Deskeys Gasket Switch Films are here! From the engineer that brought forth the wonderful topre silencing rings comes their foray into the MX switch accessory market, and they have truly hit a home run with these! At a thickness of 0.3mm, the natural compressive nature of the films allows for it to work with a wide variety of switches and creates a deep, thocky sound that many chase after. Just as other switch films, they help to reduce stem and housing wobble by creating a tight seal once the switch has been enclosed with the films applied to the bottom housing.
These are twice the thickness of the standard TX films we carry, but carry the same level of effectiveness with a bass-ier acoustic effect. Below is a comprehensive list of switches we’ve used these films with and have found success:
- Gateron Milky Blacks
- Gateron Milky Yellows
- Cherry Retooled & Vintage Blacks
- FEI Matchas
- NovelKeys Creams
- All ZealPC switches
- TKC x C3 switches (V2 Tangerines, Kiwis, and Banana Splits)
- Holy Pandas (BSUN and first Drop version)
- U4 Bobas
- Keebwerk. Tacits
The only switch that we’ve tried it with that didn’t work very well were Gateron V2 Inks, as it was just too tight. This could be due to the plate having a tight tolerance already, so your mileage may vary.
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!
Typing Test
Gateron Yellow
Gateron Black
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!
Typing Test
Stock
Vendors
Canada/USA: You are here!
USA: Bolsa Keyboard Supply
EU/UK: Salvun
SEA: Zion StudiosIntroducing the Zaku Switch by Bolsa Supply. The name and colorway is inspired off the mobile suit MS-06R-1A Zaku II piloted by Shin Matsunaga which is one of Bolsa’s favorite Gunpla models.
The switch is a very smooth linear that is paired with an extended stem pole and a 63.5g double spring – providing a clacky bottom out and a snappy return experience.
Review
Typing Test
Vendors
Canada: You are here!
USA: Bolsa Keyboard Supply
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!
Reviews
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!
Typing Test
CIRCLE – TRIANGLE – SQUARE.
KNC Keys’ first Jacket switch has been remade! Red Jacket 2.0 Linear Switches feature UC Nylon housing, a long 13.5mm HPE stem for a super smooth stock feel and clean, clacky sound. Similar to the Green Jacket switches, Red Jacket 2.0 switches feature a double-stage spring, with a lighter actuation weight of 52g and bottom out weight of 60g and 3.5mm of travel distance.
Sound Tests
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!
Typing Test
Vendors
Canada/USA: You are here!
USA: Bolsa Keyboard Supply
EU/UK: Salvun
SEA: Zion StudiosThe 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!
Typing Test – Stock
Typing Test – Lubed
Vendors
Canada/USA: You are here!
USA: Prevail Key Co
EU: CandyKeys
UK: Protozoa Studio
SEA: Zion Studios
OCE: SwitchKeysIn 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!
TX switch films have been kindly supplied by TX Keyboards, a Korean-based company that provides high-quality polycarbonate films to improve the overall feeling of the switch. As the community continues to expand and switches continue to be developed, these films stay at the forefront of achieving the elusive endgame, wherever that may be.
These extremely thin polycarbonate films rest on the bottom housing of the switch during application.. When closed, they reduce the stem’s directional wobble and increase the tolerance of the two in combination while not increasing friction.
TX has slightly reworked their design by removing the bar that is towards the bottom of the film and instead has two short nubs. This simply makes it easier for the film to sit in the switch during application.
A thin variant has also been designed to fit Kailh switches, and is perfect for NovelKeys’ branded switches: Creams, Nolives, and the Dry/Silk series!
TX springs have been kindly supplied by TX Keyboards, a Korean-based company that provides high-quality springs at an affordable price. Due to the quality control extent that TX Keyboards has gone through, these springs will not have a deviation outside of -1/+1 for spring weight.
They have provided a wide variety of spring weights; the force of these spring weights is measured at bottom-out. Differently-weighted springs will feel different depending on what type of switch they are put into, and it is important to understand that it can drastically change how the switch performs.
The difference in the spring length will affect the initial force for the keypress, but does not affect the bottom-out weight. So, the 16mm springs will have a higher initial weight than the 14mm springs, but the bottom-out weight will be the same on both.
