Found another awesome switch combo: NK Cream housing, Holy Clear GSUS stem, Everglide Oreo spring, and spring lubed with Hoppes #9 oil. Has a bit more low end thock compared to a Holy Panda switch. Lots of good tactility.
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Halo + Cream is pretty well known, Zambumon called them “Pacos” and the name stuck after Taeha Types popularized it on stream.
But what the heck is a “Holy Clear GSUS” stem? Is that some other switch made by the GSUS guy?
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That is actually a really good questions. I purchased the Holy Clear GSUS switches from r/mm. What I did was pull the stem from these switches.
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My best guess would be a GSUS housing and a halo clear stem. But that guess is coming from teamlinear so your mileage may vary.
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Yeah, it very well could be a Halo True stem.
T1NK
- T1 stem, spring, and leaf
- V1 Gateron Ink housing
- Nearly identical to a T1, but…
- More smooth
- Less dry sound
More of an educational exercise than a suggestion.
Flavor-text:
I had the thought to do this just looking at the visual similarity between the smoky T1 and Ink housings, wondering how similar they really were. (I was also looking for the perfect switches to throw on the awesome Mountainblocks macro pad kit I just got in the mail…)
It turns out that, even though the housings look almost identical, they are not.
Gateron claims their proprietary plastic blend is the secret sauce to the Ink’s smoothness - and after this experiment I’m inclined to think they’re right. This combo genuinely gives Zealios a run for their money in terms of un-lubed smoothness.
A note of trivia - this mod is easier with the V1 Inks, as their leaves are extra loose and easy to remove. As far as I know, tightening the housing’s grip on the leaf is the only change from V1 to V2.
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Putting together some temp switches for the new board, until the HP switches arrive. Housing is NK Cream, stem and spring from a T1, sliders lubed with 205g0, spring is lubed with Hoppes No9 oil, and teal switch film.
Edit: That took way too long lol
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Looking good.
U happen to have any Helios? I was just thinking of putting the Helios stem into a Cream switch, mainly because of the looks, but I already decided to go with Helios on my cream(beige)&orange themed keyboard so if it’s not a downgrade I’ll probably do that.
I dont. That would make an interesting combo!
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Guess I have to get some creams for research. 
When searching for cream-switches I found some Kailh cream. Anyone know how they compare to NK cream?
How do they feel?
They are one in the same. NK designed the switch, and Kaihua manufactures it under their Kailh brand. Some sellers call them one or the other, but they are literally the same. 
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I’ll let you know when I get my case back from powder coating and get my board back together. Can’t wait!
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Nice! Is this in reference to the DJ/producer by any chance?
Thanks, I just came up the name, combining Sky and Cream 
Ok I’ve got a bunch of transparent cherry Mx blues and a bunch of zealio stems left over from when I made zealiostotles. Are these with putting together? Are transparent cherry housings any smoother than regular cherry housings?
I don’t know about smoother, but mx clicky housings are the most tactile of the bunch, so you might get something out of them.
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Heisenberg
- Halo Clear stem
- Gateron Blue Ink housing & spring
- Very smooth, “tight” feel - no or very little rattle
- Modest, yet crisp and satisfying tactility
- “D-shaped” bump starting at very top
- Is the danger
Short, snappy tactile with a harsh, loud bottom-out; the one who knocks.
Flavor-text:
I tend to fidget with my switch testers when I watch stuff. While clacking away on Creams, Inks, Creamy Inks, T1’s, and Holy Pandas, I had the thought to put a Halo stem into an Ink housing since the Cream and T1 stems do so well in them. Once again, I was pleasantly surprised by the result;
TL;DR: These crystalline wonders basically feel like extra-smooth, shortened T1’s.
That is, with a shorter travel because of the Halo stem, but with a similar smooth bump that encompasses most of the travel. Very satisfying.
This is definitely a switch meant to be bottomed-out; the bump essentially ends right as the stem hits the housing, giving for a very clean, snappy feel.
The sound and feel from that bottom-out is a little less distinct than that of a Holy Panda, also a bit less loud and piercing, as if the plastic is less dry, or more dense - I actually prefer this sound.
I’ve got to hand it to Gateron - they’ve got some good secret sauce in those Ink housings. I’d order a bucket of them if I could.
For its short travel, the bump is wide and smooth - very clear and noticeable, yet much more subtle than the Box silent browns I’m typing on now (which themselves are much more snappy than other “browns”).
I bought a bunch of Panda housings a while back, but damn if Ink housings aren’t way better in terms of what I want in a switch. I’m pretty sure my planned Holy Panda build just turned into a Heisenberg build. Well. At least the pandas are pretty…
Conclusion: Revising my recommendation for those that like an extra snappy, smooth “d-shaped” tactile bump. It’s not necessarily heavy like the bump on a Box Royal, but since it all but demands a hard bottom-out, they can be a little tiring - I suppose that’s the price of admission for what is to me still the most fun switch in my collection.
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This interests me. Will definitely try it out in the future!
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