What is your favorite switch weight?

[Puddsy]

I think I've seen this thread before but I can't find it again.

I'm thinking of buying some springs (and stickers, maybe lube) for a DS3 with blacks that I have coming in, but I'm not sure what weight I want. I was thinking 62g, but 55g also seems appealing.

Give me your wisdom, friends!

[CPTBadAss]

65g Blacks are my favorite linear MX switch

[exitfire401]

55g is my favorite Topre and it's a tie between 62g blacks, and 85g Clears for MX

[epzy]

45g (Cherry springs), but I have 50g, 55g, 60g, 62g, 65g and 68g Korean gold springs laying around that I'm going to test out soon™ and I will probably end up liking one of them more.

[johndavis33]

I think it's just personal opinion. I'd pick something a bit heavier than stock blacks, but I'm probably in the minority on that one. Is there any way to buy a bunch of springs of varying weights to try them out?

[daerid]

55g Topre :-o

[epzy]

I think it's just personal opinion. I'd pick something a bit heavier than stock blacks, but I'm probably in the minority on that one. Is there any way to buy a bunch of springs of varying weights to try them out?

Of course it's about personal preferences. You JUST missed Sprit's group buy of Korean gold springs... He offered some real heavy springs like 100g and 120g IIRC. Maybe try to PM him and see if he has some extras? He is called just 'Sprit' here on GH.

[iLLucionist]

So far 45g Browns, but I really want to give 55g or 65 Clears (like the Code) a try. I'm able to prevent bottoming out as I touch type on my 45g Browns, but something stiffer might make it easier for me to not bottom out. I also like my new 45g Topres, but they feel a bit heavier compared to my 45g Browns.

[Defect]

62g Lubed Clears was what I chased for a while.  But after using BS and Topre 55g it's hard to jump back to it without warming up and getting used to light springs again.  After a day or two I'm fine, but then I go to stock clears and my fingers get strong again.

Panda clears are flippin awesome, too. 

And of course...Regret not pulling the trigger on 3 bags of 65gs...somehow told myself I wouldn't need them...

[johndavis33]

I think it's just personal opinion. I'd pick something a bit heavier than stock blacks, but I'm probably in the minority on that one. Is there any way to buy a bunch of springs of varying weights to try them out?

Of course it's about personal preferences. You JUST missed Sprit's group buy of Korean gold springs... He offered some real heavy springs like 100g and 120g IIRC. Maybe try to PM him and see if he has some extras? He is called just 'Sprit' here on GH.

Mmm, no thanks. I think the weight of my greens and whites are the perfect weight, and I'm not too into non clicky cherry switches.

The one thing that bothers me is how light topre switches are advertised to be. I've never wanted to take the plunge on topre because I'm pretty sure 55g would be too light for me to enjoy. I'd love an HHKB as stiff as greens or buckling springs. But oh well, I'll keep dreaming.

[Sifo]

63.44g

[Oobly]

62g for Clears and Blacks

[Shirty]

63.44g

This.

In reality the only way you can be sure what's right for you is to try out a whole bunch of options. That takes time, but it's scientific. For a long time I thought reds were the nuts, but clears, greens and whites really took over for me so I guess I'm heavy-fingered.

One of the reasons I found Topre so disappointing was the lack of resistance. They are a beautiful action without a doubt, but they just don't differentiate themselves from really nice rubbers imho.

I'll revise my answer to 78.2395g.

[iLLucionist]

63.44g

This.

In reality the only way you can be sure what's right for you is to try out a whole bunch of options. That takes time, but it's scientific. For a long time I thought reds were the nuts, but clears, greens and whites really took over for me so I guess I'm heavy-fingered.

One of the reasons I found Topre so disappointing was the lack of resistance. They are a beautiful action without a doubt, but they just don't differentiate themselves from really nice rubbers imho.

I'll revise my answer to 78.2395g.

What do you mean specifically with that they "don't differentiate themselves from really nice rubbers"? Do you mean that they do not feel mechanical enough for a hybrid switch? Or do you miss something in the switch like the pronounced tactile feel in clears for example?

[Shirty]

I find the tactility too "damped" for my typing style, it's hard to explain. Don't get me wrong, I think they are a lovely mechanism and if they were a bit more cost effective I'd have one or two around the place. I think they would suit my gaming style more than my typing.

Many swear by them, just not me. I like a solid clunk or a hard click when I'm typing and Topre doesn't deliver. I typed on a really nice old RD for a few days the other day, and it really reminded me of my time with a Realforce.

[iLLucionist]

I find the tactility too "damped" for my typing style, it's hard to explain. Don't get me wrong, I think they are a lovely mechanism and if they were a bit more cost effective I'd have one or two around the place. I think they would suit my gaming style more than my typing.

