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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Dimentio on Fri, 27 December 2013, 23:41:30

Title: Grittiness when depressing red switches?
Post by: Dimentio on Fri, 27 December 2013, 23:41:30
Hey guys,

I just have a quick question about the red switches of my new Ducky Shine 3.

I ordered this board with red switches after trying it with browns; I definitely prefer reds, but there's a little bit of a problem with them that is prevalent enough to bother me.

Essentially, it feels like when I press down a switch and when the switch returns back up, there's a "gritty" feeling, which is particularly prevalent when the key is pressed at an angle as opposed to from the center.

I had been reading that this is a fairly common thing with newer switches, but will this feeling ever go away? I've hear lubemodding mentioned many times on this site; is that a way to get rid of this gritty feeling?

Thanks!
Dim
Title: Re: Grittiness when depressing red switches?
Post by: 1pq on Fri, 27 December 2013, 23:51:47
Wearing them down with lots of use will make them a bit smoother, although lubing is probably your best bet.
Or you could just convert to topre and get rid of the scratchiness once and for all... :))
Title: Re: Grittiness when depressing red switches?
Post by: Tony on Fri, 27 December 2013, 23:53:31
I have red and I also used to have that gritty feel, but not now. You may wait for a few weeks for wear-in effects to fade
Title: Re: Grittiness when depressing red switches?
Post by: lilky on Fri, 27 December 2013, 23:56:37
They should feel better once you've broken the keyboard in...if you don't want the wait, just go ahead and lube it.
Title: Re: Grittiness when depressing red switches?
Post by: Photoelectric on Fri, 27 December 2013, 23:59:13
Some batches of switches start out quite gritty.  The best solution for that is just using your board for a while, and mechanical friction will smooth out the moving parts inside the switches.  Lubrication will help as well, but you would need to desolder every switch to be able to open them up and lubricate.
Title: Re: Grittiness when depressing red switches?
Post by: 1pq on Sat, 28 December 2013, 00:07:24
Some batches of switches start out quite gritty.  The best solution for that is just using your board for a while, and mechanical friction will smooth out the moving parts inside the switches.  Lubrication will help as well, but you would need to desolder every switch to be able to open them up and lubricate.

If you do decide to lube them you might want to get a custom plate so you don't want to desolder every time you modify the switches. Opens up lots of opportunities for easier future mods as well.
Title: Re: Grittiness when depressing red switches?
Post by: Photoelectric on Sat, 28 December 2013, 00:09:43
There is no custom plate for Ducky Shine in full size.  There are some TKL plates made for Filco TKLs and CM QFRs that allow opening switches, but I'm not certain they work with Ducky cases.
Title: Re: Grittiness when depressing red switches?
Post by: 1pq on Sat, 28 December 2013, 00:11:29
There is no custom plate for Ducky Shine in full size.  There are some TKL plates made for Filco TKLs and CM QFRs that allow opening switches, but I'm not certain they work with Ducky cases.

Oops forgot it was a ducky.
Yeah have fun desoldering all those LEDs...
Title: Re: Grittiness when depressing red switches?
Post by: tp4tissue on Sat, 28 December 2013, 00:20:00
If you lube it "now"... it will only take longer to break in...

What you should do is put about 50,000 keypresses per key into it.. THEN lube for ultra smoothness

for 26 letter keys @ a constant rate of 60 wpm that would be 72.222 hours of straight typing..

Realistically... this is around 6 months to 1 year worth of use by someone who plays typing games "everyday".. (http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/044.gif)

there is also no way to speed this up, because the leaf springs are too delicate to polish easily.
Title: Re: Grittiness when depressing red switches?
Post by: 1pq on Sat, 28 December 2013, 00:22:51
for 26 letter keys @ a constant rate of 60 wpm that would be 72.222 hours of straight typing..

hahaha

How long do you think it would take to break it in if you lubed it straight away?
Title: Re: Grittiness when depressing red switches?
Post by: tp4tissue on Sat, 28 December 2013, 00:30:36
for 26 letter keys @ a constant rate of 60 wpm that would be 72.222 hours of straight typing..

hahaha

How long do you think it would take to break it in if you lubed it straight away?

Forever..

although I thought perhaps, it'd be possible to use an oil suspended ultra fine diamond dust..

This way it may be possible to essentially polish while using..
Title: Re: Grittiness when depressing red switches?
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 28 December 2013, 02:51:34
My QFR with MX blacks felt kinda gritty to begin with.  It feels much smoother now, after nearly a year of use (on and off).
Title: Re: Grittiness when depressing red switches?
Post by: PointyFox on Sat, 28 December 2013, 03:01:29
They get smoother, but not completely smooth with use.  If you want completely smooth, find some good vintage MX Blacks or Topre.  I guess lubing could work, though I'd imagine it would wear off, considering that it wouldn't be bonded to the plastic in any way.
Title: Re: Grittiness when depressing red switches?
Post by: Suichoy on Sat, 28 December 2013, 03:58:24
I've been thinking of lubing my reds, maybe adding clear switches. The desoldering is a tall order though.
Title: Re: Grittiness when depressing red switches?
Post by: 1pq on Sat, 28 December 2013, 11:26:37
They get smoother, but not completely smooth with use.  If you want completely smooth, find some good vintage MX Blacks or Topre.  I guess lubing could work, though I'd imagine it would wear off, considering that it wouldn't be bonded to the plastic in any way.

I don't think lubing switches wears off for a while