How I lube 90 linear switches in one evening without losing my mind (plus the lazy version)

As promised in my budget setup post, here is my switch lubing guide. This is for linear switches. For tactile, read the warning at the end first ✨

Tools (prices Shopee/Tokopedia)

• Switch opener: Rp 50.000. Do not use a screwdriver, you will break the clips
• Krytox 205g0 (small jar, 5-10 g): around Rp 150.000. This is for the stem and housing
• Krytox GPL 105 oil, a few ml: around Rp 60.000. This is for the springs
• Small brush, size 00 or 0: Rp 15.000
• Stem holder / lube station: Rp 40.000. Optional, but your fingers will thank you after switch number 40
• Switch puller (usually comes with the keyboard)
• Small ziplock bag
• Switch films: optional, I skip on most switches

Steps

1. Pull all switches from the hot-swap board. Count them, put in a bowl
2. Springs first: bag lube. All springs in the ziplock, 2-3 drops of GPL 105, close, shake for 2 minutes. Take out, put on tissue. This kill the spring ping (the "ting" sound) and takes 5 minutes for all 90
3. Open each switch with the opener. Top housing, stem, spring, bottom housing
4. Stem: very thin coat of 205g0 on the 4 sides where it slides (the rails). Do NOT lube the legs that touch the metal leaf, and never lube the metal leaf itself
5. Bottom housing: thin coat on the inside rails where the stem slides
6. Put back together, spring on stem, close the top
7. Test 5 switches before you do all of them. Press a lubed one next to a stock one. If the lubed one feels slow coming back up, you used too much

Mistakes I made the first time

• Too much lube. My first 20 switches were mushy and some stick a little bit at the bottom. Thin coat, brush should look almost dry
• Lubed the leaf. 3 switches stopped registering sometimes. Cleaned with IPA, fine again
• Did it all in one go with no breaks. 3 hours, my back hurt. Now I do 30 switches, stretch, chai, 30 more

The lazy version (80% of result, 20% of time)

Only do step 2. Bag lube the springs with 105, no opening switches. The spring ping is the most annoying sound, and this kills it in 20 minutes. If after that you still want smoother, then do the full one.

Warning for tactile switches

205g0 on the tactile bump will kill the bump. For tactiles, lube only the rails and the bottom housing, or use a thin oil. Ask daan_fpga, he is the tactile expert here.

And if you don't know what words like "thocky" and "creamy" mean, this video explains better than me:

Lubing switches is self-care. Don't let anyone tell you different 🔥