What would you like to see in a switch lube review?

[nubbinator]

I may not be the best person to do a review as I many vehemently disagree with me about "vintage" Blacks, but I'm still planning on voicing my thoughts on lubes.

So far what I have lined up to test are the following:

• Krytox
• RO-59
• DuPont Teflon Silicone Lubricant
• Superlube
• Vaseline
• Astroglide/KY (or other sexy times lube)
• Petroleum jelly
• Olive oil
• Johnson's paste wax
• Candle wax
• White lithium grease (if I can find it)
• Auto wax (maybe)
• Butter/margarine

Obviously some of these are joke lubricants much like a famous heatsink TIM review of old, but I'd still love to hear some other things people would like to see and may make available based on price.

Also, if someone has some MechLube2 from EK, I'd love to get a little to add it to the mix.

[Zeal]

Butter.

[Flyersfan1]

I would prefer to see you review Ky Jelly over Astroglide.

[nubbinator]

Butter.

You sick freak.  I suppose you'll want me to dance on it and rub it on myself and cook with five sticks of it too.

Added it to the list.

I would prefer to see you review Ky Jelly over Astroglide.

I'm going with whatever free samples I can get.

[SpAmRaY]

Bicycle grease.

[sethk_]

Dry graphite stuff

[Zeal]

Butter.

You sick freak.  I suppose you'll want me to dance on it and rub it on myself and cook with five sticks of it too.

Added it to the list.

You go do that.

Gotta add honey too.

[user 18]

peanut butter

I'd like to see the effects of lubes on different types of switches and stabilizers, for a more comprehensive review, if at all possible.

[nubbinator]

Bicycle grease.

There are a **** ton of types.  Are you talking about about Finishline or something else?  Last time I could only find it online and didn't buy it since it would have been $15 or so.  I'm trying to keep it as cheap as possible.

Dry graphite stuff

Already in the OP.

peanut butter

I'd like to see the effects of lubes on different types of switches and stabilizers, for a more comprehensive review, if at all possible.

I only have some Blacks and maybe some Browns I can sacrifice.  I'd need someone to donate Blues and Clears.

And by effect, I'm assuming you mean how it affects feel on each type.

[jacobolus]

Cooking with several sticks of butter is a great and delicious idea. I wouldn’t recommend dancing on it though.

More seriously though, you should start with a thorough explanation of your switch lubrication process, ideally with a video and copious pictures.

A few previous reviews have made claims about the effectiveness of particular lubricants, but without sufficient documentation to understand what they were actually testing.

[Air tree]

I'm actually really interested in seeing this review...

Thanks nubbs for doing this! You pretty much covered all what I want to see...

[Mandolin]

Spit.

[Air tree]

Stoya's spit.

Totally agree.

[KeypressGraphics]

What about something like WD-40?

[user 18]

peanut butter

I'd like to see the effects of lubes on different types of switches and stabilizers, for a more comprehensive review, if at all possible.

I only have some Blacks and maybe some Browns I can sacrifice.  I'd need someone to donate Blues and Clears.

And by effect, I'm assuming you mean how it affects feel on each type.

Yeah, that's what I mean.

[greath]

DuPont Teflon Non-Stick Dry-Film Lubricant. Not quite sure the differences between what you linked and that, but I like the idea of a completely dry PTFE based lube. Be sure to shake throughly. I have a bottle and the stuff settles quickly between uses.

[Oobly]

Urm... which Krytox? There are like 20 of them, not including blends.

[Defect]

Is Silicone Grease included in that list?  Great for stabilizers and even works for switch internals in small amounts.

I got some that is used for RC Cars.

[Giorgio]

Record the sound of each lubed switch. The upstroke part is easy, just release the switch from the bottom position. For the downstroke part, you could use a small weight, placed on the top of the key and then released. We should talk of the weight if you intend to do it.

[chyros]

Hi-vac grease.

[nubbinator]

What about something like WD-40?

WD-40 more solvent than lube.

DuPont Teflon Non-Stick Dry-Film Lubricant. Not quite sure the differences between what you linked and that, but I like the idea of a completely dry PTFE based lube. Be sure to shake throughly. I have a bottle and the stuff settles quickly between uses.

Would you be willing to put some in a vial and mail it to me?  Getting samples from people is more affordable than buying everything everyone recommends.  I'm looking to keep my costs under $50 and hopefully closer to $20.

Urm... which Krytox? There are like 20 of them, not including blends.

I have to double check, but I think it's GPL-105 and 203, but it could be 103 and 205 or 105 and 205.

