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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Vintage on Tue, 26 May 2015, 14:14:05

Title: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: Vintage on Tue, 26 May 2015, 14:14:05
I know mechanicalkeyboards used to have them but they are out of stock ATM. Messaged them months ago and they said maybe in the summer.... but have not seen anything yet. Unfortunately Gateron clears are nothing like their Cherry counterparts.


Anyone know of another source??? 7bit maybe?
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 26 May 2015, 14:21:39
My first recommendation other than mechanicalkeyboards.com is 7bit, assuming he has stock.

Alternatively you used boards with clears on ebay sometimes.

And if you plan on swapping springs anyway you can get tactile grays as the stem is the same as clears other than the color.
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: Blaise170 on Tue, 26 May 2015, 14:32:51
My first recommendation other than mechanicalkeyboards.com is 7bit, assuming he has stock.

Alternatively you used boards with clears on ebay sometimes.

And if you plan on swapping springs anyway you can get tactile grays as the stem is the same as clears other than the color.

That's something I didn't know about Grays, good to know.  :thumb:
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: wlhlm on Tue, 26 May 2015, 14:35:36
I picked up some MX Clears from sprit recently. Price as on mechanicalkeyboards.com. I don't think he has the switches in an order form, so I'd recommend PM'ing him.
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: greath on Tue, 26 May 2015, 14:39:08
I picked up some off ebay from a couple of old cherry boards. Look for a second letter of E, Q, V, or sometimes R. (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_article_numbers#Connector_and_switch_variation)
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 26 May 2015, 14:44:58
It also depends on if you want PCB mount or Plate mount.
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: Snarfangel on Tue, 26 May 2015, 14:57:15
I picked up some off ebay from a couple of old cherry boards. Look for a second letter of E, Q, V, or sometimes R. (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_article_numbers#Connector_and_switch_variation)

I just got one about a month ago on Ebay for $25 plus shipping on a G80-8113LRCUS (he was also selling some with browns). Very nice condition, too. You usually can ask the seller to pop off a cap to make sure.
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: Blaise170 on Tue, 26 May 2015, 15:11:41
I picked up some off ebay from a couple of old cherry boards. Look for a second letter of E, Q, V, or sometimes R. (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_article_numbers#Connector_and_switch_variation)

I just got one about a month ago on Ebay for $25 plus shipping on a G80-8113LRCUS (he was also selling some with browns). Very nice condition, too. You usually can ask the seller to pop off a cap to make sure.

Do note that the G80-8113 is a PCB mount board so you may have issues with some plates.
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: CPTBadAss on Tue, 26 May 2015, 15:14:31
I picked up some off ebay from a couple of old cherry boards. Look for a second letter of E, Q, V, or sometimes R. (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_article_numbers#Connector_and_switch_variation)

I just got one about a month ago on Ebay for $25 plus shipping on a G80-8113LRCUS (he was also selling some with browns). Very nice condition, too. You usually can ask the seller to pop off a cap to make sure.

Do note that the G80-8113 is a PCB mount board so you may have issues with some plates.

Why would there be issues with plates?
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: greath on Tue, 26 May 2015, 15:21:08
I picked up some off ebay from a couple of old cherry boards. Look for a second letter of E, Q, V, or sometimes R. (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_article_numbers#Connector_and_switch_variation)

I just got one about a month ago on Ebay for $25 plus shipping on a G80-8113LRCUS (he was also selling some with browns). Very nice condition, too. You usually can ask the seller to pop off a cap to make sure.

Do note that the G80-8113 is a PCB mount board so you may have issues with some plates.

Why would there be issues with plates?

My guess is he was meaning because of the nubs (which you can cut off with finger nail clippers) or the diodes (which are pretty easy to remove if you take the switch top off).
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: Vintage on Wed, 27 May 2015, 09:09:51
I am using it for a Duck Eagle on the metal plate so I assume I would need plate mount. Really interesting about tactile grays having the same stem design.
So these: http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=718  would work?



Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 27 May 2015, 09:22:05
I am using it for a Duck Eagle on the metal plate so I assume I would need plate mount. Really interesting about tactile grays having the same stem design.
So these: http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=718 (http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=718)  would work?

