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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Dihedral on Tue, 06 January 2015, 11:40:34

Title: MX Clear Click
Post by: Dihedral on Tue, 06 January 2015, 11:40:34
I think I would like the feel of an MX Blue with an MX Clear sized tactile bump and an MX Clear spring, or maybe slightly lighter. I imagine it would feel somewhat like a Complicated Blue Alps switch (not that I've felt complicated blues), albeit less smooth. I may however be totally wrong on this; please call me out if I am.

If anyone was able to mod this (I appreciate the difficulty in this; I assume you would have to make the bump on an MX blue larger somehow and then change the spring) then I humbly suggest the name MX Sky Blue (Because clear and blue would be a light blue; or alternatively, because the blue makes the sky and the clear makes the clouds, like Panda Clears)

Any interest in this?

Edit: Rechristened Clear Click
Title: Re: MX Sky Blue?
Post by: FrostyToast on Tue, 06 January 2015, 11:52:26
It sounds interesting, however I don't think you would be able to mod it since the click mechanism is integrated with the stem.

You could try, but you would likely get some shoddy feeling  switches that are very inconsistent.
Title: Re: MX Sky Blue?
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Tue, 06 January 2015, 12:00:05
Great idea, but nearly impossible to execute.

MX Greens are the next best thing, and they already exist.
Title: Re: MX Sky Blue?
Post by: Photekq on Tue, 06 January 2015, 12:04:49
Sky blue is already a term for vintage blues.
Title: Re: MX Sky Blue?
Post by: Dihedral on Tue, 06 January 2015, 12:16:42
Sky blue is already a term for vintage blues.

Ah. Shame, I thought that was quite clever :D

Well... open to suggestions!
Title: Re: MX Sky Blue?
Post by: Defect on Tue, 06 January 2015, 12:18:16
This would be very hard to do...you could carve a clear into two parts like with MX Blues without separating, but that would be extremely difficult.  3d printing probably wouldn't get you the results you want...especially since plastic type is limited. 

Blues with clear spring lose a lot of tactility, though the click seems to be louder.  The clear spring catches and cushions the blue click half as it breaks past the metal leaf.


Sky blue is already a term for vintage blues.

New on left; Vintage on right
(http://i.imgur.com/lt2aDkgh.jpg)
Title: Re: MX Sky Blue?
Post by: Hzza on Tue, 06 January 2015, 12:19:01
There's a dude on the bit-tech forums that has aboard with blue stems and clear springs, I think he calls them blears.
Title: Re: MX Sky Blue?
Post by: Dihedral on Tue, 06 January 2015, 13:08:48
There's a dude on the bit-tech forums that has aboard with blue stems and clear springs, I think he calls them blears.

Ah yes, but I would want a clear bump as well. Shame it probably won't be possible to mod.
Title: Re: MX Sky Blue?
Post by: FrostyToast on Tue, 06 January 2015, 13:12:42
He 9bly possible way to make this happen is to ask for Kailh to make it and show them that there is an insane amount of demand.
Even then, this is likely near impossible.
Title: Re: MX Sky Blue?
Post by: Dihedral on Tue, 06 January 2015, 13:20:39
He 9bly possible way to make this happen is to ask for Kailh to make it and show them that there is an insane amount of demand.
Even then, this is likely near impossible.

Yeah, it seems we're in a situation similar to the MX Purple stock ergo-clear - ask for a quarter million switches and we'll think about it.
Title: Re: MX Sky Blue?
Post by: Hzza on Tue, 06 January 2015, 13:24:37
Ah, I didn't see the bit about the tactile bump, apologies. And yeah, I think that would be pretty much impossible to mod yourself.
Title: Re: MX Clear Click
Post by: daerid on Tue, 06 January 2015, 15:32:50
I did this quite a few months ago.

Sky Blue / Transparent Blue was the name back then as well.

For the record, it's probably the absolute worst feeling switch I've ever tried.
Title: Re: MX Clear Click
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 06 January 2015, 15:36:23
I actually have some clicky clear switches, they are really old.
Title: Re: MX Clear Click
Post by: Joey Quinn on Tue, 06 January 2015, 15:43:43
I actually have some clicky clear switches, they are really old.

Can you add a picture? I found one and thought it was a knockoff, I think I may have lost it.
Title: Re: MX Clear Click
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 06 January 2015, 15:51:19
I actually have some clicky clear switches, they are really old.

