Favorite switches and why?

Learning and discussion Key switches
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#21

Suuuuuuper boring, but stock Cherry MX black. They are easy to find, cheap and have heavy springs stock. I go with them stock because after four or five years in the hobby, I kinda got tired of tracking down parts to frankenswitch and hate how lube can wear off inconsistently across the board, which necessitates relubing to get the consistency back.

I’ve tried a ton of switches over the years, but stock Mx blacks meet that sweet spot for me with good heavy linears, easy to find, and low time commitment to have them ready to go in a build.

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#22

Clicky: pinks. Undisputed. (Well in the MX world anyway, blue alps and BS are still king)

Tactile: BKE domes. Undisputed

linear: tealios. Undisputed

Special shout out to steel series Omni point switches as they are the smoothest switches in existence probably. However, it’s not like you can just put them on any board.

Also, Hako clears get a special mention. They aren’t up to much but for some reason I really enjoy typing on them, perhaps because they are so understated.

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#23

I think it depends what lubricant you use. If you use something like thin oil that can run off over long periods of time, then it makes sense. Have you experienced it with grease?

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#24

Only really messed with thick lubes like Tribosys 3204

#25

Think I am going to have to add lubed and filmed retooled Cherry Blacks to my all-time favorite list. I have been using lubed HP’s for quite a while and have forgotten how awesome these switches feel and sound!

#26

Right now I’m loving lubed & filmed Kiwis. At 67g it’s perhaps a bit heavier than what I am used to, but I am loving the sturdiness. It’s a fantastic switch.

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#27

I agree POM holy panda

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#28

Sounds like you and Chyrosran/Thomas would get along! I wish contactless linears could be purchased and soldered into any board… they would kill the mx linear + lube craze immediately.

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#29

Used MX Brown, why, can’t explain why but i love the feeling of old MX Brown, so smooth with a little bump, it’s perfect imho :slight_smile:

#30

Completely agree. It’s only a matter of time.

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#31

My hands down favorite switch are the BKE extreme domes especially after you break them in.
Favorite clicky are probably the jade choc switches, it feels like tiny pen clicks. Favorite linears are inks/silent inks.

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#32

My current favourite would be Kailh BOX Pink, followed closely by IBM Capacitive Buckling Springs. (Then again, I’ve yet to try out Topre, Holy Pandas, Beamsprings, Alps Blue…ahhh so many more that the community loves)

#33

Wow look at mr muscles over here

But seriously that’s intense I have some heavies that are too fatiguing after not a lot of time, that’s crazy

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#34

62g Zilent V2, because of their tactility and how quiet they are.

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#35

love my 62g sakurio switches, favorite for long coding sessions

#36

I’ve got the 67s and find them to be one of the louder silent switch variants. I wonder if a lighter spring changes things? I’ll have to try a spring swap.

#37

Not sure, I went down the sound deadening rabbit hole, when I built my Shonobis.

  • 4mm eva plate foam.
  • 3203 bag lubed springs / stems.
  • Filmed all switches.
  • Case is lined with Butyl sound deadener, covered in Kapton tape.
  • Stabs have been clipped, lubed, and band aid modded.
  • Space bar packed with Butyl

The space bar (78g) thuds a little louder, but it is the heaviest keycap on the board.

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#38

Are the POM Holy Pandas the GB that was run through Deskhero earlier this year? If so those are the only panda’s I’ve owned to date and I absolutely love them.

I was curious if there is anyone who has messed with that specific batch and had any thoughts on mods. Typing on them stock is even a joy for me but holy hell the spring ping grates my ears. Wondering if the whole ‘breaking in the POM’ is needed or if I should just get to lubing.

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#39

Which lube did you use and did you go all out with every surface or keep it minimal?

Absolutely love my Kiwis, currently using them stock but at least I want to cut down the spring ping and dampen a bit of the plasticky snap.

#40

Lube will help you out in both situation IME. Breaking in the switches will do nothing for spring ping/crunch. Lubing the springs will kill that though, I personally like tub lubing my springs with an oil like Krytox GPL105 or 106, but you can also use grease by dipping each end of the spring or brushing a very light coat on them. I have heard of people tub/bag lubing springs with greases, but I personally think that will waste a ton of product & most likely overlube the springs. Lubing the housings & sliders with a grease like Krytox GPL 205g0 or Tribosys 3204/3203 will take the plasticy sound out of your Kiwis. For me I lube all contact points with a very light for tactiles, but a lot of people swear by lubing everything but the stem legs & leaves to keep the tactility close to stock.

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