lock graphite

[Brother Paul]

Latly ive been expermenting with using lock graphite when picking , and it seams to me that it really helps and make me feel things smoother and better somehow, has anyone else tryed this and if so what out come if any have you seen ?

[globallockytoo]

Latly ive been expermenting with using lock graphite when picking , and it seams to me that it really helps and make me feel things smoother and better somehow, has anyone else tryed this and if so what out come if any have you seen ?

It's a well known supplement to picking pin tumblers because it can help the pins that sometimes stick.

[knowspicker537]

The first lock I learned how to pick was a defiant knob, then I moved on to a regular kwikset knob, at this point I knew next to nothing so I had some graphite around and thought hey mine as well use this. I literally spent 2 weeks trying to pick this lock got frustrated to a point that I had to take the lock apart to see what was up. Turns out that the graphite was making the pins stuck together and bind up, so is started with a new lock and picked it within minutes. Now I've heard of real fine graphite to help with sticky locks that have the keys but in my own personal experience never use graphite on a lock you are meaning to pick. But hey I may be wrong.

-knowspicker537

[dll932]

I have been a locksmith for over 30 years, both part and full time. I really don't like graphite. I have seen it where locks were so packed with it the pins wouldn't move! Also it's messy. I prefer Houdini, WD-40 or Tri-FLow. Otherwise I use Medeco Keylube, which is powdered teflon in a vehicle that evaporates.

[jimu57]

ASSA has their own lube. Not sure what it is. May be the same as Medeco.

[GWiens2001]

I have been a locksmith for over 30 years, both part and full time. I really don't like graphite. I have seen it where locks were so packed with it the pins wouldn't move! Also it's messy. I prefer Houdini, WD-40 or Tri-FLow. Otherwise I use Medeco Keylube, which is powdered teflon in a vehicle that evaporates.

The vehicle evaporates? I better not use that stuff around my car!

Gordon

[FletcherMunson]

I'm not a locksmith, but of the hobbyist/locksport persuasion. My years of bicycle racing/mechanic work over a decade ago turned me on to Tri Flow. I use this 95% for my own locks, but if very dirty or some corrosion, WD-40 is a great place to start as it contains kerosene, which is a good solvent. I may toy around with Slip2000 (great gun oil) as it greats my handguns well and doesn't attract lint or dirt.

-FM

[cledry]

Over 30 years as a locksmith and I never use graphite. There are better modern lubricants with teflon. Graphite is messy. Most locksmiths recall one of those oh crap moments as you pull a Schlage knob of the door and a great pile of graphite falls on the customer's new white carpet. Who doesn't dread the masterkeying job where your hands leave perfect fingerprints on everything you touch, doors, door frames, the girl at reception ....

[billdeserthills]

I really like how graphite works, I like to rekey a cylinder and then pull the key out, then I fill the pin holes to the top with graphite and reassemble

[globallockytoo]

My issue with graphite is that often, proponents of it's use will squirt far too much into the kehole and people, when opening their door, usually remove the key after the door is ajar. This often pulls some graphote out onto the carpet or floor.

About 20 years ago a customer wanted to sue the company for which I worked as a consequence of he pulling his key out, graphite falling on his expensive 9 pile carpet, after a large rekey job on xmas day.

accusations and lawyer involvement flew by....but he wasnt going allow us to rectify the issue. That is until I called my mate, who was a carpet repairer and he went out and repaired the guys carpet and it cost us $50 total. he simply removed a piece of the carpet from inside a cupboard, cut out the damaged piece and stitched in the new piece.

Customer was so impressed, he sent praise to the managing director, went on the news to publicly state his impressment and the business simply took a sharp uptick.

All could have been avoided if it want for that pesky graphite!

[Corvid]

Years ago I scolded (jokingly) a locksmith for using WD-40 instead of graphite. He just smiled and shrugged.

I really should mail that guy an apology card. That could seriously be one of my deathbed regrets otherwise.

[dll932]

Graphite first started being used in bit key locks AFAIK. Those have large sliding parts with a lot of clearance. For things like that, it's fine. I'd still much rather use powdered teflon or even molybdenum disulphide (which bonds with the metal I'm told. But IT'S messy too) where a liquid lube would be a problem.