Is Silicone Grease included in that list?  Great for stabilizers and even works for switch internals in small amounts.

I got some that is used for RC Cars.

Want to send a sample?  I have Superlube, but that's it.

Hi-vac grease.

Looks interesting, I may have to grab some.

[CPTBadAss]

DuPont Teflon Non-Stick Dry-Film Lubricant. Not quite sure the differences between what you linked and that, but I like the idea of a completely dry PTFE based lube. Be sure to shake throughly. I have a bottle and the stuff settles quickly between uses.

Would you be willing to put some in a vial and mail it to me?  Getting samples from people is more affordable than buying everything everyone recommends.  I'm looking to keep my costs under $50 and hopefully closer to $20.

I'll send you some. I just got some in the mail to do a similar review. I was going to do a Krytox vs Teflon Dry Film shootout.

[greath]

DuPont Teflon Non-Stick Dry-Film Lubricant. Not quite sure the differences between what you linked and that, but I like the idea of a completely dry PTFE based lube. Be sure to shake throughly. I have a bottle and the stuff settles quickly between uses.

Would you be willing to put some in a vial and mail it to me?  Getting samples from people is more affordable than buying everything everyone recommends.  I'm looking to keep my costs under $50 and hopefully closer to $20.

I'll send you some. I just got some in the mail to do a similar review. I was going to do a Krytox vs Teflon Dry Film shootout.

Thx CPT

[nubbinator]

DuPont Teflon Non-Stick Dry-Film Lubricant. Not quite sure the differences between what you linked and that, but I like the idea of a completely dry PTFE based lube. Be sure to shake throughly. I have a bottle and the stuff settles quickly between uses.

Would you be willing to put some in a vial and mail it to me?  Getting samples from people is more affordable than buying everything everyone recommends.  I'm looking to keep my costs under $50 and hopefully closer to $20.

I'll send you some. I just got some in the mail to do a similar review. I was going to do a Krytox vs Teflon Dry Film shootout.

Thanks man.  And you should still do it.  You always have great reviews.  I may do more comprehensive reviews in the future, but I expect mine to be more of a basic overview with likes, dislikes, and a pass/fail metric before doing more comprehensive reviews.  I may also see if I can get the switches cleaned with dustin's ultrasonic cleaner (I think he's the one who has it) before I do the review in order to ensure a little more consistency between the samples.

[CPTBadAss]

I've got an ultrasonic cleaner if you wanted to use it. Hit me up.

[zombimuncha]

Test on some non-MX switches. Alps, BS etc...

[jacobolus]

I've got an ultrasonic cleaner if you wanted to use it. Hit me up.

Sweet.

I’m really curious what happens if you take incredibly gritty scratchy Alps switches (to the point of being unusable), slap the housings, sliders, and tactile/click leaves in an ultrasonic cleaner, then lube them lightly and put them back together.

I have some switches that were still scratchy even after I blasted them with compressed air and then did a detergent soak. I suspect the ultrasonic cleaner could do quite a bit better, but I’d love to see how much.

I’m sure some switches out there get dust/dirt inside and then keep getting used, physically scratching the plastic and permanently degrading the switches. But I suspect there are also many that just have dust stuck pretty well to their insides, that an ultrasonic cleaner might be able to restore to like-new condition.

[nubbinator]

I've got an ultrasonic cleaner if you wanted to use it. Hit me up.

Perfect.  I definitely will once I get them desoldered.

Test on some non-MX switches. Alps, BS etc...

That can be part 2, though lubing BS seems silly As you'd be lubing the cap.

[Air tree]

Don't you dare touch the precious topre sliders with that butter! 

[nubbinator]

Don't you dare touch the precious topre sliders with that butter! 

[byker]

Can we some some pictures of nubbs in the lube review? 

[greath]

I don't know if you'd be up for it seeing as how it would double or even triple the work, but it would be cool to see brown and/or clear switches in there too.

Edit: I'm a dope and just read where you talked about it. My b.

[nubbinator]

Can we some some pictures of nubbs in the lube review? 

Clean fingers and beards only, Hoff doesn't need competition for his swath of lovers.

[orihalcon]

WD-40

[nubbinator]

Nixing graphite, forgot that it's electrically conductive.

Looking at some Dow Corning lubes as well, specifically the following:

• 976V - Vacuum Grease
• Molyte EM-30L (Light)
• 33M (Medium)
• 33L (Light)

For dry lube, I'm looking at:

• Molybdenum Disulfide

Things I'd love to try but can't justify the cost:

• GPL 215
• GPL 217
• Tungsten Disulfide

[byker]

What about some basic bike lube? 

