Mechanical Keyboards are popular for their distinct keypress feedback, sound, and overall typing experience, which is personalized to suit your typing style. However, to further elevate this experience, you must embark on a practice that involves a meticulous procedure called “switch lubing.” Switch lubing involves applying a thin layer of lubricant on the movable components of your keyboard switches to reduce friction. This process results in smoother keystrokes, reduced noise, and overall enhanced typing experience.
## Understanding Mechanical Keyboard Switches
Mechanical Keyboard Switches are primarily divided into Linear, Tactile, and Clicky categories. Linear switches glide down and up without any tactile feedback or clicking noise making it smooth. Tactile switches have a noticeable bump in the keystroke, giving feedback. Lastly, Clicky switches are similar to Tactile ones but have an additional click sound when actuated.
While the type of switch doesn’t directly impact the lubing process, it does affect the end result. So, it’s essential to choose your switch type and lube accordingly for electrical conductivity, viscosity, material compatibility, temperature range, and noise reduction.
## Choosing The Right Lubricant
Choosing the right lubricant is crucial for an effective lubing process. Generally, two types are preferred – oil-based and grease-based lubricants. Oil-based lubes are less viscous and well-suited for linear switches for their smooth performance, while grease-based lubes are better for tactile and clicky switches because of their higher viscosity, reducing noise and smoothing the bump.
One of the most common grease lubricants used is Krytox GPL 205 Grade 0, which has a thick consistency. For a more balanced grease lube, Krytox GPL 204 Grade 0 is a good option. For oil lubricants, Victorinox Multi-Tool Oil or Krytox GPL 105 are recommended.
## The Lubing Process
Open up your mechanical keyboard and carefully extract the switches using a switch puller. If switches are plate-mounted, they can’t be removed without desoldering. For hot-swappable keyboards, the process is simpler and doesn’t require any soldering.
To open the switch, use a small flat-head screwdriver or a switch opening tool. Apply gentle pressure on the side of the switch where the two sides meet to pry them apart. Ensure you have a tray or container to keep the tiny switch parts organised.
Once the switch is open, you’ll find the top housing, the bottom housing, the spring, and the stem. All these parts need to be lubricated, except for the contact metals in the housing. Use an applicator brush with fine bristles to smoothly apply the lube on the parts. Remember, always go with less lube at first, you can always apply more.
For the stem, it’s crucial to apply the lube on its sides, the back, and front, making sure not to over-do it. For the spring, lubing the top and bottom will suffice. Once that’s done, apply lube to the bottom housing, especially on the surfaces where the stem and spring will make contact.
After applying the lube, assemble the parts in reverse order, ensuring that they’re all sitting correctly.
## Post-Lubing Steps
For switches that have been lubed, it’s recommended that you let them rest for a moment before putting them back. This allows the lube to settle in the switch. Once satisfied, replug the switches and ensure they’re secured properly.
It’s essential to test each key to ensure that they’re functioning as intended. If a key isn’t registering or is producing an out-of-place sound, the switch might need a revisit to adjust the lube.
## The Impact of Switch Lubing
Switch lubing is a game-changer for typists and keyboard enthusiasts alike. By reducing friction, the end result is a smoother, more refined tactile experience. Noise reduction is substantial, especially for louder clicky and tactile switches. Keep in mind that lubing isn’t a one-time process. Over time, the lube’s effectiveness will decrease and may require reapplication.
## To Sum Up
Switch lubing is a delicate process that requires patience and precision. It’s a craft that allows you to personalize your typing experience. Despite the effort required, the results yield a smoother typing experience, reduced key chatter, and overall performance enhancement.
