See the insides of a Komplete Kontrol S61MK2

[EscapeRocks]

Restlessness and adhd are a bad combination for me. 
It’s been a long time since I’ve recolored an actual keyboard.  My piano shell project made me miss it. 
So out come the tools.  Let’s figure out how to disassemble #5. 
Easy. Turn it over and remove ALL the screws. Carefully lift the bottom and remove 3 ribbon cables. And remove the keybed assembly 

 

Then disconnect the two screws that hold the ground wire and set aside the bottom shell

 

FYI.  30 screws hold this together. 

Inside top shell 

 

Bottom of keybed

 

Poor guy looking sad wondering what’s next

 

Next is removing the modular boards from the top shell. 
Unlike prior projects I don’t have to worry about labels.  All the button’s labels are integral to the button.  The knob labels are on the screens

 

I’ll be using my tried and true method of Duplicolor Metalcast paint with the Metalcast base coat for plastics. They’ve come out with some new colors that really look good in that Anodized look.

 

Peace  

[Dockeys]

[Adam Burgess]

As always… look forward to seeing the results, David. Love this stuff!

[kaptainkeys]

I wonder what the color will be?  Maybe blue?

All I know is that I am excited for this!

[Joe P]

Gotta put some racing stripes on her!😎

[EscapeRocks]

1 hour ago, kaptainkeys said:

I wonder what the color will be?  Maybe blue?

All I know is that I am excited for this!

Already been done 

My VR-09

 

 

37 minutes ago, Joe P said:

Gotta put some racing stripes on her!😎

This too already has been done

May I present to you my very first projects from the waaaay back machine

 

Old Korg M50-61 painted in '70 Challenger Plum Crazy

Old Casio PX-350 painted to match my '67 SS/RS Camaro

My old Alesis Vortex version 1 painted in Hammered Copper.

 

And for the added touch I found a mini 8-Ball, that I attched to the joystick on the M50 so I could have a true 8-Ball shifter

Yeah  I'm a geek

 

 

We'll just have to wait on the color as I am still deciding.

 

Thanks for the interest!

[Joe P]

Hydro dip! 😃

[Docbop]

I wish I had the skills to do something like this.   I have a StudioLogic SL88 and saw one a guy painted his dare I say 

Nord Red, I'd like to do that.

 

 

I wonder if the people that wrap cars could wrap a keyboard???

[Jose EB5AGV]

@EscapeRocksyou don't seem to need any f* label on the keyboards 🤣

[EscapeRocks]

2 hours ago, Docbop said:

I wonder if the people that wrap cars could wrap a keyboard???

Not really.

The vinyl wrap used in automotive is not designed to adhere to non-painted surfaces, as our plastic keyboards.

 

When automotive shops go to wrap a plastic bumper cover, for example, they first prep it then paint it with a primer so the wrap's adhesive will stick to it.  It still won't last as long as wrapping a smooth metal surface

 

You can easily experiment:   Go to Autozone, or Pep Boys, or some parts place that carries various wraps and buy a small kit.  Then try it it.

[EscapeRocks]

3 hours ago, Joe P said:

Hydro dip! 😃

Yeah that'd be cool but unfortunately, NI glues the full color screen into their shell, then the shell is molded into the body of the upper keyboard shell.

 

No way to really protect it in the hydro dip vat.

It's the same with the 61 little clear plastic nodules above the keys that the rgb led's shine thru.   They are molded in.

 

I can easily tape them off for painting...

 

I love hydrodip.  I've used it for a race helmet, a hand guard for a certain pew pew thing, and some other stuff.  There's a great  facility near me

[EscapeRocks]

I really hope the dude doing this knows how all this crap goes back together, otherwise he might end up with a board permanently sending note data in the key of L#

 

Back side of the aforementioned video screens molded to the chassis.  I mean, I could get it out, but I don't feel like doing destructive work on this one like I did the PX-5S.

 

Next, time to use a non-detergent or very mild detergent dish soap like Dawn (mild) Dr. Bronner's (non detergent) to clean the surface.  Do not use any cleaners with bleach or ammonia.

 

 

Then I'll tape off the screens and backside of all the button holes, as well as the small angles strip with the key light enhancers.  I have found over the years that Frogtape multi-surface painters tape to be the best at prevent bleed thru or leak thru the edges.

 

DISCLAIMER:  I post these things as general info.  It is all based on trial and error over the years.  I've royally screwed up (and posted it many years ago when I did). etc...

What works for me, may not work for you.

I also leave out the part where I usually where a ground strap when removing the circuit boards.

I am not a pro, just someone who learns quickly.  It's why I don't take on projects like this for anyone else.  It's one thing for me to experiment on my stuff...as each keyboard project has been different, with different challenges.

 

Thanks for playing along

 

 

 

[EscapeRocks]

3 hours ago, EB5AGV said:

@EscapeRocksyou don't seem to need any f* label on the keyboards 🤣

to paraphrase actor Alfonso Bedoya in the classic film Treasure of Sierra Madre: "We have no badges. In fact, we don't need badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges,...." 

[Dockeys]

David I’m sure I asked you this on a previous mail but what do you do with any button labelling on the keyboard, buttons with text saying “enter”, “on/off” etc? Do you just paint over them and put on new ones with a stencil kit? Loving you work!

[konaboy]

can we get a few close-up shots of that fatar keybed?  the top of the keys that you don't see that's under the case, hinges etc.

great project!

[EscapeRocks]

11 hours ago, Dockeys said:

David I’m sure I asked you this on a previous mail but what do you do with any button labelling on the keyboard, buttons with text saying “enter”, “on/off” etc? Do you just paint over them and put on new ones with a stencil kit? Loving you work!

On this one, the buttons themselves have the labeling, and are lit from underneath by the circuit boards.

 

On my other projects, my brain is odd, as I just know what button does what. I never replaced labels

[EscapeRocks]

12 hours ago, konaboy said:

can we get a few close-up shots of that fatar keybed?  the top of the keys that you don't see that's under the case, hinges etc.

great project!

Here are some shots.

 

It appears the hing is at the very back. Each key as it's own spring

The circuit board buttons are under the middle of the keys

The aftertouch is at the front of the keys as far as I can tell

 

The unit is heavy, with no wiggle or slop.

 

 

 

 

 

[TommyRude]

I'm extremely confident that if I tried this, it would not end well.

 

Fortunately, for us challenged folks, we have a skilled craftsman to enjoy from a safe distance 😁

 

Following along David!

[EscapeRocks]

And we taped like a wave on the ocean, we masked

We were liars in love and we taped
Swept away for a moment by chance
And we taped and taped and taped

 

Taping is  done. Tomorrow. Paint

 

 

 

[Jose EB5AGV]

Tap, tap, taping to Heaven's door...

[EscapeRocks]

Color reveal!

 

First coats are curing.

It's a deep metallic purple.  I've done a bit of experimenting by creating a 'ghost camouflage" so to speak.    I varied the depth of the base coat coverage to allow some of the shell's black to show thru

I think it's cool.

 

There a few spots on the sides (not shown) and over the silk screen "Kontakt" labels that I need to sand down a bit and redo.  All part of the process.

 

So far so good

 

 

 

I'm going to let it cure at least overnight.

 

I've got a show tomorrow to warm up for

 

Later

[Jose EB5AGV]

You know that is close to the Pantone color of the year 2023? 🤔