Trying to cast with the $ynth:

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I got one knowing it was defective for $60 CAD. It's been a trying but educational piece of metal. The problem explained to me was that resin binds to the stem.

In addition to the $ynth, I bought Alumilite silicone, resin, and dye. As a college student, it was quite the dent in the wallet to get started.



I made a mold of just a keycap I pulled from my Ducky Shine 3. It's not the prettiest:





I heat up the mold in the microwave. Vigorously apply Vaseline over every inch of the $ynth, and it's the stem piece.



I mix some Alumilite Regular(Tan), equal parts, and pour it into the mold with the $ynth base in. As the liquid starts to get near the stem section, I put the stem in, and some resin overflows out. Give it a few good taps on every side to try to get the bubbles out.



Products so far:





The stems aren't forming properly, but they keep the metal stem piece stuck in the $ynth base very tightly. All the overflowed resin is tough to scrape off the metal pieces. What a pickle.





It takes over 45 minutes each time I have to scrape and pry the metal parts apart. The keycap is kinda tough to pop off, and I've damaged the bottoms of them everytime I've tried. When they pop off though, the stems are not attached, or get torn apart, with remaining pieces bonded to the $ynth.



It's hard to see in the picture, but the metal stem and the $ynth are stuck together. This is the last stage, where I can usually pull the pieces apart with ALOT of force.



Just got my hands on a $ynth from TechKeys!I got one knowing it was defective for $60 CAD. It's been a trying but educational piece of metal. The problem explained to me was that resin binds to the stem.In addition to the $ynth, I bought Alumilite silicone, resin, and dye. As a college student, it was quite the dent in the wallet to get started.I made a mold of just a keycap I pulled from my Ducky Shine 3. It's not the prettiest:I heat up the mold in the microwave. Vigorously apply Vaseline over every inch of the $ynth, andit's the stem piece.I mix some Alumilite Regular(Tan), equal parts, and pour it into the mold with the $ynth base in. As the liquid starts to get near the stem section, I put the stem in, and some resin overflows out. Give it a few good taps on every side to try to get the bubbles out.Products so far:The stems aren't forming properly, but they keep the metal stem piece stuck in the $ynth base very tightly. All the overflowed resin is tough to scrape off the metal pieces. What a pickle.It takes over 45 minutes each time I have to scrape and pry the metal parts apart. The keycap is kinda tough to pop off, and I've damaged the bottoms of them everytime I've tried. When they pop off though, the stems are not attached, or get torn apart, with remaining pieces bonded to the $ynth.It's hard to see in the picture, but the metal stem and the $ynth are stuck together. This is the last stage, where I can usually pull the pieces apart with ALOT of force.

Pics of the stem:

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Vaseline isn't the best with the $ynth! I recommend Mann Release 200!

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By putting vaseline in the bigger grooves, I can usually pull out the metal stem with ease. I think I'm using way too much though.





So the resin bonded to the stem. I just ordered some Ease Release 200, so hopefully that'll come soon. It is not cheap with shipping. Gah!





This is the synth base, resin caked all over it. Usually the stem will get stuck inside of the hole, but this time, it got stuck to the stem piece.







So the stem never attaches to the keycap, and if it does, it's not the whole thing. Is this in part due to vaseline or air bubbles?





All the dead caps



Somebody asked me for pictures of my process after it cures.By putting vaseline in the bigger grooves, I can usually pull out the metal stem with ease. I think I'm using way too much though.So the resin bonded to the stem. I just ordered some Ease Release 200, so hopefully that'll come soon. It is not cheap with shipping. Gah!This is the synth base, resin caked all over it. Usually the stem will get stuck inside of the hole, but this time, it got stuck to the stem piece.So the stem never attaches to the keycap, and if it does, it's not the whole thing. Is this in part due to vaseline or air bubbles?All the dead caps

Still trying to perfect the stems with Vaseline, as you can see, it does not work the best:

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I'm inching closer to a full stem. Not quite there.

Got a cheap pressure pot, but it's not being used until I can source a real quiet air compressor

The pot has been changed drastically, I removed a lot of unnecessary parts and it holds pressure with a slow leak:

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When I bought it, there were wheels on it, the stir stick, and the siphon.

I found a 1/4 cap, 3/8 cap, and a washer. I removed the wheels, heated up the siphon with a butane torch and took it apart.

For the stir stick/agitator, I pushed the stir stick up, so it is touching the ceiling of the lid. I used seal all to between them, as well as on top of the lid with the washer.



Two regulators.

Pressure relief on the left attached to the left regulator using an L. Air compressor inlet is between the two regulators. 1/4 cap on the right L attached to the right regulator.





