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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: dumdumdum on Thu, 21 March 2013, 08:25:47

Title: any advice on really, really strong keys
Post by: dumdumdum on Thu, 21 March 2013, 08:25:47
hello everyone

I am new here, and I am also an ignorant peasant. So please excuse me for asking some weird questions...

I have a mechanical keyboard with Cherry black keys. I love it, but I find the keys not resistant enough. Seems as though 60g actuation is not really heavy (to me at least).

Don't get the impression that I am some muscleman. I am not. I am a standard weak nerd (weaker than the average gamer). But it may help to know that I spent many years playing the piano. Good quality pianos always have heavier keys

I'm looking to enhance my typing experience, but I think I am in uncharted territory here. Black keys are already considered more resistant than what most manufacturers are willing to produce. How can I get something better?

1) Green keys are common enough, but they are clicky and I want linear. (Those who do play the piano of course would recognize that the piano isn't clicky!)

2) Wikipedia says Dark grey or white are 80g and linear. But they seem very hard to find retail. I'm just one guy; I'm not keen to order thousands from the manufacturer just like that!

3) How to change the switches on my own? I read about soldering as though it is so easy; what's easy to an expert geeklord is very intimidating to a peasant geek like me!

4) I also need to look for something better for my space bar. I have the tendency to bottom out a lot on the space bar which annoys me. They say Cherry whites are used for space bars - well, I need something heavier!
Title: Re: any advice on really, really strong keys
Post by: vun on Thu, 21 March 2013, 08:33:12
There are superblacks, 120g if I remember correctly, but getting enough for a whole keyboard would be difficult since there's usually only one or two keys with superblacks on the keyboards that have them I think.
Title: Re: any advice on really, really strong keys
Post by: mashby on Thu, 21 March 2013, 09:39:02
I don't see any listed on 7bit's DT thread (http://deskthority.net/marketplace-f11/cherry-mx-taking-pre-orders-t2760.html), but you could contact him directly and see if he can get his hands on some.

The other alternative is to search for just the springs, but most people are going for lighter ones, so this too would be difficult.
Title: Re: any advice on really, really strong keys
Post by: Shadovved on Thu, 21 March 2013, 09:42:24
hello everyone

I am new here, and I am also an ignorant peasant. So please excuse me for asking some weird questions...

I have a mechanical keyboard with Cherry black keys. I love it, but I find the keys not resistant enough. Seems as though 60g actuation is not really heavy (to me at least).

Don't get the impression that I am some muscleman. I am not. I am a standard weak nerd (weaker than the average gamer). But it may help to know that I spent many years playing the piano. Good quality pianos always have heavier keys

I'm looking to enhance my typing experience, but I think I am in uncharted territory here. Black keys are already considered more resistant than what most manufacturers are willing to produce. How can I get something better?

1) Green keys are common enough, but they are clicky and I want linear. (Those who do play the piano of course would recognize that the piano isn't clicky!)

2) Wikipedia says Dark grey or white are 80g and linear. But they seem very hard to find retail. I'm just one guy; I'm not keen to order thousands from the manufacturer just like that!

3) How to change the switches on my own? I read about soldering as though it is so easy; what's easy to an expert geeklord is very intimidating to a peasant geek like me!

4) I also need to look for something better for my space bar. I have the tendency to bottom out a lot on the space bar which annoys me. They say Cherry whites are used for space bars - well, I need something heavier!

You sir, are not alone. I find even those buckling springs are not that resistive due to muscle fingers..........you will slowly get used to it and learn to press slightly softer

But if you are hammering on you keyboard like a piano with too much wrist motion.....you are wrong somewhere :))

P.S I play the piano btw ;)
Title: Re: any advice on really, really strong keys
Post by: badcop on Thu, 21 March 2013, 09:43:20
dark grey are linear and heavier than blacks.  7bit is selling them but its a wait to get them

plate mount
MXDARKGREYP   |  0.54|EUR|MX1A-21NN

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_MX_Dark_Grey
Title: Re: any advice on really, really strong keys
Post by: ishumprod on Thu, 21 March 2013, 09:44:40
someone told somewhere that you can replace the springs with ballpoint pen srings ( that are supercheap ) and you get ghetto superblacks that are superheavy , but sadly i dont remember the site on where to buy springs , ( but you can look aroud the forums )
Title: Re: any advice on really, really strong keys
Post by: kwago on Thu, 21 March 2013, 09:55:25
sounds like you need a board with SUPER BLACKS (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_MX_Super_Black)
Title: Re: any advice on really, really strong keys
Post by: Shadovved on Thu, 21 March 2013, 11:40:44
someone told somewhere that you can replace the springs with ballpoint pen srings ( that are supercheap ) and you get ghetto superblacks that are superheavy , but sadly i dont remember the site on where to buy springs , ( but you can look aroud the forums )

I think Halverson said that?
Title: any advice on really, really strong keys
Post by: Halverson on Thu, 21 March 2013, 11:44:29
someone told somewhere that you can replace the springs with ballpoint pen srings ( that are supercheap ) and you get ghetto superblacks that are superheavy , but sadly i dont remember the site on where to buy springs , ( but you can look aroud the forums )

I think Halverson said that?

I think someone on reddit did a more in depth study with pen springs. When I did it, it was more than a superblack, was damn deadly.

OP, I'd say try to find the linear grey switches first. If 7bit is out, could always try to find someone who has spares laying around.
Title: Re: any advice on really, really strong keys
Post by: jdcarpe on Thu, 21 March 2013, 11:45:01
Also, due to the tactile bump, MX Clears feel heavier than MX Blacks. Greys are Clears with a heavier spring. Both of those are not that hard to obtain.
Title: Re: any advice on really, really strong keys
Post by: mashby on Thu, 21 March 2013, 12:07:57
Someone is doing a GB on Reddit for MX-Grey Switches (http://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/1aq5gt/group_buy_cherry_mx_grey_switches/).
Title: Re: any advice on really, really strong keys
Post by: CommunistWitchDr on Thu, 21 March 2013, 12:20:23
As a climber a keyboard with 500g to 1kg switches would be awesome to break out any time there's a climb coming up soon. Type and train at the same time.
Title: Re: any advice on really, really strong keys
Post by: Dubsgalore on Thu, 21 March 2013, 13:38:33
i would suggest mx dark grey for a heavy linear switch

http://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/1aq5gt/group_buy_cherry_mx_grey_switches/

There are superblacks, 120g if I remember correctly, but getting enough for a whole keyboard would be difficult since there's usually only one or two keys with superblacks on the keyboards that have them I think.

i heard superblacks are 120g-150g
Title: Re: any advice on really, really strong keys
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 21 March 2013, 14:17:39
LOL, they should make a WHACK-A-MOLE keyboard -- the Ultimate Resistance Keyboard.

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: any advice on really, really strong keys
Post by: Findecanor on Thu, 21 March 2013, 15:25:32
The springs in Cherry MX Clear switches are heavier than the ones in MX Blacks.
Several people with Clear switches have changed to lighter spring, so there should potentially be Clear springs around.

Title: Re: any advice on really, really strong keys
Post by: mich on Thu, 21 March 2013, 15:41:37
Model M has quite heavy switches which are also non-linear so they feel more like a piano :)

Have you ever tried one?
Title: Re: any advice on really, really strong keys
Post by: deazncy on Fri, 22 March 2013, 00:52:46
There are superblacks, 120g if I remember correctly, but getting enough for a whole keyboard would be difficult since there's usually only one or two keys with superblacks on the keyboards that have them I think.

Holy crap, 120g? That must be heavy as hell.