Lube for Cherry stabilizers?

[maroder]

Hi,

could someone suggest some good lubricants for cherry stabilizers? I know EK has some good ones, but I rather not have to import them to Germany.
Would this be suitable? http://www.amazon.de/Silikonfett-SGT2-O-Ringe-Edelstahl-Schl%C3%A4uche/dp/B002UOH1WO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1442506375&sr=8-5&keywords=silicon+fett

Thanks!

Cheers,
Maroder

[maroder]

I will answer my own question

I ordered a "FINISH LINE Extreme Fluoro" Grease (white/yellow).
Seems to be quite good and it's plastic friendly.
Update: This grease is no use as it apparently starts to crumple into white dust.

[Eugene45]

Source of this is the FAQ, dont know yet just copy paste from my mecha notepad files.

For Stabilizer Lubes I think any standard commonly available plastic safe

Hardware Store Lube will end up being fine.  The risk of oozing lubes and "pooling" I think is low.
 
- Silicon greases like Dielectric Permatex
 
- Lithium greases (which is what most keyboard manufacturers use)
 
- These higher tech (and higher priced)  teflon lubes
 
For SWITCHES I'd recommend:
 
- Krytox formulation mixed to a lighter viscosity, GPL205 is too thick.
 
- RO-59 is a great consistency and the Asian Keyboard Enthusiast favorite but just about impossible to find
 
http://www.ro59inc.com/aboutus.html
 
- EK MechLube2 LIGHTLY APPLIED - once again, risk of "seepage" is minimal
 

-  DuPont Silicone Oil with Teflon (Tested and recommended by BroCaps)
 

http://www.performancelubricantsus [...] ricant.php

[SpAmRaY]

FYI

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=75147.0

[maroder]

Thanks SpAmRaY!

You just saved my keyboard from white dust in my keyboard 

Can you recommend one of these, as the recommended greases are hard to get here in Europe?

Finish Line Teflon Grease, 4000080
http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B002L5YYYA?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF

Silicon Grease SGT4
http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B008HDGWO0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_3&smid=A20KP67LK5MOLL

Silicon Grease SGT2
http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B002UOH1WO?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_4&smid=A20KP67LK5MOLL

[SpAmRaY]

I only use krytox blends. If you can wait ctrlalt.io will have some for sale when their store reopens. But I don't know how long that will be, hopefully soon though. User bunnylake who runs ctrlalt is in the UK.

[maroder]

Ok, thanks again.
Found a Krytox GPL-205 on Ebay. Last one for sale

[the-weatherman]

Please forgive me for bumping a very old thread, but I figured I could share something useful here as my very first post (tada!), because searching for suitable lubes in Europe (particularly Germany) doesn't yield anything useful across GeekHack, Reddit and other forums.

I found these 2 affordable products of the brand GEAR-FLON in a popular electronic store called Conrad and have been really satisfied with them:

• High performance PTFE-based grease - 20g (for stabilizers)
• High performance PTFE-based oil - 25ml (for switches)

They are targeted at model hobbyists and, from my own observation, work great on keyboard parts too. Hope it helps!

[funderburker]

Please forgive me for bumping a very old thread, but I figured I could share something useful here as my very first post (tada!), because searching for suitable lubes in Europe (particularly Germany) doesn't yield anything useful across GeekHack, Reddit and other forums.

I found these 2 affordable products of the brand GEAR-FLON in a popular electronic store called Conrad and have been really satisfied with them:

• High performance PTFE-based grease - 20g (for stabilizers)
• High performance PTFE-based oil - 25ml (for switches)

They are targeted at model hobbyists and, from my own observation, work great on keyboard parts too. Hope it helps!

Nice find. What switches did you lube and how long have you've been using them? Was this your first lubing experience?

[the-weatherman]

What switches did you lube and how long have you've been using them? Was this your first lubing experience?

I use a Leopold FC660C (Topre switches) at work for which I lubed the stabilizers (grease) and sliders (oil). I also lubed a couple of Cherry Browns (oil) on my Tofu just to see if the result would be what I was aiming for.
It's been only 2 days. Although I'm happy with the result, I have no idea how long the lubes will be truly effective. I'm not expecting the GEAR-FLON to be as durable as Krytox or other niche products. It seems to be comparable to Super Lube grease and oil products (which I haven't used).

Yes, first lubing experience with mechanical keyboards for me. I've been quite reluctant lubing anything so far because I didn't trust any of the multi-usage, silicon-based lubes out there, but these two products seem to check all the boxes: plastic-friendly, contain PTFE (Teflon), designed for precise small parts just like what's inside keyboards. I may want to experiment with mixing the oil and grease to come up with the right texture in the near future, before I proceed with the rest of my browns.

[treeleaf64]

What switches did you lube and how long have you've been using them? Was this your first lubing experience?

I use a Leopold FC660C (Topre switches) at work for which I lubed the stabilizers (grease) and sliders (oil). I also lubed a couple of Cherry Browns (oil) on my Tofu just to see if the result would be what I was aiming for.
It's been only 2 days. Although I'm happy with the result, I have no idea how long the lubes will be truly effective. I'm not expecting the GEAR-FLON to be as durable as Krytox or other niche products. It seems to be comparable to Super Lube grease and oil products (which I haven't used).

Yes, first lubing experience with mechanical keyboards for me. I've been quite reluctant lubing anything so far because I didn't trust any of the multi-usage, silicon-based lubes out there, but these two products seem to check all the boxes: plastic-friendly, contain PTFE (Teflon), designed for precise small parts just like what's inside keyboards. I may want to experiment with mixing the oil and grease to come up with the right texture in the near future, before I proceed with the rest of my browns.

Please let me know how your switches feel after a few days (if it lasts for long). I think Krytox and Trybosis lubricants are very expensive, and it's the main reason why I don't want to try lubing my switches.

[the-weatherman]

Please let me know how your switches feel after a few days (if it lasts for long). I think Krytox and Trybosis lubricants are very expensive, and it's the main reason why I don't want to try lubing my switches.

The oil I applied on Brown switches and Topre sliders is really thin. PTFE leaves a long lasting protective coating on surfaces you apply it to, so it may take months before I can report back. However, I can already observe that changes are quite subtle considering how thin the GEAR-FLON oil is compared to a blend like Krytox variants.

Another thing: I have decided against trying to mix the oil and grease together. I have been browsing a couple of forums of mechanics enthusiasts, and many warn against doing so because the oil separates from the grease over time, leaving a thick greasy surface instead of the thinner grease you originally expected. Those synthetic blends are produced under particular conditions of temperature and pressure, so you can't emulate them properly by simply mixing two components of different viscosity.

Bottom line: the GEAR-FLON grease is great, it made my stabilizers as silent as what I heard in YouTube videos and doesn't seem to leave residue after 4 days of typing, but don't even think about mixing it to produce a thinner grease. The GEAR-FLON oil leaves the surface of my switches slightly smoother and doesn't slide, but it's a bit too thin to produce a significant change with tactile switches (I don't have any linear switch to compare with). If you're a perfectionist you should consider Krytox variants, I honestly like my Browns as they are so my curiosity stops here

[tp4tissue]

I opened an aluminum keeb once, and the lube someone used stained the inside of the case.  Some lubricants can have solvents/ chemicals that react.  It usually takes a long time to see the consequences.

It could react with the PCB too.

Inside the switch it's enclosed but on the stabilizer, it can spray all over the surrounding.

[treeleaf64]

Thanks to both of you!