Low profile key switches have the obvious advantage of being smaller than MX switches…but the problem is that silent options, especially if you’re into tactile switches, are seemingly nonexistent unless I’m missing anything?

  • crankin
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    fedilink
    41 year ago

    I have one board with Choc Sunsets (tactiles), one with Choc Pro Reds (35g linears), and one with Choc Purps (25g linear).

    Out of the box, the sunsets were way too aggressive for me, but I lubed them with 205 including the tactile bump and that mellowed them out and quieted them down.

    The Purps are too light and kinda rattly, didn’t care for them.

    The Pro Reds are my favorite. I lubed them with 205 and they feel and sound good.

    I also laser cut a small pad from thin silicone that sits between the keycap and the stem, and which cushions and silences the bottom out. On a choc switch the keycap bottoms out against the top housing, rather than the stem hitting the bottom of the housing, so you can put a film or something under the keycap.

    With those silicone bumpers and 205 lube the Pro Reds are nearly silent, and the Sunsets are pretty quiet too.

    I just ordered some more PCBs, on the next board I may try pro reds on the homerow and purps on the other rows and see how that feels.