Graphite

[Magic_Joe]

Too much graphite and you basicly have a solid mass at the back of the keyhole and it won't open. Use WD-40 to lube the lock to get it open and if you feel the need to get a better lubercant Tri-Flo is (what I concider) the best you can get.

[Shrub]

Again, NO do not use WD-40 as it is a degreaser, use a ptfe based spray, tri-flow is fine as long as its a new type as the old cans were carcinogenic

[Saedis]

tri flow is great.

Graphite is dangerous in the hands of people who don't understand moderation.

[hp]

is complete confused, what about the graphite? what do you do with it? and what form is it in? powder or in the shape of a pick? and if the pick wouldn't it brake way to easily? ( hates being new to this i don't know half the stuff your talking about on here )

[vector40]

Powdered graphite can be used for lubrication.

[hp]

oh now i understand thanks, from the thought of it would just block it up but if it works the ok

[Shrub]

Its down to preferance but personally i wouldnt put any graphite anywhere near any lock in use, locks have a habbit of picking up wet things like water or oil (customers think a squirt of WD-40 will make a knackered lock work) you come along and further block it up by squirting powder into it as well,

A ptfe based spray is the way for me,

[acl]

Shrub i will take advice on this but are we talking no wd40 before attempting to pick?
Andy

[Shrub]

Its down to you, if thats what you do then fine go for it but personally i dont, when you squirt WD in its under quite a bit of pressure and the oil inside has a habbit of actually clearing the lock out but once youve picked it and left it the lock is very supceptable to picking up dirt, much more so than before, a lock thats been sprayed by wd will soon become very gritty and in some cases fail,

A ptfe based spray will lubricate the parts in a dry way,

Im no expert but WD can be a bad thing to use on a lot of things, the oil is very thin and after a blast of it any good lubriaction thats in there will be washed away like a degreaser has been squirted in, ptfe based ones dont do this, i wouldnt be supprised to hear that the ptfe actually sticks to the parts for some chemical reason, it just appears to be the case in my experiance not only with locks but as an engineer,

Probably every 10th euro lock i go to the owner has been squirting wd in for the last week or so thinking its going to make it work better, i get called when the lock is so gritty it just doesnt open properly, i do live in a lot of lime stone though and with trucks going down almost every road laiden with the suff grit is an issue,

If you get on well with the stuff stay with it, i just dont advise newbies to do so they get in good habits from the begining,

As i say you more experianced than i so you decide, i can only tell you what ive been told by others and for personal experiance,

WD-40 is great for spraying on any mild steel tools you leave in the van though, they wont rust,

Spray an old lock with it and leave it on your doorstep, try it with the key a week or two later and feel the differance, its like the old model plane fuel with caster in it, its liquid to begin with but turns to a gel type stuff once it gets old.

[Shrub]

Just another quick note, i dont spray anything in locks before picking unless the lock is old and hasnt been used for a long time AND it feels stiff, for someone who has just lost their keys the lock obviously works and an unlubricated lock i find easier to pick, i do spray my picks with a car dashboard cleaner though from time to time

[acl]

I have always given any cylinder im about to pick a little squirt of wd,i find it makes the process a little easier,im not saying im right her its just what ive always done.With a high percentage of my opening work being warrants i dont really care what state the cylonder is in in a fewmounths time.I could be doing things wrong here so if any of you think thats the case let me know.
Andy

[Shrub]

Andy, you carry on mate, ive heard of people giving a good minutes spray in to a lock, a little squirt isnt going to kill you, do what you know and do what works for you, im nobody to say whats right or wrong (unless its machine safety and then you may have a fight on your hands if you want to argue )

WD is a lot cheaper and easier to get hold of anyways.

[Shrub]

By the way Andy i know its getting late so thats WD not WKD

[acl]

Paul ,piss head i may be but wkd??? i dont think so mate

[pinky]

acl is certainly not wkd, more like a del boys cinzano and creme de menthe with a touch of dubonet.