"Graphite powder's solid, but have you tried powdered PTFE (Teflon)?"
Interesting you mention PTFE—I actually stumbled onto it by accident when I was dealing with a stubborn sliding door at a rental property. Silicone was great at first, but like others said, it turned gummy and collected dirt. PTFE powder was a game changer... clean, smooth, and zero mess. Wish I'd known sooner—would've saved me some awkward moments fumbling with keys in front of tenants, haha.
"PTFE powder was a game changer... clean, smooth, and zero mess."
Totally agree with this. PTFE powder is underrated—it's stable, doesn't attract grime, and stays effective way longer than silicone. I've used graphite before, but it can leave dark smudges on finishes, which isn't ideal for client-facing projects. PTFE powder solves that issue nicely. Glad you found it helpful too... nothing worse than wrestling with a stuck door while someone's watching and waiting, haha.
PTFE powder definitely has its perks, but I wouldn't completely dismiss graphite. I've found that graphite, when applied sparingly and carefully, can still be a solid choice—especially for older locks or mechanisms that have seen better days. Sure, it can smudge if you're not careful, but with a bit of practice and cleanup afterward, it's manageable. PTFE is great for newer hardware, but graphite still has its place in my toolkit... just depends on the job.
Totally agree on graphite still being useful. A couple extra points from my experience:
- Graphite works wonders on vintage hardware where tolerances are tighter and PTFE might build up too much.
- If you're dealing with interior locks or decorative hardware, graphite can sometimes stain finishes—so masking off surrounding areas helps.
- PTFE powder is cleaner, but I've noticed it doesn't always penetrate worn mechanisms as effectively as graphite does.
Honestly, having both handy covers most scenarios...
"PTFE powder is cleaner, but I've noticed it doesn't always penetrate worn mechanisms as effectively as graphite does."
Interesting point, though I've found silicone spray to be a solid alternative. Had an old lock jammed up pretty bad once—graphite didn't cut it and PTFE was too light. Silicone spray got in there nicely without the mess graphite sometimes leaves behind. Might not be perfect for every vintage lock, but worth keeping around for stubborn cases...
