Smoooooth Switches

Learning and discussion Key switches
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Here y’all can talk about extremely smoooth switch :wink:es

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A few of my favorite smooth-from-factory switches, of the top of my head:

  • Gateron Smoothies (or any of Gateron’s other all-POM pre-lubed linears)
  • Gateron North Poles (any version)
  • Haimu WS Morandis
  • Durock Black Lotuses
  • HMX Sillyworks Hyacinth V2s (and pretty much any other recent HMX prelubed linear)

Man. Factory mx-compatible switches have come such a long way. 'Member when Tealios were the it switch? Even when Ink Blacks were blowing peoples minds? I feel like we’re spoiled now, and in the best way.

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I like all the mentioned switches.
The Akko Rosewoods are not only smooth but feel soft and refined.
Also the Durock Lupines belong in this company with its smooth delicate feel.

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I’mma just toss these back out there:

KBDFans Roller linear switches. I have really been enjoying how smooth they are right out of the box/bag, and the lack of any apparent stem wobble have made this switch shoot to the top of my “Easy Linear Recommendations List.”
:+1::+1::+1:

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  • Gateron Oil King is the baseline IMHO, would not even consider less. They were amazing when they were released, and still very competitive today. Also they have that muted “ink” sound that makes them quite unique. They are a default recommendation at the moment for me, a bit like the Cherry Black back in the old days. (edit) They need relube + film to be acceptable today.
  • Gateron Silent Zero Degree: smoothest “silent” switch (they are “quiet”, quieter than Oil King, but not silent by any means, still an excellent switch)
  • HMX switches (tried the Purple Dawn, excellent, suprising even). The new standard, given they are much cheaper than Gaterons or JWK. Manufacturing tolerances are industry leading, the difference in wobble compared to the competition is very noticeable. Perfect factory lube.
  • Keygeek Briny (made by HMX ? they are very similar) - seems thocky, very interesting, might replace the usual JWK if they indeed sound like I think they do.
  • Geon Raw Zero (absolutely amazing, zero wobble) The feel is incredible. Also a heavier spring which is rare enough nowadays. Perfect factory lube too.
  • KBDFans Rollers: I’m not a fan of the sound or feel but they are indeed rather smooth with zero wobble. In comparison I prefer the feel of the Geon Raw Zero.
  • JWK/Durock switches like Tangerine, Epsilon, Durock Mamba: they still are amazingly smooth but need L+F work so compared to the “out of the box” experience of the likes of HMX, they are now outdated, plus they have much more wobble in comparison. Still the thockyness of Epsilons is something I have yet to find anywhere else (maybe the Keygeek Briny ? I have to mount them in a keeb to know)
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Someone should do a very long YouTube video on The Unabridged History of MX Switches is what crosses my mind…

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Dude, I was so pissed at the price of Tealios when they came out and I had the opportunity to try them, lol. It’s no surprise that JWK took over the market with their Alpacas and Tangies when they figured out how to produce a smooth switch at (that time) reasonable pricing – and before factory lube as we know it today was a thing.

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In my (biased) opinion, HMX switches are the best bang for buck when it comes to smooooth switches.
I’ve had great luck with Akko switches too.
I feel like you can’t go wrong with these two in terms of “budget” switches.

Oil Kings are also great, but I’ve had issues where my last batch is unusable because of the horrible factory lube job so YMMV.

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