# The opposite of lubrication **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 12, 2003, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792 "2003-03-12T09:29:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/1 "2003-03-12T09:29:11Z")
Is there a word that describes the opposite of lubrication? I have a gate on my driveway that, when it rains, swings around in the wind due to loosening of the hinges. I want to prevent this from happening, so I need an anti-lubricator. Second question: anyone know of any good substances to try? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/2 "2003-03-12T10:23:46Z")
I don’t quite understand; does the gate swing open? is there not some kind of ‘catch’ mechanism? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/3 "2003-03-12T10:33:21Z")
Sorry - clarification - the problem is when the gate’s open. My road is like a wind-tunnel. When I’m backing the car out of the drive, the wind catches the metal gate and smacks it into the side car. ---
**Author:** ![MissBungle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@MissBungle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissBungle)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/4 "2003-03-12T10:35:21Z")
Use a rock to hold it. it’s old fashioned, I know. But I think it will work. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/5 "2003-03-12T10:37:45Z")
I do use a rock, but the rock gets filthy. Then I have to go back in and wash my hands, and due to the nature of my area, that means locking the car and unlocking the house, then reversing the process. It’s all too much of a pain when I’m in a hurry in the mornings. I’d rather have an unlibricated hinge. ---
**Author:** ![ChalkPit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@ChalkPit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChalkPit)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/6 "2003-03-12T10:40:46Z")
jam ? block ? clog ? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/7 "2003-03-12T10:46:25Z")
clock ? blog ? chalk ? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/8 "2003-03-12T10:49:22Z")
Certainly you don’t want to be adding anything abrasive to the hinge; this would help to stop it from swinging, but would increase the rate of wear. Is it not possible to use some other means of holding back the gate, a hook or a stay or something? ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/9 "2003-03-12T10:49:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > **Is there a word that describes the opposite of lubrication?** Ummmm… friction? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/10 "2003-03-12T10:50:16Z")
I’d propose the word “friction”. e.g. The lubrication is good. opp. The friction is high. Perhaps a rope tied to the gate might help. I’m not sure what substance might help, but try stuff that’s lying around the house. Maybe some chewing gum plugged into the grooves. Wait, I have it… attach a stopper to the gate. Flip the stopper when you want to close the gate, put the stopper down when you want the gate held open. ---
**Author:** ![ChalkPit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@ChalkPit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChalkPit)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/11 "2003-03-12T10:56:30Z")
Fit armour plate around your car, then the gate wont hurt it. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/12 "2003-03-12T11:11:41Z")
Hmmm, I’ve seen [these](http://www.autodoorsprings.co.uk/closers.html) devices on doors that slow down the swing, i.e. the door starts to close, compressing a hydraulic or pneumatic spring, slowing down the door’s movement. As the compressed air/fluid gradually escapes, the door can finish closing. You should be able to rig up something like this that will bring the swinging of your gate under control, though this strikes me as overly pricey. I suggest the following: [ul][li]Some kind of physical locking mechanism that holds your gate in the open position. This could be as simple as a rock, as already proposed. Or you could drive a post into the ground and fit it with a hook.[/li]Cut holes in your gate or replace the material in the gate with chain-link fencing of something else porous. If you allow air to pass _through_ the gate, it will be less vulnerable to the wind. This blows your chance at privacy, if that was a concern. [/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Jammers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@Jammers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jammers)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/13 "2003-03-12T11:15:16Z")
Hire a member of the opposite sex to hold it open. Call this person “wife”, or “Husband”. They should also be able to provide other services. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/14 "2003-03-12T11:22:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jammers \* > \*\*Hire a member of the opposite sex to hold it open. Call this person “wife”, or “Husband”. They should also be able to provide other services. \*\* Or you could just use door/gate **Jammers** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/15 "2003-03-12T11:22:41Z")
Unfortunately, all of these suggestions, while very kind and generous, are non-starters. The gate and hinges are 1930s, and are already porous, and made of rust held together with paint flakes. The gates swing open outwards onto the sidewalk, which is not my property. The gateposts are made of crumbly concrete, and I don’t think they’d survive anything drilled/nailed into them. **Jammers’s** suggestion is the most viable, but she’s not always there when it’s windy. ---
**Author:** ![Jammers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@Jammers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jammers)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/16 "2003-03-12T11:32:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xash \* > \*\*Or you could just use door/gate **Jammers** 😃 \*\* He He He.😃 ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/17 "2003-03-12T11:38:24Z")
You’re thinking too much about this. Loose the gate 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/18 "2003-03-12T11:40:32Z")
Put silicone all over the hinges. Let it set. Then open the gate. That gives you a sort of “rubbery” friction device that might work. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/19 "2003-03-12T11:57:35Z")
Ok, how about attaching a vertical metal tube to the end of the gate and dropping a pointed metal rod down it (bent over at the top to make it easy to lift. Lift the rod, open the gate, drop the rod, which will dig in a little into the gound (or whatever), stopping the gate from moving. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792/20 "2003-03-12T11:58:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yojimbo \* > \*\*You’re thinking too much about this. > > Loose the gate 😉 \*\* But the gate’s already loose (or do you mean “lose”? ;)). Nah, it’s a psychological barrier between the car and the joyriders. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Demostylus_ > \*\*Put silicone all over the hinges. Let it set. Then open the gate. > > That gives you a sort of “rubbery” friction device that might work.\*\* Aha! A suggestion I can countenance. Might just try that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-opposite-of-lubrication/160792.md?page=2)