The Secret To Smooth Keyboard Switches 

I’d rather just lube my switches. And I hate lubing switches.

The first step is admitting you have a problem.

It’s really all about the sound, and a slight improvement in smoothness. That being said I just feel like there’s so many great options out there that don’t require this at all. Oil Kings, CJs, Silks, JWK and so many others are already so smooth and still sound great. At the end of the day do what makes you happy but for novices I think they’d be better off spending their time and money on something else before jumping into this lol

RNDKBD sells them pre-broken in if you don't want to buy and run your own machine. I think theirs have off center presses too

It’s hard for me to say, but I genuinely like the scratchy sound of the MX blacks. That chalky sound can be pretty nice, depending on the board. Don’t get me wrong, I love my broken in and lubed creams, and I fuck with some smoooooth JWK switches, but the cherry Mx black scratch is def a mood.

I broke in my ultraglides the old fashioned way, I would watch something, and press the board facing down to press all of them at once. Yes I did it for almost 2 months but now they are JWK smooth (except for the springs, even after dunking them in 105 they crunch harder than a game dev on a deadline).

All about the small gains. Nice and informative video homie.

The break-in machine is cool, but I agree I think it may be a bit overboard haha. I'm mostly thinking with the cost of 1-2 of these, you can easily get in-stock smooth switches from the factory. I get the thing with certain switches like Creams, where there isn't a real competitor...so I'd look at them in the same way as someone who'd buy 2-3 sets of switches to make a frankenswitch, or other things like lube/flims...just going that extra step for desired results. The hobby is all about tinkering and customization so while it may very well be overboard, it'll be useful for some to get the results they want :) On the topic of vintage Cherry switches, I started in this hobby almost 15 years ago. Things were quite limited back then with new production stuff, as alot of it was still vintage. However it was known that the vintage MX Black was essentially the best MX linear option (apart from the very rare Nixies). I modified a Filco/Costar TKL with vintage plate-mount blacks (they were already used too) among other things and more or less stepped away from the hobby with two daily TKL builds and a few vintage Cherry boards in the closet for about 10 years. Outside of manufacturing variances, the differences are mostly minimal in the grand scheme (where you'll largely only notice them the most in side-by-side comparisons) but I recently got back into the hobby after trying out a friends Rama U80 w/ Gat Ink Black v1. Not only were the switches themselves noticeably smoother...but it's evident that the overall mold tolerances are tighter than anything Cherry, old or new. I'm certain differences in molds/manufacturing processes, plastic choices and spring types are responsible for alot of the differences we talk about, but after tinkering with more modern switches and being overjoyed there are so many options now, I can say we've seen many improvements over those past few years and the overall quality is beginning to plateau at a very high level of refinement. I have my first new build since then coming up and I'll be using Gat Oil Kings to start off with based on my tastes, but I got a hotswap as I want to try several other switches, mostly for fun. Cheers!

Well.. Tbh, I love the unique scratchiness from Cherry MX Black. It sounds different, and when I lubed those it sounds perfect.

I feel break ins are only viable with classic switches like the MX Blacks

I had no idea these machines even existed! What a wild dimension I’ve struggled into.

i understand that people really like the sound of creams but to me, they just arent worth it. I would much rather use a Matcha Latte for example - already lubed really well, Qc'd from invokeys, longpole so they have that fantastic sound... Idk. I just don't understand the hype for creams.

I'm a heavy typist, so I've never noticed the 5% difference with breaking in switches that were already "good enough" (excluding MX Blacks or NK Creams). Break-in machines are entering diminishing returns territory for me.

I think I'll diamond polish mx blacks

The yellow motors are faster and they run at roughly about 25k actuation per hour. The blue 1:90 motor does about 12k per hour. These are all based on my personal calculation. For the yellow faster 1:48 motor has lesser torque so heavier spring switches will slow it down by a little bit. Also do not run them imbalance as in having unequal amount of switches at both sides as it will cause the motor to burn faster. I've burn through a lot of motor testing these out xD My personal opinion on nk cream and mx black. 250k to 300k would remove most of the scratch but it still going to be there but it is going to be noticibly smoother on the feel side of thing and that to me should be the end goal of breaking the switch in. Bag lube the springs (spring swap for mx black) and film and call it a day if u don't feel like lubing the stem and they pretty much good to go.

Apply Diamond Paste before breaking in, clean it after breaking in and then re-lube, swap springs for TX L g(ur preference) and film them with TX .. Gosh, cant wait for mine..

If I find a set of switches that I like and plan to use them regularly for at least a year, I would prefer to break them in properly. While I don't own a nice break-in machine (love the idea), I have always rotated my switches on a weekly or bi-weekly basis for a few months before lubing them. The process takes me about 5 hours to lubricate 67 switches, ensuring that I have done a thorough job. Therefore, I aim to wear down any rough edges from the molding process in the switches prior to spending the time lubricating them. I firmly believe that switches improve over time, and while lubricating a factory switch may provide some immediate benefit, it also prolongs the time required to properly break them in with daily use.

