linear

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!

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.

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

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!

Shoobs

Tech Kile

Gateron Oil King linear switches are a phenomenal addition to Gateron’s switch repertoire – offering a super smooth, thocky keypress with consistently applied factory lube to help avoid spring ping and unnecessary friction. Similar to the Gateron CJ switches, the Oil Kings implement the proprietary Ink housing material blend, but this time for the bottom housing. The top housing is instead using a PA66 Nylon plastic, which, in conjunction with the POM stem, results in an impressively smooth keypress from actuation to upstroke. The stem tolerances in the top housing are also fantastic, with only a very slight amount of wobble, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it can help prevent possible stem binding on the top housing on the upstroke.

Gateron has also been experimenting with different spring lengths, and the Oil Kings feature a matching 20mm black spring allowing for the light actuation and heavy bottom-out weights.

For those that prefer to be able to buy switches, install them straight into their board, and type on will be more than satisfied with Gateron Oil Kings!

Photos taken by the wonderful Captain.Sterling!

Adding to our TTC switch line are the TTC Ace linear switches! These linear switches boast an impressively smooth stock typing experience with factory lube on the legs and side parts of the stem, and this great switch feel is improved further by the 60g double-extension spring for a snappy return. With minimal stem wobble and no housing wobble, these switches are a real sleeper hit for the quality and price offered!

Photos taken by the wonderful Captain.Sterling!

The third switch in the Ashkeebs line-up, Alexandrite linear switches aim for a smooth stock typing experience and thocky acoustic. Following our previous switch nomenclature, Alexandrite is a stone that appears bluish green in daylight or fluorescent light, and purplish red at night, tying in perfectly with our brand colours!

The UPE stem and HPE top housing combination allow for a nice, smooth keypress, and the Nylon bottom housing gives the switch a solid, thocky bottom-out. These switches are provided with no factory lube for a consistent stock typing experience, however as with lubing most linears, we recommend 205g0 applied to the bottom housing and stem, with GPL 105 or your choice of oil for the springs. This will help to deepen the sound further and guarantee a super smooth keypress.

Photos taken by the amazingly talented Karan Chauhan!

Canada/USA: You are here!
USA: Prevail Key Co
EU: CandyKeys
UK: Protozoa Studio
SEA: Zion Studios
OCE: SwitchKeys

CIRCLE – TRIANGLE – SQUARE.

KNC Keys has released another Jacket-themed switch, this time the Green Jacket linear switches! These phenomenal switches feature HPE top housing, Nylon bottom housing, and an extra long 13.9mm POM stem for a super smooth stock feel and clean, clacky sound. The 63.5g double-stage spring will keep the switches feeling super snappy, especially on the upstroke, and no factory lube means that if you feel like you want to make the Green Jackets a little more to your liking you can do so with ease!

Also available are the tactile variant of the Green Jacket switches! They have little to no pre-travel and once over the bump you’ll nearly be bottoming-out. All of the specs are identical to the linear variant.

Attempting to match the colour of the switch housing to the show the switches are inspired from was quite a challenge but they came out just perfect. They’re incredibly vibrant and will look amazing in your board and in a container waiting for the right time to be used!