Do you want to know how to lubricate a door lock? If you don’t want to spend much money on lubricating door lock, you can use the graphite from a pencil. You only have to insert the graphite in the lock’s keyhole and grind it using your key. The powdered granite will surely make the key glide smoothly.
Make sure, though, that you prepare the specified items below. Also, follow the steps carefully to prevent damaging your door lock while doing the procedures.
Table of Contents
What You Need
Lubricating locks doesn’t need to be expensive and complicated. The items you need for this tutorial are easy to find. You may have them in your house or inside your bag. If they are not available, you can purchase them at the nearest store in your area.
1. Graphite
Graphite is an excellent alternative to door lock grease. It also works as an effective door lock lubricant because it has no sticky residue that attracts dust. You can use any pencil as long as it has graphite. However, the benefit of having a mechanical pencil is that you will only need to pull the graphite out of the pencil.
If you have the traditional wooden type pencil, you need to remove the graphite from it. Prepare a sharp knife or a sharpener to help you out. It doesn’t matter if you remove the graphite in a large chunk or small pieces.
2. Key
As much as possible, use the key that will fit your lock. The correct key will help you check if the graphite has been turned into powder. Aside from that, it is also helpful to see if you need more graphite for your door lock. If your key is old, it is not recommended to use it since it may break inside the door lock.
If you cannot use the key of the door lock, you can grind the graphite with a mortar and a pestle before putting it inside the keyhole.
What to Do
Step 1: Remove the graphite from the pencil
If you have a mechanical pencil, you can pull out the graphite from it. But if you have a wooden pencil, you will need to shave the wood using a sharp knife or a sharpener. Do this until the graphite is exposed enough. Make sure that you have at least one inch of graphite.
Step 2: Put the graphite into the keyhole
Once you have the right amount of graphite, insert it into the keyhole of the door lock. If you have a hard time putting the whole thing inside, you can cut it into pieces. After that, put them inside the keyhole one by one. Graphite is more convenient to use than spray lubricants if you don’t already have a lubricating product.
Step 3: Grind the graphite using the key
Insert the key inside the keyhole. Keep on sliding it in and out to turn the chunks of graphite into powder. If you have a difficult time turning the key, it means that there are still chunks of graphite inside your door lock. Jiggle the key inside until you have turned all of them into powder. Once this happens, the key should turn easily.
Frequently Asked Questions
What other types of lubricants can I use to lubricate a door lock mechanism?
Aside from graphite powder, you can also use a silicone lube, grease lube, or Teflon-based lube to lubricate door lock mechanism. You can also use a penetrating fluid like WD-40 and white lithium grease. In choosing a suitable lubricant, consider the weather condition in your area.
How can I lubricate a door lock actuator?
To lubricate door lock actuator, insert the spray straw of a silicone lubricant into the car door’s keyhole. Spray the lubricant once you feel that it has reached the bottom of the keyhole. Once done, smear the lubricant all over the actuator by inserting your key into the keyhole and moving it around.
Conclusion
Is learning how to lubricate a door lock easy? You can maintain your door lock even without professional help through this tutorial. Aside from that, it will help you save money, especially if you don’t have enough budget for professional door lock maintenance. With the use of a pencil’s graphite, your door lock can work well.
If you find this tutorial useful, why don’t you share it with your friends? They probably also want to save their money. What’s your favorite part of the tutorial? We love to hear about your experiences. Just leave a comment below.
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