Spilled a slight amount of tea on my WASD Mechanical Keyboard!

[spitfire7]

It's been almost a month from my purchase of the WASD Mechanical keyboard (Cherry MX Brown). I filled the syringe with Distilled water, injected it into the switches which were sticky and tapped it repeatedly. After that i did the same with Surgical Spirit. The feel of the switch has definitely improved but now the keys feel different. They are not smooth like the other keys. Any suggestions/advice would be really helpful. Thank you in advance.

[jeroplane]

You probably need to lube them again, but I'll let someone with more expertise on this explain.

[spitfire7]

Update: Why am i hearing crisp sound of the spring below the switch? I assume the Surgical Spirit must have messed things up in there 
Please Help!

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack, although the occasion of your joining is not a happy one.

Have you thoroughly drained and dried the switches?

You may end up having to either replace the switch, or disassemble it and apply some lube.

[tp4tissue]

OMFG.. ok stop whatever you're doing.. you are in panic.. and you're making everything worse.. whatever your doing... STOP


You need an extreme overhaul..... I am afraid to tell you that if you choose to do this, it will be at least 8 hours of work.

First, unplug the keyboard

Identify 3 level of switches. MAKE a chart!!

Level 1, completely normal

Level 2, slightly damp and wet

Level 3, completely damp and wet.

Now disassemble the keyboard.

De-solder all level 3 switches...

Open them up, if there's no rusting, just allow to dry, lube up the stem, and reassemble.

If there is some rusting, then throw away, and purchase replacement.

For the Level 2 switches, press the switch down, and use a blow dryer to blow cool air, on the COOL setting into the switch.

If it returns to normal great, if not, desolder, disassemble, check, if no rust, let dry, if rust, throw away and add to order list.

You can leave all the level 1 switches alone.

Now for the rest of the stuff. Simply allow them to dry.

For the board itself, if there is dampness in the middle between the metal plate and the pcb, you may consider blowing air across the middle, again, use the cool setting.

[tp4tissue]

That procedure is the only way to ensure everything returns to normal.

DO NOT dunk the keyboard in anything, fluro-inert, nothing, don't do it, that NEVER EVER works. only fvcking lazy retards do that.


but to be honest, now that I look at that list, if you sold the board as salvage, you can probably get around $30 for it.

If you were paid minimum wage for 8 hours to fix the keyboard that would be 56 dollars.

If your financial situation allows it. I'd personally suggest you sell the board for salvage, because the overhaul is quite tedious and require a great deal of patience.

[spitfire7]

OMFG.. ok stop whatever you're doing.. you are in panic.. and you're making everything worse.. whatever your doing... STOP


You need an extreme overhaul..... I am afraid to tell you that if you choose to do this, it will be at least 8 hours of work.

First, unplug the keyboard

Identify 3 level of switches. MAKE a chart!!

Level 1, completely normal

Level 2, slightly damp and wet

Level 3, completely damp and wet.

Now disassemble the keyboard.

De-solder all level 3 switches...

Open them up, if there's no rusting, just allow to dry, lube up the stem, and reassemble.

If there is some rusting, then throw away, and purchase replacement.

For the Level 2 switches, press the switch down, and use a blow dryer to blow cool air, on the COOL setting into the switch.

If it returns to normal great, if not, desolder, disassemble, check, if no rust, let dry, if rust, throw away and add to order list.

You can leave all the level 1 switches alone.

Now for the rest of the stuff. Simply allow them to dry.

For the board itself, if there is dampness in the middle between the metal plate and the pcb, you may consider blowing air across the middle, again, use the cool setting.

Thank you very much for replying. What type of lubricant do i use?

[tp4tissue]

OMFG.. ok stop whatever you're doing.. you are in panic.. and you're making everything worse.. whatever your doing... STOP


You need an extreme overhaul..... I am afraid to tell you that if you choose to do this, it will be at least 8 hours of work.

First, unplug the keyboard

Identify 3 level of switches. MAKE a chart!!

Level 1, completely normal

Level 2, slightly damp and wet

Level 3, completely damp and wet.

Now disassemble the keyboard.

De-solder all level 3 switches...

Open them up, if there's no rusting, just allow to dry, lube up the stem, and reassemble.

If there is some rusting, then throw away, and purchase replacement.

For the Level 2 switches, press the switch down, and use a blow dryer to blow cool air, on the COOL setting into the switch.

If it returns to normal great, if not, desolder, disassemble, check, if no rust, let dry, if rust, throw away and add to order list.

You can leave all the level 1 switches alone.

Now for the rest of the stuff. Simply allow them to dry.

For the board itself, if there is dampness in the middle between the metal plate and the pcb, you may consider blowing air across the middle, again, use the cool setting.

Thank you very much for replying. What type of lubricant do i use?

The stock grease is silicone based I believe, because it's not white, it's clear. The best is the honda car e.... something, but it's not absolutely necessary.

[spitfire7]

OMFG.. ok stop whatever you're doing.. you are in panic.. and you're making everything worse.. whatever your doing... STOP


You need an extreme overhaul..... I am afraid to tell you that if you choose to do this, it will be at least 8 hours of work.

