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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Areyn13 on Wed, 01 November 2017, 06:51:19

Title: Key Ping/Scratchiness?
Post by: Areyn13 on Wed, 01 November 2017, 06:51:19

So I recently bought the K95 Platinum with Cherry Speed switches and noticed something... (nothing particularly serious or deal breaking, just a concern). I've noticed some of my keys have a distinct "Scratchiness" to them when pressed, compared to others than feel quite a bit more smooth and clean. When I put my ear close to these scratchy keys, i hear what i believe to be the spring squeaking when pressed down and pinging when released. Are these inconsistencies per key normal?

Again, this isn't a massive concern but i am curious to know how common this is and if it's just something everyone deals with when using mechanical key switches. This is my first mechanical keyboard I've ever owned, so my long term experience is nothing.

Title: Re: Key Ping/Scratchiness?
Post by: pixelpusher on Wed, 01 November 2017, 07:42:28

It’s normal.  What you are hearing is the spring rubbing against the cylinder inside the switch.  If you were to open the switch and add lubricant it will remove some of the noise.

This must be something inherent with cherry springs bc it seems to be there to varying degrees on all of my cherry switches.  I don’t hear it on Gateron switches.    However, it IS there on zealios switches.

When I look at stock Gateron vs cherry springs, I notice that Gateron have a looser coiled spring.  Same length but less coils.  Also it seems to not fit as tightly around the inner switch cylinder. Zeals have springs similar to cherry. 

I hate my cherry silent switches because of the scratchiness. I desoldered an entire Filco with them, lubed all points of contact on the stem, dipped the springs in Krytox lube.  They still sound a bit scratchy. 

Title: Re: Key Ping/Scratchiness?
Post by: DALExSNAIL on Wed, 01 November 2017, 07:45:08

Quote from: reececonrad on Wed, 01 November 2017, 07:42:28

I hate my cherry silent switches because of the scratchiness. I desoldered an entire Filco with them, lubed all points of contact on the stem, dipped the springs in Krytox lube.  They still sound a bit scratchy.

All I ever hear is how smooth the silents are, but I had the same experience as you. Almost unusable for me because of the scratchiness. Just gave mine away.

Title: Re: Key Ping/Scratchiness?
Post by: daskeybo on Wed, 01 November 2017, 11:34:22

It only happens on Filcos.  Never Das.