Got a batch of blacks, 110x salvaged switches from user [ Whiskeytango ]. Good guy, fast-shipper.
Separated batch (of switches) into 4 degrees of smoothness
Very smooth: 24 switches
Smooth: 31
Scratchy: 35
Very Scratchy: 20
Now, to get to the bottom of what makes a smooth/scratchy black... Is it the "vintage plastic" nonsense ?
stems from Very-Smooth switches + housing from Very-Scratchy switches= Scratchy
stems from Very-Scratchy switches + housing from Very-Smooth switches= Smooth
I swapped all 20.. same results on each..
I tore into my Ergodox.. to find out more.. (previous stems were Clears, so I can't compare certain things directly)
Swapped stems from
"Very smooth" switches into "Lesser Used keys, [], prtscn, capslock,-=\`"
_____The results was
Very-Scratchy.I then swapped stems from
"Very Scratchy" switches into Commonly used keys (E,S,T,A,I,Space, etc, etc)..
_____The result was
"Very-Smooth"Hope this is helpful for those rolling linears looking for smoothness.. It has more to due with Wear than it does with mythical vintage-blackness...
If you really want that buttery boob-cloud on a "NEW keyboard", the best way is to flip it over and rock it gently back and forth with your foot for 20 hours against some cardboard or towel
You could do it with your hand.. but... that'd be really difficult.
Do not ask me if "Very Smooth" stems were smoother in "Very Smooth" or "Very-Scratchy" housings.. I'd be lying if I gave you an answer to that... The difference would be completely unreliable...