TOP 9 WEIRDEST mechanical keyboard switches of all time

Today we're going on a bit of an acid trip, looking at the WEIRDEST mechanical switches ever made. Hope you enjoy the video!
My keyboard reviews: bit.ly/1TbOtft
My switch teardowns: bit.ly/2C1QGHz
My TOP X videos: bit.ly/2FmpZfd
I'm Thomas and I do videos and reviews on mechanical keyboards ranging from the most sickening modern RGB gaming keyboards to vintage hardware relics, or sometimes keycaps or keyswitches ranging from Cherry MX to Alps SKCM to IBM buckling springs and anything in between.
Follow me on Twitter for updates on my keyboard videos! / chyrosran22

[@clickityclackity7096]

GADEEM!!! Tokai MM9 teardown/explanation: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqXOaJ2OoN6gbbc

[@aeyde]

lol

[@blus379]

Top 10 best tasting switches

[@squnxfisher9831]

EnvelopeBread try the gamecards ;)

[@taranzathespiderarchive9877]

1. Cherry MX Blueberry 2. Cherry MX Blackcurrant 3. Cherry MX Brownie 4. Gateradeon 5. Alps SKCM Orange Juice 6. Tealeaf springs 7. Alps SKCL Sour Cream 8. Alps SKCM Grilled Salmon 9. Cherry MX Red pepper 10. Honeywell Dining hall effect _im sorry_

[@JayPatelOrderOfCylzinAuthor]

Kalih choc

[@michaelst.germain341]

*The people wanna know Thomas*

[@michaelst.germain341]

@@taranzathespiderarchive9877 I love it

[@valerielastname9508]

9:25-10:05 Ah yes, those are definitely words.

[@PizzaPowerXYZ]

Oh God no

[@MobCat_]

Top 10 keyboards you could beat the shit out of someone with and still work afterwards

[@Chyrosran22]

MobCat I like your style xD .

[@aretard7995]

IBM Model M IBM Model F Symbolics Space Cadet IBM 5251 IBM 4704 Dell GYUM97SK Data General Dasher G1 ITT Courier Acer KB-101A Epson BFK Chyron 4044 Apple Extended Keyboard II Fujitsu N860 Northgate OmniKey ULTRA

[@Jrez]

That Oki gourd spring is beautiful. It has the hallmarks of tools of the past, even up to old pneumatic tools, with very few moving parts yet perform a function admirably AND with elegant style and simplicity.

[@XalphYT]

7:43 This is the 3D force touch equivalent in switch form. Imagine being able to access a second layer without needing a meta key at all. Imagine the amazing dual legend keycaps indicating what a short press and a long press will generate on the screen.

[@FindecanorNotGmail]

Several switch families have had double-action key switches. The first revision of the Apple III computer had double-action switches for the arrow keys. The cursor would move faster when you pressed a key all the way to the bottom.

[@Chyrosran22]

XalphYT double action switches aren't unheard of, but most of them aren't as weirdly built as this one xD .

[@karellen00]

I thought more about camera buttons that focus with the first contact, and makes a picture with the second, but anyway it would be cool to have on a modern switch! It would be useful too, if you consider how popular are nowadays 60% keyboards and smaller. But I think in future it will be more likely to be implemented on analog switches, like the Wooting One keyboard.

[@AzureFlash]

Small letters on a short press and capital letters on a long press would be quite fitting I think. It's like you're inflating the letters you type! And now a single meta key gives you four layers: short press, long press, key + short press, key + long press... Imagine Emacs shortcuts with a keyboard like that. Tidy HTML, JSLint, remove comments and upload to FTP server: hyper-long-press-H, super-short-press-J, CTRL-short-press-C, CTRL-hyper-long-press-F. Simple, elegant, efficient.

[@XalphYT]

I'm just surprised that the Space Cadet keyboard didn't include a dual activation switch. It would have doubled the number of characters available to the user. Such a wasted opportunity!

[@jannis8218]

What about a top 10 of switches still in mass production?

