this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2023
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Mechanical Keyboards

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Most tactile medium-to-light MX-compatible switch (including clicky switches)? (self.mechanicalkeyboards)
submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by purelynonfunctional to c/[email protected]
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I'm looking for a lighter companion to the Clickiez 40g (which actually has ~75-80gf peak force). The Clickiez and the Box Navies are the only MX-compatible switches whose tactility I've really found sufficient before, but I'm willing to sacrifice a little tactility to get a lighter switch for some special keys. What's the best I can do out there for a slightly lighter switch with good (some would say 'extreme') tactile feedback? (Clicky switches are fine if they provide better tactility, as they generally do.)

I've spent a lot of time looking at reviews, force graphs, and have even ordered some switches to try (yet to arrive). But I'm exhausted and ready for some human recommendations to help settle the question.

Any advice?

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

You might try the Kailh Box Royals, or for even lighter, Silent Box Browns.

I ended up doing a hybrid of the two to get the bump I wanted with quiet operation.

[–] purelynonfunctional 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Box Royals have previously felt too mushy for me on a full board, but they might not be bad for extra light pinky keys.

Silent browns will I think not provide any discernable feedback to the typist I'm building this for, hehe.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

that's why I had to frankenstine mine, spring and bottom housing from the royal, stem, hammer, and top housing from silent brown.

I could have left the box hammer installed but the sound from the switch was too loud and undid all the advantages of using a silent. The green hammer from the silent was my compromise.

[–] purelynonfunctional 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Previously, I've avoided keeping old switches around whenever I've swapped them in my boards. I'm realizing now that this puts me at a disadvantage when it comes to possibilities like this.

What do you use for switch storage to make this manageable?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

I use Dollar Store glass containers for caps and switches. My nicer caps stay in their boxes but the cheap clones or generics go in the glass.