Learn About Custom Mechanical Keyboards

The original Oil King is a factory-lubed linear with a nylon top and an ink bottom. Gateron kept that recipe and added three switches: Yellow heavy tactile, Pink silent linear, and Purple silent tactile. This is how they differ, and which one to buy.

PBT and ABS are the two plastics behind almost every keycap set you'll ever consider — and the difference is bigger than people think in one area (shine) and smaller than people think in another (sound). Here's the honest breakdown.

Every mechanical keyboard switch falls into one of three families: linear, tactile, or clicky. Here's exactly how each one works, what it feels and sounds like, and — once you know the difference — how to actually pick the right one for typing, gaming, or the office.

Two of the smoothest stock linear switches around, head to head. Gateron's Oil King brings factory-lubed nylon-and-ink stealth; Gazzew's Boba Linear Thock brings the legendary "boba" housing and a shortened, speedy stroke. Here's how they actually stack up, round by round.

On paper, the C³Equalz Banana Split and Everglide Aqua King are nearly the same switch — same weight, same travel, same price. So why do they feel and sound so different? Here's the honest breakdown of what actually separates these two budget-linear favorites.

Want a fully custom mechanical keyboard without the bent pins, rattly stabilizers, or hours of hand-lubing? Thock King's build & assembly service puts our team to work on your picks — starting at $19.95 — and ships back the parts you swapped out at no extra cost.

Two of the hobby's most talked-about tactiles, compared head-to-head. See how the Type R's sharp, zero-travel snap stacks up against the Ice King's deep, smooth thock — and which one fits your build.

Want to transform your keyboard switches for that sought-after thocky or creamy sound? Hand-lubing is the ultimate upgrade, but it requires patience and precision. Here is a complete step-by-step guide to doing it right—and how to skip the hours of tedious labor with Thock King’s custom lube and film service.

Looking to build a tactile keyboard with a satisfying acoustic punch? Explore our top-selling tactile switches of 2026—featuring heavy hitters like the Gazzew Boba U4T V2, Sillyworks Type R, and Gateron Baby Kangaroo—plus how our professional hand-lubing service can get your board build-ready.