Shot of the back of the lid. You can see another relief valve, Where the compressor attaches, and the other cap, which is a 3/8. Teflon taped everything that had to be screwed in.





I used Seal-All to seal everything. The rod can still spin if I twist it.





Picture of the rod pushed further upwards. There is also an air-relief.





Picture of the whole thing. Came from Dan-Am apparently? Looks exactly like a grizzly one. The guy was selling Bink's pots too, but I was not a fan of the wing nuts, reminded me of the harbor freight ones.





Bought a pressure pot for cheap locally!When I bought it, there were wheels on it, the stir stick, and the siphon.I found a 1/4 cap, 3/8 cap, and a washer. I removed the wheels, heated up the siphon with a butane torch and took it apart.For the stir stick/agitator, I pushed the stir stick up, so it is touching the ceiling of the lid. I used seal all to between them, as well as on top of the lid with the washer.Two regulators.Pressure relief on the left attached to the left regulator using an L. Air compressor inlet is between the two regulators. 1/4 cap on the right L attached to the right regulator.Shot of the back of the lid. You can see another relief valve, Where the compressor attaches, and the other cap, which is a 3/8. Teflon taped everything that had to be screwed in.I used Seal-All to seal everything. The rod can still spin if I twist it.Picture of the rod pushed further upwards. There is also an air-relief.Picture of the whole thing. Came from Dan-Am apparently? Looks exactly like a grizzly one. The guy was selling Bink's pots too, but I was not a fan of the wing nuts, reminded me of the harbor freight ones.

Li-Chee the Space Hound Sculpt:

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Here is another picture of it with a beard:



Used Super Sculpey Firm, heatgun to harden parts.



Li-Chee, a Space Hound from a distant galaxy, was left estranged by his Alien owner on a planet known to us as Earth. Fending for himself in the fierce African jungles, he has made a reputation for himself as one of the toughest beasts.Here is another picture of it with a beard:Used Super Sculpey Firm, heatgun to harden parts.

Jungle King:

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Been toying with my cast of "Jungle King." Using Alumilite Tan. Got Mold Release 200, totally fixed my stem problem entirely. Found out the metal stem piece of the synth is a bit oversized, so there is slight wobble when it sits on the keyboard. I sanded the crucifix just a smidge where it needed, sits a lot more snug now, still not perfect though.

Yknib the Orc:

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Yknib the Gate. Sold to the fighting pits as a young child, Yknib grew up surrounded by savagery. After several years of survival, he grew accustomed to pain. Grimacing at the wounds inflicted upon him, he rains down with his iron gauntlets unto his foes. Nobody ever gets by him.











Got Apoxie, love it but I hate it at the same time. Way too sticky and soft compared to Sculpey Firm, yet it is way nicer to handle when hardened. Sculpted this orc named Yknib!Yknib the Gate. Sold to the fighting pits as a young child, Yknib grew up surrounded by savagery. After several years of survival, he grew accustomed to pain. Grimacing at the wounds inflicted upon him, he rains down with his iron gauntlets unto his foes. Nobody ever gets by him.

Jungle King Casts:

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March 23, 2017 Update

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A thing kinda thing?





Tyke the Tank





Some flowers in resin, I really like how they look with the bubbles.





Been playing around with resin and silicone some more. Spent too much money on supplies already!A thing kinda thing?Tyke the TankSome flowers in resin, I really like how they look with the bubbles.

Update: 2017-03-31 | Fractured Flower Collection

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I hope to hold a small sale, hopefully 10 good flower casts. As the process is finicky, only a select fraction of the casts will be sellable.









As there is no avoiding it without a pressure pot, I'd really love to incorporate bubbles with my style somehow, instead of making something so "negative", I am looking for ways to push it in my favour.

Love to hear what you guys think!

Hey guys! Just been practicing my clear resin casting, trying to create clean consistent casts. I've come up with my new, "Fractured Flowers" caps.I hope to hold a small sale, hopefully 10 good flower casts. As the process is finicky, only a select fraction of the casts will be sellable.As there is no avoiding it without a pressure pot, I'd really love to incorporate bubbles with my style somehow, instead of making something so "negative", I am looking for ways to push it in my favour.Love to hear what you guys think!

Update: April 5, 2017: Just pictures!

Hello!Hadekele here, with "".This is a compendium of my journey on making my own artisan keycaps. It all started browsing reddit, when I got interested in the methodology.Most of my casting is done using a v1.5 $ynth I picked up from TechKey's discounted.Just a college student selling the odd keycap...