Cherry MX Switch Replacement Question

[badman5]

Lets say i have a Corsair K70 mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX Red switches.
To replace the switches from red to brown for example do i have to desolder the red switches and solder in the brown ones
 or can open up the reds and switch out the red springs and  red stems for brown springs and brown stems.
In other words is the bottom part of the switch identical for all switches and only the springs and stems are the difference?

[CPTBadAss]

1) Is the bottom part of the switch identical for all switches and only the springs and stems are the difference?

2) To replace the switches from red to brown for example do i have to desolder the red switches and solder in the brown ones or can open up the reds and switch out the red springs and  red stems for brown springs and brown stems.

1) Yes the switch tops and bottoms are the same for all MX swithes. It's the springs/stems that make the difference.

2) It depends.

If you have a Plate Mounted board, that doesn't have the switch opening cutouts, you'll have to desolder, swap, and resolder. This is the standard procedure for most stock/commercial keyboards with a plate. I can't think of a stock plate mounted keyboard that has the switch opening cutouts on them but one might exist.

If it's got a custom plate with the cutouts or PCB mounted, you can just open the switch up and swap it.

[badman5]

thank you!

[Oobly]

Just have to add that the K70 has a plate, so you'll have to desolder 'em all. If it were PCB mounted only or the plate had cutouts for the switch tabs, you could just switch the internals as the Captain says.

[Defect]

FYI red spring and brown spring are the same.

All Cherry MX switches use the same housing unit.  There are two types of the lower housing unit, PCB mount and plate mount, the only difference being that the PCB mount housing has two additional plastic legs.  Cut them and PCB mount and plate mount are the same.

You could go out and buy stems for what you need and swap them in.  Same goes for springs.

Also if you are going to be opening up the switches you might as well lube them (if lube is your thing--I recommend at least lubing the springs).