Best Lubricant for shed hinges?

[Roy22]

I recently had to replace the substantial hinges on an outside shed at what I guess would be only 5 years old. Despite looking like they'd outlast the house, they'd worn badly making the door drop and swing open on its own. They weren't a design you could easily take apart to shim etc.

The replacements were equally heavy, and I worked light oil into them thoroughly before fitting. Being keen not to scrap another pair, I recently googled the subject and found some suggesting other lubricants including grease. I guess more resistant to gravity draining it away but less penetrating?

I'd be interested to know opinions on the best way to preserve these from an early grave.

[Dave54]

I usually use one of the PTFE sprays for that sort of thing these days.
Seems to last reasonably well, without being sticky and attracting dirt.

I said a while back on another thread somewhere, that I've got some hot dip galvanised hinges on a shed door here, that have had almost daily use and little lubrication, and are still going strong after many years, so I wonder what the hinges you have are like?

[Roy22]

The ones I fitted this time were these:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/smith-locke- ... pack/6027j

The originals were even heavier, I bought these as a direct fit replacement but turned out slightly different.

I'm wondering if the looseness of the design allows too much space around the pin, i.e. the oil just drains away? Most indoor hinges hold no less a weight, get little attention until they squeak and yet seem to last forever. Perhaps tight enough to hold the oil by capillary action?

[Someone-Else]

Indoor hinges don't get rained on.

[dewaltdisney]

I have the black ordinary T hinges like those on gates and shed doors at my property. Like Dave, I have never lubricated them in 20 years. I have never had one fail, do your hinges take the weather badly?

DWD

[Roy22]

I have the black ordinary T hinges like those on gates and shed doors at my property. Like Dave, I have never lubricated them in 20 years. I have never had one fail, do your hinges take the weather badly?

DWD

I would not have said they weathered badly. But for the fact they dropped so much I had to realign the padlock latch, I would have said they looked like new. I was left wondering it the pin steel was s**t, i.e. just not hardened enough. Like you, I'd expect to ignore such hinges and watch the wood fail before they did, but this is not what happened.

[Dave54]

The ones I fitted this time were these:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/smith-locke- ... pack/6027j

The originals were even heavier, I bought these as a direct fit replacement but turned out slightly different.

I'm wondering if the looseness of the design allows too much space around the pin, i.e. the oil just drains away? Most indoor hinges hold no less a weight, get little attention until they squeak and yet seem to last forever. Perhaps tight enough to hold the oil by capillary action?

See how they go, but as Walt says, I've had them rust and fail, but never wear out.
For future reference, for any outside hardware get hot dip galvanised. They're usually much heavier construction, and they don't go rusty.
You can get them at farm supply places.
They don't look shiny, or not much, they look greyer, and a bit like they have a thick coat of silver grey paint.
Don't buy the ones that are shiny and look electro plated.

[dewaltdisney]

I suspect the structure has warped out of true. Check the levels, my sisters shed had the hasp out of alignment problem and I noticed the shed had sunk slightly on one corner. I shimmed under the floor bearers and pulled it square which solved the problem. I am wondering if your shed has formed a paralleogram?

DWD

[Dave54]

^ I wondered that as well DWD. I've had a lot more trouble with shed doors and gates moving over the years ,than I have with faulty hinges.
And there's more than the average number of shed doors and gates here.

[Roy22]

I suspect the structure has warped out of true. Check the levels, my sisters shed had the hasp out of alignment problem and I noticed the shed had sunk slightly on one corner. I shimmed under the floor bearers and pulled it square which solved the problem. I am wondering if your shed has formed a paralleogram?

DWD

Checked the frame early on, all true and very well made by the previous owner. The wear of the upper hinge in particular was substantial, lifting the door revealed a lot of movement on these already quite loosely made hinges. All happy with new hinges, for now at least.

[dewaltdisney]

Never came across this happening before, sorry I cannot give you guidance on this?

DWD

[Roy22]

Never came across this happening before, sorry I cannot give you guidance on this?

Ok well thanks anyway. The fact that you and others find this inexplicable perhaps points to a faulty hinge. It may not have been the same brand as the Screwfix replacement, i.e. a recognised make, so perhaps I got a batch where someone in the factory used pins that had not yet been hardened so wore abnormally fast.

[Dave54]

I did have some plated ones years ago, that were made of cheese.
They went rusty very quickly, and then snapped on the knuckle, not due to the rust, but the material.
IIRC, they were bought from a market stall, one of those "Ah I need some of those hinges" moments.

Such is life.
The hot dip replacements are still there.

[Rorschach]

Thick grease for outdoor use.