First, unplug the keyboard

Identify 3 level of switches. MAKE a chart!!

Level 1, completely normal

Level 2, slightly damp and wet

Level 3, completely damp and wet.

Now disassemble the keyboard.

De-solder all level 3 switches...

Open them up, if there's no rusting, just allow to dry, lube up the stem, and reassemble.

If there is some rusting, then throw away, and purchase replacement.

For the Level 2 switches, press the switch down, and use a blow dryer to blow cool air, on the COOL setting into the switch.

If it returns to normal great, if not, desolder, disassemble, check, if no rust, let dry, if rust, throw away and add to order list.

You can leave all the level 1 switches alone.

Now for the rest of the stuff. Simply allow them to dry.

For the board itself, if there is dampness in the middle between the metal plate and the pcb, you may consider blowing air across the middle, again, use the cool setting.

Thank you very much for replying. What type of lubricant do i use?

The stock grease is silicone based I believe, because it's not white, it's clear. The best is the honda car e.... something, but it's not absolutely necessary.

Okay, I did a good amount of searching and learnt that White Lithium Grease would be the appropriate Lubricant for the switches. The key's feel Slightly STIFF. It is going to be hard to find this Grease since i live in INDIA. Good luck to me 

[tp4tissue]

OMFG.. ok stop whatever you're doing.. you are in panic.. and you're making everything worse.. whatever your doing... STOP


You need an extreme overhaul..... I am afraid to tell you that if you choose to do this, it will be at least 8 hours of work.

First, unplug the keyboard

Identify 3 level of switches. MAKE a chart!!

Level 1, completely normal

Level 2, slightly damp and wet

Level 3, completely damp and wet.

Now disassemble the keyboard.

De-solder all level 3 switches...

Open them up, if there's no rusting, just allow to dry, lube up the stem, and reassemble.

If there is some rusting, then throw away, and purchase replacement.

For the Level 2 switches, press the switch down, and use a blow dryer to blow cool air, on the COOL setting into the switch.

If it returns to normal great, if not, desolder, disassemble, check, if no rust, let dry, if rust, throw away and add to order list.

You can leave all the level 1 switches alone.

Now for the rest of the stuff. Simply allow them to dry.

For the board itself, if there is dampness in the middle between the metal plate and the pcb, you may consider blowing air across the middle, again, use the cool setting.

Thank you very much for replying. What type of lubricant do i use?

The stock grease is silicone based I believe, because it's not white, it's clear. The best is the honda car e.... something, but it's not absolutely necessary.

Okay, I did a good amount of searching and learnt that White Lithium Grease would be the appropriate Lubricant for the switches. The key's feel Slightly STIFF. It is going to be hard to find this Grease since i live in INDIA. Good luck to me 

lithium grease doesn't last as long as silicone grease. But it is the MOST COMMON type. You don't need WHITE... the brown kind is identical. Any car shop or automotive repair place would have it.

See if you can just buy a spoon ful, because they sell them in HUGE CANS that you would never be able to use up...

If the can ends up costing more than 10 dollars. You might as well replace the switches completely instead of fixing them. Because the switches are VERY cheap.

[spitfire7]

OMFG.. ok stop whatever you're doing.. you are in panic.. and you're making everything worse.. whatever your doing... STOP


You need an extreme overhaul..... I am afraid to tell you that if you choose to do this, it will be at least 8 hours of work.

First, unplug the keyboard

Identify 3 level of switches. MAKE a chart!!

Level 1, completely normal

Level 2, slightly damp and wet

Level 3, completely damp and wet.

Now disassemble the keyboard.

De-solder all level 3 switches...

Open them up, if there's no rusting, just allow to dry, lube up the stem, and reassemble.

If there is some rusting, then throw away, and purchase replacement.

For the Level 2 switches, press the switch down, and use a blow dryer to blow cool air, on the COOL setting into the switch.

If it returns to normal great, if not, desolder, disassemble, check, if no rust, let dry, if rust, throw away and add to order list.

You can leave all the level 1 switches alone.

Now for the rest of the stuff. Simply allow them to dry.

For the board itself, if there is dampness in the middle between the metal plate and the pcb, you may consider blowing air across the middle, again, use the cool setting.

Thank you very much for replying. What type of lubricant do i use?

The stock grease is silicone based I believe, because it's not white, it's clear. The best is the honda car e.... something, but it's not absolutely necessary.

Okay, I did a good amount of searching and learnt that White Lithium Grease would be the appropriate Lubricant for the switches. The key's feel Slightly STIFF. It is going to be hard to find this Grease since i live in INDIA. Good luck to me 

lithium grease doesn't last as long as silicone grease. But it is the MOST COMMON type. You don't need WHITE... the brown kind is identical. Any car shop or automotive repair place would have it.

See if you can just buy a spoon ful, because they sell them in HUGE CANS that you would never be able to use up...

If the can ends up costing more than 10 dollars. You might as well replace the switches completely instead of fixing them. Because the switches are VERY cheap.

Thank you once again for replying. Is it possible to apply the grease without desoldering it? I mean i am kinda scared and do not want to mess it up even more.