[@Chyrosran22]

People shouldn't be so willing to just throw in the towel and cope with sub-par, cheap conformist crap :p . Don't take "not good enough" for an answer! Look at the work Ellipse has done to bring back capacitive buckling springs! What modern switch could POSSIBLY stand up to that? ;)

[@JackOfHarts96]

1. Model F Buckling Springs 2. Unicomp buckling springs 3. Matias Click 4. Any custom NovelKeys "BOX" type switches 5. Topre with BKE domes

[@tristan6509]

@@Chyrosran22 the thing is these kinds of switches are really rare in my country...

[@Chyrosran22]

@@tristan6509 I had to import mine as well xD .

[@kyotra]

@TVMisterTero That seems rather narrow-sighted in regards to the current keyboard market. A lot of people build their own keyboards for ergonomic reasons, or to create something more pragmatic to their uses - in that case the _only_ choice is current production switches. Unless he's referring strictly to active mass commercial production, and excluding things like group buys or common mods - that's just being nitpicky, if he has to I don't think anyone would mind the list being expanded to switches that are _reasonably obtainable_ instead.

[@silvrfoxie594]

Top 10 switch modifications Top 10 switches you wish were still produced Top 10 most durable switches Top 10 rarest switches

[@revolver265]

Chyrosran's response, probably: - Mods to Alps switches (and a callback to the AT101 Bigfoot video where you can mod Salmon Alps). Edit: and YOK Panda switch lines, as well as O-Rings, stem swaps, etc. - Pine Alps and Buckling Spring keyboards, Fujitsu leafsprings, and a few Foam-and-foil switches, maybe Vintage MX Black if he feels like temporarily alienating his viewerbase. - Switches manufactured by the Soviet Union, hall effect switches (like the APT ones), GK Libra Bloody/Razer Optomechanical switches. - *_digs up single switch collection_* "The ones I don't have" (probably NMB Space Invaders, also known as Hi-Tek 725s)

[@jasondoe2596]

5:57 mind. fucking. blown. *edit:* I'd expect it to be inconsistent, with high variability between keys, and perhaps sensitive to dust/crud, but if it isn't we're talking about some admirable engineering! I'd love to see the wells and how it comes together.

[@Chyrosran22]

Jason Doe if you're interested, I did a detailed review on it :) .

[@jasondoe2596]

Chyrosran22, thanks, I only sub'ed 2 days ago, so I haven't checked all your videos yet :)

[@vwestlife]

Top Best... Top Worst... Top Weirdest... What's next? Top Gear?

[@Chyrosran22]

VWestlife Don't have enough cars for that :p .

[@user-fu3wy3we1j]

Excellent foreshadowing for Thomas's Top Gear collab

[@rayfenwick8761]

So Marquardt had force touch before Apple? Hearing you say 'fucked-up lepidopterist' was a treat. Actually, the whole video was. Top work as always.

[@XalphYT]

Here's hoping that someone can pass Thomas an idea or two on how those magical Japanese ball and spring switches work. They look like a fun design. It's a pity they're only rated for two million actuations.

[@pico4996]

"only two million"

[@isaaceyfish]

@@pico4996 2 million is minuscule

[@karellen00]

In the tokai it seems that in unpressed position the ball rests only on one contact, because the spring pressing it down is on an offset axis, and when you press down at a certain amount of force the ball curvature over the contact makes the spring tilt sort of like what happens on a buckling spring. The ball seems to be kept on one only contact by two things: the tension of the spring and the little plastic tab on the slider, labeled 30. In my opinion the length of this plastic tab balances those two factors, defining the tactility: if the tab is long (or down) enough the ball is constantly pushing to it, and is forced to go down and right smoothly as the tab going down allows it, giving you a linear or moderate tactility; if this tab gets less authority over the ball (being shorter), the ball will snap over the second contact when the spring buckles, giving you more noise and tactility. At least this is what I understand! It shouldn't be easy to test it without cover, as this kind of design seems to require a really precise positioning of the axis, and this may probably be the cause of the not so great expected lifetime.

[@zakofrx]

Marco Toselli they designed a switch that can't cope with much wear and tear. I guess their was a lot of how to make a switch that isn't patented yet going on back then. You allways seem to get weird less practical designs when the market is already full of the common sense patentee designs.

