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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Nonmouse on Sat, 21 December 2013, 16:46:04

Title: Lubricating Cherry MX Switches?
Post by: Nonmouse on Sat, 21 December 2013, 16:46:04
Sooo... I have a Cherry G80-8113 with white MX keyswitches that's suffered large dousings of juice in the keyboard a couple of times  (3 year-old child in the house...)  The first time, I tried to dry it out by pulling the keys, cleaning it, etc., but several keys were still, well, sticky, so I took the plunge and hosed it out with the showerhead, let it dry several days, then plugged it back in.  Somewhat to my surprise, it worked out great- no sticky keys, everything functioned normally.  Success!

So, the second time it happened, I went straight to giving Mr. Keyboard a shower.  Not so much success this time.  While they work, and they're not sticky as in feeling like there's gum in the keys, most of the keys are very stiff, return slowly and sometimes get stuck dowwwwwwwwn...  In short, they feel like they're dry, rather than gummed up. 

Does anybody have any recommendations for lubricating them?  Preferably a penetrating lubricant, since while I could take apart all 136 keys and dab some lube in them... I'd rather not.
Title: Re: Lubricating Cherry MX Switches?
Post by: Pacifist on Sat, 21 December 2013, 17:12:19
without opening its hard to get all the lube in but its possible

sherry at originative has lube for sale. just take one of the smaller syringe headers and shoot some into a depressed switch
Title: Re: Lubricating Cherry MX Switches?
Post by: Tony on Sat, 21 December 2013, 18:03:55
I suppose this time your keyboard need a thorough, meticulous bath with body lotion instead of a mere shower.

You should buy the exact lubricant, otherwise keys will keep on stuck, or lose bump.
Title: Re: Lubricating Cherry MX Switches?
Post by: riotonthebay on Sat, 21 December 2013, 18:15:36
I recommend the Cherry MX Switch Lubrication Guide (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=34332.0), using the lubricant you can buy from Originative. Could you do it differently? Sure, and it'll be ****ty.
Title: Re: Lubricating Cherry MX Switches?
Post by: terran5992 on Sat, 21 December 2013, 19:51:27
Check out WFD's Video