I'm rebuilding one of my locks as it was rusted and all the pins were stuck. Just want to get a consensus on which grease to use. I have your regular bearing grease or some copper grease. I know you're not meant to use copper grease on moving parts etc but normal grease seems a bit too thick to be slapping on the pins?

Any help appriciated

Thanks in advance

Personally, neither. Use some light oil such as 3 -in-1 or it will gunge up again in no time.

Both oil & grease will attract dust & grit which could eventually gunge up the mechanism, plus they'll get on your key & could transfer to your clothes.

The best thing for lubricating locks is dry graphite.

It's good for door hinges, too - both in the car and in the house.

jrkitching said:

Both oil & grease will attract dust & grit which could eventually gunge up the mechanism, plus they'll get on your key & could transfer to your clothes.

The best thing for lubricating locks is dry graphite.

It's good for door hinges, too - both in the car and in the house.

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Thanks for this, I vaguely recall seeing mention of the use of dry graphite in older car owner's handbooks but haven't seen it on sale anywhere, did get a small bottle years ago in a car accessory shop, so thanks for the above link, very helpful.
I've tended to use WD40 or similar for its water displacement ability as well as its penetrative and lubricant qualities, of course not very relevant on many cars nowadays with the rise in remote central locking.

Al.

As said above, do not use grease or oil in locks. It will attract the dirt and wear it out very quickly.

The graphite lube is prefect, thanks for the link jrkitching. WD40 is ok as it dries and does not attract the dirt.

Copper grease is not a lubricant. It has the consistency and appearance of grease, so is called grease, but it is not. It is an anti-seize compound, used for bolt threads and also moving parts on brakes, but should not be used on anything else that moves.

Locksmiths will have dry graphite. Be a bit careful -- if the top comes off the squirt bottle it makes a dreadful mess!

While I''m with the theory of the no lubricant lobby, I find locks one of the few things WD40 is good for!

go to a bearing factor and get PTFE spray.
clear and dries, superb lubricant. great on door hinges and other parts also.

i think some one once posted that you can make graphite powder with a pencil lead.