I recently bought a Wooting 80HE keyboard and installed Gateron Jade switches. When I snapped the switches into the plate, I noticed that lubricant was leaking from the switches. It was clearly visible on the black gloves I was wearing as a shiny residue. When I remove the switches, there are spots on the four corners of the plate, indicating that lubricant has leaked out.
My questions:
Is this normal for Gateron Jade switches?
Are there switches where this does not happen?
Could you give me tips on how to clean the lubricant from the keyboard case or my desk?
Oil has a tendency to migrate, so it may not be all that unusual. If the switches were over-lubed, that effect could be more pronounced. I haven’t experienced a big enough range of switches to tell you whether this was normal or not. It may also depend on whether these switches were factory lubed, or lubed by someone else.
I’m going to make an assumption that the oil is non-conductive, so it’s not really going to cause any issues. Although over time and use the build up of oil can turn gummy as it ages. How long that takes would depend on what lubricant it was.
Wiping it off with a cotton swab or microfiber towel is one way to remove it. Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) can help remove some lubricants, but not all of them will respond to that.
Outside of the mess, are you experiencing any issues with the keyboard?
I can confirm this is normal. Not nearly all but plenty of switches have oil in accessible places from the factory, and plenty of those are Gaterons. It’s harmless outside the minor mess. Some of the more generously lubed ones I might wipe the outside of with a cloth before installing, but I usually don’t.
Edit: rubbing alcohol is a great way to clean it from the PCB or a metal case; maybe not a plastic one, though, as it can compromise some plastic surfaces.