How To Lube Your Switches w/ Tips and Tricks

How To Lube Your Switches w/ Tips and Tricks - 2022

Рет қаралды 146,414

Күн бұрын

This is my ultimate guide on how I lube my switches effectively. I wanted to focus more on the dos and don'ts of lubing switches to avoid mistakes and give you all my opinion on some ways to avoid over lubed switches. This guide is meant for cherry MX style switches and focuses on linear variant. Again, the amount lube you use it totally up to you in the end, but start off light and don't be afraid to experiment to get to your desired feel and sound.
On another note here is where you can get some of the materials I used today:
Brush (any brush will do): kineticlabs.com/switch-mods/k...
205g0 Lube: kineticlabs.store/lube/krytox...
Switch Opener: ilumkb.com/collections/access...
Optional:
TX Stem Holder: www.ashkeebs.com/product/tx-s...
Spring Oil: kineticlabs.com/lube/krytox/1...
Springs: kineticlabs.com/switch-mods/k...
Films: kineticlabs.com/search/films?...
Also here is a website that carries a lot of my favourite switches: dangkeebs.com/?ref=x2NSKd0C57...
Read more about my fav switches here: www.alexotos.com/best-switche...
Please note these are affiliate links and help support my channel to help me make videos like this!
0:00 - Intro
0:34 - Tools You'll Need
0:58 - Opening Your Switch
1:28 - How To Lube Your Switch
3:43 - Why I Don't Lube the Bottom Housing
4:14 - When To Apply Films
5:28 - Why I Don't Lube the Pole on the Stem
6:14 - Fixing Bent Pins
6:46 - Altering The Sound Of Your Up Stroke
7:00 - Adding New Springs
Find me live here: / alexotos
_________
Sponsors/Affiliates - note some of these are affiliate links! They help support my channel. :D
kineticlabs.store/alexotos
salvun.com
spaceholdings.net?aff=alexotos
kibou.store/alexotos
www.ashkeebs.com/?aff=3
loob.no/
omnitype.com/alexotos
modedesigns.com/alexotos
agileshop.co/?aff=alexotos
archetypemade.com/
novelkeys.com/
www.deskhero.ca/
_________
Discord:
/ discord
_________
Remember to follow me on my socials, too!
www.alexotos.com
/ alexotos
/ otosalex
/ alexotos
/ alexotos
_________
If you're wondering what gear I use on stream (cameras and build equipment) check out my kit link here: kit.co/alexotos

Пікірлер: 171

@z4k1_zaki65 Жыл бұрын

One small tip, always try to start off with 1 or 2 switches with different amount of lube or method and see which one you like more!

@alexotos Жыл бұрын

Highly agree!

@ploixbox 5 ай бұрын

so simple yet so clever.. Why didn't I think of this...

@QualityScrub Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your hard work on this, Alex! The community really appreciates you putting this together!

@TyKeys Жыл бұрын

Awesome to see you address stuff like where in specific lube can cause the most noticeable problems, as well as a good method to adjust upstroke volume. The little nuances in the lubing process are really what I think get overlooked in most tutorials out there. I was able to nitpick my own preferred methods for lubing over time, and I love that this guide covers it all. Wish I got to see this earlier in my own experience, great work with this one!

@hattorihanzo5707 10 ай бұрын

so many "guides" on YT but none of them as thorough as yours. i can now feel confident to finally mod. god bless.

@knightshousegames 11 ай бұрын

This guide is really concise and to the point I really like that part where you close the housing slightly wrong, then show how to close it right, it makes for a great demonstration for someone who might not know the difference

@tylerharris1085 Жыл бұрын

Even having quite a bit of experience, it's nice to get a refresher and learn any new tricks. Keep up the great work!

@alexotos Жыл бұрын

Anytime at all :)

@suited124 Жыл бұрын

an amazing switch lubing guide. Definitely the best I've seen.