[nubbinator]

What about some basic bike lube? 

I'll cut and paste my answer to SpamRay about bike grease.

"There are a **** ton of types.  Are you talking about about Finishline or something else?  Last time I could only find it online and didn't buy it since it would have been $15 or so.  I'm trying to keep it as cheap as possible."

That said, if anyone has some they want to see tried, I'd love to have a sample.  With the Dow Corning stuff and moly dry lube, my budget is tapped unless it's something I can actively use.

[byker]

What about some basic bike lube? 

I'll cut and paste my answer to SpamRay about bike grease.

"There are a **** ton of types.  Are you talking about about Finishline or something else?  Last time I could only find it online and didn't buy it since it would have been $15 or so.  I'm trying to keep it as cheap as possible."

That said, if anyone has some they want to see tried, I'd love to have a sample.  With the Dow Corning stuff and moly dry lube, my budget is tapped unless it's something I can actively use.

Sorry, must have missed that. Yeah I was thinking along the lines of some wet or dry finishline. I can send you a couple of $ to help with the budget!    Shoot me your pp again!

[nubbinator]

How about this, I made up an Amazon wish list with other lubes people have mentioned. If you know where to find it cheaper, let me know, but this makes it a little easier to navigate.

[KeypressGraphics]

What about something like WD-40?

WD-40 more solvent than lube.

Heh, that I did not know. In that case I'll have to go with my second choice "the tears of your enemies".

[sakai4eva]

I, for one, would really like to see sand ihn my switches.

Hear me out.

A lot of idiots complain that my  favourite starter switch, MX Browns (may it forever rest in peace) taste, I mean feel like scratchy MX Reds. As a tactile fan who has since elevated himself to any switch of any kind, I would like to respectfully disagree with any retards with such opinion and damn them all to hell.

As such, I would like to humbly request that OP accede to my demands of having sand and butter on MX Reds as a testing option against MX Browns of various lubrication, up to and inclusive of the santorum of MX Reds lovers.

Viva le Brown.

#sarcasm

[jacobolus]

Hear me out. [....] I would like to respectfully disagree with any retards with such opinion and damn them all to hell. [...] up to and inclusive of the santorum of MX Reds lovers.

This really isn’t necessary. It’s not funny. It’s not clever.

[Oobly]

How about this, I made up an Amazon wish list with other lubes people have mentioned. If you know where to find it cheaper, let me know, but this makes it a little easier to navigate.

Then how about at the end you try a blend of all of them?..... SUPERLUBE!!! (Unless they react with each other and blow your fingers off... that's why you should do it at the end.)

[sakai4eva]

How about this, I made up an Amazon wish list with other lubes people have mentioned. If you know where to find it cheaper, let me know, but this makes it a little easier to navigate.

Then how about at the end you try a blend of all of them?..... SUPERLUBE!!! (Unless they react with each other and blow your fingers off... that's why you should do it at the end.)

I kinda want a Mythbuster like thingie instead.... for science.

[demik]

Your enemy's tears

[nubbinator]

In that case I'll have to go with my second choice "the tears of your enemies".

Your enemy's tears

[Chromako]

PTFE Spray by WD40 Specialist. I'm actually quite curious. I've used it for plenty of stuff, but not keyboards.

http://wd40specialist.com/products/dry-lube/


And this Heptane based liquid. Again, haven't used it in keyboards, but it's fantastic in other situations. It does smell like death-in-a-bottle, but that's solvents for you. heh.


http://www.amazon.com/DuPont-Non-Stick-Dry-Film-Lubricant-Squeeze/dp/B00BCVXUR6





Curious about silicone based "personal lubricant" but I don't have any particular brand in mind. I think K-Y is water based, so it'd be quite different.


And what about Vegemite?

[nubbinator]

CPTBadAss is sending me some of that dry lube, so it will be in the review.  I can add the WD-40 to the wishlist I posted, but I have no plans to buy it as I'm already exceeding my budget on other nicer lubes.

Where does someone even buy Vegemite?

[zombimuncha]

Where does someone even buy Vegemite?

Australia. Is that convenient for you?

(also in some other countries, but if you don't see [British original] Marmite in the shops then I doubt you'd see [Australian variant] Vegemite, and f**k Marmite!)

[chyros]

Nixing graphite, forgot that it's electrically conductive.

Looking at some Dow Corning lubes as well, specifically the following:

• 976V - Vacuum Grease

BTW, a note on hi-vac greases like that; be conservative, and don't apply too much. It's pretty radical stuff; we use it to seal joints between glassware to maintain very high vacuums (10^-7 bar).