How to get more of a tactile bump without desoldering an entire board?

[oddsratio]

So, the more I use browns, the more I wish they would give me just a little more tactile feedback. I played with a set of reds, and while the pressure was nice, I found them to be too light. Ironic, but for a few weeks, I thought the browns were getting too heavy, but that was before I was typing a couple thousand words a day. Now, I keep bottoming out.

I bought a buckling spring board, but the typing speed I was going at was causing my fingertips to go numb; I kept feeling the vibration from the springs.

I want to get a bit more of a kick without having to desolder my board and put clear stems on brown strings (to get the ergo-clear, so to speak). Are there any quick fixes to make the keys a little heavier, or produce a little more kickback, or will I have to bite the bullet and start working on my soldering skills. I just bought a cheap and used goldtouch keypad, so I guess I can practice on that.

Or is it worth it to leave cherry altogether and go for a different switch set? I've tried all cherry flavors except clear, and I'm not really looking to buy a new board right now.

[AndrewZorn]

Hate to sound like a smartass, but what's wrong with Cherry Blue? I see you've tried them, maybe a little too snappy for your tastes, but it sounds like you describe.

I tapped on the Filco Zero for a bit, to me it felt like a beefier Cherry Brown. It used the Fukka switches.

[oddsratio]

I should have appreciated the feel a bit more while I had it, but the high-pitched & plasticky click got on my nerves. I actually found the buckling springs less annoying. The zero sounds interesting, but I'd be a little hesitant to pick up something like that at that price without knowing for sure I'd like it.

[Oqsy]

Clears or ALPS sound like your ideal switch from the OP.

[oddsratio]

I think so, though I'd like to stick with a switch that is more silent like the browns. I guess a mod is the route I am going to have to take.

[Oqsy]

There are quiet tactile ALPS that have a bigger bump than browns.

[oddsratio]

Like the AT-101W? I've hard mixed things about that one.

[Ascaii]

It sounds like you are a prime canidate for ergo clears. Take a clear stem and a brown spring. The result is a noticeably tactile, yet light and quiet switch.

Also, you might enjoy real white alps.
Dont bother with the AT101, the black alps are finicky and tend to age badly...so unless you can grab a NIB one I wouldnt expect a great typing experience.

[The Solutor]

Ergo clears uber alles, but the dampened alps are good candidates too, softer bottoming than ergo clears if dampened, harder landing if undampened, with a similar tactility.

P.S. The Best option to get ergo clears w/o any soldering, is to buy a clear and a blue cherry board, swap the springs and sell the  resulting MX Cyan board (which surely encounters the liking of the buckling springs lovers).

[oddsratio]

Swapping the springs would assume that both boards have to be mounted on PCB, though, right?

[oddsratio]

I admit I'm picky, though the only one I've outright returned (with much trouble) was the X-Armor. My brother liked the Ninja, so I sold it to him, I wasn't sold on blues, and my Dad now has the model m. The X-Armor was the only one I had an outright problem with. The other boards were great, but I picked them up only for the sake of curiosity.

I think I might have avoided all the swaps and experimentation if Deck had clears in stock back in April.

[oddsratio]

Well I'm looking at donor boards now, because I'd like to actually commit to a project. From what I've read about these mods, something like this would be too far gone to use, wouldn't it? Those stems would be too worn down?

[The Solutor]

Swapping the springs would assume that both boards have to be mounted on PCB, though, right?

Just to avoid desoldering, if you aren't scared by soldering even two plate mounted boards are good

[Ascaii]

Well I'm looking at donor boards now, because I'd like to actually commit to a project. From what I've read about these mods, something like this would be too far gone to use, wouldn't it? Those stems would be too worn down?

It comes down to luck...ive had vintage boards from sales like this where the board was dirtier then a 5$ streetwalker, but the switches all worked perfectly, and Ive had some clean ones that were worn down to where they were nearly linear...at that price you should go for it, you will find no cheaper option out there.

[N8N]

It comes down to luck...ive had vintage boards from sales like this where the board was dirtier then a 5$ streetwalker, but the switches all worked perfectly, and Ive had some clean ones that were worn down to where they were nearly linear...at that price you should go for it, you will find no cheaper option out there.

For what it's worth, I have one of those boards and it was filthy when it showed up, but I only cleaned the case and caps, I didn't even clean the stems (although I will if I swap them into something else) and it still has that nice tactile feel.  Obviously that doesn't necessarily mean that if *you* order one you will have the same experience...

[500_pts]

Bini's keyboard bazzar has great prices on clear stems if you dont feel like doing the whole donor board thing.

[domin8r]

Never modded a board before.. can you insert clear stems into a black switch? Have a (donor)board with black switches doing nothing and might want to give that a try (will also try to remove the numpad)

[Clickey]

Black switches have the same spring as clears (if not close) so there would probably be no point to that. Just get a cheap brown board and you could try ghetto reds (swap brown springs into black board) or if you get a clear as well, ergo clears. I am experimenting with making clears even more tactile that ergo clears, but I haven't tried it with straight browns yet (might be able to get a clear feel on browns alone).

On a side note you can try space invaders, they feel like stiffer cherry blues. I am using one right now, but I am torn to whether I like it more than ergo clears.

[N8N]

On a side note you can try space invaders, they feel like stiffer cherry blues. I am using one right now, but I am torn to whether I like it more than ergo clears.

 
Might be easier to try another swap; blue stems with black or clear springs?  I haven't tried that particular combination yet, but you should end up with... a stiffer blue

[domin8r]

Black switches have the same spring as clears (if not close) so there would probably be no point to that. Just get a cheap brown board and you could try ghetto reds (swap brown springs into black board) or if you get a clear as well, ergo clears. I am experimenting with making clears even more tactile that ergo clears, but I haven't tried it with straight browns yet (might be able to get a clear feel on browns alone).

On a side note you can try space invaders, they feel like stiffer cherry blues. I am using one right now, but I am torn to whether I like it more than ergo clears.

Thanx for the reply (N8N and Ripster too).

I was gonna mod this board anyway and never tried clears so it's interesting as a first try! And if I don't like them I have a good reason to mod another board

[N8N]

Well, you could always do what I did... I bought a couple of the "rawko" boards, they come in both clear and brown flavors...  that'll give you your clear stems and will give you the opportunity to try ergos on a PCB mount board before really diving into serious modding.

I'll probably sell them off soon once I'm done playing around, but I'm keeping the clear stems... they'll likely both be browns by the time I sell :/

[oddsratio]

Bini's keyboard bazzar has great prices on clear stems if you dont feel like doing the whole donor board thing.

I forgot about that listing; seems like it's less of a gamble than the ebay BINs.

[500_pts]

I forgot about that listing; seems like it's less of a gamble than the ebay BINs.

Exactly. I have 87 set aside so i can finally complete my filco collection. I have tkl boards in every flavour (red black blue brownx2, Fukkas....idc about xm's) and will now create the filco ergo clear tkl