What Does Lubing Switches Do? Is lubing Switches Worth It?

I’m sure you’ve heard of lubing switches, but what does exactly lubing switches do?

Well, the idea is simple – you apply a lubricant to the stem of the switch, which allows it to move more freely. This reduces the friction between the switch and the keycap, resulting in a smoother, more tactile action. It also helps reduce the noise associated with typing and reduces wear and tear of the switch since the switch doesn’t have to work as hard to return to its original position.

As a long-term mechanical keyboard user, I can tell you that lubing switches is one of the most important steps you can take to improve your typing experience.

Let’s get started to know more in detail!

What Do Lubing Switches Do?

Lubing Switches reduce friction, improve smoothness, and reduce wear and tear between the metal contact, housing, and springs, which can lead to improved performance and longer life.

Also, they help to eliminate significant clicking noise, deepen the sound signature of clicks and overall make the switches sound better.

1. Reduces Noise

Lubing is the act of putting silicone oil or other lubricants on the stem of a mechanical keyboard switch. It reduces friction and noise, while also making the stem smoother and more consistent.

The quieter the keyboard, the more you can use it in a quiet environment such as an office or home.

Lubing improves the feel of the keyboard, while also making it feel more consistent. Lubing can also make typing more silent but it is not required.

2. Reduce Friction

Lubing switches reduce the friction between the spring and the housing, reducing the effort to press the key.

The result is that it is easier to press the key and you can use a lighter spring and still achieve the same tactile bump. The lighter spring also leads to less bounce and key travel.

3. Improve Smoothness

Lubrication will reduce the friction between the switch and the housing, dramatically increasing the smoothness and speed of your keypresses.  If you’ve ever used a brand-new mechanical keyboard you will understand.

The difference is noticeable and the added smoothness makes the typing experience more pleasant and enjoyable.

4. Reduce Wear and Tear

Lubing your switches can reduce the amount of wear and tear on each individual switch. Wear and tear occur every time you press a key.

The metal parts of the switch (the spring and slider) wear down every time you press it, especially if you are a hard presser. 

The metal parts are exposed to oxidation, which causes the oxidation to build up over time. It’s the oxidation that causes wear and tear.

My Keyboard Lubing Experience( Whether Lubing Switches is Worth it?)

Hey, this is Anirban, the Founder of Techbullish.

Lubing your Mechanical Keyboard switches is definitely worth it if you are concerned about the smoothness of the keypress. It would just take the smoothness to a greater extent.

As a long-time mechanical keyboard user, whenever I get a new mechanical keyboard, I begin to lubricate its switches even if they come as factory lubed. I only skip lubing the Clicky type of switches because it removes the clicky feel from them. Otherwise, I prefer to lubricate keyboards with linear or tactile switches.

I am here to tell you that lubing your keyboard switches can be a delightful experience. I must say, lubing my switches has made them feel so much more responsive.

I started to lube my mechanical keyboard switches because I wanted a smooth and consistent feel while typing. The factory lube was doing its job, but I wanted it to be smoother. I wanted a tactile experience that was on another level.

So I decided to take the plunge and give lubing my switches a shot. I must say, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It was a relatively simple process and the results were immediate. My keyboard felt smoother, quieter, and more responsive than ever before.

The experience was also incredibly satisfying. I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment after completing the process. It was a great feeling of accomplishment, and it’s one that I would recommend to anyone interested in exploring.

Do lubing switches make it lighter?

Yes, when you lubricate your keyboard’s switches, they become lighter and easier to press. This is because the lubricant reduces the amount of friction between the switch and its internals.

As a result, you can type more quickly and comfortably without having to exert as much force.

If you want to make your keyboard feel new again, be sure to apply some lubricant to its switches.

It’s a quick and easy process, and the results are well worth it. Not only will your keyboard feel lighter, but it will also last longer.

Do lubing switches make it heavier?

Lubing Switches do not make it heavier unless you apply a thick lube in a large amount. A keyboard switch dipped in thick viscous lube would appear to be heavier.

In this case, you need to use the mechanical switch and wait till the thick lube wears off and you will again start to experience the switch as before.

Do lubing switches make it quieter?

Yes, Lubing switches to dampen the noisy clicky sound and make them quieter. Also, the switch’s sound profile gets deeper.

This is why applying lube is used as a way to make a mechanical keyboard sound quieter.

Do lubing switches make a difference?

Lubing a mechanical keyboard switch is an important part of ensuring that it operates smoothly. When the switch is lubed, the oil protects the metal contacts against corrosion and also helps to reduce friction between the contacts and the spring.

This also reduces wear and tear on both the switch and its components, extending their lifespan.

Do lubing switches remove ping?

Lubing your switches will significantly reduce spring ping noise or eliminate this noise altogether. 

To test this, we took two audio samples before lubing and after lubing in my Kailh Blue switch Keyboard and recorded the sound of the spring pinging. 

We then used Audacity to compare the sound files. There is a significant difference in the sound of the springs pinging between the two keyboards. 

The keyboard with switches that had been lubed emitted significantly less noise than the keyboard without lube. 

Is Lubing switches good for gaming?

Lubing would improve the gaming performance by making your clicks on your keyboard smoother. It will also prevent your keyboard from wear and tear which occurs from heavy usage during gaming sessions.

I would recommend lubing your mechanical keyboard before gaming and giving it a try. You will love using it.

Did I find Lubing Worth The Time And Effort?

There’s no doubt that a well-lubed keyboard feels good. It glides under your fingers and makes typing a joy. 

However, is all that lube worth the time and effort?

Lubricating a keyboard is not difficult, but it can be messy. You’ll need to remove the keycaps, apply the lube, and then put everything back together. Not everyone has the time or patience for that.

Even if you do take the time to lubricate your keyboard, it may not make a big difference in how it feels. Some people swear by lube while others say it doesn’t make a bit of a difference.

Ultimately, whether or not you should lubricate your keyboard is up to you. If you have the time and patience, go ahead and give it a try.

Conclusion

Let’s conclude the post on what lubing switches do!

So, Lubing Mechanical Keyboard switches can help improve the feel and performance of the keyboard. It can also help keep the keyboard in good condition for longer.

If you are looking to improve your typing experience, then lubing your keyboard switches is a step in the right direction.

However, you need not lubricate the switches of your keyboard regularly. Once lubed properly with a grease-based lube like Krytox, the lube will last for a long time, about 8-10 years.

I hope you enjoyed reading the post.