[@karellen00]

It makes completely sense that they tried to design something that wouldn't violate some existing copyright! However I don't see it as a bad thing but quite the opposite, differentiation is always a good thing, because not everyone likes the same thing. Maybe if it would have got a little more success there could have been more improvements that would make it a really nice and cheap switch, kind of like all the improvements and differentiation done in the recent years to the good old cherry mx design. Or maybe simply the japanese colture is attracted by shiny metallic balls, as you can see today by the "japanese polished foil ball"!

[@oali2478]

@@karellen00 patent not copyright

[@VytenisNarusis]

I have to say your videos keep impressing with their content-richness. I didn't think mechanical keyboard typing sounds and all this knowledge would float my boat so much! Thank you :)

[@tommyg2543]

You know what's weird? Calling mx browns tactile.

[@Chyrosran22]

I know right, it's absurd!

[@CKT1138]

Worst built keyboards

[@XalphYT]

Go to any store and pick the first ten keyboards that you see, or visit amazon.com and click on the first ten keyboards that you find. They will be all bad keyboards.

[@1337Shockwav3]

ZX Spectrum, ZX81, Atari 400, Oric-1, IBM PC Jr., Commodore 116, Jupiter Ace, KC85, Enterprise64 to name a few bad homecomputer keyboards. Some bad by concept already, some additionally by build quality.

[@picklejar7236]

alphabet soup is a better keyboard

[@JackOfHarts96]

@@segarallychampionship702 Nah, those Amstrads he showed are built way worse.

[@helloimzepex]

CKT1138 Amstrad PCW

[@pip5528]

Strangely, I actually kinda think it would be cool to have a few of these switch types, namely the Tesla Hall Effect and the Mouse Trap.

[@TimTomTwo]

This is the very first video I've seen from you, and I have to say: GOOD DAMN! That smooth voice is like butter to my ears! I would listen to you reading the package leaflet of an hemorrhoids cream with joy!

[@terra__]

6:41 not only its an impailed butterfly, but also every keystroke squashishes it! 7:03 Perfect!

[@samiraperi467]

The mouse trap reminds me of some Quickshot sticks that had microswitches in them. They were a marvel, with the force acting *across* a spring and forcing the switch closed. Unsurprisingly the common mode of failure was broken springs. :P

[@atmyboilingpoint2236]

I like how I looked up about switches I wanted to buy now I'm here, on my 3rd video and can't stop watching.

[@BoowlRx]

Hey ! I searched but I did not find which switch you used in your intro. Can you tell me? I love your vids! The best voice ever.

[@Chyrosran22]

Life BANANANAAA thank you! It's Alps SKCM Blue.

[@S85B50Engine]

8:58 got one of those recently, you were not lying, they are so addictive to press. What do you think the brown part is made of, is it bakelite (maybe because of the time period) or something else?

[@InvidiousIgnoramus]

It's here! Edit: What in the BLOODY HELL is that last one!? I've never been more confused in this hobby in my life!

[@TobiasWeg]

Top Switches you can buy today. :) Very nice videos, thanks for making them!

[@BjornThePiper]

I love how many keyswitches seem to have been actually produced just because somebody came up with something that could conceivably work, not because there is any particularly good reason for it.

[@SoulcatcherLucario]

"Wh... what the hell Japan?!" Never thought I'd hear something so needed in my life.

[@rich1051414]

Have you tested the impact the slider notch has on the spring when pre-compressed by the casing? Would the spring getting kinked explain the magic?

[@raymondquach07]

Last one seems to be the keyboard version of the switches used in most Japanese 30mm arcade buttons. Btw unlikely request, but I'd be interested to see the FANUC System P Model G down the road for a review or something.

[@NortelGeek]

I wish the butterfly switch was still being made as I could really use it for a great idea I had for a keyboard-The keyboard works as normal, however, when you press down harder on an alphanumeric key, a space is generated after it. It might take a while to get used to it, but imagine how quickly you could type. Barring availability of the double-action butterfly switch, you could sand off the bottom of the slider well on a Cherry MX switch and mount it above a mini-tactile dot switch and wire those to the spacebar.

[@bartisaron]

Keys being able to click more than one times when are being pushed down are actually used quite often in photo cameras: pushing down until the first click result in auto-focus being activated, and pushing down further results in the actual photo taking. Anyway I'm curious where did you find that key, because it was rather big. Much bigger than the one you may encounter in today's cameras.

