Miss Betsy's Steampunk Keyboard

Step 7 New keys

Back home with the print-outs, I had to find out that I didn't have a 15/32" punch and as much as I searched in my parts and pieces box, I saw no way of making one myself. Ordering it online was prohibitive expensive :(
With a heavy heart I decided to use the 7/16" punch and leave a small margin around the 'sticker'. In my opinion it still would look better than cutting them with scissors.
After punching all my letters and numbers out, I glued them to the inside of the button with 1 layer of cheap clear nail polish. Use your own or ask your wife if you can borrow hers. ^_- I covered my 'stickers' with 3 more layers allowing enough drying time in between. In hindsight though, I would use clear water soluble polyacryl; it has a lower viscosity (is 'runnier') and the chance of getting air bubbles is less.

Comments

[gearhead1951]

steel water pipe nipple with ID nearer to what you want cut square and sharpened with a file while spinning it with a drill motor makes a good makeshift paper punch

[darcham]

If I remember correctly, we used a hair dryer in arts & crafts (40 years ago) to remove bubbles. The same technique works great with epoxy.
I am enjoying this instructive very much and may see what I can find at the Goodwill for parts...