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PSA: Stop using graphite spray on lock cylinders
Spent 3 hours at a 12-story building downtown last month fixing a stuck lock that some janitor kept spraying with graphite. That crap gums up everything after 6 months. Switched to a dry PTFE lube on my own tools and haven't had a single sticky cylinder since. Anyone else deal with this mess?
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violatorres1mo ago
Oh man, graphite spray is the WORST for locks. I had a buddy who managed a warehouse and they used it on the roll-up door locks. After a year those things were like cement blocks inside. What nobody talks about is how graphite can actually attract moisture in humid climates and turn into a gritty paste. I live near the coast and we see that all the time. Dry PTFE is the way to go for sure, especially if you're in any kind of damp environment.
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holly_henderson861mo ago
Yeah and once that paste dries out it's basically sand in your lock works.
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alexw751mo ago
Maybe it's like how people use the wrong thing for the job just because it's popular or convenient at first.
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