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geekhack Community => Reviews => Topic started by: zoolzoo on Sun, 17 February 2013, 07:37:59
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Many of us with Costar stabilizers have turned to grease as remedy for jittery space bars and squeaking keys. In my experience, the application of stabilizer grease also deadens the sound of stabilized keys while providing the user with a more "solid" feedback when bottoming out.
This review discusses the first product I have seen marketed specifically as a keyboard stabilizer lubricant; Elite Keyboards "EK MechLube" stabilizer grease.
(http://i.imgur.com/EkYAlZP.jpg)
Some of you may have used white lithium grease on your keyboard before. If you take white lithium and rub it between your fingers it starts to thin out a bit. In contrast, the EK Mechlube silicone based lube does not. This stuff is highly viscous, and I learned the hard way that this product should not be over applied. Honestly the texture is almost sticky. Over-applying EK Mechlube will result in your stabilized keys becoming dead, sluggish, and lacking response. I am speaking from experience, as I had to remove my stabilized keys and remove some of the silicone grease. I achieved the best results by putting a bead in the middle of the plastic key insert, and spreading the grease around evenly with a tooth pick. This method allowed me to fully coat the stabilizer contact point while avoiding any globbing. Globbing this stuff on is bad, and will result in sticky keys. For good measure, I also put a tiny of grease down where the stabilizers lock into the keyboard. Again, only a small amount of the product is necessary here.
Once correctly applied, this is a great stabilizer grease. Key presses are solid, and a satisfying "thud" of a sound is now present. And best of all, no space bar rattle. I also appreciate the fact that EK Mechlube is completely plastic safe unlike some petroleum based white lithium products. The applicator is conveniently curved for ease of use, which is a plus.
The Elite Keyboards website states: "Only half a grain of rice worth of grease is needed (if that), so the 1cc of MechLube provided should be plenty for a whole collection of keyboards!"
Given the nature of EK Mechlube, this statement is completely true. You will use much less of this per application in comparison to white lithium. $6 per tube appears to be a really great value. I would encourage you guys to give this stuff a shot.
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Thanks for the review. I've been reading a lot about different lubes but it's nice to see a dedicated post on it. Have you tried other lubes besides the white lithium and the EK lube?
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Thanks for the review. I've been reading a lot about different lubes but it's nice to see a dedicated post on it. Have you tried other lubes besides the white lithium and the EK lube?
You're welcome. Nope, I have only tried those two so far.
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This is the stuff I bought when my Rosewill had a couple of squeaky keys (backspace and space bar if I remember right) and I have had no problems at all since then. Highly recommended.
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I agree that this stuff is great.
That bit about "half a grain of rice" is insane - 1/10 of a grain of rice (uncooked) is usually ample.
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What kinda rice we talkin? xD
Nice review. Makes me want some to replace the generic graphite grease I used.
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I use Superlube because it's was cheaper and does the same job. WASDkeyboard also uses it for his keyboards
http://www.amazon.com/Synthetic-Grease-Syncolon-Purpose-Lubricant/dp/B000XBH9HI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361476976&sr=8-1&keywords=superlube
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EK's Mech Lube worked for me as well. I had a really squeaky backspace key when I switched the standard keycaps on my Leopold to Thick, cherry profile PBTs. After applying, the squeakiness went away after one day.
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The syringe applicator is particularly helpful and accurate.
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Thanks for the review, I wasn't sure if I should pick some up. I just might.
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jesus, we'll buy anything....
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Ever owned costar stabilizers?
Finally got some and this stuff and it is a dream come true for loose costar stabs. As said it can actually slow down your keys which is great in terms of thickness and I found goes away as you use them. Maybe I just didn't put enough the first time since I went back and added even more... so I put around 2 grains of rice worth on each stab insert. Enough to completely coat and slightly fill the middle of the insert.
Maybe even more than 2 grains on the heavily used keys like left shift and space. Just squeezed and used the tip to spread it around.