[@supersaiyan3062]

Have you tried out htmz switches? i don't see any information about them (they seem to be cherry clones)

[@hansliss]

You should have mentioned, regarding the Futaba Complicated Linear, that you open it by *unscrewing* the legs. That's even weirder than the number of parts, in my opinion.

[@thevectrexlover]

top 10 keycap sets (not talking about all those aftermarket sets) but the awesome THICC ones vintage boards have

[@treknology1068]

I love that OKI single spring design. Bucking frilliant!!!

[@DrivenKeys]

Just when I thought I couldn't be pulled into the depths of the hobby, I can now see myself endlessly seeking Cherry Mousetraps...and those ball bearing switches.

[@flightsaitek4087]

Now this could be an optical delusion (illusion) on my part but the last switch Tokie it seems the bearing are different diameters. I would assume the diameter of it plays a role into how much tactility there is. Also looking at the patent sketch they have the white slider ledge so it is sliding down on the contact plate shaped like ] (not the other contact shaped like a V). From the video it looked like you had the slider ledge between the two contact plates. Definitely and interesting idea for a switch.

[@user-vc8by1ml4d]

11:23 if theres any higher resolution version of this image, i might be able to decipher what it says im native japanese

[@taitaisanchez]

Tokai MM9 are similar to Sanwa Denshi SW68 switches used in arcade cabinets. If not identical. i wonder which one is the original?

[@OldBuford]

8:39 so did they have to file and reshape the points on their keyboards as well as their distributors?

[@user-iq3dh6um2y]

2:00 are these bad as simplified/low profile linears

[@ash24042]

Hi Chyrosran, can you make a top 10 best (in your opinion of course) switches that consumer can buy right now? some of the switch in your top list is so old it's hard to track them down. Thank you.

[@jasondoe2596]

Good idea, not everyone is willing to track down and then clean and maintain antique stitches.

[@Chyrosran22]

ash24042 I just don't think it'd be very interesting Oo .

[@lalanzinge]

If you can show more than just cherry and cherry clones, it could interest a lot of people I think

[@Chyrosran22]

But it would be about switches that I by definition think aren't the best! :p

[@lalanzinge]

that's true.. maybe a top "less bad" switches then :D

[@pedromartins4847]

I actually wanna see you review the new razer greens, i think they're manufactured by Greentech, but theres rumours of Kailh too. Having both Cherry Mx blue and Razer Greens, the Razer greens offer a lot more tactility and a much better click too, they also feel very smooth. Just be sure to review the newer revisions, the old revisions had lots of problems.

[@Chyrosran22]

Pedro Martins the Razer switches were originally made by Kaihua, Greetech joined production much later. Yeah, I may well review them one day :) .

[@macboards9778]

How about top loudest/most silent switches?

[@gabrielhermel6932]

I really must thank you for your channel: You've infected me with your obsession concerning everything keyboard. Also, you responded comprehensively to a previous comment of mine, which is wholly unheard of. I'm into ortholinear ergonomic layouts which I know you don't care for, and have labored for months over layouts, etc.. Finally, I'm pretty satisfied with my endgame kb (a Keebio Iris) except... I thought I'd like Matias Quiet Clicks, which I do, but keycaps are impossible to find affordably (plus the tactility is not nearly sharp enough); so I settled on Kailh Royals, which I don't like at all: Yes, They are very tactile, but the actuation point it way too high and abrupt; followed by a 'thunk' (they feel totally dead). I think when I was young I liked typing on our school's Apple IIcs, which had Alps Salmon/Orange? And my dad had an IBM PC; so I got a model M, which I like well enough, but the travel feels a bit gummy and drops off too much after actuation. I'm fully willing to hand-wire a keyboard if you could please recommend a discrete switch which I could actually find, I thought the Oki Gourd Spring might fit the bill, but I've been combing eBay for months, and can't find any. In any case, thank you so much for your content.

[@AcelMoon]

Spring over metal ball... Now that takes the cake. My guess as to why one's linear and the other is tactile is from mold differences? Since replicating the switch actuation by hand is not possible, only the housing has the correct stem placement for it, meaning the slight differences in molds could be the reason.

[@SirLoinOfsteak85]

Why can't they make memchanical boards with that Oki tactile gourd spring instead? How much cooler would that be? I'll answer it for you: much.

