The problem with (black) graphite powder, as commonly used to lubricate door hinges, is that it sometimes works its way out of the hinge and stains the surrounding area over time. Though I’ve been able to remove this graphite from the surrounding woodwork, it has permanently stained small portions of nearby wallpaper. (The bottom hinge is always the worst offender.)
I’ve tried WD-40 and other sprays as a substitute, but this just liquifies the mess and then it drips onto the carpet below.
What might I use as a substitute to the graphite? Would white silicon grease work? I have no problem cleaning the graphite off the door hinges and starting anew; I just don’t know what to use instead.
When I got my fancy new lock, it had trouble turning, and my locksmith recommended that I not use graphite, but get a teflon based spray. I got some at the hardware store. I works on everything. Locks, squeaky belts in my car engine.
Teflon-based sprays are great! I started using them on rifles and shotguns that I was going to fire in sub-zero temperatures, where most gun oils start to gum up and do more harm than good. Then I used it on concealed-carry guns that I didn’t want shedding oil on my good pants and shirts. Now, two years later, I use it on almost all of my firearms exclusively! If it works for a gun, I’m sure that door hinges would pose no problems.
This is half of your problem. Notice how the WD-40 rinses out any other lubricants? I never use the stuff myself. I believe it to be most functional at removing any oils or tribological enhancers, as opposed to whatever the manufacturer may claim. This stuff, with its misleading advertising, has probably ruined more equipment than most bad advice.
Whatever you employ, apply it in moderation. Spraying enough to the point where it drips is overapplication. Silicone grease or teflon based lubricants (as mentioned above) are a great place to start. However, you may find that judiciously applied sewing machine oil will do the job for one tenth to one hundredth of the price. Use a cotton swab and go easy on the verschluginer lube job! M’kay?
Let’s do it like a real guy. take out the door hinge pin, clean it, put grease on it & put it back. Do the top one then the bottom one so the door don’t fall down.
Beeswax is good for odd jobs like this because it is not supposed to attract or retain lint and little dust bits.
I save WD-40 for removing things like sticky stuff that won’t wash off my hands or if I’m using a staining sealer, I wipe my hands off with wd-40 first then dish soap then hand soap. Works wonders. Spray cooking oil like Pam works almost as well as wd-40 for cleaning hands and a lot of sticky stuff, too.
Some rat used graphite on all the door hinges here before I bought this house and all it still shows.
Jois
Hey, I was just thinking that I saw a white lubricant powder, works like graphite except it’s white. Lithium maybe? I can’t recall, just something I think I saw in a hardware store. Maybe.
For years our library would put wd40 on their door whenever it squeaked. They had to do this often & it worked. I told them to put some oil on it instead.
The problem with graphite in locks is that it will pack into the spring chambers behind the pins and prevent the pins from rising. I’ve cleaned several locks that were jammed up by graphite.
This isn’t a problem in open devices like hinges, but doesn’t help the OP. I agree with you about teflon sprays.
In my youth, I knew a girl who wanted to oil her squeaky bed springs. She used the only lubricant she had handy, which was butter. A couple of days later, she was driven from the house by the rancid smell.
Imagine someone with a squeaky bed who can’t find a better lube than butta…
Dude, you seriously don’t want to use a lubricant on the belts in your car’s engine. Your belts squeal because they are slipping. Sure it stops squeaking, but that’s because the belts are now slipping even more which is exactly what you don’t want it to do. Your A/C won’t run as cold, your Alternator won’t supply the proper voltage. It’s a bad scene. They’ve got Stop Squeal to use for that. It makes things sticky. More stick = less slip = no squeal.
I’ve used candlewax. Stays put, and all you have to do is push the hinge out of alingnment, and scrape some wax onto the bearing surfaces- then realign the hinge, and put the pin back. Give it a few swings and there you go.
Want a cheap household remedy? Vaseline (or generic petroleum jelly)
Take the pins out, wipe them clean and apply a little plain white petroleum jelly with a tissue. Smoosh it around. Works like a charm, doesn’t melt at room temperature, and if it does it leaves only an innocuous oil slick.