Thanks. So what are my options? BUdget wise it doesn't matter, I paid for Zealios I can pay for expensive linears.
Gat black inks, Oil kings, what else? For a long time I wanted Lavenders.
It's interesting that you ask this.
Because of a request on this forum, I have been investigating linears. Affordably.
I recently purchased a Gateron switch tester, which you can now get for $24 CAD:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003952485726.htmlThe JWICK tester is around $10 CAD:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004359484614.htmlI also bought some no-name Matcha Green linears, some OUTEMU silents, and WS linears.
From the Gateron sample pack:
The Gateron CAP Milky Yellow is surprisingly-good for a budget line. There's a little bit of tick and scratch, which good PBT keycaps would largely muffle, and it's nothing Cherry-level bad. They are a snappier / punchier Gateron Yellow that clacks more and has factory lube.
Ergonomically, they should be okay if you don't bottom-out too much [they have a 'snap' to them thanks to powerful spring], and benefit from a polycarb plate. [Don't get the CAP Golden Yellow, they don't sound as good.]
Then, there's the Gateron Pro Yellow, which is just a mildly-improved Gateron Yellow. They use a gentler spring, but it could use more factory lube than it does.
After testing the Ink line, I'm not sure they are factory-lubricated as much as a custom builder would want. So that leaves the Oil Kings, which have a high reputation, but I haven't personally tested.
From the JWICK Sample pack:
The JWICK Yellow and Ginger Milk are surprisingly decent. I find them to be smooth, and they don't sound scratchy. But they also don't sound like they're heavily-lubed with 205g0, which I assume is what a lot of people want.
The Ginger Milk is clackier, the Yellow still has a bit of air-whooshing sound or lube movement as the lube could be heavier than it is. JWICK Black feels and sounds a bit dry.
From personal experience, I've used builds with Gateron CAP Brown V2. They are basically CAP Yellows with a tactile stem. The Milky are okay stock. However, with hand-lubing [even if it's just the leaf-area and spring], they become quite nice. They don't need films. So minimally-lubed [3204] CAP Milky Yellows are an option.
I'm not a linear guy, so there's not much I can tell you beyond that. In your position, I would consider buying pre-lubed switches of the type you see at Loobed Switches, for example. Or I would utilize a lubing service. They could buy the Tealios or whatever. They are overpriced, but generally-agreed as being top-tier. Then they L + F. You can do all that without touching a Tealio until you receive them.
[You could also do the same thing on the cheap, ordering KTT Strawberry or whatever and a cheap lubing service. KTT are very smooth and often tight, so mediocre-lubed KTTs should be fine.]
Be sure you know what springs you want put in your linears! Gateron springs kind of suck, for example.
One other option is silenced linears. I actually kind of like them. The OUTEMU Silent Peach is very affordable, and they are kinda pre-lubed. I have been considering just putting them stock into a foamed NCR-80. That would give you a silent linear build that's just fine. No switch-modding.
So the cautious thing might be to pick up sample packs like I linked to above, plus maybe 10 oil kings if possible. And a tiny OUTEMU sample pack, which I can direct you to. That will help you make an informed decision. You could probably resell the Gateron sample pack afterwards, although I have to keep referencing mine.
[Also, if you like JWK linears, take a look a some SP Star samples. I really like their linears [Polaris Gray, Nana, etc...]. They are even usable in stock form, although you get better sound with L + F of course.]
