Woodstove hinge pin graphite (2025 Update)

Jan 26, 2019 Last reply: 8 months ago 17 Replies

I’ve got about an ounce of Mr Zip extra fine dry graphite in a squeeze bottle that might last the rest of my life, but it's messy. Even masking tape on the bottom of the hinge doesn't stop it from migrating during application.



Noticed art supply graphite crayons that might be easier to apply. Would they be good candidates for hinge lubrication?



EG:

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Next time I try this I may just wet some of the powder to spread with a flux brush.


How about some high temp, auto type grease instead? They have brake grease in small one use packets, for example.

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Looks like good stuff. High temp grease grease is usually 2 part compound where the grease component evaporates at 350 deg. and leaves graphite behind to continue lubricating. I'm not familiar with caliper grease and Permatex keeps their proprietary info obscure. I know that the door gets over 350 deg.

They sell brake grease in small matchbook size packets at auto parts stores counters for ~$1.

I must be in another universe. Having never known of a wood stove hinge pin being lubricated. I had one I took to ~1,000°F burning Maple.

Sorry I can't help.

I don't know about lubrication but how does an art store graphite crayon differ from a standard #1 'lead' pencil?

Come to think of it, I did use pencil graphite to lubricate the slide on my slide rule back in the day.

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I bet your exterior hinge didn't get that hot, but mine squealed like hell. Hot or cold.

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Regular pencils use clay mixed in the graphite to harden them. I assume the crayons will be more pure.

Just lousy design. Mine never did.

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That ought to thoroughly confuse the issue... They don't really say but the way I read it is the difference between a 4B pencil and crayon is more like a common pencil and a carpenter's pencil where one has a larger core.

It's worth the experiment if you have a Michaels or similar store nearby. Even easier, do you have any stove black (polish)? That's mostly graphite with a little wax to hold it together.

Makes enough noise to wake up GF, bothers me enough. Yes, door is cast it's a Lopi 1250. Bacon would probably only last one fire.

If it doesn't work on the stove, you can take up art. I always feel out of place in either of those stores. What I'm looking for probably doesn't have anything to do with what they think it's used for. But then I keep a tube of lipstick around. It comes in handy for fitting parts. Fingernail polish has its uses too that don't have anything to do with painting my toenails.

It's a removable pin. 5/8" dia. so a penny isn't big enough. I already looked for a 5/8" x 1" x 1/8" brass washer because the door touches one and has a space on the other. If I don't solve my problem Tuesday I can visit a machine shop later.

The graphite powder is working well right now.

Try a brass pin and a brass washer. Guaranteed not to squeak.

Not going to last long on the door of a woodstove.

You'll never know. I may skip the helmet sometime but I'll be damned if I'll ride a bike in flip flops. That's a 20-something deal. 150 hp bike, $800 helmet with the trendy graphics, and flip flops.

After I park the bike and walk into Joanne's in my scruffy leather jacket, the conversation can get interesting.

Do you have one of those snap fastener kits? Sure, what do you want to use them for? Fix the thumb break on my .357 shoulder rig.

I learned long ago to make up some story about my non-existent wife working on some non-existent home project.

Of course, I sometimes have the same problem in the hardware store. I'm big on what they call off label use in the drug business.

The parts guys try to hide under the counter when I come in. I tell them what I'm looking for and they ask "what''r you working on this time?" - and I tell them they REALLY don't want to know - - Most of the time it's nothing close to what the part was made for.

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Didn't make it to Napa or Michaels but picked up some Permatex anti-seize at AutoZone. Good to 1,600 degrees. Joann didn't stock the graphite sticks so I made a slurry with Mr Zip in a foil lined shot glass and applied it with a flux brush. Works great - no mess. The anti seize works well on the latch but the silver color stands out. Applied with a Q-tip. When I wipe off the visible paste I wonder it it will affect the black stove finish.

Stove sounds like new. Tested 4 times so far.

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