Gateron China Joy (CJ): Initial Thoughts
These are my initial impressions of the Gateron CJs.
TL;DR
The CJs are smooth linear switches from Gateron with a high pitched sound and can be used in stock form.
Introduction and Structure
The CJs are the new linear switches from Gateron. These switches carry certain characteristics of both the Gateron X and the Gateron Inks. The switches are prelubed and I observed light lubing on the stem legs and poles. The lubing was consistent in all the switches that I opened.
The top is translucent and made up of an undisclosed “Ink” material with the Gateron text engraved on it.
The bottom is opaque and made up of POM material with the Gateron text engraved on it as well. The switch is PCB mount (5-pin) and has a very tight fit between the top and the bottom housings.
The blue stem is of regular length (long pole fans, look elsewhere) and it is also made up of POM material. The spring is gold plated and of 14.5 mm in length. It has a bottom out force of 60g and the switch has an actuation force of 50g. Due to the regular stems, the CJs offer a full travel distance of 4mm and a pre-travel of 2mm before actuation.
Even though the CJ contains a translucent top, the LED dissipation is quite well controlled and I didn’t observe any major color shifts.
The stem wobble was minimal (but present) in both the E-W and N-S directions. This was an unscientific test and should not be taken as a standard measure.
Switch and Key Press
Sound test perception and switch press feelings vary on an individual basis. Hence, my observations in this section might not sync with the reader’s.
Stock
The stock switch press clearly comprises of two sounds: the bottom press (forward travel) and the stem hitting the top housing during the return journey. The forward travel is so smooth that I was unable to hear any sound from it barring for the lightest of spring crunches (in some switches only). The return travel sound comprises of the the POM stem hitting the Ink housing and it produces a higher pitched sound.
The key press is also similar to the switch press and I was pleasantly surprised by the non-existence of the any kind of scratchiness in the forward stroke. The return stroke has the slightest of scratches and I personally don’t like the higher pitched sound of it.
Lubed
I lubed the CJs in two stages: in the first stage I just lubed the bottom housing, sliders, stems and the springs (basically everything except the top housing) with Krytox 205g0. The stage one lubing reduced the minutest of scratchiness of the return stroke to zero and didn’t do much as the switch was already smooth to begin with.
The stage one lubing did reduce the pitch of the forward stroke a bit.
In the second stage, I took the already lubed switch from stage one and further lubed all four sides of the top housing with Krytox 205g0. This helped to reduce the higher pitched sound of the stem hitting the top housing and the result was soothing to my ears.
This was the center of percussion for my ears and I settled on this combination for the rest of the switches. Yours might vary.
Conclusion
Gateron might have hit the nail on its head with the CJs in terms of the bottom POM housing and the POM stem providing the much needed smoothness for a linear switch. The nail is further driven by the inclusion of the Ink top which provides the characteristic high pitched thock of the Inks.
I always wondered what a Frankenswitch consisting of Ink tops and POM housings would feel like and my question has been answered by the CJs. They do work quite well.
China Joys do bring joy!