best lube for a padlock

We have a padlock on our main gate and there have been a couple of times it got a bit sticky.

In the early days, I used graphite.   Very messy and didn't seem to do well when subjected to a lot of rain or freezing.  

Then somebody else LOVED using wd-40.   That was spotty.   We even had some in a jar where we could soak a lock.  But I always thought that wd-40 was more about getting past the rust and any lube effect would just be temporary.


So, I spent about four hours researching about two years ago and found a really great web page by a locksmith comparing about eight different things.   In the end, the locksmith suggested a product called "houdini".   We tried that and it seems to be okay - but there still seems to be room for improvement.

Today I was looking for the article, but couldn't find it.   I did find this video.   The guy makes it clear which product he likes, but I haven't been able to find it:



So, I'm starting this thread to see if there are other schools of thought, or maybe somebody can find that article I mention above.

was he using these on padlocks? they look like door lock cylinders. maybe instead of trying to find the perfect toxic gick, we can think of ways to keep rain off the lock.

How about a nice piece of innertube to give watershed to the lock? A friend lavished on his wife and built her a lovely chicken coop complete with an egg snitching door and a shelter for the layena feeder with a lid/umbrella/cover that raised and lowered with a winch. He made the control water resistant with a chunk of tire inner tube very firmly fastened to the wiring cord and hung it on the fence. He made it so you could look/check for unwanted arachnids or wasps up there before you reached for the buttons...

Around here, routine maintenance on gate locks involves replacing them every year or two as they fail due to weathering.  

I've been using gun oil. Readily available at any gun shop. I bought a bottle 12 years ago and still have enough to last my lifetime.

The lock for the gate is pretty protected from the elements, but natural condensation from morning dew to cold temperatures will have their way with most locks. Seems to me the best solution is to let Paul, Jocelyn or Fred know if you are having issues with lock so maintenance can be done when needed.

Sewing machine oil penetrates and protects.

Is it this one?



https://www.amazon.com/HOUD1-Houdini-Lock-Lube/dp/B00C5JFKKE

I buy Boeshield for my bike (ridden year-round) but it protects other things, too.
https://www.amazon.com/Boeshield-T-9-Waterproof-Lubrication-aerosol/dp/B000GE1F9K/

A rubber flap to shield rain and dew. Split open a cheap carpenters pencil and grind up the graphite rod. Into dust. Work the dust into every moving parts you can find. you write underwater on slate, with a normal pencil. So think of how it could stand up to a little condensation.

I have used breakfree clp for years, including 2 years on outdoor connex containers in wyoming. Never a problem, also used it on cardboard bailers and forklift. And numerous other power equipment. I have used it on black powder rifles and pistols. It deactivates the acid in the black powder, cleans and lubes is non gumming doesn't freeze even in -40 plus. It's a bit expensive but works so well, and it also is available at most sporting goods stores and Walmart.

Still use this on anything on the homestead that doesn't get grease. The other lube I use but is hard to find is 3 in 1 teflon. I only use this in very specific places it is a dry film lube. Works great on indoor locks and items prone to dust and sand. But must be protected and clean first.

Great thing about breakfree clp is you don't have to even pre-clean. I used it to lube and clean chains, padlocks, hinges, fittings, bicycle, and guns. Freed up a guys ar-15 this winter at the range, wouldn't work at the cold temp. Couple squirts and it was running like a champ. I also use it on all moving surface's on the truck and tractor. It has breathed new life into old bearings and frozen bearings on hand trucks.

Thanks
Brian
3HR

breakfree clp is a very good choice, I used it a couple of time, also a silicone lube is good too, I've used it on all my indoor locks, I've changed all of them at the same time last last month, we had some robberies in our area so we were recommended to change the locks. Our local locksmith made some good money this time, but to be honest the guy deserves it, he's a really good emergency locksmith harrow. He told me about silicone lube and about breakfree clp as being the best one on the market. So you can definitely use Breakfree, you won't regret it

My experience has been that oil alone isn't the solution for a padlock exposed to the weather. Water can still get in and freeze, grit/junk can still get in and foul it up.
I had trouble for years with two padlocked doors to a barn, without weather protection. The locks would freeze up, sometimes the key wouldn't even turn, but usually just the locking elements and shackle wouldn't release. Heating the lock was the only remedy, boiling water was easy, but temporary for obvious reasons.
Drying the locks out was also short lived, since the next rain would set it up to freeze again.

Then I made a flap of plastic sheeting that covered the lock, cleaned and oiled the lock, and had a long run of good use. Sub-freezing temps were no problem, the lock was dry and opened smoothly without fail.

This year, the flaps gave out. Back to frozen locks again. One time I warmed the lock enough by holding in my hands (brrr!), another time I didn't even try.

Lubrication and/or cleaning are fine for caring for the lock (rusting type freezing), but keeping the water out is the answer to the freezing (ice freezing), so many methods to implement it.