frozen locks

[tosh23]

Ive always been an advocate of wd40 inside your locks to stop them freezing over winter...
Ive just seen a professional suggest using washing up liquid..It wont freeze up , and your key insertion will be free from sticking...
Does washing up liquid freeze ? Anyhoo I thought I would " put it out there"....Tosh

 

[siwhite]

I know it's quite salty so might lead to corrosion....?

 

[steve hughes]

Saw it on scrimpers. Detergents will definitely scour out all the oil and lubricant leaving a pretty dry barrel. Also the pH can be high leading to corrosion
Avoid

 

[Timpo]

Washing up liquid in locks....... I think not, the liquid is corrosive.
It should never be used in windscreen washer bottles on cars/vans, etc for the same reason, corrosion.

WD40 or Silicon spray should be used in locks. They will expel any water, so no water, no ice when below 0c.

 

[STUBBS]

lock oil

 

[Grey Beard]

Ive always been an advocate of wd40 inside your locks to stop them freezing over winter...
Ive just seen a professional suggest using washing up liquid..It wont freeze up , and your key insertion will be free from sticking...
Does washing up liquid freeze ? Anyhoo I thought I would " put it out there"....Tosh

Yes, it freezes. Had a small bottle freeze on me while camping in Aviemore, one particularly cold night, many years ago.

As said, it is probably alkali and apart from corrosion, will remove any lube oil in the lock. I normally use a graphite light mineral oil in locks (if I use any at all).

Grey Beard

 

[tosh23]

Thats what I thought, I didnt know about it being corrosive tho'.
Wd40 or silicon spray is used for locks
Perhaps bernie should have asked leepu for advice
Cheers guys....Tosh

 

[Packer]

Wash lock out with pure alcohol, meths will do. Dry thoroughly.

Spray graphite powder, available from locksmiths, into lock. Job done.

If it repeatedly fills with water find a cover to leave over the lock when the key isn't in it.

 

[chas820]

Spray graphite powder, available from locksmiths, into lock. Job done.

Thats the stuff,it`s extremely slippery,wont freeze and unlike WD40 wont attract dust.

 

[StumpyFingers]

Spray graphite powder, available from locksmiths, into lock. Job done.

Thats the stuff,it`s extremely slippery,wont freeze and unlike WD40 wont attract dust.

I was given this advice by the dealer when my locks started to get stiff.

 

[Bullwinkle]

Powdered Teflon

I maintained buildings and properties for our local telco for about 15 years. During that time I dealt with many locks of different types and makes, including some in automotive applications.

Prior to that, I had always used WD40 or occasionally powdered graphite, to free and maintain any locks that I needed to. However, over the course of my work, I found that both above methods had drawbacks. WD40 displaces moisture and provides lubrication, but attracts dust and dirt and eventually dries out. Graphite "cakes" and can react with moisture to clog the fine pins and parts of some locks.

The best advice (from a lock manufacturer) was to use powdered teflon. It doesn't cake like graphite, doesn't react with moisture and provides a tough film on fine parts. It is sold in rattle cans and 'puffer' tubes, and should be available from good locksmiths (one brand I remember was "LabLube"). A little more expensive than graphite, one can or tube should last anyone a long, long time.

Just my $.02... YMMV

JP