"Switched to a dry PTFE (Teflon) spray a while back and haven't looked back since. It dries clean, doesn't attract dirt, and hasn't gummed up on me yet—even during rainy seasons."
Glad someone else mentioned PTFE spray. I had a similar experience with graphite powder—worked fine at first, but after a few months of humid weather, it turned into a gritty mess. I remember one particularly frustrating evening coming home late from work, tired and hungry, only to find my front door lock completely jammed. Graphite had turned into some kind of sticky paste inside the cylinder. Ended up climbing through a window (thankfully unlocked!) and spent the next hour dismantling and cleaning the lock mechanism.
After that fiasco, I switched to dry PTFE spray too. Honestly, it's been night and day. No more black smudges on my keys or hands, no more gritty buildup inside the lock. It's been about two years now, and even through some pretty wet winters, the locks have stayed smooth and reliable.
One thing I'd add though—make sure you give the lock a good clean-out before applying PTFE for the first time. I used compressed air to blow out all the old graphite residue and dirt first. Otherwise, you're just sealing in the old gunk, which defeats the purpose.
Also, just a heads-up: don't overdo it with the spray. A quick burst is usually enough. Too much can drip out and leave white residue around your lock—not harmful, but looks messy.
Anyway, definitely agree PTFE is the way to go if humidity's an issue. Graphite might be fine in dry climates, but in my experience, it's just not worth the hassle elsewhere...
Yeah, graphite's definitely not the best choice in humid areas. Learned that the hard way myself—ended up with keys that looked like I'd been fingerprinted at a crime scene, lol. PTFE spray's been solid for me too, just gotta remember less is more...
"ended up with keys that looked like I'd been fingerprinted at a crime scene, lol."
Haha, been there myself. A few years back, I tried graphite on the antique locks in my old Victorian—big mistake. Humidity turned it into a smeary mess, and I spent weeks wiping black smudges off the door frames. PTFE spray's been decent for me too, but honestly, I've found silicone spray even better for older hardware. Just gotta spray lightly and wipe off excess or you'll have slippery keys flying everywhere...
Graphite and silicone sprays are decent short-term fixes, but honestly, for older locks, I've found a dry wax lubricant to be way better in the long run. Graphite tends to get messy (as you've noticed, haha), and silicone sprays can attract dust over time, which gums things up again.
Here's what I usually do: First, remove the lock cylinder if possible—it's easier than it sounds, just a couple screws usually. Clean it thoroughly with rubbing alcohol to remove any grime or old lubricant residue. Let it fully dry out. Then apply a thin coat of dry wax lubricant (bike chain wax works great, actually). Let it dry completely before reinstalling. It doesn't attract dirt, stays smooth even in humidity, and no more crime-scene fingerprints on your keys...
I've used this method on several old doors and windows during renovations, and it's held up really well. Might be worth a shot next time you're dealing with stubborn antique hardware.
Gotta admit, never thought about dry wax for locks—I usually save that stuff for bike chains. But now that you mention it, makes total sense. Silicone spray always ends up a gritty mess after a while... learned that the hard way during a flip last summer. Might try your method next time.