By putting lube on your switches, you’ll change the feel, sound of your keys.
The sound of a mechanical keyboard is one of the things that makes it different from other keyboards. The sound of a mechanical keyboard key hitting the desk is different from that of a standard keyboard. It makes a noise because it has a spring that hits the desk. Mechanical keyboards sound better than cheap keyboards.
Maybe you’re not so happy with the sound of your keyboard anymore. You might have noticed other sounds, like little springs pinging or scraping. It is possible that you have seen someone with a new mechanical keyboard that is really nice. So how do you make your keyboard better? Is there anything you can do to improve it? Is it better to buy a new one instead of fixing this one?
Lube your switches if you want to fix them. Mechanical keyboard enthusiasts usually do it after purchasing. It makes the switches feel and sound better. You’ll be able to play games better on your keyboard if it’s a good one.
- Why Lube Your Keyboard Switches?
- What kind of Lube Do You Use?
- Keyboard Switch Parts
- Tools Need To Lube Mechanical Switches
- Lubricant
- Tweezers
- Brush
- Cotton swab
- Flathead Screwdriver or something similar
- Steps To Lube Your Mechanical Keyboard Switches
- Brush off the dirt and dust from the keyboard with a soft brush
- Clean the keyboard’s switches with a q-tip and rubbing alcohol
- Apply a small amount of lubricant to the switch so it will work better
- Wipe off any excess grease from around the base of the switch
Why Lube Your Keyboard Switches?
Lubricating switches on a mechanical keyboard is important. They’ll last longer and be more comfortable to use.
When your keyboard isn’t maintained, you’re more likely to slip off the keys. You’ll have trouble typing quickly if your keyboard isn’t maintained.
You can make your keyboard quieter if you lubricate the switches in a shared space like an office or dorm room.
You can also get better performance out of your keyboard by lubricating the switches. When you press a key without lube, the switch will slam into place. When you play games, your fingers get pressed together. It can make them cramped and uncomfortable.
You only need to lubricate linear and tactile mechanical switches. You can also lube clicky switches, but it isn’t recommended because of how they work.
What kind of Lube Do You Use?
People like different things for different reasons. You have to find what you like. Some people like silicone oil, which is more expensive. It lasts longer than petroleum jelly (aka Vaseline).
Keyboard Switch Parts
There are four parts to a mechanical keyboard switch: the stem, the spring, the bottom housing, and the top housing.
The spring needs to be cleaned off before you put it back together. Make sure you grease the right places. It doesn’t matter what type of switch you used. Everything requires maintenance from time to time.
Tools Need To Lube Mechanical Switches
Lubricant
You should use the right lubricant if you want to make sure the switches are lubricated.
There are many types of keyboard lubricants. You have to know what kind of switch design yours has before you use any of them! They use grease on some keyboards to make them work. There are some that need oil. But only some need graphite powder to make them work well.
Choosing the right oil for a certain surface is important. Certain oils won’t work on certain surfaces. There will be a difference for each product, so make sure you try it out first.
Tweezers
Tweezers come in handy when you need to pick up small things like springs from a keyboard.
Brush
To apply the lube to different parts of each switch, you will need a brush.
Cotton swab
You might want to use a cotton swab if any lube spills on other parts of your keyboard or switches.
Flathead Screwdriver or something similar
If you want to lube your switches, you’ll have to open them up. To open the switch, you can use a screwdriver or something else.
Steps To Lube Your Mechanical Keyboard Switches
Brush off the dirt and dust from the keyboard with a soft brush
Clean your keyboard first. After that, lube it. Use a soft brush or compressed air to clean your keyboard. Make sure not to damage anything on the keyboard.
Clean the keyboard’s switches with a q-tip and rubbing alcohol
Next, you need to clean each switch with rubbing alcohol and a q-tip. Don’t use anything too strong. Just use rubbing alcohol and your fingers.
You should clean one side of your room before moving on to the other. Clean the first half, then the other half.
Apply a small amount of lubricant to the switch so it will work better
Don’t use the screwdriver to open the switch. You can buy a special tool. Open one switch at a time and replace it with a new one. Put some lube on the top and bottom of each switch. Spread it out with your fingers.
Make sure not to use too much lubricant. It can cause problems in the long run. Rubbing it on the switches works best. Check out this post for where to put it.
Wipe off any excess grease from around the base of the switch
If there is any excess fluid, wipe off the extra fluid. Then you can continue.
Next up: Testing!
Test your work!
Now we talk about what happens after you put grease on your keyboard. We need to test it to see if anything has changed in feel or responsiveness.
Repeat steps 2-5 for each individual key
If you did steps 2 to 5, then you should now have lubed one switch. Repeat these instructions for all of the other switches on your keyboard.
Reassemble the keyboard
After you clean the keyboard switches, you can put them back together. If everything is better, then your keyboard will work better. You should also clean off any dust or dirt before and after putting it back together to make sure everything works as best as possible. If the keys on your keyboard feel bad, put more grease. If they are too slippery, then put less next time.