Many swear by them, just not me. I like a solid clunk or a hard click when I'm typing and Topre doesn't deliver. I typed on a really nice old RD for a few days the other day, and it really reminded me of my time with a Realforce.

I know what you mean. I moved from my Browns to my brand new HHKB Pro 2 and I have the same feeling. Although it is a hybrid switch, it is difficult for me to feel the tactility. Every time I try not to bottom out I quickly realise some keys do not register, forcing me to push harder and basically resulting in bottoming out again. On the other hand, bottoming out does feel quite soft and mushy compared to my plate mounted Filco MJT 2 TKL with Browns. I am wondering whether it is just the fact that I have to adjust to the switch of this is more like what you say: the expected tactility is not there 'enough' for me.

[Shirty]

It made me a bit sad at the time because I was really excited to try Topre, but I suppose my sausage-fingers are more suited to something a bit more industrial  )

[nubbinator]

67g.  I know of no other spring weights.

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

Blues or heavier.

[strict]

I'm in love with stock clear springs. They arent nearly as heavy as people make them out to be IMO. I've honestly debated putting stock clear springs into my red switches.

[Photoelectric]

Stock-only for Clears and Blues, 62g (normal non-gold, 62d gold is meh, 60g gold is closer to 62g regular) for linear, 45g spring in Jailhouse Blues.

[zeroni13]

I currently use 85g MX blacks on my keyboard. Love it!

[Defect]

I'm in love with stock clear springs. They arent nearly as heavy as people make them out to be IMO. I've honestly debated putting stock clear springs into my red switches.

To actuate a clear takes less force than to actuate a black.  But to bottom out a clear is a very very heavy task.  Love that spring dynamic.

Ghost blacks/ghost reds are a delight on a heavy plated board.  Just makes you feel like you're typing on something indestructible.

[davkol]

Probably right between red and black for linear switches, thus I'd probably like springs from the yellow Kailh switches. Smooth vintage blacks with thick keycaps are close enough. However, considering MX' relatively short travel (I'd appreciate 6 mm instead of just 4 mm to bottom out), stock clears with their steep force curve definitely help... only if they were a tad bit lighter.

Cream Alps (@AEKII) are sort of okay out of the box.

In the end, it doesn't matter. I can get used to anything ranging from springless Cherry MY to buckling spring. It only takes a while at first.

[aref]

Topre's 55-gram key switch in an 87UB with an affinity for Cherry MX Red switches.
These two switches are disparate in feel, yet both switches really nice. When my
digits are a bit sluggish, the MX Red key switches feel comfortable and are enjoyable.

[dante]

Topre 45g in a TypeHeaven or 660C; I tried 45g in a Realforce and didn't like it as much.

[Candyflip]

65g all the way

[metalliqaz]

55g

[handystack]

I am really liking 62g springs in lubed clears with full-travel SP DSA keycaps at work.  I have the same springs and switches on my home board with SP DCS keycaps sporting 0.4mm o rings, and I find that I wish I had just a couple grams more resistance for the shorter travel on those keycaps.  I'll be damned if i am going to go to the trouble of swapping out those springs again though

[robertsig]

1) Topre 49g if it existed.

2)Cherry Clears with 65g Originative springs.

[feizor]

Please excuse my ignorance but I have read conflicting information about this:

With regards to 62g springs, is 62g the actuation force required or the bottom out force?

Further, are red and black switches identical but for the spring weight?

Ie if I were to put 62g springs into reds, would they feel the same as 62g blacks?

Is 62g closer to the stock reds or stock blacks?

Hopefully someone can clear this up for me.

[epzy]

Please excuse my ignorance but I have read conflicting information about this:

With regards to 62g springs, is 62g the actuation force required or the bottom out force?

Further, are red and black switches identical but for the spring weight?

Ie if I were to put 62g springs into reds, would they feel the same as 62g blacks?

Is 62g closer to the stock reds or stock blacks?

Hopefully someone can clear this up for me.

1. Bottom out force. Korean springs are measured in bottom out force whilst Cherry (stock) springs are measured in actuation force.
2. Yes, both are just linear switches with the same actuation point.
3. Yeah, pretty much.
4. Much closer to stock reds, almost the same.

[feizor]

Please excuse my ignorance but I have read conflicting information about this:

With regards to 62g springs, is 62g the actuation force required or the bottom out force?

Further, are red and black switches identical but for the spring weight?

Ie if I were to put 62g springs into reds, would they feel the same as 62g blacks?

Is 62g closer to the stock reds or stock blacks?

Hopefully someone can clear this up for me.

1. Bottom out force. Korean springs are measured in bottom out force whilst Cherry (stock) springs are measured in actuation force.
2. Yes, both are just linear switches with the same actuation point.
3. Yeah, pretty much.
4. Much closer to stock reds, almost the same.

