Gateron Oil King Pre Lubed 5pin Switches 55g Linear Mechanical Keyboard Custom Switch (90 pcs)

Product Information

A wonderful UK based operation which sells singles to switches that I’ve used above in my comparisons for collectors and the curious alike. Matt has gone out of his way to help me build out big parts of my collection, and buying something using this link supports him as well as my content! KeebCats UK The Gateron Oil King switches are compatible with all standard mechanical keyboard plates and PCBs, making them easy to install and use. They are also compatible with a variety of keycaps, including Cherry MX style keycaps, which means you can easily personalize your keyboard with your favorite keycaps. The UHMknown linear switches are definitely on the softer end of the scale, with a medium to light and volume and fairly softened and muted housing collision sounds. The detractors here come from a very subtle scratch sound that is present in some switches across a batch as well as the poppiness noted in the push feeling section notes above. Context In terms of straight up push feel, the no-insert Novelkeys Cream+ switches are about as average as one could expect. They have a very slight amount of small grain scratch, a decently well muted bottom out feeling, and a topping out that is slightly thinner due to mechanical differences. Just picture the most average linear switch you can and there you have it. Wobble

Using the newer Cream family molds which were shown extensively in 2022, the Cream+ switches have a minor amount of N/S and E/W stem wobble that likely won’t bother the vast majority of users and is comparable to wobble from other well-known manufacturers. Sound At 34,000 actuations, the non-insert Novelkeys Cream+ switches do appear to become a noticeable bit smoother. While there is no real change in the size of the grain of scratch, it simply just seems to disappear altogether at this point in breaking in. Disregarding the insert, the Novelkeys Cream+ switches are about as average as they come: fairly smooth with some small grain scratch issues and overall firm and slightly unbalanced housing collisions. The titanium insert, however, provides a strong, flat, metallic clap at the end of the downstroke that makes itself the center of attention of the switch while not detracting from the other performance characteristics. Wobble Keeping with the same Cream family molds used extensively in releases throughout 2022, the Cream+ switches have a minor amount of stem wobble in both directions that is consistent across the batch and not large enough to bother the vast majority of users. Sound Without the copper insert, the Novelkeys Cream+ switches are par for course in terms of modern linear switches – minor small grain scratch but overall smoothness and relatively firm housing collisions that are minorly unbalanced. However, the copper insert produces a firmer bottoming that is closer to nylon than POM while maintaining subtle metallic undertones that emphasize the unique nature of the bottoming out here. Wobble

Even though the Novelkeys Dream Cream switches were altogether completely void of innovation within the switch itself, it’s hard to overlook the steps that were taken here as anything but innovative. Sure, manufacturers are more than on board with making changes to existing production processes such as molds, lubrication lines, etc, though the fact that they convinced Kailh to implement an entire extra step in their production process is, as far as I am aware, an absolute first for the community. What should even further drive home the importance of this step by Novelkeys and Kailh is that since this design improvement isn’t intrinsic to the switch itself, it could easily be implemented for future switch releases in the same way that ‘new and improved lubing’ continues to sell switches even to this day. Of any of the switches on the list, the KTT Strawberries are surprisingly the most similar sounding to the Oil Kings in both terms of overall volume as well more specific characteristics such as pitch, sharpness, etc.

Gateron Oil King switches are the perfect choice for anyone looking for a smooth and responsive typing experience while giving you the freedom to customize your keyboard exactly the way you want. Overall, the Oil King switches feel more solid, cohesive, and perhaps hand-lubed than that of the CJ switches. While I normally use this in a negative sense in that switches that feel ‘hand-lubed’ are more gummy or overlubed, in a subtle way its definitely makes the switch feel more unique and smoother than the CJ switches.

In terms of smoothness, the 8008 Inks have a consistent-grain scratch feel that is subtle, albeit significantly more noticeable when comparing side by side to that of the Oil King switches. Scores and Statistics Silicone Inserts: In similar fashion as the 34,000-actuation set, the silicone insert Cream+ switches broken into 51,000 actuations do appear to have noticeably lesser spring ping to them than their non-insert counterparts broken in for the same length of time.

The stem wobble of the KTT Strawberry switches definitely still does outclass that of the Oil King switches, and really the vast majority of switches that Gateron has ever produced for that matter. 8008 Ink The H1 switches are slightly more grainy and scratchy than that of the Oil King switches. While the H1s were definitely competitively smooth at the time of their release a few years ago, it really comes to show just how much factory lubrication techniques have improved across the board over the past few years, regardless of the manufacturer. Beyond the most notable change in housing collision pitch and volume, the switches don’t appear to change much beyond 17,000 actuations, save for the small increase in both N/S and E/W direction stem wobble that is certainly deserving of a notice at this point. 51,000 Actuations Copper Inserts: I’m not entirely certain as to how this only showed up at 51,000 actuations, but the Cream+ switches with copper inserts almost appear to have a more amplified scratch and spring ping sound than either of the other inserts. I’m almost suspecting that this may be a batch-specific issue as the copper inserts didn’t have really any other points of note about them at other break-in times. With the titanium inserts, the sounds of the Cream+ switches almost entirely becomes the bottoming out. A clear and crisp bottoming out is one thing, but the metallic tone is unlike anything you’ve heard in a switch before, even if it is a bit overpowering. While unique, and definitely something many users will enjoy, it is still fundamentally a bit lopsided in execution. Context

Like most other switches, I do think there may be some increase in stem wobble in the UHMknown switches at 17,000 actuations, but if there is it is so minor as to make it hard to decide either way. 34,000 Actuations The Gateron CJ switches are marginally louder than the Oil Kings at topping out, and have a slightly higher-pitched sound than that of the Oil Kings. It should also be noted that across a small batch of both of these switches that the CJs had a slightly more consistent sounding topping out to them, even if they were not all that great sounding.