What is the best lube in your personal experience for keyboard switches?

[Space Lynx]

I am in the market to buy some keyboard switch lube and there seems to be a lot of different kinds. Glorious O makes one, I was thinking of getting that one just as a safe bet.

Alternatively, I have white lithium grease, I know it is used as lube on door hinges and stuff, but I don't know, probably not safe for keyboard switches.

Any advice welcome as I have 4 keyboards I would like to take apart and lube the switches on. I also will be installing foam on all my keyboards, any tips for good foam brands also welcome.

 

[Shrek]

I'd say any carbon based lubricant was not safe with plastic; it needs to be silicon based.

 

[AsRock]

Yes will have to be safe with plastics of course, Super lube might be ok but would have to check more in to it. Might be to think with some kinds of it but if you can get the right one it might save a fortune.

I have used super lube but not the very light stuff and it's been fine so far just not got any more suitable for key switches.

Premium Synthetic Lubricants for All Uses | Super Lube

Super Lube® offers top-quality synthetic greases and oils for maximum efficiency and protection against wear, rust, and corrosion in diverse applications.

www.super-lube.com

 

[tabascosauz]

I am in the market to buy some keyboard switch lube and there seems to be a lot of different kinds. Glorious O makes one, I was thinking of getting that one just as a safe bet.

Alternatively, I have white lithium grease, I know it is used as lube on door hinges and stuff, but I don't know, probably not safe for keyboard switches.

Any advice welcome as I have 4 keyboards I would like to take apart and lube the switches on. I also will be installing foam on all my keyboards, any tips for good foam brands also welcome.

Last I remember I used krytox 205g0 for all my switches. GP105 for springs. Ideal choice/mix of grease or oil depends on the switch though, the pearlios I'm on now are a bit tricky with the uhmwpe stems so I decided to lay off the lube entirely after a few attempts

The dielectric grease stuff should only be used for things like stabilizers, for which it is perfect. It will fuck over your switches

 

[Shrek]

Yes will have to be safe with plastics of course, Super lube might be ok but would have to check more in to it. Might be to think with some kinds of it but if you can get the right one it might save a fortune.

I have used super lube but not the very light stuff and it's been fine so far just not got any more suitable for key stitches.

Super Lube have silicone oil

 

[Wirko]

I'd say any carbon based lubricant was not safe with plastic; it needs to be silicon based.

What's wrong with carbon? If you mean hydrocarbons then I agree, it's not safe. But PTFE-based should be safe. Greases with graphite... maybe but graphite is not the base material.

Yes will have to be safe with plastics of course, Super lube might be ok but would have to check more in to it. Might be to think with some kinds of it but if you can get the right one it might save a fortune.

I have used super lube but not the very light stuff and it's been fine so far just not got any more suitable for key stitches.

Premium Synthetic Lubricants for All Uses | Super Lube

Super Lube® offers top-quality synthetic greases and oils for maximum efficiency and protection against wear, rust, and corrosion in diverse applications.

www.super-lube.com

"Food grade lubes"? Vaseline/petroleum jelly is food grade too, but still made of hydrocarbons.

 

[LabRat 891]

What's wrong with carbon? If you mean hydrocarbon then I agree, it's not safe. But PTFE-based should be safe. Greases with graphite... maybe but graphite is not the base material.

Yes, I believe he meant hydrocarbon, ie 'Oil'; synthetic or conventional.

Graphite, Lithium, and Molybdenum(Moly) greases and lubricants are probably not appropriate for lubricating polymer-on-polymer. Not sure on springs.

Speaking towards PTFE-based (nastiness of PFAS, aside), I wonder if the carrier for RemOil is destructive to switches? IIRC, it's a cheap and common PTFE-based spray/liquid.

Last I remember I used krytox 205g0 for all my switches. GP105 for springs. Ideal choice/mix of grease or oil depends on the switch though, the pearlios I'm on now are a bit tricky with the uhmwpe stems so I decided to lay off the lube entirely after a few attempts

The dielectric grease stuff should only be used for things like stabilizers, for which it is perfect. It will fuck over your switches

What about if you just want to make a PoS 'import clone' mech. KB, suck a little less?

IMO, it's worth being (seemingly) pedantic here, as the carrier/solvent/viscosity modifier is more likely to damage materials than the actual lubricating agent. Plus, I just find "materials compatibility" fascinating and useful in day to day life.

 

[tabascosauz]

What about if you just want to make a PoS 'import clone' mech. KB, suck a little less?

IMO, it's worth being (seemingly) pedantic here, as the carrier/solvent/viscosity modifier is more likely to damage materials than the actual lubricating agent. Plus, I just find "materials compatibility" fascinating and useful in day to day life.

a pos board is probably not worth the time and effort to desolder all the switches to do this

and if its plate has provisions for switch top removal or PCB hotswap, then it's not a pos

I haven't used the silicone oil product from SL before, I guess if it's very similar to GP105 (an oil) then it would be fine. But pure oil is not usually a common recommendation for switches as a whole, probably due to migration or pooling concerns idk I can't remember

 

[Wirko]

Graphite, Lithium, and Molybdenum(Moly) greases and lubricants are probably not appropriate for lubricating polymer-on-polymer. Not sure on springs.

Lubricating greases basically are composed of a thickener (10 to 15 percent), base oil (80 to 90 percent) and performance additives (5 to 10 percent).

Is Lithium Grease the Best Multi-purpose Grease?

We have utilized the properties of grease lubricants to keep our wheels and machines running for centuries. But as time goes by, we have developed greases to keep up with the demand, such as lithium greases. With the influx of grease options, it can make the grease selection process difficult to...

www.machinerylubrication.com

Lithium (lithium soap) is the thickener here, so you'd need to know what the base oil is in a specific case. But lithium greases are for machinery, bearings etc., so probably unsuitable for plastics anyway. Molybden and graphite? I don't know. Do they count as performance additives? Still, whatever the name and composition, it's good to know if it contains hydrocarbons.

You're also making a distinction between the carrier and the lubricating agent, but maybe both of them are the "base oil", i.e., the same component.

 

[Shrek]

What's wrong with carbon? If you mean hydrocarbons then I agree, it's not safe. But PTFE-based should be safe. Greases with graphite... maybe but graphite is not the base material.


"Food grade lubes"? Vaseline/petroleum jelly is food grade too, but still made of hydrocarbons.

Carbon based oil will attack plastic; petroleum jelly (vaseline) is not good on plastic plumbing.

 

[Solaris17]

krytox 205g0

I use this for my switches

 

[Space Lynx]

I use this for my switches

I saw the Krytox stuff as the most used by keyboarding enthusiasts, so I will do that or the GLorious O stuff which I think is based off that.

Keyboard Lube for Switches - G-Lube

Made with high-quality ingredients, this lubricant ensures smooth keystrokes and improves acoustics. Easy to apply and safe for all mechanical switches.

www.gloriousgaming.com

I think I will go with Glorious O, just to support a gamer friendly brand in the community.