No point modding reds with 62g springs then?

[epzy]

Please excuse my ignorance but I have read conflicting information about this:

With regards to 62g springs, is 62g the actuation force required or the bottom out force?

Further, are red and black switches identical but for the spring weight?

Ie if I were to put 62g springs into reds, would they feel the same as 62g blacks?

Is 62g closer to the stock reds or stock blacks?

Hopefully someone can clear this up for me.

1. Bottom out force. Korean springs are measured in bottom out force whilst Cherry (stock) springs are measured in actuation force.
2. Yes, both are just linear switches with the same actuation point.
3. Yeah, pretty much.
4. Much closer to stock reds, almost the same.

No point modding reds with 62g springs then?

They'll still feel a bit different, so I wouldn't disregard it...

[feizor]

Ok, thanks for clearing it up!

[Defect]

62g have a nice "cushiony" effect, similar to clears.  They are also a bit heavier than stock red/brown/blue.  Clears stick a lot with 45cherry springs, and stick MUCH less with 62g.  Obviously, lube helps in both scenarios.  Somehow I think unlubed 62g fits me better than lubed 62g.  Gotta always lube springs though.

Hashtag spring ping

[davkol]

62g have a nice "cushiony" effect, similar to clears.

Uh, really? rknize's measurements certainly don't like that. I mean, the curve is steeper than with stock springs, but not that steep.

[iLLucionist]

62g have a nice "cushiony" effect, similar to clears.

Uh, really? rknize's measurements certainly don't like that. I mean, the curve is steeper than with stock springs, but not that steep.

Show Image

Cool graph, I always wanted to see something like this.

[Defect]

62g have a nice "cushiony" effect, similar to clears.

Uh, really? rknize's measurements certainly don't like that. I mean, the curve is steeper than with stock springs, but not that steep.

Show Image

Cool graph, I always wanted to see something like this.

My bad, I meant to say something like "similar to clears but at a significantly reduced effect."
I'll stop posting early in the mornings x.x

Edit: Very cool graph though.  May I save for later?

[davkol]

It's rknize's, as the URL and OP in the linked thread suggest. All hail rknize!

[Premonition]

My favorite springs are the ones in light MX switches, and having tried Topre, I enjoy the 45g Topre better. I do a lot of typing, so it's not feasible to use one of the heavy springs (how do you type on those things?).

[davkol]

Weakened muscles are a first world's disease.

[Defect]

My favorite springs are the ones in light MX switches, and having tried Topre, I enjoy the 45g Topre better. I do a lot of typing, so it's not feasible to use one of the heavy springs (how do you type on those things?).

Ever come home from a late night at the office and want to just lazily slam press keys?  That's when I made friends with Ghost blacks.

[Moosecraft]

55g korean

[iLLucionist]

Weakened muscles are a first world's disease.

Back to the typewriter then? Might help as a 'cure'? Or better even, a Linotype

[davkol]

Like I mentioned elsewhere, RSI became much more common, when typewriters were replaced by PCs in American offices, and some people blamed too soft keys on the computer keyboards among other things.

To quote exact numbers, there were 20200 occurances of RSI (14% of all issues) in 1978 and 185400 occurances of RSI (56% of all issues) in 1990.

[iLLucionist]

Like I mentioned elsewhere, RSI became much more common, when typewriters were replaced by PCs in American offices, and some people blamed too soft keys on the computer keyboards among other things.

To quote exact numbers, there were 20200 occurances of RSI (14% of all issues) in 1978 and 185400 occurances of RSI (56% of all issues) in 1990.

That is very interesting. So the underlying cause might be too soft keys? Why would that be? Hmm... it might be perhaps posture Because you cannot really rest your palms on your desk when you have a typewriter, so it is difficult to strain those nerves there.

[Premonition]

Like I mentioned elsewhere, RSI became much more common, when typewriters were replaced by PCs in American offices, and some people blamed too soft keys on the computer keyboards among other things.

To quote exact numbers, there were 20200 occurances of RSI (14% of all issues) in 1978 and 185400 occurances of RSI (56% of all issues) in 1990.

We can't put that as a direct correlation, as computer use was definitely much higher than typewriter use, especially twelve years in the future when it became ubiquitous. It could also be attributed to perhaps the longer amount of time spent on a computer for more than just typing out words, and the institution of it in the workplace widely.

[davkol]

True, only in case of those stats by themselves though. It's not like there wasn't any research or more detailed data... that's where I got the thing about stiffness anyway... in a 1994 issue of a CS journal.

[feizor]

62g have a nice "cushiony" effect, similar to clears.

Uh, really? rknize's measurements certainly don't like that. I mean, the curve is steeper than with stock springs, but not that steep.

Show Image

Looks like there's a big gap between 62g and cherry heavy springs. Are there any springs that fill the gap?