I want to illuminate my keyboard because I can't see it at night and I'm not the greatest of touch typers. Plus this would look pretty awesome.

What I want to do it cut out the tiny letters/symbols on each key and I'll have backlight white LEDs that will shine through, lighting up the key.

I've got an old keyboard to fuck around with while working out the best way to do this so I can try different things. I tried a craft knife but it's extremely difficult and I end up scratching the key.

What would be the easiest way to do this? 'cause I'm lost for ideas.

A dremel with one of the fine point engraving bits?
Might make a bit of a mess but just throwing that idea out there.

Also throwing out an idea...

Acid? applied slowly enough to make the plastic thin enough to see light through?

RDP

This instructable isn't quite as elegant as your idea, but it is certainly much easier, cheaper, and can be done much quicker:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Illu...Keyboard-Hack/


To be honest, I think it would be far too time-consuming and tedious to use your method. If you want illuminated keys like you're describing, I would just buy an illuminated keyboard.

this, what you described seems very tedious, and im pretty sure it would end up getting ruined

This seems to be the easiest thing you could do. I don't think all of that work would be worth it. I'd say just get some UV reactive pens and draw over the letters and set up some LEDs to shine on them. I'd look something like this
http://metku.net/index.html?path=mod...wing/index_eng

Instead of cutting out the letters why not...

get some thinners and erase the printed letter
then get a drill with the smallest drill bit you can find
and use all off the key to make the letter out of dots.

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1153/keysej2.png

Actually not a bad idea. What would a good acid be? Something that I could get a hold of easily.

I'm gonna see what size dremel pieces I can get from my Dad's work.

The other mod was something I looked at but it's the prettiest.

Most acids don't affect plastic at all. Most keyboards are made from polystyrene or ABS, which acetone will dissolve. But it will ruin the bumpy texture.

What I'm thinking is, just apply the acetone to the letter. And dissolve through that. Might be difficult though.

I can get a litre of acetone for $8NZD if I can find a courier that would take it.