to oil or not to oil

by **femurat** » 24 Sep 2008 8:04

Hi everybody, I'm new at picking and I'm trying to learn the basics. Yes, I've read the MIT guide and many posts on this forum.

To make a good exercise in opening masterlocks, may I lubricate the lock? I was thinking about svitol... Does it helps?

by **datagram** » 24 Sep 2008 11:08

You have a number of options for lubricant:

Graphite powder, works well, but use in very small amounts or you'll gum up the lock. Also make sure you don't use it in a greasy lock or in areas where moisture/humidity are high.

Gun oil, a few drops (one or two) works well.

Silicon, teflon, cerflon based sprays, work very well, my personal choice.

Don't use WD-40, it is not meant as a lubricant for long term use.

There are also many lock-specific lubricant brands, but I have not personally used them.

by **AlexMHH** » 24 Sep 2008 14:21

Lubricating locks seems to help me a good bit, especially with cheap padlocks. It gives better feedback, and greatly reduces frustration from sticking pins. I've been using a Silicon + Teflon spray, with good results.

by **khelben** » 24 Sep 2008 21:13

on rare occasions when i need to lube a lock i use triflow. works great for me

by **femurat** » 25 Sep 2008 3:09

thank you all for the tips.

My problem now is a very cheap padlock that doesn't open... I'll use a few drop of silicon "unblocking" oil, I usually use it for screwing gripped or rusted motor bolts. No matter if on a long term basis it could ruin the lock, it's a 3 euro lock bought on a street shop!

Let's see how it works.

by **savs2k** » 2 Oct 2008 22:12

CPL breakfree gun oil works really well. its a cleaner lube and perservative so a few drops goes a long way. You can find it in the gun section at walmart or any local gun store

by **femurat** » 3 Oct 2008 5:22

It worked!

I used an oil called Svitol, in italian the name remind the word unscrew, so it's an oil intended for unlocking

After a drop of Svitol and half an hour of picking... the lock opened!
It happened when I was giving very little torque, less than supposed. But the force needed to drive the pins to the shear line was a lot more than I supposed.

It was very cool to open my first padlock!

by **Wrenchman** » 3 Oct 2008 8:59

I don't like to use oil, in locks that is, I prefer and strictly use graphite!

I tried Sunflower Oil once btw. bad idea, the next day it was filled with
ants!

Wrenchman

by **datagram** » 3 Oct 2008 10:56

Wrenchman wrote:I don't like to use oil, in locks that is, I prefer and strictly use graphite!

I tried Sunflower Oil once btw. bad idea, the next day it was filled with
ants!

Wrenchman

Really? I would have assumed Brazil's climate would be better suited for the sprays/oils.

dg

by **Wrenchman** » 3 Oct 2008 14:10

Yeah but it's just a personal preference, whether or not the weather interferes I don't know!

I also think that GPHT is better for the lock in the long run, or so I've heard!

Wrenchman

by **op-sec** » 3 Oct 2008 14:31

I've got a few locks that get a couple of drops of WD-40 whenever I pull them out to pick. It makes a big difference as others have posted.

by **savs2k** » 3 Oct 2008 17:36

being a mechanic i love wd40. but i found that it drys faster hen gun oil does so little things like locks i prefer gun oil over wd40

by **op-sec** » 3 Oct 2008 19:09

Ya... But, every time I smell gun oil, I get a boner and want to buy more guns. :twisted:

by **TMIB** » 4 Oct 2008 1:12

op-sec wrote:Ya... But, every time I smell gun oil, I get a boner and want to buy more guns.

"I love the smell of cordite and Hoppe's in the morning."

by **op-sec** » 6 Oct 2008 9:04

That smell.... It just brings back so many memories - most of them good.

to oil or not to oil

to oil or not to oil

thanks

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