Those would work if you want plate mount I'm not familiar with duck boards, some PCB's even with a plate still have holes for PCB mount switches, but irregardless if you are using a plate, plate mount will work.

If you want the stock clear experience you would have to find someone selling stock mx clear springs, these show up in classifieds and even free + shipping occasionaly. But if you were going to swap different springs into mx clears to begin with then that doesn't matter as you would just swap whatever weight you prefer into the tactile grays and get the same experience.
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: VinnyCordeiro on Wed, 27 May 2015, 10:08:40
You can buy them at electronics components retailers, as Mouser (http://www.mouser.com/) or Digikey (http://www.digikey.com/), the clears code are MX1A-C1NN (plate mount switch) and MX1A-C1NW (PCB mount switch). Warning: they are really expensive there, buy only if other sources are depleted.
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: KHAANNN on Wed, 27 May 2015, 10:29:39
I bought 3 packs of tactile greys from mechanical keyboards recently, their 60g springs make them mellower clears with a more pronounced bump, comparatively, their 67g springs are more similar to the tactile grey springs

I compared the clear/grey stems, from online photos it seems the grey one is more rough, however through real life inspection, I couldn't differentiate the look or the feeling

Tactile greys look cooler too

I'm sure they will be out of stock in no time too, I'm glad I grabbed 3 packs :)
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: Vintage on Wed, 27 May 2015, 10:40:59
I am using it for a Duck Eagle on the metal plate so I assume I would need plate mount. Really interesting about tactile grays having the same stem design.
So these: http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=718 (http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=718)  would work?

Those would work if you want plate mount I'm not familiar with duck boards, some PCB's even with a plate still have holes for PCB mount switches, but irregardless if you are using a plate, plate mount will work.

If you want the stock clear experience you would have to find someone selling stock mx clear springs, these show up in classifieds and even free + shipping occasionaly. But if you were going to swap different springs into mx clears to begin with then that doesn't matter as you would just swap whatever weight you prefer into the tactile grays and get the same experience.

I bought 3 packs of tactile greys from mechanical keyboards recently, their 60g springs make them mellower clears with a more pronounced bump, comparatively, their 67g springs are more similar to the tactile grey springs

I compared the clear/grey stems, from online photos it seems the grey one is more rough, however through real life inspection, I couldn't differentiate the look or the feeling

Tactile greys look cooler too

I'm sure they will be out of stock in no time too, I'm glad I grabbed 3 packs :)
Hmmm.... Thanks, think I might try the MX Greys. I have from springs form sprit I was planning to use anyway :D
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: greath on Wed, 27 May 2015, 10:42:48
How many do you need?
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: Vintage on Wed, 27 May 2015, 10:49:02
Probably about 65-70 for a 60%. But it seems worth it to just buy 100 when buying from MK.com
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: Shanghaied on Thu, 28 May 2015, 13:59:23
And if you plan on swapping springs anyway you can get tactile grays as the stem is the same as clears other than the color.

That doesn't seem like a bad idea at all actually. But does anyone know if it is as difficult to remove caps from greys as it is from clears? I love the feel of ergo clears, but feels that I'm pulling the switch out every time I'm pulling off caps.
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: rawkus on Thu, 28 May 2015, 14:14:21
Yes, they have the same tightness as the clears
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: berserkfan on Thu, 28 May 2015, 14:20:54
There is another potential source, ME.

Just not this week or next. I hate desoldering. But eventually every board in my collection must cease to be a clears and be transformed into jailhouses.

BTW I will also be selling black stems pretty soon... another major bugbear of mine, that all makers of POS boards insist on making all their products black switches.
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: Snarfangel on Thu, 28 May 2015, 14:22:27
BTW I will also be selling black stems pretty soon... another major bugbear of mine, that all makers of POS boards insist on making all their products black switches.

They'll just make more. You'll never get caught up!
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: berserkfan on Thu, 28 May 2015, 14:30:03
BTW I will also be selling black stems pretty soon... another major bugbear of mine, that all makers of POS boards insist on making all their products black switches.

They'll just make more. You'll never get caught up!