@spicytrailmix3531 11 ай бұрын

Love how informative and how open the video was, gave tips but left room to make the process your own :)

@mikes41720 Жыл бұрын

Several years into the hobby and I always had someone else lube my switches for me. Thanks for putting out this guide! Lubing my Zakus for the very first time and it's been very therapeutic and fun. Although my neck and back kind of ache a bit and it is pretty time consuming. But that might just be an indication of my age more than anything. Haha! Thanks, Alexotos!

@yanec2501 Жыл бұрын

Alex is out here making the best lubing tutorial that I know of 🙏❤ I also just want to add that foam films can somewhat deepen the switch sound too and that bag lubing springs with 205g0 is also pausible but GPL105 is recommended.

@Uryftw Жыл бұрын

Awesome content Alex! I am VERY late but this is the guide that I am sharing with anyone who asks me for proper guidance on how to lube switches. 10/10

@CDeeez94 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this. You did such a great job organizing all of your steps with easy-to-follow visuals for the processes as well as the parts of the switch. This is definitely one of the best lubing tutorials on KZfaq. Thank you so much 🙏

@alexotos Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@janedrinesteban5687 Жыл бұрын

Also tip for the newbies, you want to develop a system in your pace when doing multiple switches. That would be more efficient, just like a factory line. That's where lubing stations come in. If you fnished a lubing a set of switches and feels like you can do better, don't just settle in one system, develop it as it goes.

@R3TR0J4N Жыл бұрын

concise and compact for 8min. informative show and tell notably regards the subject of lubing the housing and its stem, its efficient, rather than wasting the lube w/ excessiveness.

@wearetotallymid Жыл бұрын

I noticed your switches sounded very different from mine and I always wondered why. I liked your sound way more and no one every told me not to lube the center well and the poles -.- thanks for this video!

@aahlala Жыл бұрын

Love it! Thanks for the detailed explanations, and the do's and don'ts.

@Kimberly_jk Жыл бұрын

i love this! also the fonts and animations are an amazing touch.

@bandittree Жыл бұрын

Just a bent pin straightening tip for anyone who sees this: When straightening pins with tweezers, you can use the inner joint section and press together to get it even straighter with less effort! You may need to you the tip to get it started but it'll help from there :) Great vid, Alex!

@Angelaaa1111 5 ай бұрын

This video was so good I watched it again. Thank, Alex.

@kpcks Жыл бұрын

Tiptop. There isn't much lubing guide to mention about filming isn't mandatory for every single switches, while also explaning why you should not lubing the pole. Alex my man! 🔥

@Ollie_Hill Жыл бұрын

this helped me so much exactly what i was looking for thank you!

@oluna8369 Жыл бұрын

great video, very informative, i will be building my first keebs soon and this is what i was wondering about.

@lZlSHINTANi 9 ай бұрын

I recently got back into keyboards and I did run into the problem of thinking using films was mandatory to full deck out a switch. It turns out the films were causing some of my switches to 'stick' and not fully return. The switches went back to normal once I removed the films. Glad to see that section of 'when to apply films' in this video.

@burrrli 3 ай бұрын

Thank you!! This video is so helpful.

@iyeetdog4853 Жыл бұрын

You can still hear scratchy sounds with the stem only lubed switch. The difference is subtle, but still there

@chrisdotdash5154 Жыл бұрын

I noticed that too. But I bet it’s barely noticeable once the switch is in a board.

@SnoopySmells Жыл бұрын

ty Alex you're the GOAT. ILY

@_b_l_x_c_k_ Жыл бұрын

This gonna become my new hobby 😂 so satisfying

@29erikas 8 күн бұрын

Wow! I love this video, what a difference this is going to make. I recently lubed my first set and they feel sluggish and now I know why - I lubed top, bottom, stem, and spring. I'll have to take the time to clean these off, but I will switch to this method immediately! Thanks!

