Switches

We’re happy to announce that we’re (finally) carrying Gateron switches! The first two that we’re carrying are the full milky-housing Gateron Yellows, and milky-top Gateron Blacks. These were chosen primarily for both their acoustics and smoothness. They’re very budget-friendly, and while they do have some scratch to them while stock, they take very well to lube and films, and Gateron Yellow springs are so well-loved that the switches are bought just to harvest them!

TTC Bluish White switches are a real sleeper hit of a tactile switch! The name of the switches isn’t particularly creative, yet the specifications are where it really shines. The first notable feature is the dust-proof stem, as seen on Kangaroo Inks and Gateron Yellow Inks, which simply aims to reduce the chance of dust falling into the switch itself and affecting performance. The other two most notable features are the double-coiled spring and the muted bottom-out.

The double-coiled spring results in an extremely satisfying press and return combined with the light spring weight (42g actuation), the top-out being described as “punchy”. There’s also a small silicone plug at the bottom of the center tube of the bottom housing which allows for the bottom-out to be muted as the stem pole makes impact, but the top-out is louder by comparison as a result.

The switch shines whether it’s stock or lubed, and if you’re really interested in trying to create a new silent switch, try lubing the top housing and see how it turns out!

The Naevy switch project has been years of continual research and development into tactile switches. The tactile switch market was been stagant and without any innovation and required acquisition of multiple switches to be put together – increasing over cost, plastic waste and effort.

The aim of the Naevy switch is to create a new type of tactile – affordable and good as a stock switch. The stem is an original mold owned by AEBoards and it uses a panda derivative housing (most commonly used for tactile switch modding). All funding was paid for by AEBoards without any GB money involved – they shouldered the risk on the project because they believe in what they’re providing to the community.

For the Raeds, they’ve taken what they like about the Naevies and put that into a linear version. It includes the same materials, but with a custom stem mould that is longer and smoother than the average linear.

From 43 Studio comes the second iteration of the Rara switch, one of the first JWK tactile switches to hit the Western market! First ran on Drop at the start of last year, this run was previously entrusted to us and a selection of other regional vendors! One of the major improvements over the previous version is the reduction of housing wobble, which is prevalent in JWK switches. The housing material has changed slightly, with adding a polycarbonate top instead of nylon for a smoother experience. It comes stock with ThicThock DL springs, as well as shipping with his own designed PVC films on a sheet.

To help answer some potentially common questions, I will list my experiences with the V1 Rara switches that I have. They are a medium-light tactile switch, in the realm of Ergo Clears with a b-bump that begins shortly after the initial keystroke. They are quieter on the upstroke than other tactiles that they’re compared to, such as T1s and Koalas, though with the change to a PC top it will most likely be a bit clackier. I personally really enjoy them, and think you will too!

We couldn’t be more excited to announce one of two parts of our first switch collection release: the Auralite linear switch! They feature three colours taken from our logo, with a two-tone purple and lavender body and a light pink stem, a gradient which is also frequently shared by the switch’s namesake gem. The Auralite switches feature a long stem pole which makes for a satisfying, clacky bottom-out, and the double-extension spring allows for a snappy stem return and creates an even feeling during compression.

Photos taken by the wonderful Sterling & Co. Photography!

Canada/USA: You are here!
USA: Bolsa Keyboard Supply
EU/UK: Salvun
SEA: Zion Studios

We couldn’t be more excited to announce one of two parts of our first switch collection release: the Amethyst tactile switch! They feature two of the colours from our logo, and the housing shares the same colouring as its namesake gem. The Amethyst switches feature a long stem pole which makes for a satisfying, clacky bottom-out, and the double-extension spring allows for a snappy stem return!

Photos taken by the wonderful Sterling & Co. Photography!

Stock

Canada/USA: You are here!
USA: Bolsa Keyboard Supply
EU/UK: Salvun
SEA: Zion Studios

Our first offering from SP Star come the SP Star Magic Girl switches! Designed to match Mintlodica‘s DSA Magic Girl keycap set, these tactile switches have a 67g bottom-out, nylon housing with a POM stem, and a more subdued medium tactile bump compared to Kiwis, T1s, etc. The stem pole has tapered slide rails, with each side being lightly lubed by the factory, slightly different to the typical oil on legs seen from other manufacturers’ factory lubing. This, combined with the materials used in the housing, result in a quieter press than other tactile switches in the same feel range, and thus may prove more beneficial for office settings!

Gateron Black Ink V2 linear switches are one of the community’s most favoured switches to date, seeing use in an enormous number of builds from the average enthusiast up to professional streamers and e-sports competitors. They sport a proprietary plastic mix not seen before in Gateron’s switches, which has helped the switch become well-known for its stock smoothness and bassy accoustics. They also have matching black springs, which have little spring ping on stock Ink switches.

Lubed, Black Ink V2s are pretty hard to beat in terms of smoothness and sound; we would recommend Krytox 205g0 on the housing and stem, with GPL 105 or GPL 106 on the springs. The Ink housing is also incredibly tight, and have found that 0.125mm TX films are some of the few types of films that will fit.

Photos taken by the wonderful Sterling & Co. Photography!

Gateron CJ switches, the newest switch from the manufacturer as of September 2021, are a great linear switch that have a smooth, satisying keypress and will certainly satisfy clacky linear lovers. While all-POM switches tend to run into issues of feeling leathery, Gateron’s proprietary Ink housing plastic is used effectively in the top housing to allow for a smooth actuation and to round out the clacky sound. With a 50g actuation and 60g bottom-out, you won’t need to worry about fatigue using these in a daily driver.

While Gateron CJ switches are just fine stock, they do benefit from being lubed, though any lube of choice is satisfactory. With most linear switches, we recommend Krytox 205g0 on the housing and stem, and GPL 105 or GPL 106 on the springs. Depending on the type of lube used, the acoustics will deepen slightly, so if you’re not a fan of the sound being quite as clacky, then going with a thicker lube may be the way to go!

Photos taken by the wonderful Captain.Sterling!

PangHu’s Giant switch series has seen numerous material changes to its components, and now they’ve changed manufacutrer from Gateron to Tecsee! The Giant V5 linear switches continue the frosty aesthetic with a matching light blue UHMWPE stem and Nylon bottom housing, and milky UHMWPE top – boasting a super smooth linear keypress all the way through. The UHMWPE top gives the Giant V5s a satisfying, bassy upstroke so all of the thock enthusiasts will enjoy these switches!

Photos taken by the wonderful Captain.Sterling!

In collaboration ElBoard’s DMK Gift keycap set, PangHu has designed the Gift linear switch! Sharing similar components of the Giant V5 linear switches, both using an UHMWPE stem and Nylon bottom housing, the Gift switches have a smooth keypress from start to finish. The differing factor is in their acoustics, as the PME top housing in the Gift switches aid in providing a clackier upstroke.

Photos taken by the wonderful Captain.Sterling!

This is Prevails’ new Epsilon linear switch manufactured by JWK! This switch features a bright orange color, full nylon housing, JWK’s P3 stem (same stem from their Durock POM linear switches), and a 68g gold-plated progressive spring.

With the JWK produced full nylon housing, mystery material stem from their POM linear switches, and progressive spring, this switch will have not only a nice, smooth, bouncy feeling when typing it also has a very pleasing sound signature.

Check out the reviews and sound tests below!

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