Lubricant?

[maxxed]

Clean locks out with brake cleaner , unless there is plastic inside then I use a product called Release All (made from oranges)

[Mutzy]

It buggs me when graphite is referred to as the best thing to use. Does it lubricate parts? Yes. Does it help when (1) you key is worn, and (2) the lock is old and the pins inside are worn? No. Then why the heck do you insist on filling a lock with half a bottle of graphite?

It also doesn't help when graphite is pumped into locks that don't allow excess powder to fall out.
/end rant.

Graphite has its uses. Just not for fixing old and worn locks and keys.

[cottonmouth]

It buggs me when graphite is referred to as the best thing to use.
...
Graphite has its uses. Just not for fixing old and worn locks and keys.

I had to learn that it is no approriate lubricant for new locks either. For some brands using it may even void the waranty.
I disassembled a lock that has been lubricated with graphite and oil. That was no fun. Some of the springs didn´t come out before substancial cleaning. Before cleaning the key did not work after cleaning and lubricating with PS88 it worked really smoothly. So maybe graphite is not good for locks at all.

[jason]

at risk of getting seriously flamed - I squirt a little WD40 onto a key and work that in and out of a lock - I think (this is rare for me) that the majority of problems with WD40 occur when half a can gets emptied in - this combined with all the crud that locks seem to acccumulate just makes things worse.

Just my own opinion - I'll always listen to other peoples opinion, give it due consideration - then go ahead and f**k it up my own way.

[Gyrofoam]

As an absolute noob.....

I use Ballistol for all wood, leather and metal. Been using it on locks for over 10 years (locks in use, I just started picking). Got to know about it from people using it on their shotguns, spraying barrel, wooden stock and trigger even on Perazzi's (Rolls Royce of shotguns, similar price tag). Non-acidic and doesn't harden up on you. Works miracles on old leather (pick cases?), just spray on, let it absorb all it can, repeat after 24 hours. And: NON-TOXIC, approved for use in food preparation equipment.

Just my experience.....

[Eyes_Only]

I agree with maxxed on this. Brake cleaner works great when dealing with locks that are gummed up and seized. I use it to clean out the rear drum brakes at work and the stuff works very well, practically turns old dirt and crap into "water" and melts it off.

But if causing damage to any plastic or fragile parts in a lock is a concern, I recommend using throttle body cleaner, http://www.valvoline.com/pages/products ... product=52 . These are a little less corrosive then brake cleaner since the throttle bodies on many vehicles comes with some type of chemical coating that you normally don't want to remove from the factory to help prevent the build up of dirt.