OT -- car door locks need lubrication

Stormy,

I thought graphite was the lubricant for locks.

Dave M.

For cold climates, I used to use graphite based lubricant, since it doesn't turn into sludge at cold temps.

Locks is one place I "specifically" will not use WD40. I have a little zip tube of "tuff-oil" and another of Chevron iso 15 "handi-oil" as well as a bottle of "lock eaz" - which has een my favorite for locks for decades.

Lock Eaz is a colloidal graphite that works very well.

Roofing cement? That's a _terrible_ idea! Ignition lock, OK, but _not_ door locks!

If you put it in door locks, your nosy neighbors will ask what it's for and you'll have to explain. They'll want some, too, and they'll tell their friends. Invent a better way to keep rock salt out of locks and the world will beat a path to your door, all wanting a free shot.

Did you ever have to go up on your roof in a hurricane to fix a leak with Lock Ease because you squeezed the trigger on your caulk gun and no roofing cement came out? ;)

It is much better to use graphite to lubricate door locks.

Oil attracks dirt and can gum up a lock.

Oil works well for hinges.

A lot is based on the location. I'm in NY State, USA where they use a LOT of road salt. Which is much different than Arizona, Pacific North Wet, etc. In NYS, if you use graphite in your door locks, they turn into a useless lump of zinc and white corrosion.

- . Christopher A. Young Learn about Jesus

New York State is no worse than Ontario.(as far as salt use and winter conditions)

In the 1970s I lived in the North Country of New York for 5 years and never saw any rotted door locks. Worst winters of any place I have ever lived.

They use plenty of road salt here in the Philly suburbs and I don't see any rotted door locks.

snipped-for-privacy@snyder.on.ca wrote in news:5jpq5ad3qmtnekqdhrfavla558rp61o1ql@

Yeah, and graphite is a terrible idea in Ontario as well.

The correct stuff is the lightest oil you can find. Rust Check (red spray can) is the best there is, although it does tend to get stiff below zero F.

Nice, we're no worse than anyone else.

Would have made a great political slogan "Vote for Stormin Mormon, we're no worse than anyone else."

I forecast a landslide next election.

- . Christopher A. Young Learn about Jesus

In the eighties, I worked in a locksmith shop. I replaced a LOT of car door locks. That's my take on the matter.

My cobbler says everyone has bad shoes, too.

- . Christopher A. Young Learn about Jesus

We once had a VP who proposed 'We suck less.' for the corporate motto. Ut's accurate; we've had several sites that left for a while when another vendor promised them the world but came back because we sucked less.

Lock ease (sorry, I spelled it wrong)is a colloidal graphite lubricant - not dry lube - suspended in a very light oil carrier specifically made as a lock lubricant. I have had good results with it for several decades. It is made by American Grease Stick.

According to the msds it is:

No idea what the "dripless base compound" mixture is - but it works. It was first recommended to me by a very well respected locksmith WAY back in the seventies when we had him service some locks for us.

Well, we do see some badly corroded locks occaisionally. Last year I replaced the latch assemblies on my 18 year old pickup truck cap when I could not free the locks up any more.. They face slightly up, so water and dirt can run into them.

My 1950 Oldsmobile came with rubber covers, that snapped on, that covered the button in the door handle with the key hole.

They were in perfect condition when I got the car in 1965, probably because my cousin never used them.

My fob receiver is broken. I'll try D-40.

I do use graphite when the locks stay dry, such as inside an office complex. When they get wet like car doors, I'm forced to use oil based products.

I avoid "graphited lock fluid" in the little cans, that stuff gets thick after a while.

In my cold climate, western NY, they use a lot of rock salt on the roads. I used to work in a locksmith shop, and we replaced a LOT of car door keyhole cylinders. In NYS rock salt areas, graphite would do nothing about the corrosion.

- . Christopher A. Young Learn about Jesus

I did lock work for a motel, couple decades ago. Their guys would squirt "Lock Easze graphited lock fluid" into the the locks (key hole cylinders) on the rooms. The fluid would get sticky, and the locks would not work right. I used a lot of carb cleaner, to remove that graphited lock fluid. Me, well, I'd never use that stuff.

Oh, SORRY Clare, I FORGOT to use your SPECIAL notation when REPLYING to your POSTS. Just HAD to be a JERK for your ENTERTAINMENT.

Some folks use ATF "automatic transmission fluid" in car door locks. That could help, I don't have a lot of experience with that.

- . Christopher A. Young Learn about Jesus