Linear switch help

[Magna224]

I want to get a board with linear switches.

I was looking at black alps. If I were to take the leaf out they becomes linear right? And how are they compared to mx blacks after?

Im on a real budget and i'm wondering if I should just go strait for one of the TG3s on ebay for $25. Or get something local with black alps for like $10 and remove the leafs, since I would like a lighter switch than blacks.

[xbb]

Alps without the leaf fells extremely light. Much lighter than black switch, maybe also than red switch. I don't like it so much. Old mx black is the way to go.

[Julle]

I have tried this with a Dell AT102W, but the switch feel after the mod is less than spectacular, yet better than the original black ALPS. It's a good thing that ALPS switches can be easily opened despite them being plate mounted.

[ripster]

40g. Guess how I know this?

[webwit]

The Keyboard Oracle told you.

[ripster]

Nein! Americans don't believe in False Gods!

We build monuments to Thomas Jefferson!

Mod post here:
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:7369

It did take the actuation force down from 60g to 40g. That tactile leaf really added a lot of resistance it seems.

EricRice appears to be one of my Thomas Jefferson's disciples because I got the same number using Aquakeytest and you know whatsits. Although I measure closer to 65g but what's a Nickel among friends.

[Magna224]

So the alps would be a 5g lighter than a cherry red? Then the difference would be that the mx red would be more smooth?

[Magna224]

Hmmm.... Why dont I do both? =P

I just read a post on geekhack by ripster stating that a mx brown with a black spring feels similar to the black alps without the leaf. Then the mx black with a brown spring is the ghetto red. So Ill just get the TG3 and make both, since I have a board with browns laying around. Problem solved.

[xbb]

a mx brown with a black spring feels similar to the black alps without the leaf.

I doubt that

[Findecanor]

There are the fundamental differences between ALPS and Cherry MX. ALPS don't take off-center key presses well. They also have lower initial resistance and more friction, even when you press it directly down.
The tactile point on the Cherry MX Brown is quite small, and I don't think that another spring would change that.

Then the mx black with a brown spring is the ghetto red. So Ill just get the TG3 and make both, since I have a board with browns laying around.

Lots of soldering, 'cause the TG3 has plate-mounted Cherry switches. ALPS are always plate-mounted, but unlike Cherry MX, they can be opened without desoldering the switch from the PCB.

... But I predict that you will like the Cherry MX Blacks enough to keep them Black

[Magna224]

Mabey, I tried black switches out at a store but its hard to tell how well you like them without actually getting some time to use them. I thought they were a little too resistant but since then I have been using my model m so that may not be a problem anymore.

[Gilgam]

Cherry blacks are very ,nice but as i type more and more on différent keyboards i begin to find them to stiff.