Spring mod - is it easy to do?

[phinix]

I'm planning to buy another ( ) keyboard, but still not sure about switches to pick.
It's gonna be Varmilo keyboard with MX switches.

I love topre and mx blues, but have a feeling like I want more stiffness.
So I thought i could buy MX blues and swap springs with blacks, to get something similar to mx greens.
Or should I just get mx greens?

Or - choose browns, swap with blacks to get a'la clears... However I don't like to much "scratchiness" in browns, so straight clears could be pain for me...

Is it easy to mod? Would I need to de-solder switches or is it just a matter of opening them from top and swapping springs?
Also how do you lubricate switches? Does it make a difference?

[SpAmRaY]

If you want heavy blues just get greens.

Browns don't become clears with a heavier spring the stem is different. Personally I don't like browns or at least I didn't a few years ago when I tried them.

I'm not that familiar with varmilo boards but almost every stock keyboard you buy prebuilt has to be desoldered to swap switches, except those fancy new ones where you swap the entire switch out.

There's an entire thread on lubing but I recommend trying the board in its stock condition first before doing any soldering then decide if you need lube.

If you decide to go through the trouble of swapping springs etc and think you might want to lube then yes do it all at once so you don't have to desoldered again. I've always used krytox lube, techkeys.us used to sell it not sure if they have stock currently.

[phinix]

So to swap springs I would need to de-solder switches? There is no way to open them up without de-soldering?

[SpAmRaY]

So to swap springs I would need to de-solder switches? There is no way to open them up without de-soldering?

Not on typical retail boards with plates no.

[joey]

So to swap springs I would need to de-solder switches? There is no way to open them up without de-soldering?

On most stock boards, that is correct.

Some custom boards have special notches that allow them to be opened, and some recent boards allow the whole switch to removed (aka it's not soldered into the board)

[Giorgio]

I'm planning to buy another ( ) keyboard, but still not sure about switches to pick.
It's gonna be Varmilo keyboard with MX switches.

I love topre and mx blues, but have a feeling like I want more stiffness.
So I thought i could buy MX blues and swap springs with blacks, to get something similar to mx greens.
Or should I just get mx greens?

Or - choose browns, swap with blacks to get a'la clears... However I don't like to much "scratchiness" in browns, so straight clears could be pain for me...

Is it easy to mod? Would I need to de-solder switches or is it just a matter of opening them from top and swapping springs?
Also how do you lubricate switches? Does it make a difference?

get a pcb mounted keyboard, no need to desolder anything.
For example cherry g80-1800, or g80-3000.

[phinix]

What about Filco keyboards?
Would i need to de-solder them?

[kmba]

Yes you would. I would just get greens. They're heavier but not that heavy.

[Giorgio]

What about Filco keyboards?
Would i need to de-solder them?

Listen to me :-) get a cherry g80-1800/3000 keyboard :-)

In europe getting 110 cherry switches or buying a complete keyboard has the same price.

Worst thing that can happen to you, is that you desolder the switches and that you use them in a new build.

[klennkellon]

What about Filco keyboards?
Would i need to de-solder them?

definitely. those are plate mounted and there are no cutouts to access the switch top without soldering.

If you'd like an easy to swap mech keyboard check out the Glorious Modular Mechanical Keyboard or their TKL they're supposed to release sometime this year. You can just pluck the switches out at will.

[phinix]

If they only be ISO UK...