@Koiworks84 Жыл бұрын

This is amazing!! Thank you so much

@hrinn Жыл бұрын

Hi, I'm new to the keeb scene, I love the editing and overall pacing of this video!! A tutorial on lubing stabilizers would be really nice

@ImpendingNightmare 8 ай бұрын

very detailed one! help a newbie like me 😂😂 well done sir!!

@adriancpm Жыл бұрын

Nice thanks Alex!

@hobbyholic42 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for pointing to the exact parts. Many other KZfaqrs just say stem, well, and legs like I know what they are talking about.

@alexotos 2 ай бұрын

Glad i could help!

@perspicacity89 7 ай бұрын

Great video, thank you!

@jsbenitez0 Жыл бұрын

Alex with the stache lets go ! thank god

@LumiMoonblossom 4 ай бұрын

i just lubed my switches, it took me 6 HOURS.. thanks for this video, it helped a lot :D

@MrJibJub13 Жыл бұрын

don’t forget to just try other springs and not just always the longer and faster rebound springs (something i used to think). i bought some complex springs and didn’t like them on some linear switches but tried them on my boba u4 switches and they totally transformed the switches in a way that i loved.

@zawadahsan7833 Жыл бұрын

great vid,,,,imma mod my keyboard this weekend,,,such a helpful video.

@brocky Жыл бұрын

This is exciting.

@daeganj Жыл бұрын

Thank you, news anchor Otos ❤

@user-iv8jk1sn7s Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing!!!

@ramenlord232 3 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@siegekeebs Жыл бұрын

So glad you touched on the films - I think a lot of newer people to the hobby didn't understand the point and though it was for stem wobble instead of the original purpose which was to address housing tightness (which as a side effect can improve stem wobble. Very few new switches benefit from films, and it can actually cause problems as you pointed out. Older switches like cherries or creams can have a remarkable improvement from filming though.

@KNCKeys Жыл бұрын

I’m your biggest fan!!!

@siegekeebs Жыл бұрын

@@KNCKeys I love you

@Josh-99 9 ай бұрын

I'm one of those weird people who uses a lube station but still does the switches one at a time. I just got a small station that allows me to have the grease in a small holder, a cut-out for my brush and stem holder, and a notch for the stem, spring, and two housing halves.

@tianlamian Жыл бұрын

Great video! I generally like using a switch station so I can place films on all the bottom housings before placing the springs, I find this much easier than finessing the film around the spring. Also helps keep components together if the station has lined up stem and bottom housing slots.

@pimp.avogadro Жыл бұрын

Bout. Fuggin. Tyme we got this treasure.

@albertko1 Жыл бұрын

One thing I like to do to make reassembly easier whenever I'm putting a switch back together... Especially if you have RSI or just twitchy hands. (With the spring in the bottom housing) Put the stem into the top housing and put your jewelers claw/stem holder tool onto the actual cross off the stem. This is a bit harder to do with box type stems but it still works. This is a whole lot easier than trying to finesse the top housing onto a stem that's sitting on a spring that spins and is hard to align. For those lubing tactile switches, this also easily allows you to make sure the stem is fully depressed first before closing the switch. The claw usually is tapered at the end and allows enough play for the housing to move a bit. It's much easier to align the stem into the rails with the housing already "along for the ride" on the stem holder's shaft.

@Angelaaa1111 5 ай бұрын

I'm going to try this. Thank you.

@codywlsmith Жыл бұрын

You're the man. Love these videos. Even as an avid keyboard enthusiast, it's always cool to get different techniques and thoughts from other enthusiasts. Not to mention the GOAT of keyboard building.

@rocknlefty Жыл бұрын

FIRST! Love you Alex

@DisabledCapsLock Жыл бұрын

The only time I keep my parts together is if the switches are broken in. I also use a lube station and break down 45 switches at a time bag lube the springs, film the lower housings, place the springs, lube stems, snap on tops. picking up and putting down tools for all these steps per switch doesn't make sense to me. 🖌 Nice video! Also, before I start I lube, film, spring swap, and test the different combinations on a few switches then build whatever one I like the best

@Charo.mp4 Жыл бұрын

Super stella guide - loved this!

