[Keyboards] Spray Lubing your Keyboard switches

thebadmachine on 07/12/2020 - 17:50
Last edited 07/12/2020 - 22:29 by 1 other user

Hi Keyboard newb here.

Have been watching a lot of videos & reading a lot about Mechanical Keyboards recently. And after watching many videos with people “spray lubing” their switches I came across this video: https://youtu.be/ZXB_FCIyU6k

TLDR: Basically the spray lube goes everywhere and can ruin the contact in the switch and you can end up with keys that stop working.
And the only fix means removing all the spray lube so you end up with stock switches anyway.
Terrible.

Just thought if there are any other newbs out there that were actually thinking of doing this, this video may be helpful.

I would probably also recommend keeping your keyboard stock at least until the warranty is over, so if anything goes wrong you can easily get a replacement.

Computing Computer Peripheral Keyboard Mechanical Keyboard

Comments

SF3 on 07/12/2020 - 18:07

Sounds like a solution looking for a problem… additional lube to a mechanical keyboard, I'm pre-newb!
- thebadmachine on 07/12/2020 - 18:19
  
  additional lube to a mechanical keyboard
  
  Yes and as far as I am aware many recent Mechanical Keyboards come “Pre-lubed”.
  
  I think some people might watch all these “Mech Keyboard” videos online and get too excited and take apart their brand-new keyboard and possibly ruin it.
  - RNDM on 07/12/2020 - 18:26
    
    Which keyboards come pre-lubed?
    - thebadmachine on 07/12/2020 - 18:28
      
      I am assuming “Pre-built” custom keyboards would be pre-lubed since you are paying extra for them to put it together.
      
      And I think cheaper keyboards like the Chinese brand ones & razer are pre-lubed.
      (I saw a video recently taking apart a razer keyboard and they said the switches feel like they are pre-lubed with dry spray lube at the factory)
      
      Maybe only some cheaper keyboards come pre-lubed, but I briefly tried a Chinese brand one, and the user said it was stock & came pre-lubed (I checked under the space bar and could see tiny bits of paste sticking out), I asked how much the keyboard cost they said under $100.
      
      And I think some branded keyboards (razer etc) come properly “dry spray lubed” from factory so it is difficult to tell.
    - thebadmachine on 07/12/2020 - 19:48
      
      If you are wondering what model, I just remember the brand was Qisan Magicforce.
      There are so many different models they have on Amazon, you will have to find the one which says “lubed” I guess.
      (Also watch out for international country models they will have letters & keys in the wrong places)
      Or maybe it is only the new versions which are lubed.
      https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=Qisan+magicforce&ref=nb_sb_nos…
      
      Also here is a post which mentions “lubed from factory”.
      https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/flqt9o…
endotherm on 07/12/2020 - 20:19

+2

I get lube on my keyboard all the time.
- thebadmachine on 07/12/2020 - 20:21
  
  Please share what keyboard.
  - Switchblade88 on 07/12/2020 - 21:36
    
    Don't think he's concentrating on the keyboard…
TheBird on 07/12/2020 - 21:00

um… errr? Are you actually saying, spraying lube on your keyboard?
- thebadmachine on 07/12/2020 - 21:09
  
  +1
  
  Mechanical Keyboard switches (underneath the keys there are switches and inside those switches is where you apply lube).
  
  There is normal lube which is like paste which you apply with a brush.
  And spray lube in a can, which you can spray on and after it dries it also has a similar affect.
  - TheBird on 07/12/2020 - 22:29
    
    Well… You learn something every day.
    - thebadmachine on 07/12/2020 - 22:39
      
      Also only just learning about all this “Mechanical Keyboard Community”.
      
      IMO having too much interest in one occupation is perverted and will make you a degenerate. But it’s ok to have a look and see what’s around I guess.
      
      Some of these perverts are spending $500+ on custom keyboards which is just ridiculous, especially when they also consider it an ongoing expense (more keyboards / more parts / more customizing).
      
      Has been interesting rabbit hole to go down on YouTube though.
      (Happens regularly: discover something new then everything in your recommended becomes videos of that)
      - YeemaiI on 09/12/2020 - 13:58
        
        @thebadmachine: Wouldn't exactly say it's perverted. The hobby is no different from car or music or PC or shoe or jewellery etc. enthusiasts spending money to feed their obsessions.
        
        thebadmachine on 09/12/2020 - 15:32
        
        @YeemaiI: Yes I am exaggerating, but I do think being obsessed (having too much interest) is perverted.
        It could be anything (planes / trains / hats / food).
        
        I find it is good to have people with different strong interests, otherwise everything would be vanilla.
        Just when the interest is so strong it does come across as perverted.
        
        Here is an example from a video I saw recently: https://youtu.be/iW3tUA84nZ0
        
        Pause at 21 seconds.
YeemaiI on 09/12/2020 - 13:56

Don't spray lube, just do the hard work and lube the switches by disassembling them and using a brush. Much better and more consistent results.
- iridiumstem on 19/12/2020 - 17:50
  
  Feel like I am necroing an old post, but I think spray lubing has its place.
  Like when it comes with to say, a full sized keyboard with LEDs.
  
  I think it is much easier to kill a keyboard by lifting the pad then say spray lubing. Jittering issues can easily be fixed if you just desolder that switch and clean it which is easier than desoldering the entire board imo.
  
  Though, I think end results do differ a lot since you can use thicker lube and you can choose to not lube the legs with the traditional method.
abctoz on 19/12/2020 - 18:17

i lubed my keyboard with coconut oil, it worked well, so well in fact that i went ham and put way too much in, it eventually flowed down and it the keys started randomly pressing themselves, had to take it apart and wash it thoroughly, don't use too much lol.
- thebadmachine on 19/12/2020 - 18:22
  
  i lubed my keyboard with coconut oil
  
  I think that is a bad idea. Most oil will slowly break down plastic and could damage your keyboard.
  Most recommend "plastic friendly" lube.
  - abctoz on 19/12/2020 - 18:31
    
    oh well its an old keyboard don't really care, works well though have been doing it for a year now

[Keyboards] Spray Lubing your Keyboard switches

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