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

[@z4k1_zaki65]

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]

Highly agree!

[@ploixbox]

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

[@janedrinesteban5687]

4:14 i don't usually hear much the scratch of switches, but this time surprisingly, I heard them.

[@ksaweryglab]

yep, the second switch - there is just a slight sound of a scratch in there.

[@knightshousegames]

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

[@TyKeys]

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!

[@tylerharris1085]

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]

Anytime at all :)

[@iyeetdog4853]

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

[@chrisdotdash5154]

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

[@janedrinesteban5687]

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.

[@bandittree]

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!

[@lZlSHINTANi]

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.

[@siegekeebs]

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]

I’m your biggest fan!!!

[@siegekeebs]

@@KNCKeys I love you

[@kpcks]

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! 🔥

[@hobbyholic42]

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

[@alexotos]

Glad i could help!

[@29erikas]

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!

[@mikes41720]

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!

[@hattorihanzo5707]

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

[@albertko1]

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]

I'm going to try this. Thank you.

[@spicytrailmix3531]

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

[@MrJibJub13]

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.

[@LumiMoonblossom]

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

[@QualityScrub]

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

[@yanec2501]

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.

[@suited124]

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

[@wearetotallymid]

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!

[@R3TR0J4N]

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.

[@Uryftw]

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]

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 KZbin. Thank you so much 🙏

[@alexotos]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Josh-99]

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.

[@TheTarwin]

can you just slap some 205 into a plastic bag with all the springs and shake it for a minute or two so they all get covered evenly ? Just wondering if that's a viable option and how effective it would be

[@djraven3124]

yep, it wont be as optimal, but the sound shouldn't change too much from what i've seen. and also its so much quicker for not that much sound compromise

[@Angelaaa1111]

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

[@ImpendingNightmare]

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

[@Kimberly_jk]

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

[@_b_l_x_c_k_]

This gonna become my new hobby 😂 so satisfying

[@acloudonthebluestsky9687]

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

[@syrten]

Alex with the stache lets go ! thank god

[@aahlala]

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

[@w.ave_]

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?

[@LegendLuna]

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

[@whitstroben589]

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!

[@tianlamian]

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.

[@Ollie_Hill]

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

[@CookieDelicious666]

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]

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

[@mojoneko8303]

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.

[@MrJibJub13]

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

[@nikilk]

This guide contradicts the lubing guide from the folks at wooting. They recommend lubing the stem and only the sides. And not bother with the springs but it was optional. I have tried that lubing method and find it quite effective and sounds great for the HE switches. Is this a recommendation for mechanical switches ?

[@yosefbenyah]

you gotta be related to poke rev lol. I'm currently typing on my modded RK84.. packed it with foam, tape mod on pcb, akko rosewoods lubed deliciously, matcha green Japanese xda caps... sounds pretty sick for a budget build :D

[@richardd-nz]

Does bag lubing springs really get enough lube on them? Never tried it because I thought it wouldn't be good enough.

[@cassieliu6038]

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

[@phykios]

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

[@alexotos]

Thank you SO MUCH

[@DisabledCapsLock]

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

[@burrrli]

Thank you!! This video is so helpful.

[@itzmemarlonn4248]

Does this makes your keyboard sound more deeper ?

[@itzmemarlonn4248]

Because I want to make my wooting a little thocky

[@zhukie]

How do you open low profile switches? Openers won't work and I can't find any info anywhere :(

[@huunhanle3809]

You can use the tip of the flat head screwdriver to open the housing as an alternative.

[@Nagynimrod]

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

[@hrinn]

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

[@leoclacks]

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

[@gerryramosftw]

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?

[@robertfrippers]

I finally got around to lubing my first set of switches, and my god why didnt my lazy ass do this sooner? The feel is SUPERB, now i know what real smoothness is

[@vitaliitkachuk892]

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

[@danialahmad8912]

Will this method be the same for gatron optical switches?

[@SrDavidGhibli]

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?

[@davidvo3762]

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

[@someloafofbread2417]

yay time to do 54 of these...

[@SnoopySmells]

ty Alex you're the GOAT. ILY

[@IAmAtomik]

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

[@Stoic_Cat_]

If i lube the spring, should i still bag lube them with oil?

[@huunhanle3809]

You don't have to, doing that will lead to overlubed.

[@youone5176]

How many drops of oil needed for 90pcs springs?

[@zawadahsan7833]

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

[@farerse]

what is the cause of non responsive brown switches?

[@pimp.avogadro]

Bout. Fuggin. Tyme we got this treasure.

[@sn1krep1]

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

[@codywlsmith]

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.

[@cesarrestrepo5621]

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

[@ephia_]

is lubing the stem bad? because i may have forgotten to avoid lubing it... :D

[@Koiworks84]

This is amazing!! Thank you so much

[@frankenstein3163]

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.

[@vincentwc917]

when you bag lube them you only have to lube the top part and that's it right?

[@alexgchen]

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

[@vwlabs]

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?

[@janmichaelsuarez2996]

hi what will happen if too much lube applied?

[@7yxc]

If possible can you link your tweezers?

[@Sam-gh9xc]

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

[@daegan00]

Thank you, news anchor Otos ❤

[@imcasey]

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 :(

[@RodrigoDLipp]

What average frequency to lube it?

[@MrSkullhead0]

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

[@Shaqmove]

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

[@adriancpm]

Nice thanks Alex!

[@PWzhouster]

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

[@awry22]

Great video, thank you!

[@alexotos]

My pleasure!

[@MrVadymMykh]

04:13 there's HUGE difference and it is noticeable

[@__entiendo]

LMAO same thing I was thinking. There is a prominent pitch difference and I am trying to decide if I want to lube the bottom housings for my next set or not.

[@davidvo3762]

what's the difference? i'm not hearing it DX

[@Charo.mp4]

Super stella guide - loved this!

[@苡歌山川]

Thanks for sharing!!!

[@MatthewEncina]

Well done.

[@T.N.24]

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]

its perfect, just lubing the stem and springs

[@jm8080ful]

5:55 I call that "Switch Fart™"

[@st0nedpenguin]

Worth mentioning that some switches can be really inconsistent. My last build I ended up buying 120 switches to cherry pick for a 65% build.

[@roadrunner793]

How often do you lube your switches?

[@kaitalyn]

lubing the bottom housing absolutely makes a it smoother. top housing too. i will say though it's not necessary if you prefer switches with some "character" i also enjoy adding a bit of thicker 205g0 or 205g2 when bag lubing springs. i think it helps with spring ping over plain 105 oil

[@ImOnMy116]

very very solid video, thanks Alex!!

[@SirAyme]

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

[@alexotos]

Let me know how they turn out!!

[@SirAyme]

@@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.