Impression of Retooled blacks?

[DoctorNunu]

Hey, I recently got around to ordering some retooled Cherry blacks, and I have to say; I'm very dissapointed.
Does anyone have experience with good retooled blacks? Asking this because I can't be 100% certain I got the retooled version...

I guess it's a little better than the pre-retooled cherry black, but it really feels like sandpaper (even when lubed).

What is your opinion on the retooled blacks?

[Sup]

When Retooled the first batch was being sold those where the diamond sample. I bought 200 and they where super smooth close to vintage blacks. But it seems that the mold is a bit worn and its back to being scratchy. Only the early batches of retooled blacks where good. I think you got the later ones.

[DoctorNunu]

When Retooled the first batch was being sold those where the diamond sample. I bought 200 and they where super smooth close to vintage blacks. But it seems that the mold is a bit worn and its back to being scratchy. Only the early batches of retooled blacks where good. I think you got the later ones.

Damn, I haven't heard that. That's very unfortunate..

[nickaster1]

When Retooled the first batch was being sold those where the diamond sample. I bought 200 and they where super smooth close to vintage blacks. But it seems that the mold is a bit worn and its back to being scratchy. Only the early batches of retooled blacks where good. I think you got the later ones.

Damn, I haven't heard that. That's very unfortunate..

I’ve heard that the batch turned bad since Sep 2018. Prior to that they were performing well

[DoctorNunu]

When Retooled the first batch was being sold those where the diamond sample. I bought 200 and they where super smooth close to vintage blacks. But it seems that the mold is a bit worn and its back to being scratchy. Only the early batches of retooled blacks where good. I think you got the later ones.

Damn, I haven't heard that. That's very unfortunate..

I’ve heard that the batch turned bad since Sep 2018. Prior to that they were performing well

And I'm guessing they have no intention of improving the mold..

[Rob27shred]

Yeah you really can't call MX blacks retooled anymore, the mould has taken enough runs that is back to being rough similar to how it was before the retooling. If you can manage to get ones made very early after the retooling, they are lovely super smooth linear switches IME. I managed to get very fresh ones in a Leopold 660M & a very fresh batch I bought from some site that has since closed. Both of which are just as smooth as any vint blacks I have tried. Although you'd have to dig into lot numbers & such to find a batch that is from the earliest runs after the retooling.

[DoctorNunu]

Yeah you really can't call MX blacks retooled anymore, the mould has taken enough runs that is back to being rough similar to how it was before the retooling. If you can manage to get ones made very early after the retooling, they are lovely super smooth linear switches IME. I managed to get very fresh ones in a Leopold 660M & a very fresh batch I bought from some site that has since closed. Both of which are just as smooth as any vint blacks I have tried. Although you'd have to dig into lot numbers & such to find a batch that is from the earliest runs after the retooling.

Hehe you don't happen to be selling that batch you bought? 

[treeleaf64]

Vintage blacks are definitely better, and in my opinion, easier to find.

[Tymm0]

When Retooled the first batch was being sold those where the diamond sample. I bought 200 and they where super smooth close to vintage blacks. But it seems that the mold is a bit worn and its back to being scratchy. Only the early batches of retooled blacks where good. I think you got the later ones.

Damn, I haven't heard that. That's very unfortunate..

I’ve heard that the batch turned bad since Sep 2018. Prior to that they were performing well

And I'm guessing they have no intention of improving the mold..

I believe the idea of being retooled means the tooling or mold was recreated from the master. Once the mold is created they use it over and over and it slowly gets worn. Then they have to make another mold when its outside of their specifications what ever that may be. So its a waiting game right now until they recreate the mold again and we can call it "retooled" again. This is just what I've gathered i could be wrong.

[LightningXI]

I wish there were a better indicator as to when it would be an appropriate time to buy.

