Matsubo Tech Blog
Painting Keychron keyboard frame with WR blue mica
Background
I bought a Keychron K6 keyboard. Out of the box, the appearance is plain — two-tone keycaps and a single red escape key on an otherwise all-dark frame. Functional, but not exciting.
While checking typing sound comparison videos on YouTube, I came across this one:
The painted frame looked so good that I decided to give my keyboard a custom paint job too.
Color choice: WR Blue Mica
WR Blue Mica is the iconic color of Subaru’s WRX STI rally cars. It’s a deep blue with metallic flakes that shifts subtly in different lighting. Subaru enthusiasts will recognize it instantly.
I chose this color because:
- The metallic blue would contrast nicely with the dark keycaps
- The red escape key would pop against the blue (Subaru rally vibes!)
- Automotive-grade spray paint is durable enough for daily use
Materials
Silicon remover
Removes oils and contaminants from the metal surface so that paint adheres properly.
Primer and surfacer spray
The frame is aluminum, so a primer is needed to give the paint something to bond to. Without it, the paint will chip off within days.
WR Blue Mica spray
The star of the show. This is the actual Subaru WRX color code in spray can form.
Clear coat
WR Blue Mica contains metallic flakes, so a clear coat is required to protect the finish and give it a smooth, glossy surface.
Total material cost was about 4,500 JPY. Since each can has enough paint for several projects, the per-keyboard cost is roughly 1,000 JPY.
Painting process
Overview
- Clean with silicon remover
- Apply primer + surfacer
- WR Blue Mica × 2 coats
- Clear coat × 2 coats
Allow 10–15 minutes of drying time between each coat.
Step 1: Primer
After cleaning the frame with silicon remover, I applied the primer + surfacer. This creates a uniform gray base for the color coat.
Step 2: Color
Two coats of WR Blue Mica. Light, even passes from 15–20 cm distance to avoid drips. The metallic flakes start to shimmer after the second coat.
Step 3: Clear coat
Two coats of clear to seal the metallic paint and add gloss.
Result
I also painted the bolt heads with black metallic paint for a cleaner look.
The contrast of the red escape key against the WR Blue Mica frame turned out great. It’s giving off Subaru rally car energy.
Happy hacking!
