# Lubricating a lock **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 27, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-a-lock/191264 "2003-07-27T15:29:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-a-lock/191264/1 "2003-07-27T15:29:22Z")
What’s the best thing to use for lubricating the lock in a door - WD-40, 3-in-one, graphite powder, something else? ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-a-lock/191264/2 "2003-07-27T15:31:23Z")
The pros use a graphite compound. ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-a-lock/191264/3 "2003-07-27T15:33:07Z")
- - - The best thing I have found so far for locks is Remington Gun Lube. It’s a spray-on aerosol that evaporates quickly and leaves behind a white teflon powder. The reason it is good for locks is that (_-so far-_) I haven’t found it to stain any clothes or anything else. Graphite and moly powders leave black stains on everything, and any “oil” type lube gets the keys oily. ~ ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-a-lock/191264/4 "2003-07-27T15:33:36Z")
I’ve always used WD-40. It not only lubricates, but repels moisture, so your outside locks are less likely to freeze up. I’ve never had a problem using it. 3-in-1 tends to become gummy after a while, and graphite powder doesn’t work into the lock all that well. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-a-lock/191264/5 "2003-07-27T16:08:49Z")
Calling Osip… ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-a-lock/191264/6 "2003-07-27T17:49:49Z")
My son, the locksmith, says never use anything like WD-40 or petroluem lubricants. The teflon based stuff is OK and so is graphite, which is kind of messy as someone already pointed out. ---
**Author:** ![Bandanaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ab097/32.png) [@Bandanaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bandanaman)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-a-lock/191264/7 "2003-07-27T17:53:50Z")
Indoor or outdoor lock? I’m curious too, 'cos my lock on my outside shed is always rusting. I usually spray it with white grease, but it’s kinda messy. ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-a-lock/191264/8 "2003-07-27T18:24:16Z")
Am I the only one who at first glance got wide-eyed by mistaking the second L for a C in the title? ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-a-lock/191264/9 "2003-07-28T01:31:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astro \* > \*\*Calling Osip… \*\* Sorry was away for the weekend. I love a product called Tri-flow is a spray similar to what DougC mentions a nice spray with teflon 🙂 WD-40 can remove corrosion from the pins/wafers of a lock and free it up. Of course, tri-flow or the like should be followed up to proper lube. I have found WD-40 can work well in some places, yet, not do so well in other locations of the country. I despise graphite mainly because it is a huge fricking mess to clean up. Osip The Locksmith ---
**Author:** ![micco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f8ce5/32.png) [@micco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/micco)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lubricating-a-lock/191264/10 "2003-07-28T13:45:48Z")
I’ve cleaned a number of locks lubricated with graphite which failed because the graphite packed into the cylinders above the pins (with the springs) and blocked the motion of the pin. Seems to me that if it got in there, it should be able to get out, but graphite seems to pack into the spaces and block motion more than other lubricants. I’ll second **Osip** ’s rec for Tri-flow.