lock, unlock

[afuna]

The lock to our front door has been pretty stubborn and difficult to open, to the point where I worry that I'll break the key (or my fingers!) trying to unlock it.

So tonight, with no one else in the house, I had the brilliant idea to use WD40 to un-stubborn the lock. I figured it would be easy: point the straw into the lock, press the button, done.

Instead I just got it all over my hands, because apparently I don't understand how the spray nozzle works /o\

(It might be broken. Or it might be that I'm misunderstanding something about this whole process. But seriously it's probably broken... maybe)

And then I realized I could smear some of the WD40 on my fingers onto the key and get it to work anyway \o/

I didn't need that straw anyway :3

Comments

[swaldman]

I was once told that the correct way to lubricate locks is with graphite powder. No idea whether this is rubbish or not, though...

[alierak]

Same here. I have a coworker who swears by it and rubs a pencil on his key every few months, though I'm not sure pencil lead is exactly the same thing as a graphite powder lubricant.

[afuna]

Oh interesting. I'll have to try it...

[afuna]

Not sure, but probably worth a try! Thank you :)

[geekosaur]

Cheap pencils often contain clay as well as graphite.

[geekosaur]

Sounds correct; WD-40, on the other hand, loosens up dried or dirty petroleum-based lubricants, and may not be a good mix with things that are best lubricated with graphite.