Author Topic: Non-Conductive Lube For Cherry Switches?  (Read 2964 times)

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Offline BigWopHH

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Non-Conductive Lube For Cherry Switches?
« on: Mon, 23 May 2011, 14:40:49 »
I have a couple of Cherry MX Blue switches on a DAS that don't travel as well as they used to and some others that "ping" a little more loudly than the rest.

Was wondering if any of you know of a low viscosity, non-electrically conductive lube that could maybe be dripped into a Cherry switch without causing any damage?
  • Topre Realforce 103UB
  • Topre Realforce 87U
  • ABS M1
  • Solidtek ASK-6600U
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  • Das III Pro
  • Scorpious M10
  • Cherry G80-3000LSCRC-2 (Blues)
  • Cherry G80-3000LXCEU-2 (Browns)
  • Unicomp Customizer 104
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  • Filco Majestouch FKBN104M/EB < Has Become My Daily Driver. Really Diggin\' It.
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Offline DaemonRaccoon

  • Posts: 333
Non-Conductive Lube For Cherry Switches?
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 23 May 2011, 14:51:25 »
PTFE based lube, aka Teflon. The stuff is cheap on Amazon.
122-Key Model F 6110345 1985-03-01 | Model M SSK 1391472 1991-01-22 | Rosewill RK-9000 v1 | KBC Poker X | Filco FKBN87M/PWE2

Offline BigWopHH

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Non-Conductive Lube For Cherry Switches?
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 23 May 2011, 15:08:31 »
Is there a particular brand you'd recommend?  I see a few with syringes that would be nice and easy to use, but wondering which would be best.  Don't want something that's just going to pool and the bottom of the switch...
  • Topre Realforce 103UB
  • Topre Realforce 87U
  • ABS M1
  • Solidtek ASK-6600U
  • Dell AT101W
  • Das III Pro
  • Scorpious M10
  • Cherry G80-3000LSCRC-2 (Blues)
  • Cherry G80-3000LXCEU-2 (Browns)
  • Unicomp Customizer 104
  • Steelseries 7G
  • Filco Majestouch FKBN104M/EB < Has Become My Daily Driver. Really Diggin\' It.
[/SIZE]

Offline DaemonRaccoon

  • Posts: 333
Non-Conductive Lube For Cherry Switches?
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 23 May 2011, 15:30:34 »
Can't really recommend any particular brand, I just know that PTFE is non-conductive. This (or any of those with a syringe) would probably work, just use a little bit and it should be fine.

It would be easier if you could disassemble the switches first. Stupid plate mounted switches.

DISCLAIMER: I have no idea if this will work at all. I can not accept blame if something ends up breaking.
122-Key Model F 6110345 1985-03-01 | Model M SSK 1391472 1991-01-22 | Rosewill RK-9000 v1 | KBC Poker X | Filco FKBN87M/PWE2

Offline RiGS

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Non-Conductive Lube For Cherry Switches?
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 23 May 2011, 16:20:55 »
This is what you need.
Last edited by RiGS; Jan 2011

Offline daerid

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Non-Conductive Lube For Cherry Switches?
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 23 May 2011, 21:15:31 »
How about this stuff? I picked some up for my AR-15, would be cool if I could use it for my Filcos as well.

Offline BigWopHH

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Non-Conductive Lube For Cherry Switches?
« Reply #6 on: Tue, 24 May 2011, 10:28:44 »
Quote from: ripster;350564
A lot of keyboards ship with White Lithium grease on the stabilizers.

But back to the OP.

Let us know if this dripping grease into the switch things makes things better or worse.   The Koreans take apart their ALPS switches and use exotic R0-59 spooge.

 
I will let you know--I ordered the recommended lube yesterday, as soon as it comes, I'll give it a shot.

On a related note, where do you think is the "best" spot to drip the oil? Is there a certain part of the switch that's more likely to benefit from it?
  • Topre Realforce 103UB
  • Topre Realforce 87U
  • ABS M1
  • Solidtek ASK-6600U
  • Dell AT101W
  • Das III Pro
  • Scorpious M10
  • Cherry G80-3000LSCRC-2 (Blues)
  • Cherry G80-3000LXCEU-2 (Browns)
  • Unicomp Customizer 104
  • Steelseries 7G
  • Filco Majestouch FKBN104M/EB < Has Become My Daily Driver. Really Diggin\' It.
[/SIZE]

Offline BigWopHH

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Non-Conductive Lube For Cherry Switches?
« Reply #7 on: Tue, 24 May 2011, 11:51:36 »
In the interest of saving time (and hopefully not ruining any switches with my big bear claws) I was planning to lube the switches without disassembling them or opening them up.
If the switch is pressed would putting a small drop along the top edge and a small drop along the bottom edge due in your opinion?