Can you add a picture? I found one and thought it was a knockoff, I think I may have lost it.

Maybe you have this one?

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Aristotle_Cherry_MX_clone (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Aristotle_Cherry_MX_clone)

This is the only pic I've got handy

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: MX Clear Click
Post by: Joey Quinn on Tue, 06 January 2015, 15:58:19
I actually have some clicky clear switches, they are really old.

Can you add a picture? I found one and thought it was a knockoff, I think I may have lost it.

Maybe you have this one?

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Aristotle_Cherry_MX_clone (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Aristotle_Cherry_MX_clone)

Yep that's it, it felt like a stiff blue with a really lazy click. Overall just weird. Before I took the cap off I thought it was a broken blue.
Title: Re: MX Clear Click
Post by: jacobolus on Tue, 06 January 2015, 16:05:57
MX Blue with an MX Clear sized tactile bump and an MX Clear spring, [...]
I imagine it would feel somewhat like a Complicated Blue Alps switch
This mashup would be nothing like a clicky Alps switch, sorry.
Title: Re: MX Clear Click
Post by: Findecanor on Tue, 06 January 2015, 16:28:28
I actually have some clicky clear switches, they are really old.
There are also genuine vintage Cherry switches that are cloudy white and clicky: Cherry MX White (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_MX_White).
Most variations have harder springs, but there are also those with springs as light as MX Blue.

I have a bunch of practically unused Aristotle switches scavenged from a NIB keyboard. I like them in that they are more tactile than genuine blues, but I have also heard that they are not very durable.
Unfortunately, the sliders don't fit in Cherry MX housings.
Title: Re: MX Clear Click
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 06 January 2015, 16:33:37
I actually have some clicky clear switches, they are really old.
There are also genuine vintage Cherry switches that are cloudy white and clicky: Cherry MX White (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_MX_White).
Most variations have harder springs, but there are also those with springs as light as MX Blue.

I have a bunch of practically unused Aristotle switches scavenged from a NIB keyboard. I like them in that they are more tactile than genuine blues, but I have also heard that they are not very durable.
Unfortunately, the sliders don't fit in Cherry MX housings.

Yes mine are genuine cherry switches and are very light, I figured they are old whites or blues before they were blue, although they aren't nearly as clicky as modern switches.  :))
Title: Re: MX Clear Click
Post by: Dihedral on Wed, 07 January 2015, 02:01:20
Ah well. An interesting thought experiment at least.
Title: Re: MX Clear Click
Post by: Zeal on Wed, 07 January 2015, 02:18:00
What should we call the "translucent lavender-blue" then?
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd457/percycwl/1010072130f37f2496d85c7d14.jpg)
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd457/percycwl/101007213070befe7adcc877ee.jpg)
Title: Re: MX Clear Click
Post by: Oobly on Wed, 07 January 2015, 02:38:01
You could increase the releative size of the bump by shaving away some material in the dent under the bump. Would make it a little more tactile.

Or you could just use Clears and software that makes the clicks for you. Better  than the "genuine" click sound from Blues anyway, IMHO. ;)
Title: Re: MX Clear Click
Post by: GL1TCH3D on Wed, 07 January 2015, 11:32:35
You'd have to take the stem from the clears and mod it onto the cherry blues in the way that the current tactile part for the blues fits.
Title: Re: MX Clear Click
Post by: katushkin on Wed, 07 January 2015, 12:44:19
What about whites?
Title: Re: MX Clear Click
Post by: FrostyToast on Wed, 07 January 2015, 12:52:01
What about whites?

Aren't whites just heavier blues that have been dampened?
I have no idea if they are more tactile.
Title: Re: MX Clear Click
Post by: Defect on Wed, 07 January 2015, 13:01:24
What about whites?

Aren't whites just heavier blues that have been dampened?
I have no idea if they are more tactile.

Feel less tactile.  They are also pretty inconsistent.  Bought a bag...some were exactly like greens and some were a perfect quiet click.  Some seemed to have lost 90% of their click.

I was able to get some of my blues (black spring) to feel like whites...but required a lot of careful lube placement and was very inconsistent.  Overall I say less tactile than greens


Unless you're talking vintage whites.  That I know nothing about.