[@calvinyip364]

Can you do a review on tecware phantom keyboard?

[@Kevin-jb2pv]

You should dremel out a little hole in one of those MM9 switches and see if you can catch the switch working while assembled.

[@SumeaBizarro]

Sanwa either has the licence from tokai or something else is going on; but Sanwa OBFS buttons use more or less identical switches to the Tokai MM9, only with SANWA as manufacturer of the switches as well as the buttons they come with, longer terminals for wiring the buttons to arcade machine panels and such. I just liked to take apart my arcade stick a lot and look up what the things are and surely enough Sanwa OBFS button switches are the same ball bearing, spring and lip, even the sides that keep the switch in it's mounting place and slider's top part are nearly identical

[@fitchyyboi]

how do I get my hands on a mousetrap switch?

[@ramadhanumulya934]

his swear only is enough for me to subscribe

[@lucidnonsense942]

Could the ball (or contacts) in the Tokai switch be magnetised? It would explain the short lifespan anyway... PS. Do you have any idea why Amkey F&F switches are so smooth and non mushy? Unlike any other F&F I tried...

[@theSolarisDragon]

I'd guess that it's either the spring diameter or a difference in the slider geometry.

[@Chyrosran22]

The contacts are not magnetised, I'm pretty sure. Definitely not to any apparent degree.

[@zakofrx]

It looks very temperamental in that a little wear or bend in the slider or contacts could stop it working.

[@Chyrosran22]

I'm beyond amazed it even works to begin with to be honest! xD

[@maciejpociecha6357]

Chyrosran22 My other though is that when inside the case, the spring bottom slides down the front of the sphere, and scoops it off one set of contacts.

[@nxzhang]

Ten 10 (or 5) vintage keyboards? In terms of the build quality, layout, sound enhancement, etc. Would be lovely.

[@arkhitekton1]

lmao at the box royal in the center 0:10

[@Argloth]

My guess is that the difference between the two Tokai MM9 clones lies in the height of the little plastic lip in relation to the ball at rest. If it's at or below the middle of the ball it will be linear, if it's above it will be tactile.

[@minimal5369]

Aight nice vid see you next month. Also can you test cheap mechanical keyboards? Specially those k22 ajazz switch (black)

[@Chyrosran22]

I've reviewed several cheap keyboards before, including two Ajazz ones!

[@minimal5369]

What's the title?

[@Chyrosran22]

kzbin.info/aero/PL285ATFsHGY9JnaQemdjRLEMmLRKpmbfB

[@coffeepot3123]

Damn, would love to test out Cherry mousetrap and the Oki tactile gourd springs. (inside actual keyboards).

[@XalphYT]

Coffee Jack No kidding. Those Mousetrap switches look so sweet. Here's another (unlisted?) video that I found of a mousetrap for your viewing and listening pleasure: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZjTmmCwm6yVb68

[@Chyrosran22]

That's HaaTa. He's the one who originally brought the switches to my attention. He also measured their force curve.

[@RBLevin]

Oki nails it. What's the MTBF for those? I imagine they get banged out of shape pretty quickly, relatively speaking.

[@Chyrosran22]

I have no idea what the MTBF is! My keyboard is pretty good, but I don't suppose it's as durable as many other designs, no. The best thing of course: imagine they still made them, HOW INCREDIBLY EASY would it be to change them?! :D

[@user-iq3dh6um2y]

what do futaba MD switches feel like

[@laughtrack686]

Wait, then what was the cherry mousetrap found in?

[@nickbrown3868]

Came here to find out what switches were in a CNC machine keyboard that I found today..... Futaba MD apparently lol

[@johncochran8497]

Would love to see another "Top 5 Switches" video. Except for the "Top 5 Mechanical Switches still being made". The historical or rare switches is nice to know, but not very practical. Getting a nice list of switches still being produced would be quite useful.

[@CaiJLe]

I thought 'hmm, how much a switch can be weird' before watch. Then, Now I start to believe that there's some kind of devil around us whispering weird things to engineers.XD

[@austintseng916]

Ur voice is so soothing

[@zakofrx]

Would be interested in you posting links to the patents you have of the switches you show in these videos.

[@Chyrosran22]

The Tokai patent number is JPS5276687A; the rest I don't have on hand right now.

