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Mechanical Keyboards are the big thing these days and many people especially gamers prefer mechanical keyboards because of several reasons. One of the main reasons behind the popularity of mechanical keyboards is that they are very durable and you can use them for years. However, they are also more expensive than regular keyboards. The best thing about the Mechanical Keyboards is that you can change the keycaps and put your custom keycaps to give your mechanical keyboard a unique look. In this comprehensive guide, you will learn how to select custom keycaps for your gaming Mechanical Keyboard. Let’s get started.

What are Keycaps?

Keycaps are the keys on the keyboard that we use for typing.Keycaps basically cover the switches and when we press a keycap it sends the signal to the computer to type the digit or letter on the screen. In the case of Mechanical keyboards, you can change the keycaps and replace them with your custom keycaps.

How to Determine your Keyboard Layout?

The first step in selecting your custom keycaps is to find out the layout of your mechanical keyboard. It is very important to determine your keyboard layout because it will help you know how many custom keycaps you need. There are tons of mechanical keyboards available in the market but you can categorize them into three main categories in term of their layout

 
– Full-Size Keyboards are the ones that are similar to our regular keyboards. These keyboards come with around 104 to 108 keycaps.

 

 
– TKL (Tenkeyless) Keyboards are more compact then full-size keyboards and these gaming keyboards come with 78 to 87 keys.

 

 
– Super-Compact Keyboards are also pretty popular and these keyboards come with around 61 keys.

 

Determine your keyboard layout but because the price of the custom keycaps sets varies for different layouts. You would want to make sure that you get the right number of keycaps to save some money. You can check this article to find your keyboard layout.

 

Which Keycap Material is best for your Mechanical Keyboard?

When it comes to Mechanical keyboards, there are a lot of options available in the market. You can get the wooden keycaps, metal keycaps and many more. However, ABS and PBT keycaps are the most popular options in the market.

– ABS Keycaps

ABS Keycaps are the Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene Plastic material. It is the most popular choice in the market and the majority of the computer accessories are made from the ABS material. When it comes to the Mechanical Keyboards, ABS keycaps are clicky. They are also less expensive as compared to the PBT Keycaps.

– PBT Keycaps

PBT keycaps are Polybutylene terephthalate plastic material. PBT keycaps are more expensive because they are stronger and also heat resistant. PBT keycaps are lower toned and it is ideal for those who prefer low toned keyboards.

You can go for either of the keycaps and you can pick the one according to your requirements. If you are looking for more durable keycaps then PBT keycaps are a clear choice.

 

How to determine the type of mechanical switches on your Mechanical Keyboard?

There are tons of mechanical keyboard manufacturers out there and many companies use the unique type of mechanical switches to make their product stand out from the rest of the competition. When it comes to mechanical switches, there are many types available in the market. Most common of them are Cherry MX Switches but some companies also use their own custom mechanical switches.

One way to find out the type of mechanical switches on your Mechanical keyboard is to remove the one keycap and then look for the “+” sign on the switch. If there is + sign then you will know that your mechanical keyboard has the Cherry MX Switches. However, we would also recommend checking the official website of your keyboard’s manufacturer to ensure that you have determined the right type.

How to determine the Keyboard profile of your mechanical keyboard?

Not all keyboards are made equal and they come with different profiles. Some of them have the curved backplane profile, some have contoured keys, and some have a staircase profile and some have flat or Chiclet profile.

When picking the custom keycaps, ensure that you are picking the ones which are compatible with your mechanical keyboard. You can determine the keyboard profile of your mechanical keyboard by looking at its specifications on the box or the official website. Also, when buying the custom keycaps ensure that they are suitable for your mechanical keyboard and they would fit.

 

Should I get the modifier keyset or full keyset for my Mechanical Keyboard?

Now the time is to decide whether you will go for the modifier keyset or the full keyset. Modifier keyset comes with the custom keys for the shift, ctrl, alt, and other similar buttons. In this set, you will leave the alphanumeric alone and go for the function keys. Modifier sets are very popular among gamers because they are very cheap and you get the nice splash of colors on your keyboards.

Some Gamers also prefer to only replace the WASD keys with unique colors and put the same colors on the rest of the gaming keyboard. You also have the option to go for full keyset where you will get the custom keyset for each key on your keyboard. However, Full Keyset will be more expensive.

In our opinion, Modifier keyset is more affordable and you can give a nice touch to your keyboard. You can also go for the full keyset if you have a good budget.

How do I replace the keycaps from my mechanical keyboards?

The whole process of replacing keycaps is pretty easy and you can do it without any technical knowledge. Mechanical keyboards are designed in a way that you can replace the keys without the help of any professional and you can DIY. You will use the pincer-like tool that comes with all keycap sets.

  • Disconnect your mechanical keyboard
  • Take the pincer-like tool and press it straight down on the key and pull it up to remove the keycap.
  • Voila! It is as simple as it gets.

Similarly, you can put back the new keycaps by using the same steps but this time just push the keycaps into the keyboard switch.

In our opinion, Modifier keyset is more affordable and you can give a nice touch to your keyboard. You can also go for the full keyset if you have a good budget.

Bottom line

That’s how you can select custom keycaps for your gaming Mechanical keyboard. The good keycaps can give a unique look to your mechanical keyboard. Similarly, a good gaming mouse pad will not only give a unique look to your whole gaming setup but it will also protect the feet of your gaming Mouse and Mechanical keyboard which can degrade over time if you use them on a hard surface. Our Snow Camo Extended mouse pad is designed for maximum control and speed. It can easily accommodate your gaming mouse and the mechanical keyboard. If you have any questions, please let us know in the comment section below. Also, visit our website for cool mouse pads.

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