Best kind of lubricant for door

Please use this forum for all DIY posts that do not fit into a specific category.

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
rapidnailer07
Senior Member
Posts: 203
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2011 5:50 pm
Has thanked: 34 times
Been thanked: 3 times

Best kind of lubricant for door

Post by rapidnailer07 »

Had new doors fitted for the house and the installer said for maintenance I should lubricate the metal locking points in the frame about once a month. I asked him what kind of lubricant and he said WD40.

Is this really the best thing to use or should I be using something else? People who use WD40 on their bicycle chain will seem like it's lubricated but it will eventually pick up dirt and dust and then turn into a nasty, gunky mess. I don't want the same thing to happen to my door.

Suggestions?
User avatar
Argyll
Senior Member
Posts: 6117
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 3:58 pm
Has thanked: 1174 times
Been thanked: 575 times

Re: Best kind of lubricant for door

Post by Argyll »

WD-40 is a degreaser and is not suitable for lubricating hinges. I normally use a standard 3in1 oil or white lithium grease (spray can) from Screwfix.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/wd-40-special ... _container
curtains
Senior Member
Posts: 123
Joined: Wed Oct 15, 2014 8:39 pm
Has thanked: 13 times
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: Best kind of lubricant for door

Post by curtains »

When the door catch was sticking on my front door white lithium grease was used to free it and now it feels like a new catch.
Rorschach
Senior Member
Posts: 5361
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:35 pm
Has thanked: 106 times
Been thanked: 1033 times

Re: Best kind of lubricant for door

Post by Rorschach »

White lithium grease works great.
User avatar
steviejoiner74
Senior Member
Posts: 8005
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2013 7:04 pm
Location: Fife
Has thanked: 747 times
Been thanked: 1616 times

Re: Best kind of lubricant for door

Post by steviejoiner74 »

I use silicone spray,works great. Never use wd40 and never use graphite powder on a lock either.
Carpentry,I can explain it to you but I cannot understand it for you.
User avatar
wine~o
Senior Member
Posts: 26245
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:49 pm
Location: hants/dorset border
Has thanked: 1414 times
Been thanked: 4007 times

Re: Best kind of lubricant for door

Post by wine~o »

Nothing wrong with WD40 ( on hinges or on multi - point locking systems ). once the water dispersant has evaporated off it just leaves a film of oil behind.

Agree that it shouldn't be used on the actual lock though (The part that you put the key in..just to be clear.).
Verwood Handyman

_____________________________________________________________________________

If you feel you have benefited from the Free advice given on the Forum, Please consider making a donation to UHM's Nominated charity, read all about it and donate here :

http://www.donnasdreamhouse.co.uk
User avatar
steviejoiner74
Senior Member
Posts: 8005
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2013 7:04 pm
Location: Fife
Has thanked: 747 times
Been thanked: 1616 times

Re: Best kind of lubricant for door

Post by steviejoiner74 »

wine~o wrote:Nothing wrong with WD40 ( on hinges or on multi - point locking systems ). once the water dispersant has evaporated off it just leaves a film of oil behind.

Agree that it shouldn't be used on the actual lock though (The part that you put the key in..just to be clear.).
It doesn't leave a film of oil behind it washes/cleans away any oil/lubricant that's been put on in the factory and it'll be smooth as silk for a few weeks but then it attracts all the dust and dirt which clings to the mechanism and more wd40 is applied and the problem will slowly get worse.
Wd40 is the single biggest problem that causes locks and mechanisms to have problems,every call back we've ever had back on patio doors,French doors or front/back doors has been due to the customer flooding the mechanisms and locks with wd40 and they get gunged up with crap.
Carpentry,I can explain it to you but I cannot understand it for you.
User avatar
wine~o
Senior Member
Posts: 26245
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:49 pm
Location: hants/dorset border
Has thanked: 1414 times
Been thanked: 4007 times

Re: Best kind of lubricant for door

Post by wine~o »

steviejoiner74 wrote: and locks with wd40 and they get gunged up with crap.
Like I said no good for locks. Fine for hinges.

Edit http://www.wd40.co.uk/ see "Lubricates"
Verwood Handyman

_____________________________________________________________________________

If you feel you have benefited from the Free advice given on the Forum, Please consider making a donation to UHM's Nominated charity, read all about it and donate here :

http://www.donnasdreamhouse.co.uk
User avatar
steviejoiner74
Senior Member
Posts: 8005
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2013 7:04 pm
Location: Fife
Has thanked: 747 times
Been thanked: 1616 times

Re: Best kind of lubricant for door

Post by steviejoiner74 »

wine~o wrote:
steviejoiner74 wrote: and locks with wd40 and they get gunged up with crap.
Like I said no good for locks. Fine for hinges.

Edit http://www.wd40.co.uk/ see "Lubricates"
You said multi point locks as well.... :B
Carpentry,I can explain it to you but I cannot understand it for you.
Post Reply

Return to “General DIY forum”