corners, thats the way to align, also for avoid bubbles whit pressure pot and this molds, you need to overfill a little the molds.
I bought a cheap set of these (all for $15), and have been using them the way Mani does. I work in layers with UV resin. I've made very cute caps for my own keyboard, and really enjoy it as a low stress craft! If you follow her methods, your keys will turn out just fine! (Work in layers, use a heat gun or torch for bubbles, take time centering each backing piece, carefully fill your stems to avoid bubbles, etc.)
I’ve bought these and have been using them with uv resin and have getting awesome products! You just have to be patient with it, I haven’t gotten bubbles or problems with the stem
I think you should continue your Cly Tries series and show you making some sweet key caps or maybe you should try to buy a busted old console and try to fix and play on it something like that i feel like would really be sweet to see on your channel
You could use a heat gun next time to help with the air bubbles. Also if you let your resin sit for a few minutes after mixing, just to help let any air bubbles might be there pop. Just a thought
Yeah, I tried a couple of those methods with the mica and dollar caps, but it was no good. If I could reasonably overfill the mold without it draining into another chamber I'd be better off. Maybe I need to cast every key at once, but I dunno.
Hit it with light heat to remove the air bubbles.
Great review! I was considering purchasing a set but am reconsidering now. I've nvr worked with resin before so good to know it may be a bit more involved as far as tools than I expected before I get into it. Going to search your videos now to see if you have any mold making instructional vids to maybe make my own.
So glad I saw this was about to buy some
I bought a set of these molds from Amazon, and have started making a keyboard. I figured out how to make the connectors perfect with no bubbles(blowdry them, use a toothpick to drip resin in, then a lighter on top). A problems I'm having is that the keys are different sizes? So I made an entire row, but there is only 1 mold that makes the low profile keycaps. The others are taller. So that means I can only make 3 keys at a time, and it takes 3 days to dry. Why are the molds different sizes?? I'm worried that the caps lock or enter keys will be tall, so I'm going to have to check to either make all tall keys or short keys. I tried sanding them shorter, but so far that isn't working for me very well. Also, I made a space bar, but it's too heavy! You can change out the springs I guess, but that seems like a pain, and I don't want to break my keyboard. I'm thinking about making my own custom mold, but I've never done that before and I'm kinda lazy. So yeah, the keys are pretty and fun to make, but the molds aren't truly molds to make functioning keycaps with right away. Ugh.
3 days to dry definitely isn’t right
@@literallystingy2858 You're right, they really mostly take one full day. It was because I was drying them outside in the cold. And I found a map for the diff size thing. Each row has a totally different profile, ha. Still learning over here!
We still are lacking a solution for good looking and sustainable symbols on the keys :(
Yay more resin videos they are cool
I'm hoping to have many more, especially since these types of projects are less time consuming than dice sets. 😅
Another great review.
Thanks. 😀
I'm really excited to try my hand at making my own custom caps.
Can you recommend some good molds?
I've used these to but most of them are uncentered and they trap air bubbles no matter what i do
have you come across any key cap molds that work for you yet? i came across your video after i found these molds and made a set of key caps only to discover the mold sucks.
Sadly this is the only style of retail molds that I've found. At this point I'm just planning to make my own at some point.
@@ClyFaker thats a bummer! are you planning on selling any molds once you make them?
@@TheNinjaPineapple Nope. Too much of a hassle. I might share the STL files on Thingiverse though.
@@ClyFaker did you find any stl files? i cant seem to
@@literallystingy2858 None for molds, but I did find some for basic caps on Thingiverse (I think, but it might have been a different site). I've been modifying them in my free time to turn them into molds, and I'll hopefully have a moment to test my first one soon. Things are crazy at the moment. 😅
i wonder what silicone keycaps would feel like...
would they feel odd?
would they absorb vibrations?
the mold is silicone not the keycap
pretty sure you didn't use enough resin to fill the gap
A better way to “key” these would be to always keep a real keycap in one of the bases so the rest will always align to center.
True, I've used that method a few times. However, I'm currently testing some molds that I designed that are keyed and have reservoirs added. It's a much better experience than even using an alignment key.
@@ClyFaker ya, I use these cheap molds for UV resin keys. Quality control is non existent 50% of the time you get batches that weren’t degassed properly out of the factory mold and will embed themselves to the resin after the first cure. Mold release makes them foggy. Etsy molds are way better but they’re not same day shipped with 30 day returns lol.
two toothpicks could key those tops in tbh
oh boy dont fall too deep into the rabbit hole
Fortunately I already have most of the gear needed thanks to my other hobbies, so it won't be as bad on my wallet as it could be. 😅
@@ClyFaker thats great hahahaha i meant if youre going deeper into the hobby, be prepared tho with the components being costly yet exclusive. just keep the idea of FOMO not as important as practicality hahahaha
how much would it cost to make a full set of keycaps with this?
@@faultyyogurt9 whit this molds? mostly like 50 bucks being sincere, but ... whit a professional set of tools, between 1000 to 1500 based on where you live
people that use these molds overfill it
also make a second channel for gaming videos i use to watch your old minecraft ones like 4+ years ago
Amazon says it's 100 dollars in shredded currency
altheamou? what?! xD, you mean outemu?
I might have stumbled that take, but I was trying to pronounce it like "ow-temu". I could still be wrong with that pronunciation though. 😅
Imagine this sold at 5below 🤣
Not gonna lie, it would be awesome if they carried some kind of decorative keycaps. They would sell out so fast though.
Also, I'm thinking of trying to make some keycaps for the keyboards I bought from Five Below. No one ever makes caps for membrane boards...
That would be amazing
@@ClyFaker I have tried doing it on membrane but with mine having close together stem makes it hard
Ahhh this is killing me. You’re using the mold in a wrong way. You need to remove the small part off the mold (use a knife or something) first so the air can go out instead of stuck there and become a huge air bubble.
I should’ve read reviews first
I’m bummed jow
You talk TOO MUCH.