Re: Keyboard lubricant?

From: mike (spamme0_at_juno.com)
Date: 08/22/04 

Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2004 03:25:14 -0700

Jim Adney wrote:
> On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 22:33:54 GMT Bill Harris
> <bill_harris@facilitatedsystems.com> wrote:
>
>
>>I have a Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite that I disassembled, washed,
>>and reassembled.
>>
>>Now it seems as if the keys are harder to press. Is there a lubricant I
>>should have used on the keys?
>>
>>A bit of research by Google in s.e.r turned up silicon spray (perhaps
>>left out for a while so the propellant evaporates) and engine (or
>>machine?) oil as two solutions people have tried.
>
>
> Silicones are excellent lubricants for plastics. Mineral oils are not
> nearly as good. I've seen many examples of plastic products that work
> well because the parts are lubricated by the silicone mold release
> that they apparently acquire in manufacture.
>
> It take an extremely small amount of silicone to do the job. If you
> can see it, you've used way too much. A quick spray over a large area
> might well be perfect.
>
> -
> -----------------------------------------------
> Jim Adney jadney@vwtype3.org
> Madison, WI 53711 USA
> -----------------------------------------------

I've never had any luck lubricating keyboards.
Most of the problems I've had were with laptop keyboards.
They work great if you push in the center of the key, but
if you push slightly off center, there's friction.
Too much side force for the available surface area and the
sidewalls are no longer smooth.
Lubricant hasn't fixed one yet for me.
Next time, I'm gonna chuck a Q-tip in a Dremel and
"fire polish" the side walls.

It's assumed that you've already taken steps to remove all traces
of coffee, pop, cat pee, etc from the internal sliding surfaces
of the keys/keysockets. Pepsi is harder to get out than you might
imagine.
mike 

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Relevant Pages

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