Had a similar nightmare with an antique dresser lock a while back—graphite was messy, PTFE just laughed at me. Ended up grabbing some silicone spray from the junk drawer (you know, the one with batteries and mystery keys)...worked like magic. Not saying it's foolproof, but sometimes the simplest solutions save you from losing your sanity—or breaking out the crowbar.
"Ended up grabbing some silicone spray from the junk drawer (you know, the one with batteries and mystery keys)...worked like magic."
Haha, sounds about right. Silicone spray saved me more than once with old door hinges in my place. Graphite's overrated imo—messy hands and zero luck every time.
Silicone spray's definitely handy, but graphite can actually be great if you use it right. The trick is moderation—just a tiny puff into the lock cylinder, then gently work the key in and out a few times. Most people overdo it, which explains the messy hands and frustration. Silicone spray is good for hinges or sticky mechanisms, but graphite's still my go-to for locks themselves. Different tools for different jobs, I guess...
Graphite's definitely underrated. Had a client once who called me in a panic because her front door lock was jammed solid—key wouldn't budge at all. Turns out she'd sprayed half a can of silicone spray into the cylinder thinking more was better. Big mistake... it just gummed everything up worse.
After cleaning out the mess, I gave it a quick puff of graphite powder, worked the key gently back and forth, and it freed right up. She couldn't believe how little graphite it took to fix the problem. Like you said, moderation really is key (no pun intended).
Silicone spray has its place—great for squeaky hinges or sliding mechanisms—but for locks, graphite's still king in my book. Just gotta remember less is more, or you'll end up with black smudges everywhere and a lock that's even stickier than before.
Graphite's good stuff, but honestly, I've switched to dry PTFE spray for locks. Doesn't gum up or leave black smudges everywhere. Plus, it's cleaner and easier to handle—especially if you're working on a client's nice white door... learned that the hard way.