@someloafofbread2417 Жыл бұрын

yay time to do 54 of these...

@Sam-gh9xc Жыл бұрын

Great tutorial! What springs would you recommend? I've heard you talk about TX Springs but there are so many variations haha.

@MrJibJub13 Жыл бұрын

first time lubing always = overlubed. learned that after my first time. i think it’s a right of passage at this point lol

@acloudonthebluestsky9687 6 ай бұрын

That is great, since I just need to lubricate the stem, which cuts down on the time required by about one-third.

@vwlabs Жыл бұрын

Thank you Alex, not lubing the top of the rail really did help on improving the sound of the upstroke on my Creams. One question, do Creams really need filming, how big can filming modify the sounds specifically for the Creams?

@cesarrestrepo5621 Жыл бұрын

Love the video, jumping on the keyboard build wagon and have been nervous about lubing the switches, this helped ALOT.

@Emmori6 Жыл бұрын

Apperciate you spreading the knowledge on Alex! As always a a gem of a hooman ♥

@chuhengxi Жыл бұрын

Thank you Alex! About to build some boards for friends, perfect timing!

@MrSkullhead0 Жыл бұрын

Let’s gooo! I’m just here to support the lad for all he does for this community. Thanks for always looking out for the greater good of the hobby

@imcasey Жыл бұрын

this is really helpful, thank you! how would i know if i need to replace the springs? i got everglide aqua kings and films and lubes but didnt buy extrs springs :(

@gratus8811 Жыл бұрын

yoooooooo was waiting this video for a while and it was worth it, looks insane man

@w.ave_ Жыл бұрын

Hi Alex, thanks for the video! Do you find hand lubing the springs with thicker lube yield better results than bag lubing the springs with lighter lube?

@SirAyme Жыл бұрын

What fantastic timing! I'm currently waiting for my boba u4's and lube to arrive so I can definitely use the help.

@alexotos Жыл бұрын

Let me know how they turn out!!

@SirAyme Жыл бұрын

@@alexotos it is 3 am. dhl has decided to torture me by holding on to my switches until 11 pm. i have a renewed respect for factory workers. All jokes aside, I had one dud switch, one switch I put back together backwards (ruined the leaf, woops) but the final result is exactly what I was hoping for. Something that types quite nice with a tactile bump that I can actually take to work without torturing my colleagues. I dare say my moonlander is probably even quieter than a regular membrane keyboard now and I'm very happy. The process itself was pretty satisfying, if not a bit repetitive. Makes me wanna pick up miniature painting again. Thanks for the very concise and informative video! I just wish I had had the "You should probably get some extra switches just in case" tip a bit earlier, cause I'm afraid I still have 4 box whites hanging around in some corners (And yes that does mean I did the math wrong, woops.) now if you'll excuse me I'm going to pass out.

@mcheddadi Жыл бұрын

Great video! Lots of effort into a concise and easy to follow guide. props to you for doing that! also wanna say that imo switch sounds deeper when the bottom housing is lubed. gives them cherry blacks that extra bass :D.

@gabrielapolinar5103 Жыл бұрын

LETS GOOOO

@davidop650 Жыл бұрын

Great video! I have some questions, after add oil to the springs is recommended to lube the bottom an the top of them? I like the sound after lube the bottom housing, If I lube that do you recommend to lube the bottom of the spring?

@mojoneko8303 4 ай бұрын

To film or not to film that was my question. My Zoom98 arrived a few days ago but I'm still waiting for the modules and brass plate I ordered from Dangkeebs. Lubing the switches will give me something to do till the order arrives. I'm using WS Morandi Linear switches. I plan to use the original springs since I didn't order any aftermarket springs. I will attempt to film a couple of them and see if that's worth doing on all of them. This is my first custom keyboard project and I kind of jumped into the deep end of the custom keyboard pool. It took me two days to figure out how to side load a json file into the Via configurator app so that VIA would detect my keyboard. I didn't even know what a json file was two days ago. Thanks for the video.

