Author Topic: Switching Stems and Springs in MX Switch?  (Read 1459 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline TheSven

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 64
Switching Stems and Springs in MX Switch?
« on: Thu, 13 November 2014, 15:10:09 »
So I was just wondering, if I had ,say, an MX red board. Could I take the stems and springs from a load of MX clears and switch them with the red  stems and switches. I assume this would make a clear switch. Would this be a good way of swapping switches on a KB without desoldering and soldering.
Thanks,
TheSven

Offline SpAmRaY

  • NOT a Moderator
  • * Certified Spammer
  • Posts: 14667
  • Location: ¯\(°_o)/¯
  • because reasons.......
Re: Switching Stems and Springs in MX Switch?
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 13 November 2014, 15:16:00 »
Unless the board is PCB mounted OR has a special plate that allows switch top removal you will have to desolder. But otherwise yes you can make reds clears by swapping stems and springs.

Offline Melvang

  • Exquisite Lord of Bumfluff
  • * Maker
  • Posts: 4407
  • Location: Waterloo, IA
  • Melvang's Desktop Customs
Re: Switching Stems and Springs in MX Switch?
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 13 November 2014, 15:28:46 »
The only difference between switches is stems and springs.  All stems work with all springs.  The one possible exception is clear stems if brand new and not lubed can stick with thicker/heavier caps like space bar and shift.  If well broken in or lubed I have not had any problem with clear stems and cherry's light springs.  Reds, blues, and browns all have the same spring, then its blacks, greens, and not sure about whites.  Gray switches use the same spring for both dark and light, one is tactile and the other is linear and very heavy.  Clears are kind of an odd switch from cherry as all other springs have a very similar force curve just higher or lower on the graph, clears have a much steeper force curve than other cherry springs.  They actually actuate a touch lighter than blacks but bottom out is a touch heavier than blacks. 

The only difference in cherry switch housings are MX locking switches but those are somewhat of an uncommon breed.
OG Kishsaver, Razer Orbweaver clears and reds with blue LEDs, and Razer Naga Epic.   "Great minds crawl in the same sewer"  Uncle Rich

Offline DrHubblePhD

  • I am star stuff
  • Posts: 828
  • Location: Observable Universe, Virgo Supercluster, Local Group, Milky Way Galaxy, Solar System, Planet Earth
Re: Switching Stems and Springs in MX Switch?
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 16 November 2014, 10:08:29 »
Yeah playing around with different springs and stems is a lot of fun! You should try out a phantom or something that has plate cut outs that let you get into the switches without desoldering!

Offline Melvang

  • Exquisite Lord of Bumfluff
  • * Maker
  • Posts: 4407
  • Location: Waterloo, IA
  • Melvang's Desktop Customs
Re: Switching Stems and Springs in MX Switch?
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 16 November 2014, 11:37:56 »
That or anything PCB mount
OG Kishsaver, Razer Orbweaver clears and reds with blue LEDs, and Razer Naga Epic.   "Great minds crawl in the same sewer"  Uncle Rich

Offline Puddsy

  • nice
  • * Elated Elder
  • Posts: 12281
  • Location: RSTLN E
  • "Do you shovel to survive, or survive to shovel?"
Re: Switching Stems and Springs in MX Switch?
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 16 November 2014, 12:49:38 »
For the record, desoldering stuff is the hardest part of swapping springs/stems, but it's not even that hard. I did it, and so can you. It's mostly just a tome consuming process.
QFR | MJ2 TKL | "Bulgogiboard" (Keycon 104) | ctrl.alt x GON 60% | TGR Alice | Mira SE #29 | Mira SE #34 | Revo One | z | Keycult No. 1 | First CW87 prototype | Mech27v1 | Camp C225 | Duck Orion V1 | LZ CLS sxh | Geon Frog TKL | Hiney TKL One | Geon Glare TKL



"Everything is worse, but in a barely perceptible and indefinable way" -dollartacos, after I came back from a break | "Is Linkshine our Nixon?" -NAV | "Puddsy is the Puddsy of keebs" -ns90

Offline TheSven

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 64
Re: Switching Stems and Springs in MX Switch?
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 16 November 2014, 13:56:41 »
Yeah playing around with different springs and stems is a lot of fun! You should try out a phantom or something that has plate cut outs that let you get into the switches without desoldering!
Where to get a plate for a Phantom? Could I 3D print one? Not that I have a 3D printer...

Offline DrHubblePhD

  • I am star stuff
  • Posts: 828
  • Location: Observable Universe, Virgo Supercluster, Local Group, Milky Way Galaxy, Solar System, Planet Earth
Re: Switching Stems and Springs in MX Switch?
« Reply #7 on: Sun, 16 November 2014, 14:17:18 »

Yeah playing around with different springs and stems is a lot of fun! You should try out a phantom or something that has plate cut outs that let you get into the switches without desoldering!
Where to get a plate for a Phantom? Could I 3D print one? Not that I have a 3D printer...

Technically yeah, you could 3d print one, I wouldnt recommend it though. You are going to have to find a kit.