I’m totally cool with lubing switches I actually find it relaxing. I’ve been searching for my favorite long pole switch as I feel those have been the linear group with the most experimentation w/ spring weight/ lengths pole length etc.

Call me crazy but non-lubed mx browns are my favourite switches. I even love the paper sliding on paper kind sound they have 😅

Keychron K6 Pro with Cherry MX Black Hyperglide and GMK Shanshui keycaps here. After a solid month + the switches have gotten smoother to the touch, but the signature scratch is still there. And I love it. Pls scratch, stay.

Gateron box ink pink user here. The switches are so smooth I didn't even bother lubing them

What is the difference between centered and off center actuation for the breakin process? Is there really a "significant" difference?

this and diamond polishing are the new wave

they also have a 2x machine

Who said a bit of scratch was bad... good HG MX Blacks are fine once lubed.

i have recently gone over to pretty much using hyperglides in all my boards now. all the perfectly smooth jwk switches got to the point of just being kind of boarding cause they are all the same. maybe its just another phase in my keyboard journey but i think the breaking in of hyperglides is kind of fun instead of using something like this.

Hey Andy! Nice video. They never seem to disappoint. Did you know that the largest marshmallow weighed 205.25 pounds and was sold in pieces to raise money for the Jigsaw Children’s Hospice Charity? I’m sure with a bit more practice in the kitchen I’ll be able to break the record! I don’t know about donating it to charity though, I’d probably just eat it instead.

I do think it is a little overboard, but I've been in too deep for a long time now. I will say that basically any Cherry switch benefits greatly from break-in (butter browns are very nice), but besides those and creams it isn't really worth it with how smooth switches today are. That Cherry pop sound is unmatched imo.

This is Genius..

The break in machine is legit the greatest purchase for an MX Black enthusiast. If only it lubed them for you :(

shit on me all you want, but the little mx black scratch is the part that makes mx blacks mx blacks and I love it 🖤

Way to flex the proto Tiger Lite, lol

This is awesome! I generally use my switches stock for 3-4 weeks before lubing. After seeing this I def wanna try one BUT... been thinking of designing and building a lego mindstorms break-in machine for full rows of switches? IDK could be cool??

I saw that feng is still selling them, are they sending them out? i didnt see any updates from them, and i have no idea if they are like scamming people.

I bought one just because. Threw some MX blacks and Creams on it for a couple of days and... Honestly couldn't tell the difference. I'd rather just lube, and I hate lubing.

dumb question how long (unit hours) should i break my new cherry mx black hyperglide for ?

Andy how many off center presses should i do on each side for smooth mx blacks?

wow what an amazing scientific ninja tool!

I appreciate the ingenuity that went in to this technique... but I think I'd rather just use switches that don't require this step in the first place, esp after trying dk Oni's oh muh GAWD.

I got stock jwick blacks from divinikey. They have this stupid top out scratch (I think it’s scratch) have no idea if it’s normal tho

Let’s keep it a buck. The custom mech community is just OCD

is there any good guides about using a break in machine? I am really interested but don't know where to start.

:KenM: lives on

Heh I play osu so surely the two keys if cherry browns I've been using for years is broken in This is cool for those who've wanted to do it themselves and not have to pay extra for ppl who've done it already but seems a bit overkill but cool to see it's an option nonetheless

I just put mine on a switch tester and step on them

I thought lubing switches was dumb and I now lube my switches. I think this is even more stupid so I'll probably have one down the road 😅

With determination, manual break in is possible. After doing an experiment with 10 people, they can press down an object 180 times per minute, so 1000 presses would take a little below 6 minutes. Multiply by 200 and you get 200,000 actuations in 20 hours, divide that into 4 hours a day and you can hand break in switches 200000actuations in 5 days. Just mount the switches in a keyboard and turn upside down to break in.

ayo man was just curious, are you lisa nguyen's brother?

do you have any issues with gmk keycaps scratching/binding with the upper housing of hyperglides?

Ink gang rise up!

Alternatively, you can get switches that don't even remotely need this starting at about $0.23

Waaa. Havent seen these. Doesnt suprise me.

No need for a machine, if you have too much time on your hands and 2000 vids in the „watch later“ section. 2x 15min per row, fingers rolling over the keys rapidly. 2,5 hours a day for 4 days and you‘re on about 200k break in. 😬

thoccy whoccy

definitely cool but so overkill

I wanna get the file of that machine. How can i get ?

Andy go buy more mats. They'll help you get a sleeker look around your pant's pocket area

fuckin hell...i feel like i underestimated the level of weirdness this community has.

I know jwk and gat inks etc most new switches are smooth but can they still be broken in?

i want dat

hyperglides are S tier

Luv u

been using stock hyperglides for months. im banking on the investment