MECHANICAL KEYBOARDS
How it all started for Salopian
Mechanical keyboards are our bread and butter. We have coated hundreds of different boards from Chinese mass market boards to high end, super rare Korean and US made end game boards.
Cerkote is the perfect application for mech boards, it adds unparalleled protection and a high end look and feel. Cerakote is far better for the environment compared to anodizing and powder / e-coating.
There are literally millions of combinations of colours, effects, applications and finishes.
The only limit is your imagination.
We won’t wax lyrical, we’ll let the photos do the talking. We can coat Polycarb, plastic/ ABS, 3D printed, alu, steel and titanium boards!
Check out our finishes page for even more inspiration.
Explore our past projects
Project
Kanada Bike / Akira themed T9
Description
Our friend Nick gave us full creative freedom to create an Akira / Kaneda Bike themed application on his Deadline Studio T9.
Top: USMC Red with black and rubbed back patina
Bottom: Graphite Black with speckle to recreate a tire effect. Stencil work reminiscent of tire side wall text
Extras: Custom stickers applied over the board with MC-161 Matte Armour Clear and MC-2200 Clear to protect and seal the patina, stickers and stencil work
Project
HHKB Pro Hybrid Graffiti Style
Description
Our friend Kris gave us full creative freedom on this HHKB with one idea in mind, GRAFFITI
Top & bottom: A custom mix of Bright White and Chocolate Brown to make a concrete-esque base with Gloss Black patina
Extras: A full custom graffiti style finish with Posca markers, front, back and sides . Sealed in with MC-2200 to make the colours really POP!
Project
Astral Cloudline V2
Description
Ryan over in Singapore commissioned 2 boards from us, the first being this beautiful Cloudline V2
Top: Cerakote Mixology - FX Betta Bue [Socom Blue base layer with 50/50 mix of FX Liberty & FX Anthracite, applied with High Gloss Armour Clear)
Bottom: Graphite Black base with a galaxy effects in Socom Blue with increasing levels of Bright white added to bring depth. FX Typhoon was speckled over the top with High Gloss Armour Clear to add a subtle but super effective colour shift stars when shifted in the light
Project
Jelly Epoch Aztec Fade
Description
Johnathan came to us with an awesome idea, custom top and fade bottom.
Top: A custom mix of Aztec Teal and Shimmer Aluminium
Bottom: Solid Copper
Extras: Blue Titanium > Crushed Orchid > Copper fade on the weight
Project
Mictlan Tofu TKL
Description
Chris came to us and asked us to fresh up his plain black Tofu TKL to match the ever awesome GMK Mictlan
Top: H series Graphite Black base layer with speckles of Aztec Teal, Prison Pink and Robin’s Egg Blue applied wet on wet
Bottom: Sunflower Yellow > Hunter Orange fade
Project
Xerox Restoration
Description
This ancient Xerox board (Made in Ireland) came in to us with years of gunk, grease and damage. We restored the board to brand new after hours of hand sanding, degreasing and flattening dents, scuffs and marks.
Top & bottom : A simple, effective coat of C-series (air cure coating) Tungsten was applied to preserve, protect and not melt in the oven as its an unknown, battle hardened plastic!
Project
Salamanders 40K TGR Jane V2 TKL
Description
Another super custom, artistic license granted custom board. Real patina and numerous effects for an incredible outcome. Callum gave us 100% total creative freedom on this board and let us cook - VULKAN LIVES!!!
Top & bottom : Graphite Black base was laid down, part baked then Green Mamba was applied over the top, part baked, rubbed back and dragged across the workshop floor, dropped and intentional, deliberate real battle damage drove in.
Extras : The bottom plate had a cracked, fiery lava finish applied. Graphite Black base, stencils applied and infilled with Hunter Orange, Ruby Red and Corvette Yellow, rubbed back to provide depth and texture. The badge was infilled with Gold, Ruby Red, Hunter Orange and Hidden White. The TGR logo was infilled with Red and a fade of Hunter Orange and Yellow applied around to resemble the glow of a Space Marines eye lenses.
The plate had a Gold base with Graphite Black misted, brushed and rubbed on for a dirty patina effect. 100% custom, 100% unique.
Project
TGR x Monokei Tomo Charity Build for Thocc Exchange
Description
Matt over at the Thocc Exchange asked us to do another TGR Tomo for a charity raffle for a great cause, St. Christopher’s Hospice. This is the 2nd Tomo we have done for them and raised over £3,000 for a great cause.
Top: A base application of Copper with Aztec Teal and Robin’s Egg Blue applied with solvents and sponges to create a patina effect
Bottom : Cerakote FX Gold was applied with High Gloss Armour Clear over a Graphite Black base (wet on wet) to create an ancient Vikingr artefact
Extras : The bottom plate had a black base layer laid down and stencils applied to create a Nordic forest landscape, Northern Lights / star effects were applied with Aztec Teal, Robin’s Egg Blue and Bright White to tie the board together. The weight had the same effect as the top of the board, bringing solid, patina, FX and stencil effects all together for a stunning finish!
Project
SingaKBD Kohaku v2 Laser Engaving
Description
This Singa was destined for something truly beautiful, laser work, simple, flat application and a little bit of metallic pop
Top & bottom : A simple application of H series Tungsten was applied
Extras : Weight, accessories and plate had an application of a mix of Robin’s Egg Blue and Aztec Teal (to match GMK Dolch accents). The weight had a beautiful laser pattern engraved over various layers to reveal the brass weight through the coating.
Project
Salopian x Cerakote UK x Proto[Typist] J-02
Description
We teamed up with Cerakote UK and Proto[Typist] to giveaway a totally custom, fully built and ready to type on J-02 board. Massive shout out to Jae for providing the board, caps and switches!
Top: Graphite Black base with Orange and Stone Grey patina sponged, solvent smeared and wiped on.
Bottom : Galaxy effect from Graphite Black, Blues, Whites and Greys with custom mix of white and orange splashes, speckles and splatters.
Extras : The pen rail has real battle damage, scratches and dents (thanks workshop floor). A hazard stripe effect was applied with a base layer of Hidden White and a custom orange mix applied; oil smears were added with Gloss Black and Stone Grey