[nickaster1]

Last time it took them 17-ish years (circa 2000 - 2017) to make a new mold. If that’s their default time frame then we’re in this for a long run

[Rob27shred]

Yeah you really can't call MX blacks retooled anymore, the mould has taken enough runs that is back to being rough similar to how it was before the retooling. If you can manage to get ones made very early after the retooling, they are lovely super smooth linear switches IME. I managed to get very fresh ones in a Leopold 660M & a very fresh batch I bought from some site that has since closed. Both of which are just as smooth as any vint blacks I have tried. Although you'd have to dig into lot numbers & such to find a batch that is from the earliest runs after the retooling.

Hehe you don't happen to be selling that batch you bought? 

Sorry bud, I'm keeping these guys for now. Although if I do ever decide to get rid of one of them I will give you a heads up before I let anyone else know!

[DoctorNunu]

Vintage blacks are definitely better, and in my opinion, easier to find.

Sure they are easy to find, but in perfect quality: Not very easy to find.

I have probably had around 400 switches of vintage blacks in total now, and only about 30-40 of them were actually good. The rest were just complete scratchy garbage.

[DoctorNunu]

I wish there were a better indicator as to when it would be an appropriate time to buy.

I'm just curious as what other manufacturers do to prevent this, Gateron for example. Do they replace molds more frequently or do they just have a better way of producing switches?
It just seems so weird to me that a company in the caliber of Cherry has this terrible technique of producing switches. 10 batches good and the rest 100 bad?

[Sup]

I wish there were a better indicator as to when it would be an appropriate time to buy.

I'm just curious as what other manufacturers do to prevent this, Gateron for example. Do they replace molds more frequently or do they just have a better way of producing switches?
It just seems so weird to me that a company in the caliber of Cherry has this terrible technique of producing switches. 10 batches good and the rest 100 bad?

Yeah i don't think Cherry mostly care about how smooth there switch is anymore these days since Gateron can do everything for cheaper since labor there is not that expensive as in Germany. So they just try to produce the most of one mold to make the most profit, and they already brain washed consumers Cherry good Clones bad to the consumers.

Also if you want good retooled cherry switches you can still get Cherry MX silent blacks with 45g springs from opticboards those are one of the first batches of the silent mx switches and they feel very good with a spring swap.

[MMKB]

Crap I just ordered some "retooled" blacks days ago

I came here to ask how you guys break them in. But if your theory is true, then I don't know breaking in matters or not

[DoctorNunu]

I wish there were a better indicator as to when it would be an appropriate time to buy.

I'm just curious as what other manufacturers do to prevent this, Gateron for example. Do they replace molds more frequently or do they just have a better way of producing switches?
It just seems so weird to me that a company in the caliber of Cherry has this terrible technique of producing switches. 10 batches good and the rest 100 bad?

Yeah i don't think Cherry mostly care about how smooth there switch is anymore these days since Gateron can do everything for cheaper since labor there is not that expensive as in Germany. So they just try to produce the most of one mold to make the most profit, and they already brain washed consumers Cherry good Clones bad to the consumers.

Also if you want good retooled cherry switches you can still get Cherry MX silent blacks with 45g springs from opticboards those are one of the first batches of the silent mx switches and they feel very good with a spring swap.

But they're silent though 

[DoctorNunu]

Crap I just ordered some "retooled" blacks days ago

I came here to ask how you guys break them in. But if your theory is true, then I don't know breaking in matters or not

They will probably get smoother, but they will never be "Smooth".


I actually had an idea of breaking in switches, I was thinking of building some type of motor with an axis to a pad, the pad would push down switches sitting on a plate etc.
Would be a fun project, but not really sure if it would be that useful 

[MMKB]

Crap I just ordered some "retooled" blacks days ago

I came here to ask how you guys break them in. But if your theory is true, then I don't know breaking in matters or not

They will probably get smoother, but they will never be "Smooth".


I actually had an idea of breaking in switches, I was thinking of building some type of motor with an axis to a pad, the pad would push down switches sitting on a plate etc.
Would be a fun project, but not really sure if it would be that useful 

Same thought! Super niche because only Cherry MX switches need breaking in but I would pay for such service

[treeleaf64]

I think that would be a great idea. It would be hard to break in 100+ switches at once though.