Because I tend to buy several POS boards in one go, I have more switches than I need and the need to recoup some of their costs. But this buy-more habit has largely stopped after I realized that POS board solder pads don't get lifted that easy. It is the gaming board pads that get lifted. I don't have to worry about destroying a board while modding it, since I mod POS boards and not gaming boards.
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: greath on Thu, 28 May 2015, 14:51:19
Speaking of which Berserk,

How do you clean your old switches? I was thinking 91% iso and trying this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1DtY2VwSyY&t=1m21s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1DtY2VwSyY&t=1m21s)
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: lunr on Sun, 31 May 2015, 00:37:44
aren't greys heavier than clears? im looking for clear switches as well but i think i might just wait for mk to get in stock since im not in a rush to get them.
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: sethk_ on Sun, 31 May 2015, 00:39:23
aren't greys heavier than clears? im looking for clear switches as well but i think i might just wait for mk to get in stock since im not in a rush to get them.
Well if you get greys you can just buy springs and swap them
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: wlhlm on Sun, 31 May 2015, 03:48:54
Ask in the Free Stuff thread for springs. I'm sure people have plenty of Clear springs left (after modding with Korean springs).
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: Baxter on Sun, 31 May 2015, 08:33:13
I got a whole load from http://www.digikey.co.uk/product-detail/en/MX1A-C1NW/CH310-ND/280855 don't be fooled by the domain they ship from the US.

Pah, missed the other link to them.
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sun, 31 May 2015, 08:44:15
I got a whole load from http://www.digikey.co.uk/product-detail/en/MX1A-C1NW/CH310-ND/280855 don't be fooled by the domain they ship from the US.
Those are some expensive switches even at large amounts. But if your desperate it is definitely an option.

I haven't checked 7bit's pricing lately but it should be less than those.

We've been spoiled by ~$0.50/switch prices from mechanicalkeyboards.com
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: WolfTickets on Sun, 31 May 2015, 09:28:18
Got mine from S. Korea.   

http://winkeyless.kr/product/cherry-mx-switchs/ (http://winkeyless.kr/product/cherry-mx-switchs/)

They have a flat $29 shipping.
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: Altis on Sun, 31 May 2015, 09:48:49
I ended up getting a KUL ES-87 specifically for the MX Clear switches, though I also needed another board to use them in.

Side note, stock clears are a candidate for worst mechanical switch I've used yet. I sure hope they're better after lubing/swapping with 62g Korean springs.
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sun, 31 May 2015, 09:59:53
I ended up getting a KUL ES-87 specifically for the MX Clear switches, though I also needed another board to use them in.

Side note, stock clears are a candidate for worst mechanical switch I've used yet. I sure hope they're better after lubing/swapping with 62g Korean springs.

What didn't you like about the stock clears?
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: sethk_ on Sun, 31 May 2015, 10:03:00
I ended up getting a KUL ES-87 specifically for the MX Clear switches, though I also needed another board to use them in.

Side note, stock clears are a candidate for worst mechanical switch I've used yet. I sure hope they're better after lubing/swapping with 62g Korean springs.

What didn't you like about the stock clears?
I know all of my stock clears need to be broken in, mine were scratchy, so that might be what he means. Or that they also feel stiff
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: Altis on Sun, 31 May 2015, 12:15:47
I ended up getting a KUL ES-87 specifically for the MX Clear switches, though I also needed another board to use them in.

Side note, stock clears are a candidate for worst mechanical switch I've used yet. I sure hope they're better after lubing/swapping with 62g Korean springs.

What didn't you like about the stock clears?

They feel really gritty, mushy to type on, and mine ping a lot. They don't feel particularly uniform, either, and make a lot of noise (other than the ping).

They'd be good for someone who either likes really heavy switches or really wants to avoid bottoming out. The KUL has Cherry stabilizers, too, which make it feel even more mushy to use.

I'm hoping this will all go away with the modifications, but this is the first mechanical board I've had that feels/sounds no better than even the lower end rubber dome boards.
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: KHAANNN on Sun, 31 May 2015, 12:20:46
Lubing + Costar stabs makes things a lot better

Otherwise, like you described, many sounds merge and produce a chaotic typing experience

The spring itself won't change much tho
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sun, 31 May 2015, 12:23:24
I ended up getting a KUL ES-87 specifically for the MX Clear switches, though I also needed another board to use them in.

