Linear switches - The search for the ultimate smoothness

[Prelim]

Hi linear GH fellows!

vintage blacks VS retooled VS gaterons VS switch mods VS lube VS etc... what's your best achieved combo?

(please describe the switch and lube reference/mix used)

[Surefoot]

So far Gateron Ink Black, lubed. Healios are very similar (with a slightly different sound). These both above Gat Yellow, Kailh Box Dark Yellow / Black, and again these above retooled Cherry Blacks.
Once lubed the difference is subtle to non existent (this excludes the Box switches of course). The Gat Ink Blacks start by being the smoothest.

[lolafineday]

Just looking at smoothness tealios are the smoothest, but sound worse than inks

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

[chyros]

Smoothest I've tried so far is Adomax Flaretech. Stock, even.

Forget about the ****ing lube. If you have to lube it, it's ****e .

[Zylkan]

Smoothest I've tried so far is Adomax Flaretech. Stock, even.

Forget about the ****ing lube. If you have to lube it, it's ****e .

doubt...
But then again, I've only tried cherry and gats. Lube makes a huge difference in both. And I'm not even using krytox

[GlennL42]

Tealios and Adomax Flaretech are the smoothest switches I've tried so far and are very closely matched, based on my short comparison of both; at worst Flaretech is only slightly smoother than stock Tealios.

Tealios being a contact based switches yet still matching a contactless switches in itself is indicative of its smoothness really. Plus both have a similar feeling (edit: and sound) as well, probably due to the heavy usage of polycarbonate in their construction, though I could not scientifically back that statement.

[Sup]

Best linear combo i so far have tried is putting a Gateron Yellow stem and spring into a cherry housing with krytox. that sounded like heaven to type on with my Filco MJ2.

[Hyde]

To be honest smoothness was never an issue for me for linears.  Finding the perfect weight is hard.

I started with Cherry MX Red then eventually find it too light then tried MX Black and find it too hard.

I'm currently on Gateron Yellow and it's getting close but still a tiny bit too light, next up I might try Gateron Black.

Does anyone here have any experience regarding Cherry MX Nature White vs Gateron Black?

[Surefoot]

Does anyone here have any experience regarding Cherry MX Nature White vs Gateron Black?

I have both, the Nature Whites are closer to Blacks than Reds, but still a happy medium between them. Nature Whites are a bit scratchy due to the Cherry stem, i suppose one could swap a Gateron stem in there for smoothness.. Apart from that they are very pleasing in use but again im a Gat Ink / Tealios user so i might be biased.

[vafan]

Tealios and Adomax Flaretech are the smoothest switches I've tried so far and are very closely matched, based on my short comparison of both; at worst Flaretech is only slightly smoother than stock Tealios.

Tealios being a contact based switches yet still matching a contactless switches in itself is indicative of its smoothness really. Plus both have a similar feeling as well, probably due to the heavy usage of polycarbonate in their construction, though I could not scientifically back that statement.

Where do you buy Adomax Flaretech?

[Surefoot]

Where do you buy Adomax Flaretech?

Check out Chyros-san's videos from his signature.

[chyros]

Smoothest I've tried so far is Adomax Flaretech. Stock, even.

Forget about the ****ing lube. If you have to lube it, it's ****e .

doubt...
But then again, I've only tried cherry and gats. Lube makes a huge difference in both. And I'm not even using krytox

If you need lube, it's inherently a **** design, because lubricant will always have more friction than an inherently frictionless design.

Besides, let's be honest, a good switch shouldn't need so much work to make it good, if you can buy it brand-new. Factory-lubed switches deserve a bit more sympathy – but ultimately a contact-based design will never be able to compete with a GOOD contactless design in terms of smoothness. 

[GlennL42]

Tealios and Adomax Flaretech are the smoothest switches I've tried so far and are very closely matched, based on my short comparison of both; at worst Flaretech is only slightly smoother than stock Tealios.

Tealios being a contact based switches yet still matching a contactless switches in itself is indicative of its smoothness really. Plus both have a similar feeling as well, probably due to the heavy usage of polycarbonate in their construction, though I could not scientifically back that statement.

Where do you buy Adomax Flaretech?

Sorry for poor choice of wording, I didn't own any loose switches, I tested an Aorus board with Flaretech switch in a mall and made comparison between both from memory; The only source for loose Flaretech switches as of now is from Wooting themselves AFAIK

[Zylkan]

Smoothest I've tried so far is Adomax Flaretech. Stock, even.

