Aha moment - lubrication

[ARF-GEF]

There are perhaps others in Europe that use plastic.

Extremely few, but I thought it would best to err on the safe side.
Mainly the lowest quality locks (many Chinese disc detainers) and conversely some of the best locks like EVVA MCS and its copies (Ikon and Mottura both made licensed versions of it).

[dll932]

Many locks have platic parts. It is definitely damaging to those.
I too wonder if it is actually harmful. I don't imagine that damage as very big. I mean sure it wont liquefy the plug in one use. But it might hurt precisely made locks.
I'm not sure.
Maybe repeated use has long term "side effects".
We will see when cledry answers

In my line of commercial locksmithing there is plastic in only a few desk locks, but they are indoors and not exposed to the elements. Cannot think of a single commercial lock that has plastic in the cylinder. The only residential ones were the old Weiser and I think a Harloc model. There are perhaps others in Europe that use plastic.

Fiat (and Ferrari, which Fiat owns) used to use nylon locks. Never had a problem with B&EM cleaner in general.

[dll932]

Oil is bad for locks because it gums up the small parts (pins) when dirt gets into the lock. Graphite isn't sticky so this doesn't happen with graphite.

Bur for a practice lock, who cares if it gets gummed up in 5 years. You can just flush it out and it's good as new.

WD40 or any light oil such as 3 in 1 will work fine. And a little goes a long way. No need to over think a couple of drops of oil.

Just my 2c, but I have found 3 in 1 too viscous. WD40 or even kerosene will dissolve gummed-up lube pretty well. Graphite started being used when locks had large sliding parts with lots of clearance-it usually ends up in the bottom of mortise lock cases. It would be OK if only used ONCE, but I have seen locks so full of it the pins wouldn't move.

[johnb007]

Is this the T9 lubricant you are referring to? I'd like to buy some, but don't want to get the wrong stuff.

[boogietoot]

The old Lockwood grease in Aus turns to glue like gummy stuff after a good amount of time.. we use either inox or protecta spray lube in my shop

[DennisK]

I hate graphite with a passion. Used sparingly in a new lock it is OK. However I have seen locks with so much graphite in them that the key won't enter the lock all the way. It is messy and doesn't really help a dirty corroded lock.

Earlier this year I bought a dozen old Best padlocks that must have been used outdoors. I would guess the locks were from the 1940's or 50's and had never been serviced.

While I had an operating key I had no control key. The cores seemed to show a lot of wear and I had no desire to pick 12 locks to the control line so I drilled the cores out one at a time. Even though I could retract the control lugs, several cores would not come out without force. I found that these locks had been lubricated with dry graphite and over the years it had caked around the cores cementing them into place.

After disassembling the locks I purchased one of those carburetor-cleaning-basket-in-a-can-of-chemicals and soaked the parts to remove as much of the dirt and graphite as I could. The locks are all-brass and I saw no ill effect from the chemical except for some discoloration that came off with a treatment of Brasso.

Prior to this experience, I only disliked graphite. After seeing what graphite does when used for decades, I now hate it with a passion.

How about the newer Teflon lube?