[@thecroutoncave1924]

Top 10 best Keycap sets. Not excluding ones only available only from preassembled keyboards.

[@DJKiske2]

Funny enough, the Tokai MM9 switches are used in some Japanese arcade buttons. Specifically old Seimitsu buttons.

[@Ril3y00]

Would love to see a review of a Ducky keyboard.

[@ihalloway]

nr. 5 Clicky sound was awesome !

[@BRN781-A]

Make a top 10 "best switches" video disregarding the switch type.

[@RainbowCornet]

Yo is that a BOX Royal in the center at 0:10 ?

[@Chyrosran22]

RainbowCornet Yes.

[@MatthewDeluca300]

Videowriter review (Alps SKCM Brown) please :-)

[@gabebol7264]

#2! Nice! The 2nd weirdest switch ever was my first keyboard!

[@Chyrosran22]

Gabe Bol ITW magvalve? They're very rare on PC-compatible keyboards xD .

[@aretard7995]

w o w .

[@NCommander]

I knew the moment that Ars did a keyboard article linking to a KZbin video, this is where I was ending up.

[@flappyDAchicken]

Can you please review the box royals when they come out

[@Chyrosran22]

Matt Yang There's a Teardown of them coming out on Monday :) .

[@flappyDAchicken]

Chyrosran22 omg thanks!

[@SonicBoone56]

Top 10 most DELICIOUS switches

[@firewalk7]

....aaaaaand now I need a keyboard with linear Tokai MM9 switches. Make it two, I also need the tactiles ones.

[@tronic307]

As soon as I saw the title I thought Tokai MM9 and it turned out to be No. 1! I've got Krytox lubed MM9s in my Sanwa arcade buttons!

[@marceldavis3628]

Top ten best burning Switches please

[@RobertHeadley]

I do so love efficient and also over complicated design.

[@potion95]

Wow this was awesome!

[@pocoapoco2]

That mousaetrap switch operates exactly the same way a common microswitch does.

[@mcooper2505]

winner winner chicken dinner, you never fail to amaze and entertain me Thomas. As always great video and Thanks.

[@Jones5121]

7:53 its the longest travel autofocus shutter button

[@ZILtoid1991]

Can we get a Top X worst keyboards video?

[@ziting5756]

im in the middle of a breakdown right now but hey great video

[@ziting5756]

update not sure what the breakdown was about im fine now

[@creeproot]

you doing good nowadays fam

[@jfkfromclonehigh8157]

I love the way you say hideous

[@ianv3180]

Me: What's your favourite switch? ITW magnetic valve owner: ITW magnetic valve Me: Cool, how do they work? ITW magnetic valve owner: 9:25 Me: Yes

[@joeb2487]

I love this video even though I didn't understand a single word

[@veon5043]

To hell with this child!

[@iiv3l0cityii]

Tesla went from making switches to making cars... very interesting

[@PileOfEmptyTapes]

That's not the same company, lol! Here it's the Czech Tesla, long-time maker of all things electronic, including electrolytic capacitors of rather modest longevity. My dad used to have a Tesla tape recorder back in the day... it was pretty crappy, but options on the other side of the Iron Curtain were rather limited. We're so spoiled with choice today.

[@trashflipper5117]

Imagine lubing the futaba MD switches

[@meekley6490]

Top 10 best/worst named switches!!

[@yahooeny]

I'm honestly a bit confused that you're so confounded by the ball bearing design of the tokais... This switch design is used all the time in arcade buttons, particularly the Sanwa OBSF series.

[@mattcrowley8993]

I’m thinking the Peerless switches have a click leaf somewhere.

[@Chyrosran22]

Matt Crowley negative, no other components than the ones mentioned. I think it comes from the sock.

[@veon5043]

This guy is probably making millions of asmr

[@trinhson1368]

i, today, have throw springs into a rubber dome keyboard replacing its dome, its a linear keyboard now

[@nanimuwu]

went from a simple mouse trap to a fucking nuclear generator thing

[@wisteela]

Very interesting stuff

[@WalfasProject8000]

I've seen the mousetrap one in an LGR video

[@XalphYT]

WalfasProject8000 Thanks for the heads up! That was a very pleasing 10-second video to watch.