Forget about the ****ing lube. If you have to lube it, it's ****e .

doubt...
But then again, I've only tried cherry and gats. Lube makes a huge difference in both. And I'm not even using krytox

If you need lube, it's inherently a **** design, because lubricant will always have more friction than an inherently frictionless design.

Besides, let's be honest, a good switch shouldn't need so much work to make it good, if you can buy it brand-new. Factory-lubed switches deserve a bit more sympathy – but ultimately a contact-based design will never be able to compete with a GOOD contactless design in terms of smoothness.

That makes sense. And again, I'm not really in a position to argue with you on that.
And I bet you made a lot of people curious on those switches.
Would be nice if someone else could chime in

[equalunique]

Geekmaker purple linears are very smooth and generously pre-lubed out of the box

Sent from my Ono-Sendai Cyberspace 7 using Tapatalk

[Sintpinty]

Let us discuss linear switches.

I am here. Modern cherry mx blacks are awful.

[walie]

Let us discuss linear switches.

I am here. Modern cherry mx blacks are awful.

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In what way? What other switches have you tried?

[rxc92]

I fully agree that MX Blacks are awful, and probably turned me off permanently to linear switches. I've tried all types of Topre, a few Boxes, modded Clears, all default Cherry switches, and the only one I dislike typing on are those and MX Greens.

[Riverman]

One of these days I need to try regular MX black switches.  I recently bought a Cherry G80-3494 with silent blacks with the intention of swapping out the switches with something else, but I actually like the silent blacks and plan on keeping the keyboard stock for now.  The only other linear switches I've tried are MX reds, which I hate with a passion.

[chyros]

It took a great linear switch to show me how good they can be. When I had only tried MX black and the like before, I hated them.

[Surefoot]

How good are geekmaker switches compared to Tealios and Gat Inks ?

[Hyde]

Does anyone here have any experience regarding Cherry MX Nature White vs Gateron Black?

I have both, the Nature Whites are closer to Blacks than Reds, but still a happy medium between them. Nature Whites are a bit scratchy due to the Cherry stem, i suppose one could swap a Gateron stem in there for smoothness.. Apart from that they are very pleasing in use but again im a Gat Ink / Tealios user so i might be biased.

lol ahhh ok I should look into those then.  Thanks!

[killyou]

I'm tired with chasing perfect switches. I sold Zealios v2 and Tealios v1 and now I'm using Kailh BOX Pink with lighter spring as a daily driver. Couldn't be happier. I ordered Kailh BOX Red and Brown to give them a go as they seem to be a sweet stop with the price and quality.

[Aerizu]

To be honest smoothness was never an issue for me for linears.  Finding the perfect weight is hard.

I started with Cherry MX Red then eventually find it too light then tried MX Black and find it too hard.

I'm currently on Gateron Yellow and it's getting close but still a tiny bit too light, next up I might try Gateron Black.

Does anyone here have any experience regarding Cherry MX Nature White vs Gateron Black?

Have you tried using custom spring weights? I like 63.5g on my Tealios

[phinix]

Which linear switches would be best for SA keycaps?

[rxc92]

Which linear switches would be best for SA keycaps?

 

[phinix]

Which linear switches would be best for SA keycaps?

 

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If you think it has nothing to do with it, you are wrong.

For example 45g MX red are too light for example for SA, those heavier caps feel better with heavier switches.
For example, I only used SA with MX reds, balcks and Tealios and think that tealios are a lot better than MX. maybe there is other switch that feel better than Tealios, i don't know.

I was wondering what people prefer that is why I asked.

[Sintpinty]

Which linear switches would be best for SA keycaps?

 

Show Image

If you think it has nothing to do with it, you are wrong.

For example 45g MX red are too light for example for SA, those heavier caps feel better with heavier switches.
For example, I only used SA with MX reds, balcks and Tealios and think that tealios are a lot better than MX. maybe there is other switch that feel better than Tealios, i don't know.

I was wondering what people prefer that is why I asked.

MX reds deduct accuracy.

[tp4tissue]

Cherry MX BLUE  is the smoothest switch BY FAR.

The primary reason for this is because the bulk of the slide-Action is between the nylon white click slider and the very loose blue round center stem. This produces far less friction than Red/ Black sliders where the spring leaf is always in contact with the stem.

Press an MX blue switch very slowly, it's smooth and light all the way down.

Press an MX Red/Black switch slowly, it's grindy and fricative.

[chyros]

Cherry MX BLUE  is the smoothest Cherry MX switch BY FAR.

phix'd that phor you