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AR15.COM
11/30/2006 11:24:58 AM EDT

the locks on the tool box on my truck dont seem to want to open up very good now that its winter...

what should i spray in them to make them easier ( so the key doesnt break off ) that wont freeze into there also?

some people say WD40 is shit...

any advice?
11/30/2006 11:29:10 AM EDT
[#1]
WD will not help your lock.. maybe today, but the "lube" will attract dirt and cause problems later on...
also WD40 is water displacement 40, it also strips any lubricant off of the lock mechanisim that u spray it on so u might get rust because WD, despite popular opinion, does not help in preventing rust like remoil or a oil like that.
I would try heating the lock up maybe it frose with water in it, and for lubricating locks you are supposed to use graphite. it sounds odd, but that is what is called for
11/30/2006 11:34:06 AM EDT
[#2]
The lock de-icer they sell in stores is basically alcohol or ethanol, I believe.  It may help melt any ice.  

Park in the garage next time!
11/30/2006 11:35:53 AM EDT
[#3]
squirt some graphite (dry) lube in there.
any auto parts store will have some
lubricates without being liquid or stripping it
11/30/2006 11:39:23 AM EDT
[#4]
There is some stuff soon to come out on the market called locklife, that works.  I got a pre-production sample of it from a guy in their R&D dept when we knew ther was an ice storm coming.  

I tried it on the truck door locks and gate and shed lock during the ice storm last night.  Actually I hedged my bet by using the locklife stuff on one side of the truck and WD40 on the other.  They worked just fine after I got the outside glaze of ice knocked off the locklife side.  The stuff is viscous.

Anyway, their website is not yet 'up', but the stuff does work.
11/30/2006 11:42:15 AM EDT
[#5]
IIRC, there's an electric lock de-icer, I forget what it looks like now though. If you're in a hurry, you could always heat up your key with a lighter (well, at least you'll get the tumblers moving, not sure about turning the lock though).
11/30/2006 11:53:38 AM EDT
[#6]
Clean out your locks with an alcohol based 'lock de-icer' then use powdered graphite. Graphite is slick and won't gum up in the cold.

Oils and liquids will congeal under cold temps and make the cylinder hard to turn.
11/30/2006 2:04:37 PM EDT
[#7]
thanks everyone... i went to the hardware store and bought some AGS spray in graphite, made the locks seem alot smoother

ETA... id park in the garage, if i had one...

11/30/2006 6:20:34 PM EDT
[#8]
I know this is real 1960sish but I heat the key with a cig lighter.