Yeah, those blueish-white are strange.
I went with 55 G long in building my sample U4 Bobas, and it was pretty okay.
There’s interest in a softer U4, so I think 50 G Long U4 in Bobagum is worth testing. Gotta get some Bobagums.
I bought a small bucket of them a while back and have some spares - I’d be happy to send you a few along with some Outemu tops (not quite as tight on the stems) to experiment with before committing to a full order.
I think there’s a good chance they’ll give the result you’re looking for, but ya never know, ya know?
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I decided to build a couple of 68 G Silent Sky Bobas using Spirit springs, because that is the recommended weight for that stem in that housing.
I think I’ve done this before; anyway I got the same result:
I find the 68 G Spirit spring to be stiff, and mollifying the already-limited tactility of that stem. So it isn’t all that fun to use.
I then tried with 63.5 G Spirit. That’s a more reasonable weight, and tied well to the tactile bump of the Silent Sky stem. But it’s a bit mushy in the Boba housing, not returning as well as the 68 G [I didn’t lube any of them].
So I’m feeling that the Boba housing is not just the ideal housing for Silent Sky at <68 G.
Maybe I’ll try 63.5 with Bobagum when I receive my samples. The linear housing may allow me to shave off some weight - gonna try U4 stems in there first.
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Try a “slow” or long spring. Those usually increase perceived tactility, while keeping a really fast return. 63.5 slows work much better for U4 stems than the supplied 62g (haven’t tried the silent sky stems).
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I went 55g tx long spring using U4T stems and ink blue housing. It returns functionally fine, but in terms of the return, the feeling is a bit lacking for me, so maybe have a go with 57g or 60 long spring.
Once you try long spring in tactile you will never able to go back
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I have been using 55 G TX Long with the U4, and it works mostly fine, although as Kelvin pointed out, the return is a little weak, maybe necessitating 57 G Long.
So maybe I could experiment with these springs for the Silent Sky stem as well.
@Mistah, which brand of slow springs are you using? I have access to 63.5 G Spirit slow springs in Canada.
However, wouldn’t these be even heavier than the stock OUTEMU 62 G spring? I find those springs plenty enough for the operation of the U4 in the Boba housing.
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So apparently ‘Brown Bobas’ [U4B] are a thing now.
As you can see from the below image, someone has taken Gateron Brown stems and put them in the Boba housing.
I didn’t want to fetch my Gateron Browns, and had some lubed MX Browns on hand, so I tried it with those. Definitely, you can feel the effect of the Boba housing, as it is more rigid and tactile.
Here is one of the more promising recipes:
MX Brown stems, lubed lightly with 3203 [not the tactile legs tho], 55 G Spirit stainless springs, carefully bag-lubed for even coat.
I put them in the Boba housings, and it’s kind of an ‘Ergo-Brown.’ Lighter than stock MX Brown, the mild tactility is accentuated by the lower weight.
They are relaxing to type on, maybe a little too relaxing.
If you lubed the springs and stems well, they have a much deeper sound profile than stock MX Browns. The lower spring weight causes them to feel a little crunchy, though, moreso than with stock MX Browns.
I tried 3 other weights:
-52 G OUTEMU. These are barely enough to operate the switch, considering I didn’t lube these springs. You can feel the switch trying to catch on the upstroke, it feels slower and bumpier anyway. But it’s very gentle, too much for me. It’s almost mushy because of the low weight.
-57 G TX [14mm]. These are more tactile than regular MX Browns. They operate okay, but the force needed to clear the bump [not much] promotes a harder bottom-out.
-60 G TX [14mm]. These have more resistance in terms of spring weight than all the other options. A little less tactility than 57 G. They have the strongest operation.
I think the 55 G Spirit U4B offer a relaxed and fast typing experience, although a weight intermediate between 55 and 60 G Spirit may be best. 58 G Spirit is available here, so I might try them.
Have to try the Gaterons next, that was the original U4B. I could do with a smoother and less crunchy U4B at lower weights, honestly.
If anyone else learns about building a ‘better Brown’ with the Boba housing, please do share.
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Interesting idea. Base on you observation, 55g L or 57g L spring might be the optimal point for this switch. I will look at it when I have time
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I tested it last night also with a 55 G L TX spring, but using the OUTEMU Blue Ice housing instead of Boba. [Still used Boba top]
55 L is certainly enough power to run that particular variant. I find it overshadows the meagre tactility a bit, though, so I’m not sure about it. In a pure Boba housing, though, 55 or 57 L may be more important.
Do you have a sound test?
Not yet, maybe I’ll put some in the KBD67 Lite when the stabilizer is repaired.
Have to settle on a weight for a few to build. Only a few of these switches have lubed stems + springs right now, which are essential for the sound.
New variant: Progressive Brown Boba
These aren’t much different from the other Brown Bobas, but they are different:
Cherry MX Brown stem
Boba housing
68 Progressive Spirit spring
Moving parts lubed with 3204, except tactile legs.
Result:
Because of the weaker force at the top of the keypress, you really feel those tactile legs. It holds up a little at the tiny MX Brown bump.
So it feels more tactile than the original experiment, the 55 G stainless Spirit one.
Still, because of some grittiness and a little bit of holdup at the bump, I’m actually thinking that 72 G Progressive would be a better weight for this type.
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Here’s a force curve of an MX Brown stem in a Boba housing (with Outemu clear-slotted top) I made a little while back. From experimenting with MX Clears Cherry stems do seem to bind slightly in the regular Boba tops so I recommend the Outemu clear-slotted tops.
Does result in an interesting switch with a crisp but small bump.
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Well done.
I’ve been meaning to try the Clears, thanks for the heads-up about the slot.
Speaking of binding, I was able to get an Everglide Jade stem to eventually work in a full Boba housing. It got caught in the top housing at weights below 65 G. Not the best combo so far, though.
Maybe it’s time OUTEMU release a light tactile Boba?
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I wish they would release one. It would instantly become my dream switch.
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All my testing is making me skeptical that Boba housing could make for a good light tactile.
The housing qualities are great - smooth, good sound, tight tops. It should be ideal.
But when I put light tactile stems in there, they often don’t work, unless you ramp up the weight to 65-68 G. Many of them catch on the tight-tops, and substituting them with a less-tight top undermines some of the qualities of the switch.
When they do work [as in MX Browns] the tactility of the legs is amplified, but the stem is slower or wants to ‘catch’ more.
So these Boba housings seem to be ideal for heavy tactiles, since the leaf is so strong. But a linear housing might be more adaptable to lighter stems. I will try that I bit when I get some Bobagum housings.
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I was about to suggest trying the Bobagums for light tactiles - definitely more friendly for that than the almost maniacally-strong leaves in regular Bobas.
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Yeah, it took me a while to seriously consider it, as I already had a large stock of affordable Bobas, and in separate pieces.
Besides, people were building Silent Sky and Pro Purple is possible in the housing, so I figured maybe I could get Browns or something to work.
But yeah, Boba leaf is maniacally strong, built for Pandas and T1-style. My favourite light tactiles tend to use linear housings.
Got some Bobagums on the way, though.
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This chart is really helpful and adds some color to what I’m experiencing with my boba browns…which is, 63.5 slow sprit springs seem to be the minimum acceptable weight to get a full return. I think I’ll plan to swap them out anyway because on stabilized keys they are a bit more sluggish than I’d prefer, but you can really see how the bump force changes substantially in the boba housing with some necessary tradeoffs on spring weight
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Yeah, it’s definitely not a housing for ‘light’ tactiles. I tried.
But you can lighten the heavy tactiles. Bring the U4/U4T stems down to about 55-57 G.