The Switch Modification Thread -- lube, springs, + more

[bmilcs]

Maybe I'm getting old, but I don't believe there's a thread dedicated to modding switches.

So, may I present to you...

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THE SWITCH MODIFICATION THREAD
a one stop shop for lube, springs, + more
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I can't be the only one obsessed w/ finding the perfect combination of switch weight, smoothness, and style.

Anyways, in my 5+ years in the mechanical keyboard world, I've tried out many mods. I've narrowed down my favorites to:

- 62g/65g Ergoclears: Cherry MX Clears, 62g/65g SPRiT springs, Krytox GPL105/205 50:50 combo applied to spring, slider, stem & housing.
- 65g Lubed Linears: Gateron Black Switch, 65g SPRiT springs, Krytox GPL105/205 50:50 combo applied to spring, slider, stem & housing.

However, I need some advice on 2 incoming builds, with 2 PCB's each, for a total of 4 TKL's. (TGR Jane v2 & Duck Orion v3)

- For Cherry MX Blacks, would you recommend 63.5g in LINEAR or PROGRESSIVE form?

After years of swapping between 62g and 65g, I've found that 62g is a hair too light and 65g is a tad too heavy. I'm truly hoping 63.5g is as good as it sounds.

I imagine PROGRESSIVE would be best in a linear housing, but I'd love to hear what you guys think.

Thanks!

[Sintpinty]

What about a heavy clicky green switch in a linear housing? Idk, celtic greens?

[vegs]

63.5g is good

[suicidal_orange]

If you're trying to avoid bottoming out progressive is the way to go with linears so you can learn where in the stiffness curve the activation point is.  With springs that light (I run 100g+) I'd be looking at o-rings.

[Aerizu]

63.5g is good, would definitely recommend. I've been using these for most of my linears (except silenced ones as I prefer heavier for those).

[snurrebassen]

I've been wanting a thread like this 

I'm just 1+ year into this stuff, started my first build around this time last year, but I've just started to get into switch modding! I'm afraid I can't give you very insightful advice, but i'm interested in seeing the result of this/hearing what you end up with.

I'm a big fan of 78g springs actually, but it's about as heavy as I want to go. I'm planning on making my own smooth tactiles with YOK red pandas, MX clear stems, 78g progressive springs and lubed with 204/205, which I'm very excited to try out. My hope is that they will have a lighter downstroke, and then heavier around the actuation point.

[tp4tissue]

SABLE Hair Brush.. !!

Repeatability + Precision = Rapid Lubing.



-be weary of manufacturers passing off weasel hair as sable.

[tex_live_utility]

NK Cream stems are fantastic. They are very smooth, stable enough, and impart a deeper sound to just about any switch. Put them in a Tealio v1 or v2, Gateron (clear or milky top), or Cherry housing. Yes, the posts of the stem are extra-long as is usual with Kailh, but if you don't bottom out hard (or you are one of those people who actually likes the "raindrop" bottom-out) it's not something you'll notice.

The housings aren't anything to write home about (and stock they still have the stick-slip problem), but with films they are pretty okay. They're good enough to use with your linear-stem leftovers from the above swaps, or because they have the nice sharp Kailh contact leaf they are fine with other tactile stems like Halo, Zealio v1/v2, and even Kailh brown.

Regular Kailh stems are pretty damn good too. Not sure if it's because they're (apparently) factory dry-lubed or what, but they are smoother than Gateron stems and more stable in e.g. a Cherry housing. I'm not even sure if the Cream stem is any different.

[_GMK_]

What spring is the closest to cherry mx reds?

[Sup]

What spring is the closest to cherry mx reds?

Standard 45G springs

[_GMK_]

What spring is the closest to cherry mx reds?

Standard 45G springs

That's not how they're measured..
..