Side note, stock clears are a candidate for worst mechanical switch I've used yet. I sure hope they're better after lubing/swapping with 62g Korean springs.

What didn't you like about the stock clears?

They feel really gritty, mushy to type on, and mine ping a lot. They don't feel particularly uniform, either, and make a lot of noise (other than the ping).

They'd be good for someone who either likes really heavy switches or really wants to avoid bottoming out. The KUL has Cherry stabilizers, too, which make it feel even more mushy to use.

I'm hoping this will all go away with the modifications, but this is the first mechanical board I've had that feels/sounds no better than even the lower end rubber dome boards.
I've never had that bad of an experience with clears. I'm wondering if cherry ramping up production has led to some of these issues.

I do think breaking them in will help but it's hard to use a board like that.

Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: KHAANNN on Tue, 16 June 2015, 07:41:35
I was too fast to gloat

I've ordered 330 tactile grays from mechanical keyboards and received 330 linear grays :(
It devastated me, as the consolidation, shipping and import process took more than a month :(

I've sent an email to mechanical keyboards, yet I'm not optimistic whether their solution would suit my situation, the only possible solution at this point is to get an additional set of 330 tactile greys, even in that case the shipping and import is going to wreck my wallet

so buyer beware, cherry screwed me by not alternating the color of their grays :)

-----

Off topic, with this batch of keyboard related things, I've also received 64 blue switches from massdrop, they are disgrace of blues, none of them click
So either massdrop is sending reject switches to people, or there is a major issue with the production of these switches

330 linear grays ... damn it, what am I going to do with 330 linear grays ...
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: sethk_ on Tue, 16 June 2015, 07:52:08

I was too fast to gloat

I've ordered 330 tactile grays from mechanical keyboards and received 330 linear grays :(
It devastated me, as the consolidation, shipping and import process took more than a month :(

I've sent an email to mechanical keyboards, yet I'm not optimistic whether their solution would suit my situation, the only possible solution at this point is to get an additional set of 330 tactile greys, even in that case the shipping and import is going to wreck my wallet

so buyer beware, cherry screwed me by not alternating the color of their grays :)

-----

Off topic, with this batch of keyboard related things, I've also received 64 blue switches from massdrop, they are disgrace of blues, none of them click
So either massdrop is sending reject switches to people, or there is a major issue with the production of these switches

330 linear grays ... damn it, what am I going to do with 330 linear grays ...
I have some clears if you want to buy them, but it would have to wait until I get back next week
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: KHAANNN on Tue, 16 June 2015, 09:27:26

I was too fast to gloat

I've ordered 330 tactile grays from mechanical keyboards and received 330 linear grays :(
It devastated me, as the consolidation, shipping and import process took more than a month :(

I've sent an email to mechanical keyboards, yet I'm not optimistic whether their solution would suit my situation, the only possible solution at this point is to get an additional set of 330 tactile greys, even in that case the shipping and import is going to wreck my wallet

so buyer beware, cherry screwed me by not alternating the color of their grays :)

-----

Off topic, with this batch of keyboard related things, I've also received 64 blue switches from massdrop, they are disgrace of blues, none of them click
So either massdrop is sending reject switches to people, or there is a major issue with the production of these switches

330 linear grays ... damn it, what am I going to do with 330 linear grays ...
I have some clears if you want to buy them, but it would have to wait until I get back next week

Thanks for the suggestion, thankfully mechanical keyboards is willing to solve the issue without making me suffer, so +respect for mechanical keyboards - I liked mechanical keyboards, but after this event I started liking them a lot more, I wasn't expecting such a prompt reply and swift solution scenarios :)
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: Zustiur on Tue, 16 June 2015, 23:36:31
Would you mind stating how prompt their response was? I've been waiting on a response to a very simple query glue a couple of days.
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: KHAANNN on Wed, 17 June 2015, 02:01:26
Would you mind stating how prompt their response was? I've been waiting on a response to a very simple query glue a couple of days.

On a previous issue it was 1 day, with this issue it was ~1 hour, which was just what I needed
From my experience they reply to emails fast, but my issues are always simple things like missing items
Title: Re: Current source of MX Clears???
Post by: Zustiur on Wed, 17 June 2015, 05:08:26
I just want to know if they've shipped my order!