Really gets rid of the clickity clackity and cheap loose feeling stabilizers.
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sorry to bump this up, but I'm wanting to purchase EliteKeyboard's lube. There are now 2 versions and I'm not sure which one to buy. I have the CMStorm Quickfire rapid tk so metal stabilizers with plastic caps if i'm not mistaken.
Mechlube 1 seems to be best for this but i'm not entirely sure from their explanation. Is the 2nd version a more advanced formula? Also, 2nd version is low-viscosity..
thx for help.
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sorry to bump this up, but I'm wanting to purchase EliteKeyboard's lube. There are now 2 versions and I'm not sure which one to buy. I have the CMStorm Quickfire rapid tk so metal stabilizers with plastic caps if i'm not mistaken.
Mechlube 1 seems to be best for this but i'm not entirely sure from their explanation. Is the 2nd version a more advanced formula? Also, 2nd version is low-viscosity..
thx for help.
What switches do you use?
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Sorry. Brown switch. ;D
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Sorry. Brown switch. ;D
Whichever isn't the low viscosity lube then.
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What are the essential differences between EK MechLube and EK MechLube2?
I used MechLube2 on a WASD V2 87 barebones mx brown keyboard to lube the Costar-type stabilizers, and the board had no stabilizer rattle and even, crisp key action on the stabilized keys. I can highly recommend both the WASD keyboard and the EK MechLube2.
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As far as I understand it, MechLube2 is suitable for use inside the switches and the original MechLube is to be used on stabilizers. I remember reading at one point someone used some of the original MechLube inside a bunch of his switches and more or less ruined them due to the viscosity.
For what it's worth, I use the GeekHackers thick Krytox lube on all my stabs and it works phenomenally well. I just take a super fine tipped paint brush and smear some on the white key insert and on the black plastic plate inserts where the wire clips in. Using this method my Costar stabs never rattle and feel so smooth it's like there's not even a stabilizer connected. It definitely helps Cherry stabs as well but they feel so awful to begin with it's hard to quantify the level of improvement.
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thx for this info guys. Strict, i will research this Geekhackers Kryptox.
Thanks all.
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I have both from EK. I use MechLube 2 for the switch guides inside my HHKB. Works great provided you don't over apply. But even if you do, the key switches loosen up with use. Great product.
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More recently, I acquired two Matias-switch keyboards from KBP, the V60MTS-C and V60MTS-Q. These have Alps wire stabilizers, and I used EK MechLube 2 on them. The stabilized keys have a crisp and even response with no rattle whatsoever.
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Much appreciated Everyone. I will consider this when my ES108 Pro arrives (will be my first costar board) if I have any issues.
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Will this make Cherry stabs feel less awful? is there any way to do that?
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Will this make Cherry stabs feel less awful? is there any way to do that?
imo clipping the stabs makes the most difference. It takes away most of the mushy feeling.
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Will this make Cherry stabs feel less awful? is there any way to do that?
imo clipping the stabs makes the most difference. It takes away most of the mushy feeling.
i guess i'll do that then, but won't it be difficult to access the stabilisers on a poker 2?
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Will this make Cherry stabs feel less awful? is there any way to do that?
imo clipping the stabs makes the most difference. It takes away most of the mushy feeling.
i guess i'll do that then, but won't it be difficult to access the stabilisers on a poker 2?
Yeah, it's a somewhat annoying task. I would just leave it as it is and enjoy the vintage black smoothness :)
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Will this make Cherry stabs feel less awful? is there any way to do that?
imo clipping the stabs makes the most difference. It takes away most of the mushy feeling.
i guess i'll do that then, but won't it be difficult to access the stabilisers on a poker 2?
Yeah, it's a somewhat annoying task. I would just leave it as it is and enjoy the vintage black smoothness :)
might do, i just can't stand the feeling of the modifiers