Question about spray silicone...

Before that last Winter storm, I went around and generously sprayed every vehicle and machinery lock and key switch with spray silicone. Had used WD-40 and similar in the past, but sometimes snow would still blow in, melt and freeze. So while everything was nice and dry, thought I'd be a bit proactive. Did I screw up?? So far, every lock I've tried has been frozen up worse than EVER before!

I use Tri-Flow With PTFE (Teflon powder) with no issues. Central MN. Jim

Only use graphite based lube in locks. Anything with any viscosity makes the lock pins stick. Wd 40 works because it is a Water Dis placer. Lock Ease is what you want for lube.

I have steel moulds to make fruit jars and bottles that I spray up with WD40. Maybe I should use the silicone spray. What brand is it? Thanx Glenn

If you ever paint anything around where you have been spraying silicone you will kick yourself. Google fisheye and see what the paint will do. There are a lot of people that regard silicone lubricant like it was the plague. The problem is fixable but you need to ask questions before even prepping for paint.

The only thing I use on lock cylinders is powdered graphite.
Not sure if it is still available as I still have a half a pound of it that my father acquired probably 50 years ago.

The odd time I have had to deal with a frozen up lock I heat up the key with a propane torch or lighter(ya I still smoke) and stick it in the keyhole.
Leave it there for 30+ seconds and it will most always work after that.

You got that right. The word "silicone" is the absolute dirtiest word in a body shop.

(quoted from post at 16:53:48 11/06/17) The only thing I use on lock cylinders is powdered graphite.
Not sure if it is still available as I still have a half a pound of it that my father acquired probably 50 years ago.

The odd time I have had to deal with a frozen up lock I heat up the key with a propane torch or lighter(ya I still smoke) and stick it in the keyhole.
Leave it there for 30+ seconds and it will most always work after that.

Click to expand...

Arg, forgot about that tip. Thanks for the reminder!

I hope not, I just used it on my door locks yesterday.

Only use lock lube. If you really want to keep them from freezing, place a piece of tape over the cylinder at night and peal it off in the AM.

I went to work for a wood shop one time and noticed they were spraying silicone lubricant on the saw tops. Then I talked to the guy in the finishing department who happened to be the shop foreman and he was having fits with the lacquer on the millwork having fisheye. Funny he tells me "It's killing me and I don't know where it's coming from." I tell him I do, the guys in the shop are spraying the machinery with silicone lubricant and silicone causes fisheye. That day the silicone disappeared and the fisheye problem did too by the end of the week. Then years later I owned a antique refinishing shop and fisheye was just something to live with. Pledge goes through the finish into the wood and even paint stripper doesn't take it off. You just have to add silicone to the finish to get it to flow out. On cars you can clean most of it off with a wax and grease remover before you start the body work.

I used to work with an old coot who used to bring a cup of hot water to pour into the trailer lock every morning to thaw it out. Could never figure out why it was always frozen the
next morning, again, even if it didn't rain.

Dry graphite powder is what you want.

I buddy told me this week that this is what the local lock smith uses . I see it for sale on Ebay . I have not bought any yet so I can't personally verify .


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Drives out moisture. Also for hinges, latches and switches

Ken, thanks for that info. If it's good enough for locksmith's, then it'd be good enough for me. ...Now all I have to do is figure out how to get rid of the silicone that I sprayed in the key slots! :shock:

STRANGE, not saying it's the best juice for the job, but I'm in north central ND (CCCCOLD), and have used it for YEARS in all sorts of locks, on buildinga, and vehicles with NO negative issues.

Yeah, it befuddled me as well. I always thought silicone worked well for cold stuff - silicone caulk for sealing, silicone spray for lube, silicone sealer for boots (I prefer mink oil). But have been wondering if the problem is with the brand. I also bought some "chain lube" in the same brand. Dang junk is as thin and runny as WD-40. Tried to spray it on a vertical threaded rod and it all ran off. So maybe I just gotta stay away from the Liquid Wrench brand.

I was a supervisor in several max security prisons with thousands of locks indoor and
out that have to work 24/7/365. The locksmiths always used WD-40.

Brad

Powdered graphite is the material of choice if you buy "lock lube". I don't know what's in Liquid Wrench's Dry Lubricant and know not how that would work. I don't know what would
be the failure mechanism with silicone spray as it's a dry coating/lubricant once the vehicle evaporates.....maybe you used too much.