Best Cheap Stock Linears.

[wyz3]

I am looking to buy new switches for my keyboard and I am looking to buy cheap linears.

Here's a list of some cheap linears:
- Gateron Yellow
-Gateron Black
-Gateron Clear
-Kailh Pro Burgundy
-Kailh Speed Silver
-Gateron Red
-Kailh Black
-Kailh Red
-Kailh Dark Yellow
-Kailh Box Dark Yellow
-Kailh Speed Dark Yellow
-Cherry Red
-Cherry Black
-Cherry Speed Silver
-Cherry Silent Red
-Cherry Silent Black
-Gateron Linear Silent Switches (Black, Yellow, Red and Clear)
-Kailh Box Red
-Kailh Box Black
-TTC Gold V2 Red
-Gateron Merlot

These are just some of the many linear switches, these switches I have listed are on NovelKeys. These switches cost under 0.40 each or $4 for 10.

If you have any other cheap linear switches you know, please tell me their names down below. Now onto the basis of the topic, stock switches. Stock switches are just switches with no modifaction (e.g lubing, filming the switch), basically the switch in its original state when you ordered it. I am not to keen to mod my switches and so I am curious to which cheap linears are quite good, without no modification. I have heard Kailh Box linears tend to be really good stock switches because of their box design but that also leads to the process of modding and opening the switch being harder. Gateron Yellows,I have heard are really smooth, but I heard that putting lube makes a pretty big difference so maybe they are not great stocks but more great for modding. This is pretty much I know about stock switches, if you know anything more about cheap and good stock linears then I'm listening. Thank you.

[rinkaan]

depends on the actuation weight you prefer, i tried then below
gateron milky whites (seems like only chinese site taobao carries this, as it contains a 67gm spring)
gateron black
gateron yellow
gateron red

i think of them all, stock i would think gateron blanks feels good but would have preferred to have it slightly more weight... so for me i decided that the gateron milky whites are the best since it also allows me to dye them to any color i want (note the POM stems are harder to dye)

i think you can also consider Alpacas and Durocks and JWK, but they are not as cheap as gaterons。。



https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.0.0.40ac2e8dV2InQL&id=557299446515&_u=c1msah9nb71f

[wyz3]

Can you send a link to buy Gateron Milky Whites

[rinkaan]

yeah i linked it previously on the chinese site. altho this belongs to Kbd fans, i cant seem to find it on their kbdfans english site.. the milky clears there are 35gm springs... only the chinese site has it in 67g springs... save u some money buying replacement springs.

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.0.0.40ac2e8dV2InQL&id=557299446515&_u=c1msah9nb71f

in case you need films here are some
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.0.0.40ac2e8dV2InQL&id=572489779365&_u=c1msah9n0c6e

and switch opener
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.0.0.40ac2e8dV2InQL&id=610195340711&_u=c1msah9nee39

I can read chinese so i dont require translation, but you can try to see if you can find any forwarders in your country that can purchase on your behalf.

have fun!

[wyz3]

Thx man. 

[ddrfraser1]

I keep hearing Ink Blacks are the best quality and value. Never actually tried them though. I've heard they're incredibly smooth.

[envyy24]

Gateron linear + a vial of kryptox 205 is always my recommendation

[HungerMechanic]

You are right about BOX switches and Gateron Yellows. BOX linears are said to be smoother than Cherry, but the BOX switches are more difficult to mod or don't take to lube as well.

Gateron Yellows are pretty much the go to for stock switches that are relatively smooth, and they can be made considerably better through lubing. They are a good bet for someone's first custom keyboard.

Go a little up the price scale and you can get the Durock linears. Like Alpacas and Mauves. They aren't so expensive if you can get a decent-sized order on a Group Buy. They are very smooth out-of-the-box, but they are a bit wobbly and plasticy-sounding. If you can both lube and film them, they become God-tier switches.

[konstantin]

You may be interested in Durock's L4, L6 and L7 lines of switches, as they are recolors of JWK linears similar to the ever-so-popular Alpacas, Marshmallows, Mauves, Tangerines, H1s etc. More details here.

[nathanchere]

If I was on a tight budget and wanted linears I'd be going with either Gateron yellows or Cherry silent red (if I wanted silenced switches). Not the absolute cheapest but both well established with good reason.

