Extending the life of your locks with simple lubricant upkeep!

All doors and locks need some sort of lubricant and not just any lubricant! Not all lubricants are the same and should be used for the various applications of your home’s doors and locks.

For keyways, locksmiths of the yesteryear were fond of graphite which is a solid particle lubricant. Often times locks could become so packed with graphite lubricant it could actually impede the mechanism and pin tumblers causing malfunctions. It really was a light touch application. We’ve taken malfunction mechanisms apart and removed packed in caked up graphite and had to clean the parts and reassemble to get back to a working lock. The graphite itself would often trail and extremely stain clothing. Any mixing of this and liquid lubricants could cause an incredible mess. 

At this point there are so many far superior lubricants that graphite is all but retired. A good easy to find solution for in lock keyways would be WD-40 brand Specialist Dry Lube w/ PTFE. Its fashioned after some of the harder to find brands locksmiths have been hoarding for years. This is a wet to dry lubricant, meaning it goes on wet and dries rather quickly leaving a lubricating film. This prevents it from sucking in dust and causing a “mud” in the lock. We suggest lubricating locks and keyways once a year to help prevent salt, rust and corrosion buildup. This is done by using the hose applicator to spray the lubricant directly in the keyhole and then running a key in and out a dozen times or so to work the pin tumblers. Use a paper towel to wipe any excess from the key and lock cylinder front. Sometimes cylinders left in disrepair need more serious help including being taken apart and cleaned properly, and a quality locksmith like JD Locksmith Solutions can help bring those back to good working order.

Latches and bolts are a bulkier, less precise part of the lock that doesn’t need a wet to dry lubricant. A lot of the standard lubricants work on these as needed. Think the regular wd-40 formula. Remember to wipe of excess and that lubricant can only do so much. The lubricant is more effective if used preventatively than if used to reverse oxidation. Remember that lubricant is small piece of the puzzle. If Latches aren’t retracting, catching or bolts are hard to use, other issues can be addressed by a trained locksmith.

Hinges are often ignored, but a little lubricant can go a long way. A lot of the squeaking hinges we hear can be fixed with a small amount of spray. Often times the lubrication can help the hinge to swing easier and prevent force issues with the hinge that could cause bending or pulling of the screws. A general lubricant like wd-40 would be ideal with most standard door hinges, albeit there are special extremely thick lubricants made for garage door applications. Of the various issues that shouldn’t be ignored, doors dragging or rubbing should be towards the top as it tends to be a compounding problem, which is to say it can start as an easy fix but cause stress and damage to several areas over time. If lubricants don’t ease an issue or seem to have to do with it, consider getting the issue professionally repaired to forego more expensive issues down the line. A lot of hinge repairs start as simple fixes if you’re trained in what the problem is, but they have a way of spiraling out of control.

JD Locksmith Solutions is available 24/7 across the entirety of Plymouth, Bristol, Barnstable and Norfolk Counties tom keep your locks and doors working as they should. We can be reached at (508)535-5625 to help sort out any problems or prevent them from arising altogether!