Choosing custom spring weights

[jcoffin1981]

For those that build and customize their own boards, do you use multiple spring weights on one board, or different switches?  For example, because of the noisiness of space bars in general, I will often use a Silent Box Brown-  this switch
is a little stiffer and it is also quieter.  For keys that take more of a beating such as enter and backspace, do you put in heavier springs?  I'm gonna try this on my next build.  I'm putting together another board for work and will be making a few customizations. 

[suicidal_orange]

Pinkies are weak so those keys get a lighter spring, backspace (on Caps Lock) and ISO Enter included.  Using a less wobbly switch for stabilized keys or a really stiff spring or strong tactile switch on Num Lock to prevent accidental presses or silenced switches if noise is important sounds like a good idea but I've never done it.

[murasaki]

I'm collecting springs in different weights, but I've never installed different weights on the same board. I've never felt the need for it. (Maybe because I use relatively lighter springs and it's light enough for my pinky..?)
That does sound like a great idea though. I'll try that.

[Leslieann]

It's going to depend on your main sprinsg and you.

On heavier springs I had a tendency to use lighter springs on mods but as I switched to ultra light springs* I found that on most tactiles I have a tendency to trigger shift and space just by allowing a finger to brush against or rest on them so was actually having to use stiffer springs on those.

*sub 40g springs, these won't even work properly on some tactiles.

[HungerMechanic]

When you are using lighter-than-usual springs, you have to be careful building a board.

For example, Ergo Clears use lighter springs than the stock Cherry spring.

I was using particularly light 62 G 14mm TX springs for alphas. Turns out, the right-hand shift key sticks a bit on the upstroke, as 62 G is a little to weak for it.

Also, spacebar wouldn't function with the 62 G springs. Had to replace it with 65 G 14mm TX, and it's still marginal.

So an ideal 14mm TX spring Ergo Clear keyboard would use 62 G springs on all 1U keys, 63.5 G on modifiers, and 67 G on spacebar.

[Leslieann]

When you are using lighter-than-usual springs, you have to be careful building a board.

I was using particularly light 62 G 14mm TX springs for alphas. Turns out, the right-hand shift key sticks a bit on the upstroke, as 62 G is a little to weak for it.

62g is too weak for a ergo clear? Have to revisit those because I never thought of them as being all that tactile.
And good point on sticking, every switch has a minimum spring it can handle.


Also note that Cherry is now making oem Ergo Clears, but not the same way as hobbyists, they use a stiffer spring.
Also, also, changing spring weights, especially lighter, can make some switches lighter and more tactile while others only become lighter. I assume going stiffer can have a similar but inverse effect, so if you're making a big spring change you might want to ask people who have done that same switch/spring combo to make sure depending on your goals and to make sure it won't stick on slow return/upstroke. Light springs can be a bit of an adventure.

[HungerMechanic]

Yes, light springs are a bit of an adventure.

I'm using 14mm TX springs, which are considered "S" (Small). They are more gentle than Cherry 15mm springs.

62 G was considered an average weight for Ergo Clears back in the day, a bit on the light side, but they were using 15mm springs, a bit more powerful.

Honestly, the 62 G 14mm springs are fine for the 1U and most modifiers. However, the right-hand large Shift key does stick a little. Probably not the case with 62 G 15mm springs.

[If you were using 15mm springs, 62 G should be more than enough for all keys, except maybe the spacebar.]

With 14mm springs, you'd at least want to put a 63.5 G on the right-shift, and a 67 G on the spacebar, with all else being 62 G.

Ergo Clears aren't that tactile. The problem is 1. the bump size, which is more difficult to overcome on the upstroke compared with MX Brown.

2. Cherry switches are scratchy, the molds aren't as smooth as they should be. So there's more friction and resistance than there would be with a modern switch such as Naevy 1.5.

Granted, mine are lubed rather conservatively, the problem might be allieviated with the generous helping of lube that stock Cherry switches demand. I am looking forward to the official Ergo Clear switches. If they are built a bit better, they could be good to use with aftermarket springs.

[For further evidence of mid-range tactile sensitivity to spring weight, look into the JWK/Durock Penguin switches sold by Kinetic Labs. They are Durock Medium Tactiles sold without factory lube. They are said to NEED 63.5 G springs to operate properly, with 67 G on heavier keys. This has been my experience, as well. Penguins were modeled after Ergo Clears and Zealio V1, although their bump shape is different.]