[IronCheeks]

Gateron Black Inks are bang for the buck in terms of availability and affordability, but they do come at the 70 g bottom out. Someone here mentioned JWK Linears and yes - they are basically recolors/base versions of Alpacas and Mauve and can be gotten at a low price, but with long shipping times if you are buying from AliExpress. I also would recommend NK_Creams on the higher end as they are now available again on NK for .65c/switch. Not exactly cheap, but are very good switches once lubed.

[Mekanist]

Gateron Black Inks are bang for the buck in terms of availability and affordability, but they do come at the 70 g bottom out. Someone here mentioned JWK Linears and yes - they are basically recolors/base versions of Alpacas and Mauve and can be gotten at a low price, but with long shipping times if you are buying from AliExpress. I also would recommend NK_Creams on the higher end as they are now available again on NK for .65c/switch. Not exactly cheap, but are very good switches once lubed.

I'd have to agree here, in terms of bang for your buck, Blank Inks are the way to go. Its a bit more expensive than what you've budgeted, but theyre very nice switches. Silent or not, both are great.

[aclassynerd]

yeah i linked it previously on the chinese site. altho this belongs to Kbd fans, i cant seem to find it on their kbdfans english site.. the milky clears there are 35gm springs... only the chinese site has it in 67g springs... save u some money buying replacement springs.

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.0.0.40ac2e8dV2InQL&id=557299446515&_u=c1msah9nb71f

in case you need films here are some
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.0.0.40ac2e8dV2InQL&id=572489779365&_u=c1msah9n0c6e

and switch opener
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.0.0.40ac2e8dV2InQL&id=610195340711&_u=c1msah9nee39

I can read chinese so i dont require translation, but you can try to see if you can find any forwarders in your country that can purchase on your behalf.

have fun!

Yo thanks for this. I actually bought the films and the opener. Btw, you have any recommendations for a lubing station?

[treeleaf64]

How are black inks bang for your buck, they're like 70 cents a switch . . lol

Self advertisement
I think KTT Wine Red  are pretty good for stock linears, you can buy them from me at 0.15 a switch.

[rinkaan]

yeah i linked it previously on the chinese site. altho this belongs to Kbd fans, i cant seem to find it on their kbdfans english site.. the milky clears there are 35gm springs... only the chinese site has it in 67g springs... save u some money buying replacement springs.

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.0.0.40ac2e8dV2InQL&id=557299446515&_u=c1msah9nb71f

in case you need films here are some
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.0.0.40ac2e8dV2InQL&id=572489779365&_u=c1msah9n0c6e

and switch opener
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.0.0.40ac2e8dV2InQL&id=610195340711&_u=c1msah9nee39

I can read chinese so i dont require translation, but you can try to see if you can find any forwarders in your country that can purchase on your behalf.

have fun!

Yo thanks for this. I actually bought the films and the opener. Btw, you have any recommendations for a lubing station?

20 key lubing station for 5 dollars

https://m.tb.cn/h.4UfpXPI?sm=cf9fa2

Maybe you can buy smaller ones and do in batches or 20. I got a 60 keys one but i found it hard to use all 60 keys at one time... This shop also have krytox lube mix

Sent from my Redmi K20 Pro using Tapatalk

[killyou]

I'm a fan of Kailh BOX switches so I would recommend Kailh BOX Reds.

[treeleaf64]

Yeah I think kailh box are the nicest stock linears that I've tried
You don't need to lube them if you enjoy their stock smoothness

[HungerMechanic]

Kailh BOX Reds generally get good reviews, and there's something called ART BOX Reds, which are a variation produced for retailers in Korea. The housing is updated to work with Cherry-profile even with wrong-facing switches, and reviews say the ART BOX Reds are at least as smooth as regular BOX Reds. YMMV.

[treeleaf64]

Kailh BOX Reds generally get good reviews, and there's something called ART BOX Reds, which are a variation produced for retailers in Korea. The housing is updated to work with Cherry-profile even with wrong-facing switches, and reviews say the ART BOX Reds are at least as smooth as regular BOX Reds. YMMV.

Talked to friends who have them, they approve of them!