geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Keycap on Sun, 10 April 2016, 14:27:00
-
So, I have a bunch of MX Blue switches that I lubed a long time ago, not entirely sure why. They weren't scratchy or anything, I guess I just felt curious as to how they would feel. After lubing them, they now feel extremely inconsistent and most of them lost their click. I know that I can probably clean each and every switch with 91% isopropyl alcohol, but that would take way too much time. I would rather take all of the switches apart, throw them in a plastic bowl, then clean them with denture tabs. But I'm not sure if the denture tabs will negatively affect the internals. Does anyone know if this is a safe method for cleaning MX switches?
-
I know people use denture tabs to restore keycaps and cases.. I can't think of a reason why it wouldn't work. I've only seen posts of denture tabs for white plastic, it could change the color of the switches. 1upkeyboards seems to sell denture tabs for restoration. Maybe check the brand/ingredients first before you try it.
-
I think the denture tabs are mildly abrasive so that they would maybe make them less smooth. Would be interesting to hear if that was the case... or maybe the opposite.
You need to rinse the parts thoroughly afterwards. So you would have to disassemble each switch before cleaning.
Also, not sure if the springs are stainless.
-
I just used a few tabs to clean a really grody set of RGB Desko (both ABS and PBT). No problems at all.
EDIT: oh, you mean the switches themselves. It could be bad for the metal, and you need to make sure you rinsed completely, as there would be a residue left on the contacts. Not a good idea.
-
Seeing as you would need to disassemble the switches to dry them afterwards anyway, may as well clean them properly with isopropyl to begin with.
-
Yep. It has all been said...
It will clean loose dirt and discoloration.
I doubt it will remove grease.
Your springs and contacts will get ****ed up.
Your switches will be forever filled with denture tab water.
Don't do it.
-
Those things really leave that much residue behind? Hmm, I wish I would have thought of that :-[
-
Those things really leave that much residue behind? Hmm, I wish I would have thought of that :-[
Ever wonder why your caps (and computer area) smell so minty fresh for so long? :p
-
Don't listen to the naysayers. Just do it abd get back to us with results. Try on like 5 of them first.
-
I can't remember anyone having tried this before.
I would think not, as it's basically water with some cleaner stuff dissolved in it, and you don't really want to get water in your switches, not unless it was distilled water or something.
Tap water has all sorts of nasties in it that will potentially damage your switches.
If you're going to remove all the switches anyway, why not just replace them with new, unlubed switches?
-
Untested idea: what about dismantling the switches, soaking them in a suitable solvent for the lube which wouldn't eat away the plastic parts?
Consider doing it using an ultrasound cleaning machine?
-
Isopropyl would probably be faster, with denture tabs you need to thoroughly rinse each of the soaked parts otherwise they'll hold onto the residue. Would be curious to know why you think tabs would be faster, since either would need to be disassembled and dried afterwards.
No reason you couldn't use either as long as you wait a sufficient time for them to dry all the way.
-
So I ended up purchasing a large 32 oz container of 91% isopropyl alcohol and it works wonders for cleaning MX switches. Just disassemble the switches, soak the internals in the isopropyl alcohol for a little while, take them out, and then let them dry. Now the switches look immaculate, and I didn't have to spend much time on it at all. Didn't damage the plastic either, but it did a great job for removing all of the lube.
-
Good to know! Thank you for the update :thumb: