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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Ritual on Sun, 04 January 2015, 13:08:27

Title: MX Blues are the same stem as MX Green just different springs right?
Post by: Ritual on Sun, 04 January 2015, 13:08:27

I was reading that MX Blues are identical to MX Greens except for the springs. Blues being lighter,  Greens being heavier.

So I was wondering if you could buy just springs to turn MX Blues into MX Greens,  and if so where would you get them?

You can replace springs without desoldering the switches right?  It's just a matter of popping off the housing?  Is that easy to do?

Title: Re: MX Blues are the same stem as MX Green just different springs right?
Post by: nubbinator on Sun, 04 January 2015, 13:12:47

You can do "ghetto Greens" with Black springs or you can get springs from something like Sprit's buys.  Zeal's site (http://zealpc.net/collections/accessories/products/18k-gold-plated-springs-100pcs) also has some of the springs from Sprit's GB.

Title: Re: MX Blues are the same stem as MX Green just different springs right?
Post by: hwood34 on Sun, 04 January 2015, 13:14:05

Yup. Opening switches without desoldering can only happen if the switch is PCB-mount. If it is in fact PCB-mount, you just have to pop two clips on the sides

Title: Re: MX Blues are the same stem as MX Green just different springs right?
Post by: ConscienceDrop on Sun, 04 January 2015, 13:17:14

the stems wont be the beautiful shade of green that reminds one of money stacks.

Title: Re: MX Blues are the same stem as MX Green just different springs right?
Post by: mozaiq on Sun, 04 January 2015, 13:17:41

It is actually pretty common to get some MX Blues and switch the springs to heavier one, most likely the springs found in MX Blacks. These switches are called Ghetto Green. Afaik there is no consent whether the springs of Greens and Blacks are identical or not. At least the result should be similar.
You can buy those switches at various shops, depending on your location. Probably cheaper though would be to get a used board and desolder the switches.
On a PCB mounted board it is possible to open switches and switch springs/stems. On a plate mounted board however this is not possible unless you have a custom plate that is specifically designed to swap switches without desoldering. Otherwise you have to desolder each switch to open it up.

Title: Re: MX Blues are the same stem as MX Green just different springs right?
Post by: Defect on Sun, 04 January 2015, 14:33:05

After buying many donor boards, I have so many extra blue stems.  And most of the old/cheap MX boards use blacks.

So "Ghetto Greens" are very easy and affordable to make, even cheaper than real greens (which can be hard to find).  You can then combine black stem with blue spring to make I guess "ghetto" reds, which are one of my favorite gaming switches.