I had to oil up a latch on a wooden fence gate today and I decided to lubricate the latch mechanism with some wd-40. I was originally thinking of using some petroleum jelly for better longevity but after more thought, I thought this might make matters worst if it absorbs dirt. Am I correct in not using grease or is there a better grease for this outdoor job considering the blistering heat and rain (Texas)?
well first of all, wd40 is not a lubricant. It is merely a water dispersant. (basically kerosene) Go down to your local auto parts store and get some waterproof wheel bearing grease (for boat trailers) and apply with a small brush as needed.
I'm in NYS, but my choice would have been white lithium grease. Comes in spray cans, for easy apply.
Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus
"Stormin Mormon" wrote in news:0vBGr.214541$ snipped-for-privacy@news.usenetserver.com:
I don't know what kind of latch this is, but making sure it is properly aligned would surely help. Then wouldn't graphite powder be a good thing?
Three questions:
WD40 turns to goo when people attempt to use it as a lubricant:(
Vaseline turns to rock as it ages and is NOT A LUBRICANT!!!
I had a customer one time lube the machines I serviced with vasoline, and a bunch of VCRs.
I had to soak the parts he lubed on my machines with gasoline, and the customer ultimately tossed the 20 or so VCRs that had been lubed with vasoline.....
the offender was replaced,
he just didnt get it and probably made the same mistake at his next employeer........
In addition to VCR, what kind of machines do you say you service?
There are a lot of lubricants that fail. I'll start a thread on that, in a moment.
Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus
Vaseline turns to rock as it ages and is NOT A LUBRICANT!!!
I had a customer one time lube the machines I serviced with vasoline, and a bunch of VCRs.
I had to soak the parts he lubed on my machines with gasoline, and the customer ultimately tossed the 20 or so VCRs that had been lubed with vasoline.....
the offender was replaced,
he just didnt get it and probably made the same mistake at his next employeer........
I could upload a picture but regardless, I just thought a little lubricant was good because it's a slight rub metal on metal. I don't know how familiar people here are with wood gates in Texas, but they are notorious for settling where the hinges are and the posts move a bit as they age so the latches no matter how perfect at one time will likely not be perfect a year later even with minimum useage. I know it's not really rocket science and I did make adjustments yesterday to make it work better. I was just hoping to make it still better with some lubricant. I may be just too picky trying to perfect something that's not going to be that way a year later no matter what I do now so perhaps I did good enough . I wanted to make it effortless to open but it takes a little effort to open but I think a 60 yr old woman could do it if she knows how to work the latch. Now that makes me think how many 60 yr old women does it take to open the latch. Probably 5 or 6... one to try to open it and the rest to haggle over it.
I did align it but there is still a little metal on metal rub when you try to open it. It's not that bad but I was hoping to make it perfect so that's why I lubricated it. It's not bad and I should probably let it go because no matter what I do, the posts and hinges will move a bit as the summer goes by and my alignment will be a bit more off then. These type wood gates are notorious for this stuff in Texas weather. Thanks.
Yeah, that reminds me when I was younger (also in NY then), my dad used to have a can of that stuff around for various uses. Thanks for reminding me !!!
What you need are hinge umbrellas, designed to keep them shaded and the rain off.
;)
I'd make sure it's aligned properly and then DO NOTHING. Anything applied to the surface will wash off. Lubrication isn't necessary. This stuff doesn't have close tolerances that require it.
LOL! What he needs are stainless hinges.
" snipped-for-privacy@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:
I wouldn't think so either but a little graphite may just act to polish the contact area enough to make it go smoothly for quite a while. Then rubbing the lead of a pencil on the rub marks between the contact points is an easy maintenance thing.
Y'welcome. White lith is fun stuff. Not a cure all, but it has uses.
Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus
Yeah, that reminds me when I was younger (also in NY then), my dad used to have a can of that stuff around for various uses. Thanks for reminding me !!!
I do not recommend graphite because I have seen graphite wear out joints an= d close clearances. Now before people start jumping on what I just wrote le= t me clarify. It is possible that the graphite that I observed may have bee= n the wrong kind of graphite because there is a type of graphite that is co= nsidered an abrasive. But the people that I spoke to that have used it said= that they bought it from the hardware store as a lubricant. My question wo= uld be: How would you know what is inside the container that you buy? I sus= pect that some people are being sold the wrong kind of graphite in falsely = labeled containers.
snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:
Graphite is one of the softest materials around, so how it could be an abrasive, I don't know. Have any references?
Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus
I do not recommend graphite because I have seen graphite wear out joints and close clearances. Now before people start jumping on what I just wrote let me clarify. It is possible that the graphite that I observed may have been the wrong kind of graphite because there is a type of graphite that is considered an abrasive. But the people that I spoke to that have used it said that they bought it from the hardware store as a lubricant. My question would be: How would you know what is inside the container that you buy? I suspect that some people are being sold the wrong kind of graphite in falsely labeled containers.
You say that as if posts don't settle, warp or move anywhere else but Texas.
I don't know how familiar you are with the rest of the world, but wood basically reacts to its local environment in pretty much the same manner everywhere.
Use one of these:
P.S. You may have insulted a few 60 yr old woman by implying that they can't open something that requires more than a "little effort".
The more important question is this:
How many 60 yr old woman will be opening the latch in question? There's no real point in making it easy to use for a population that will never use it.
Disclaimer: I speak in generalities just to make a point. I mean no disrespect to any 60 yr old woman in regards to their gate opening capabilities.
Better yet, take the gate off and fence it in. Then no one can get in or out unless thru the house and I won't have to worry about no stinkin' latches !!
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