  • Topre Realforce 103UB
  • Topre Realforce 87U
  • ABS M1
  • Solidtek ASK-6600U
  • Dell AT101W
  • Das III Pro
  • Scorpious M10
  • Cherry G80-3000LSCRC-2 (Blues)
  • Cherry G80-3000LXCEU-2 (Browns)
  • Unicomp Customizer 104
  • Steelseries 7G
  • Filco Majestouch FKBN104M/EB < Has Become My Daily Driver. Really Diggin\' It.
[/SIZE]

Offline Mr. Perfect

  • Posts: 380
  • Location: United States
Non-Conductive Lube For Cherry Switches?
« Reply #8 on: Tue, 24 May 2011, 12:15:20 »
If you compare Ripster's picture with your labeled one, you'd want to aim more at the top left and top right. That's where those little tactile leaf springs are. The top center is where the electrical contacts are, I don't know if they'd still work if you get dielectric grease in them.

The bottom of the switch doesn't contact anything internally.
Mr. Perfect - A name fraught with peril.

G80-8113HRBUS MX Clears, FC200R MX Clears, RK-9000v2 MX Blues.

Offline BigWopHH

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Non-Conductive Lube For Cherry Switches?
« Reply #9 on: Tue, 24 May 2011, 14:03:45 »
Quote from: Mr. Perfect;350762
If you compare Ripster's picture with your labeled one, you'd want to aim more at the top left and top right. That's where those little tactile leaf springs are. The top center is where the electrical contacts are, I don't know if they'd still work if you get dielectric grease in them.

The bottom of the switch doesn't contact anything internally.

It's been years since my last electronics class, but if the lube is non-electrically conductive, it should have no effect on the performance of the electrical contacts, correct?
  • Topre Realforce 103UB
  • Topre Realforce 87U
  • ABS M1
  • Solidtek ASK-6600U
  • Dell AT101W
  • Das III Pro
  • Scorpious M10
  • Cherry G80-3000LSCRC-2 (Blues)
  • Cherry G80-3000LXCEU-2 (Browns)
  • Unicomp Customizer 104
  • Steelseries 7G
  • Filco Majestouch FKBN104M/EB < Has Become My Daily Driver. Really Diggin\' It.
[/SIZE]

Offline RiGS

  • Posts: 1594
Non-Conductive Lube For Cherry Switches?
« Reply #10 on: Tue, 24 May 2011, 15:24:48 »
Topre is already smooth.
Last edited by RiGS; Jan 2011

Offline stimtokolos

  • Posts: 1
Non-Conductive Lube For Cherry Switches?
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 26 May 2011, 10:14:44 »
Hi there, I've lurked around here for a bit whenever I need to find something out about keyboards.
You guys are great resource.
I had a question that I felt probably didn't warrant a new thread and feels sort of similar to this. Although I'm not sure any amount of lube will fix it.

I use a DAS with Cherry Blues (a DAS III I think, released along side the new silents with browns).
My f1 key has started playing up today. The switch feels more dull than normal. I can still feel the key give way at the same point but it does so without the sharp click I'm used.
I'm wondering if there is any useful poking I could do to try and get it working, or failing that where I could buy a small(ish) quantity of replacement switches.
I've been looking around online but can't seem to find any good online stores for it and ripster had mentioned replacing switches on the last page. Though I might ask it here :P

Thanks for your time and consideration :)

E: Trawling threads I may have found an answer for myself. Sorry for the inconvenience.
« Last Edit: Thu, 26 May 2011, 12:41:57 by stimtokolos »

Offline RiGS

  • Posts: 1594
Non-Conductive Lube For Cherry Switches?
« Reply #12 on: Wed, 10 August 2011, 11:56:21 »
It's never late!
Last edited by RiGS; Jan 2011