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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: WhiteFireDragon on Wed, 01 February 2012, 23:03:56

Title: MX red springs with MX blue switches
Post by: WhiteFireDragon on Wed, 01 February 2012, 23:03:56
I just got my first board with MX red today, and I just love how light and smooth the switches feel. However, I also love the clicky feel of my MX blue switch. To get the best of both worlds, I plan on swapping all the springs inside my MX blue switches with the light springs from red switches. Is this a good idea? Has anyone done this before? I don't mind desoldering if I have to.

What's the cheapest keyboard I can buy to harvest red switches from?
Title: MX red springs with MX blue switches
Post by: pitashen on Wed, 01 February 2012, 23:07:33
If I am not mistaken:

mx red spring + mx blue stem = mx blue
Title: MX red springs with MX blue switches
Post by: daniel0731ex on Wed, 01 February 2012, 23:09:20
From what I heard:

Red spring = brown spring = blue spring
Black spring = white spring
Title: MX red springs with MX blue switches
Post by: Gin on Wed, 01 February 2012, 23:09:36
It will feel exactly like a blue.
Title: MX red springs with MX blue switches
Post by: pitashen on Wed, 01 February 2012, 23:13:27
guess the above confirmed my suspicion.

Unfortunately your best bet of having the best of both worlds is actually getting mx brown.
Title: MX red springs with MX blue switches
Post by: daniel0731ex on Wed, 01 February 2012, 23:14:45
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Cherry+Corporation+Switch+Wiki#Red:


"Springs are identical to Cherry Blue/Cherry Brown springs."


And also, what is your keyboard? Many keyboards have plate-mounted switches so you can't really swap the internals.
Title: MX red springs with MX blue switches
Post by: WhiteFireDragon on Wed, 01 February 2012, 23:16:06
Red and blue springs are exactly the same? :noidea:

I thought red was lighter than browns, which are lighter than blues.
Title: MX red springs with MX blue switches
Post by: daniel0731ex on Wed, 01 February 2012, 23:19:06
Quote from: WhiteFireDragon;506000
Red and blue springs are exactly the same? :noidea:

I thought red was lighter than browns, which are lighter than blues.


If you think about it, it's pretty obvious.
The additional resistance you feel is caused by the bump on the stem pushing the leaf spring in the keyswitch. Therefore the larger the bump = more force required.
And since linear switches have no bumps, it does not add any extra force feedback to your finger other than those from the spring itself.
Title: MX red springs with MX blue switches
Post by: pitashen on Wed, 01 February 2012, 23:29:03
Quote from: daniel0731ex;506003
If you think about it, it's pretty obvious.

It is not that obvious until you look at the force plots and those cheesy switch animations :P
Title: MX red springs with MX blue switches
Post by: stingrae on Thu, 02 February 2012, 00:11:14
ofcourse there is always modding the blues to browns lol
Title: MX red springs with MX blue switches
Post by: biolaser on Thu, 02 February 2012, 00:37:55
I guess the solution would be to get springs of the correct size that are even less stiff than the red/blue/brown ones. But maybe springs aren't as simple as that. I wonder if anyone has attempted a mod like that here.
Title: MX red springs with MX blue switches
Post by: slueth on Thu, 02 February 2012, 00:40:06
Quote from: WhiteFireDragon;506000
Red and blue springs are exactly the same? :noidea:

I thought red was lighter than browns, which are lighter than blues.

At least we told you before you started modding, ahahh the disappointment.
Title: MX red springs with MX blue switches
Post by: Gawkbasher on Thu, 02 February 2012, 00:42:31
What red keyboard did you end up getting? :D
Title: MX red springs with MX blue switches
Post by: WhiteFireDragon on Thu, 02 February 2012, 01:15:04
Quote from: daniel0731ex;505999
And also, what is your keyboard? Many keyboards have plate-mounted switches so you can't really swap the internals.
Both blue and red switches are Filco. Yes, they're plate-mounted, but I mentioned I'm willing to desolder both to mod it into the perfect switch.


Quote from: pitashen;505994
guess the above confirmed my suspicion.

Unfortunately your best bet of having the best of both worlds is actually getting mx brown.
I tried browns, not a fan of them. The subtle tactile bump actually makes it feel worst for me, because then it's not smooth, nor does it have enough feel/noise feedback. I just wanted something like blues, but with a lot less force. I think that would be my perfect switch.


Quote from: Gawkbasher;506115
What red keyboard did you end up getting? :D
I ended up getting the Filco 104 full size reds. The funny thing is, I bought it from lootbag and he shipped it right before he posted up his red poker in the classified. It's the poker that I really wanted and been searching for.
Title: MX red springs with MX blue switches
Post by: fossala on Thu, 02 February 2012, 01:57:47
Quote from: daniel0731ex;505987
From what I heard:

Red spring = brown spring = blue spring
Black spring = white spring


Clear and black springs are not the same.
Title: MX red springs with MX blue switches
Post by: daniel0731ex on Thu, 02 February 2012, 16:10:34
Quote from: ripster;506417
Hooke's law.


Fix'd

And yes, I checked the wiki again and both the photo and the force graph shows that white springs are stiffer than blacks.

I wonder if anyone tried to put black springs in a white stem before?