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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: menuhin on Sat, 29 October 2016, 06:58:48

Title: Krytox lube and stickers - why is Krytox so expensive? do stickers really work?
Post by: menuhin on Sat, 29 October 2016, 06:58:48

I did a search on the forums and didn't find any conclusive answer or extended discussion in terms of the followings.

Here are the questions:

Switch stickers - do you use them? Have you ever used them? Do they actually work?

Krytox - why are they so expensive? Is there any sensible replacement?

Title: Re: Krytox lube and stickers - why is Krytox so expensive? do stickers really work?
Post by: kawasaki161 on Sat, 29 October 2016, 10:14:12

Quote from: menuhin on Sat, 29 October 2016, 06:58:48

Switch stickers - do you use them? Have you ever used them? Do they actually work?

Never used them, so I can't really say something about it.

Quote from: menuhin on Sat, 29 October 2016, 06:58:48

Krytox - why are they so expensive? Is there any sensible replacement?

It's industrial lube containing PTFE (Teflon), in bulk it isn't even THAT expensive, but the MOQ is insanely high for people that want to use it for keyboards, also you usually use a mix of their oils and greases, so the people who buy it in bulk have to put a lot of work in. You can actually buy it for a reasonable price at VW dealerships/authorized repair shops, Krytox 105 is part number "G 052 172 A1" (around 30-40 Euros for 30ml) and Kryrox 205 is "G 052 172 A3" (around 35-50 Euros for ~55g)

Title: Re: Krytox lube and stickers - why is Krytox so expensive? do stickers really work?
Post by: Puddsy on Sat, 29 October 2016, 10:31:42

Commonly accepted that switch stickers are just a cosmetic change.

Krytox has a giant MOQ, so it can get up there in price for people who stock it (plus distribution rights).