@PWzhouster Жыл бұрын

Still waiting for the studio/set-up tour!!!

@MatthewEncina Жыл бұрын

Well done.

@whitstroben589 5 ай бұрын

Do you have a video on how to replace switches? My D key on my Corsair K95 stopped function correctly. I want to learn how to install a new switch. Thanks!

@ImOnMy116 Жыл бұрын

very very solid video, thanks Alex!!

@FitLabb Жыл бұрын

Great detailed video that’s great for all levels to watch. I personally lubricate the bottom housing as well with a light coat of 205g0, but it all comes down to personal preference. My only advice to anyone just starting out in the hobby & wanting to try their hand at lubing switches is to turn on your favorite Netflix show & just get to it using the method in this video. 👍

@Shaqmove Жыл бұрын

Yesss sirrrr. Thank you alex! I got alot of leaf pinging from my switches. This video helps me alot

@phykios Жыл бұрын

Alex this switch lubing guide is GOATED so concise and informative man HOLY

@alexotos Жыл бұрын

Thank you SO MUCH

@leoclacks Жыл бұрын

what camera are you using and do you have any camera recommendation? i wann buy myself one:)

@cassieliu6038 Жыл бұрын

How do you clean the brush after lubing? Do you rise it or just use a tissue to wipe out oil?

@sn1krep1 Жыл бұрын

Couple this with the How to Lube Stabilizers guide and you're set for life! Get after it ol' son!!

@danialahmad8912 Жыл бұрын

Will this method be the same for gatron optical switches?

@7yxc Жыл бұрын

If possible can you link your tweezers?

@gerryramosftw 8 ай бұрын

How do you usually separate the springs after bag lubing, they are usually all tangled together, do you just go with the method of using 2 tweezers?

@CookieDelicious666 Жыл бұрын

Just to confirm, when you are bag lubing springs with GPL 105 are you skipping the step of lubing the ends of the springs with 205G0, or do you complete that step as well to prevent any spring ping?

@alexotos Жыл бұрын

Correct I’m skipping the step of lubing the ends! In this case, oil is all you need

@IAmAtomik Жыл бұрын

Should i clean the switches from the factory lube before lubing?

@holiclove Жыл бұрын

이런 영상 매우 좋네요 감사합니다 지인에게 공유하기 딱 좋네요

@phileezor Жыл бұрын

♥

@jm8080ful Жыл бұрын

5:55 I call that "Switch Fart™"

@Jeshwannnn Жыл бұрын

I finally know what I wanted for Christmas thanks mr alexotos 😢

@davidvo3762 Жыл бұрын

should i bag lube my springs or lube the top and bottom of the springs? is there a difference

@vitaliitkachuk892 Жыл бұрын

Does it make sense to lube switches without desoldering? Ty 💪🇺🇦

@Nagynimrod 8 ай бұрын

Can I use cotton buds for lubing and is it even good?

@frankenstein3163 6 ай бұрын

My keyboard dos not have those kind of switches. My "kinesis freestyle 2". Any pointer on lubing it ? My keys jam. Making missing key strokes and some time sticking. Its not from being dirty.

@martinnergidojohansen4983 Жыл бұрын

Clutch😊

@R3TR0J4N Жыл бұрын

💀if only i had't lubed my switch a year before. i lubed my stem and housing, and after wathcing this, i couldve saved more lube.

@T.N.24 Жыл бұрын

U are so right about not lubing the bottom housing. I get a lot of inconsistencies bc I tend to overlube/underlube the bottom housing rails. (I cant see how much lube is applied when holding the bottom housing to a light, whereas I can see the stem clearly in a light.) You really do have more control and consistency in lubing just the stem instead.

@annisatamaraputri7979 Ай бұрын

its perfect, just lubing the stem and springs