I've used silicone spray on some vintage hinges around my place for about four years now, and honestly, it's held up pretty well. Initially, I was worried it might gum up or attract dust over time, but surprisingly, it's stayed pretty clean. One thing I did notice though—on a couple of older brass fittings—it seemed to dull the finish slightly after repeated applications. Nothing drastic, just a subtle change in sheen that probably only I'd notice.
Still, for locks specifically, silicone has been my go-to since the graphite incident (yep, been there too... graphite dust is sneaky stuff). But if you're dealing with something truly antique or valuable, I'd probably test it out on a hidden spot first or stick to something specifically formulated for antiques. Lubricants can sometimes react unpredictably with older metals and finishes. Learned that lesson restoring an old cabinet hinge—thought I was being clever using WD-40 at first... ended up regretting that choice big-time.
I've had pretty good luck with silicone spray too, especially on locks. But yeah, brass can be finicky... I've noticed that dulling effect myself. Wonder if it's a chemical reaction or just residue buildup? For really old hardware, I've started using a bit of wax-based lubricant instead—seems gentler and doesn't mess with the finish as much. Learned that trick after WD-40 turned my grandma's antique drawer pulls into a streaky mess... live and learn, right?
"Learned that trick after WD-40 turned my grandma's antique drawer pulls into a streaky mess... live and learn, right?"
Yeah, WD-40 can be tricky on antiques—I learned that the hard way too. Had an old brass doorknob set from a 1920s house I was flipping. Thought I'd freshen it up with some WD-40, but ended up with cloudy streaks everywhere. Switched to a beeswax-based lubricant after gently polishing with fine steel wool (0000 grade). Worked like a charm, restored the shine without damaging the patina. Lesson definitely learned...
"Switched to a beeswax-based lubricant after gently polishing with fine steel wool (0000 grade). Worked like a charm, restored the shine without damaging the patina."
Good call on the beeswax—I swear by that stuff now. WD-40's great for squeaky hinges, but antiques... not so much. I once tried it on an old skeleton key lock thinking it'd loosen things up, and ended up with a sticky mess that jammed even worse. Had to spend hours carefully cleaning it out. Ever had luck restoring old locks without causing more drama?
Beeswax is definitely gentler on antiques, but I've had decent luck with graphite powder for old locks. Messy stuff though—gets everywhere if you're not careful. Ever tried it, or do you prefer sticking with wax-based lubes?
