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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: ideus on Thu, 30 October 2014, 17:54:51

Title: Have you ever considered to use different switches depending on the key?
Post by: ideus on Thu, 30 October 2014, 17:54:51
Maybe you already have a custom keyboard with different switches for some keys. If so, it would be great if you can share some ideas, or experiences with this.
Title: Re: Have you ever considered to use different switches depending on the key?
Post by: Fnzzy on Thu, 30 October 2014, 17:58:24
I will build my Duck Viper as soon as my stabilizers arrive. I am planning clears for the alphas and numbers and blacks for the modifiers. I figured I would try it since I like pressing modifiers with linear switches a little more. I will see how it goes!
Title: Re: Have you ever considered to use different switches depending on the key?
Post by: fohat.digs on Thu, 30 October 2014, 18:12:25
I have done it a few times on Alps transplant boards when I was short on whatever "primo" switch was being used.

My recommendation would be against mixing tactile and linear unless it was just a few tactiles in certain places such as NumLock or CapsLock where you wanted notification that something had happened.

As far as weight and dampening, that is probably no big deal.

You would notice mis-matched cap configurations much more.
Title: Re: Have you ever considered to use different switches depending on the key?
Post by: BlueBär on Thu, 30 October 2014, 18:58:32
I will build my Duck Viper as soon as my stabilizers arrive. I am planning clears for the alphas and numbers and blacks for the modifiers. I figured I would try it since I like pressing modifiers with linear switches a little more. I will see how it goes!

Same here. I prefer linear switches for Ctrl, Alt & Shift since I press them down all the way. I also prefer a linear switch for the spacebar, although I don't always bottom out with it, it just feels better.
Title: Re: Have you ever considered to use different switches depending on the key?
Post by: AKmalamute on Thu, 30 October 2014, 19:04:28
So, the sliders are all clears, but:

Pinkie finger keys that are not on the home row, have 50gr korean springs, so light-browns; springs from browns under the pinkie finger proper and all ring-finger keys. The key under the forefinger, and all thumb keys (ergodox, so there's more than one) get 100gr springs.

I liked it really a lot, until the I/O expander went belly up.
Title: Re: Have you ever considered to use different switches depending on the key?
Post by: Blaise170 on Thu, 30 October 2014, 22:59:55
Many OEM keyboards have a heavier switch in the spacebar (my clears have a tactile grey for the spacebar), but I don't think that's exactly what you were asking. I considered swapping out linear switches for the WASD keys once, but then I type much more than I game so it would be really weird when I'm typing those four letters to not have the click and bump.
Title: Re: Have you ever considered to use different switches depending on the key?
Post by: Melvang on Thu, 30 October 2014, 23:25:15
If you include stem, spring, and lube combinations, I had 6 different switches at one time in the same board.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=50827.msg1114248#msg1114248
Title: Re: Have you ever considered to use different switches depending on the key?
Post by: HPE1000 on Thu, 30 October 2014, 23:29:38
For my ergo clear board I put a black switch on the spacebar because the spacebar was really sluggish and would stick. For my board with 65g blue switches I had to put a ~10g heavier spring on the spacebar because it was sluggish as well. Other than that I don't really see a point.
Title: Re: Have you ever considered to use different switches depending on the key?
Post by: bianco on Fri, 31 October 2014, 00:26:17
i mixed mine in the beginning but ended up changing all to clears with 67g springs
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Z4mnCqOxJe8/U-8gSNk893I/AAAAAAAAIeQ/jREqsYyR470/s1600/DSC01618.jpg)
Title: Re: Have you ever considered to use different switches depending on the key?
Post by: ideus on Fri, 31 October 2014, 15:26:17
Do you think heavier switches should be used for mods and space bar?
Title: .
Post by: esoomenona on Fri, 31 October 2014, 15:42:08
.
Title: Re: Have you ever considered to use different switches depending on the key?
Post by: evolveS on Fri, 31 October 2014, 15:49:13
For my Duck Eagle, all switches are blues except for a green under the spacebar and a black under the fn key. That way I can know if I'm on fn or the short rshift key.

I think the different switch on fn is helping me to adjust to a new layout, though I can't say if it will be a permanent thing yet. Personally the weight isn't the issue, but that it feels a bit strange to get tactility and then suddenly feel nothing interrupting the travel. It's just something I'm not used to. My 2¢.
Title: Re: Have you ever considered to use different switches depending on the key?
Post by: ConscienceDrop on Fri, 31 October 2014, 19:05:16
mixing tactile greys and red randomly yolo

put a cherry super black under my P key just because














jk i cant actually solder, but when i can god have mercy i will make a freak board like which has never been seen
Title: Re: Have you ever considered to use different switches depending on the key?
Post by: limitz on Fri, 31 October 2014, 19:28:12
Definitely. I'm a heavy typer from years of piano, so I actually find stock clears pleasant. I use 5 weights for my keyboard:

Pinky - 65g Clears

Ring - 70g Clears

Middle - 75g Clears

Index - 80g Clears

Thumb (spacebar) - Tactile Grey

Springs/Slider/Stabilizers lubed for all.