I’m new to building keyboards and would like my first build to include inoffensive switches that would compatible with a library or train environment. I try to approach things from a no-frills angle, I am therefore not really looking for switches with special lighting or cosmetic features if it implies a surcharge.
As for features I’m looking for, sturdiness and silent actuation are most important. The pressure needed to actuate the switches should not be too light, nor should it be too heavy. Depending on the over-all build quality, I’d be willing to spend up to 80¢ per switch.
Thanks for the recommendations! I’ll look into these. I’m considering using slightly heavier clicky switches for ctrl, enter and escape. Do you have anything to suggest here as well?
Gateron Melodics or Navy Blue would be a decent choice, as would Kailh Box Pink or even White. Kailh Box Pale Blue have a heavier spring but a fairly light clickbar.
I feel like clicky switches on some keys may go against your stated goal of a library keyboard…
You may want to look into TTC Bluish White switches if you’re considering tactiles. There’s a quiet (Bluish White) and silent (Silent Bluish White) version, and both are pretty great.
Zeal Zilent v2 switches are expensive and have some spring ping (not surprising for a heavier silent textile), but have a 78g version that could work well instead of clicky switches for your modifier keys.
I want to get proper feedback when I press important keys. I have thought about using very heavy silent switches as a differentiation aid, but I wasn’t sure about it the aesthetics of the physical feeling and multi-key presses becoming too heavy.
I might give zeal switches a shot though, despite them being on the expensive end from what I can gather.
I wouldn’t recommend filling out a whole board with Zilents. There are some much better, much cheaper options than when Zilents were released (see posts above), but could be an option if you want something different on some keys and only need a 10-pack of switches.
An additional recommendation for slightly heavier clicky switch as an alternative to Kailh Box Navies; Speed Navies. The only reason I’d choose these over the Box version is an inherent design flaw in Box switches that make them sit a little crooked - the resting position of the cap is ever so slightly rotated clockwise. Most people genuinely will not notice… but if you do, it will drive you nuts. The “Speed” version of these Kailh switches don’t use the Box mechanism (but do use the same wonderful click bar mechanism) and avoid this issue.
IMO the Kailh clickies that use their clickbar mechanism remind me of a pen clicker, smooth, crisp, and simple. The Gateron Navy Blues are also very clean, but feel like they have a bit more steep of a “wall” presented by the click mechanism - so if you want to really push through that click they might be a better way to go. Both are great options for heavier clicks!
On the other hand, speed navies are the only switch I’ve ever used that made me think to myself, “Self, it is possible that these might be just a little too heavy.”
Pixelpusher’s recommendations are probably good for most of the switches.
For the heavier switches, I do not recommend clicky switches.*
Heavier Switches
If you want something more tactile for the larger keys, the suggestion of TTC Bluish White is interesting. This is because you can test the regular Bluish White [not too loud] and the Silent Bluish White [actually quiet].
Those switches are pretty tactile. Medium tactiles. Very authoritative compared to some of the lighter tactiles. I don’t remember how wobbly they are, but surely it can’t be that bad.
I do not recommend Zeal Zilent V2. You could probably have fun on your own time with the Zeal Clickiez [not on this silent keyboard]. In the same price range, you could get any variant of U4 Boba, which was known to be a sturdy, low-wobble switch when it came out. And they are customizable.
So, for the ‘heavier’ switches, you might want to try out the Bluish White variants, and the U4 Boba in a preferred weight.
*[With the exception of Gateron Lanes, since they are quieted click-leafs].
Normally I’d agree, but if the requirement is for non-wobbly switches, the TTC BW’s are very poor choice due to their atrocious stem wobble. They might work better for stabilized keys like enter/spacebar, but for 1U the wobble is extremely noticeable. (I made a frankenswitch to work around this but it’s not exactly quick or easy…)
In addition to those recommended so far, I’d suggest Outemu’s silent options. The basic Silent Yellow Cream is the cheapest but does have some more wobble than some newer options like the Anxiety/Green Banana.
I’m inclined to agree, then. I haven’t used TTC BW’s in a while.
I often recommend OUTEMU’s silent options. As you say, the latest variants probably have the least wobble. I think Green Banana comes with a more powerful spring, and greater tactility, making it ideal, possibly, for the large keys.
WOBBLE:
Also, if wobble is a paramount concern, it may be helpful to consult the “Comparison Notes” of this review:
Even TTC Peanut Latte are listed as having less wobble than some other silent tactiles. So maybe TTC did better after the Bluish White.
Eh, in my (personal) experience they’ve been about the same. The molds for the Peanut Lattes might be slightly newer, but they lose anything they gained by the switch to the removable LED condenser, which eats away a bunch of the top housing that otherwise would keep the stem in place.
(I have tried the PL stems in BW’s and vice versa, and didn’t notice much of a difference. But also, this is entirely from memory and hand feel, pure vibes on my part. Take with commensurate NaCl as needed.)
The value of the review is that the comparisons suggest that the following silent tactiles might have lower wobble than the Turtle or Peanut Butter Latte switches:
Invokeys x Alas Daydreamer MODE Anthracite (but they aren’t very tactile) Glorious Panda Silent?
But these reviews might be generous in how they are evaluating the wobble of these silent tactiles.
I have some Daydreamers - IIRC they are on the low-wobble side, but they’re really heavy - I found them unusably so.
Those Turtles look like Haimus, and the last time I looked into those they used the little dampening legs instead an additional soft material. From the sound test it looks like they managed to fix the top-out tick those tended to have if that’s the case.
The “Speed” version of these Kailh switches don’t use the Box mechanism (but do use the same wonderful click bar mechanism) and avoid this issue.