I Think My Switch Is Stuck! - The Tale of Cherry MX Locks
Over the years of collecting mechanical keyboard switches, I’ve been lucky enough to have encountered dozens upon dozens of rare and unique ones that have stuck in my mind to this day. Prototypes, factory errors, and even a few switches so rare that there is literally zero documentation about them anywhere in the world all fill that personal list from top to bottom. However, I realize that talking about switches so far outside of most people’s reaches, and even sometimes my own grasp, doesn’t make for the most exciting of articles about switches. To this newest generation of keyboard enthusiasts, though, there is one pretty rare MX-style switch which has made its way to the top of everyone’s “must try” lists – Cherry MX Locks. These often undiscussed and even more rarely seen switches are something that few people have seen and even fewer have had the chance to try at a meetup before. However, the list of people who really know how these unique Cherry switches work is even shorter...
Jul 23, 2024
PCB-Mount Stabilizers Because of their popularity, there is a wide variety of choices when it comes to purchasing PCB mount stabilizers. As of writing, in February of 2024, the most popular choices for stabilizers are TX AP, AEBoards Staebies, Durock V2, Gateron Ink V2, and Owlab Owlstab V2. Starting with TX AP stabilizers, the AP stands for almost perfect. These stabilizers are unique in that they are the main offering of 1.2mm stabilizers. They come in both clip-in and screw-in varieties and even have a special offering called Long Pole. These are designed to work well with switches that have shorter travel distances which we refer to as long pole switches. They are currently the only stabilizer producer to offer this choice. Speaking of unique features, TX AP stabilizers feature a built-in Holee Mod. The Holee Mod is a popular modification done to stabilizers to address ticking between the wire and the stem of the stabilizer. This is typically done through bandaids, Teflon tape, or precut strips included with stabilizers. TX AP uses a double shot stem that features a softer material where the wire touches the stem, thus reducing ticking greatly. This feature makes them a favorite of novice and experienced builders alike. TX also includes shims with clip-in stabilizers to help create a secure mount. This addresses a common complaint of older-generation clip-in stabilizers as they would sometimes pop off the PCB.