Deadbolts

[ExtraSlow]

Deadbolt on my front door is dying, key can barely be jiggled into it now, and it's not turning smoothly. Pretty easy for me to replace, and I know every hardware store carries many options.

So I'm not looking for wifi, bluetooth, fingerprint reader or anything. Just want a durable, simple deadbolt. Don't need to be "high security" either. Plain Jane is fine.

Are all the brands pretty much the same low quality? I have some of the wiser smartkey on other doors, so if I could go with that, I can key everything the same.

Thoughts?

[Hounddog]

If the rest of your house is on Smartkey system, I'd go with the flow!

I transitioned over to the Smartkey system a few years ago and so far so good.

[jacky4566]

Maybe your key is just worn out? Upgrades aside you can usually just get a new one cut and call it done.

[ExtraSlow]

Originally posted by jacky4566
Maybe your key is just worn out? Upgrades aside you can usually just get a new one cut and call it done.

good point and this was my first thought too. same result on multiple keys. its a lock problem.

[Ichigo]

It could be your tumblers that are sticking. try shooting some silly lube into the keyhole and put your key back and forth a few times through it.

[StreetRacerX]

+1 on the Wiser smart key, nothing beats re programmable locks!

[90_Shelby]

Originally posted by Ichigo
It could be your tumblers that are sticking. try shooting some silly lube into the keyhole and put your key back and forth a few times through it.

My money is on this. WD40 will do the trick.

[Ben]

All the locks are pretty much the same in that <$50 price point.

Mine went and I decided to just replace it. We travel a lot and have friends and family check in on our place from time to time so we opted for a keypad. Assign codes for friends and family, and no key to lose or cut.

What a great idea that has been. Our vehicle is a fob and push button start so no need to have keys anymore.

Should you choose to go with one all the research I did led me to the Schlage. Great reviews and I love that the deadbolt is not mechanized, less to break, less to adjust, no listening to that stupid motorized deadbolt, battery lasts forever (3 winters now).

It was worth the investment.

https://www.amazon.ca/Schlage-BE365-...6SW2P4P2TJJQXM

[The_Penguin]

Do not use any liquid lube like WD40 or silicone spray.
Shoot some powdered graphite (can get a small tube near the key cut station at Home Depot etc.) into and work the key in/out a few times.

[90_Shelby]

Originally posted by The_Penguin
Do not use any liquid lube like WD40 or silicone spray.

Why not? It works.

[cancer man]

Originally posted by 90_Shelby



Why not? It works.

WD-40, not a true lubricant. It has a lot of solvent, is a water displacer used to slow down corrosion. While it is momentarily lubricating, most of it evaporates, the oily film left behind is to seal out water. – Fiasco Labs

[littledan]

Just dip your key in some mobil 1 and work the lock back and forth a few times...

[spikerS]

oh god, please don't use motor oil or WD40 in a key lock, that is about the worst thing you can do. Those types of lubricants attract dirt and such and will degrade the internals so much faster...

If you want to try and lubricate the lock internals, get some dry graphite, and blow it into the keyhole, and then work the lock around with the key.

[littledan]

I dunno... i did the mobil 1 trick on my inlaws lock about 5 years ago and its still working great ...

[carzcraz]

Second vouch for Schlage. By recommendation of a local locksmith for commercial buildings, we purchased Schlage ANSI Grade 1 deadbolts for the entire house.

They're difficult to locate locally though, so we went the online route. Also because of the robustness of these deadbolts, you should replace your strike plates to the heavy duty kind.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[BokCh0y]

Originally posted by littledan
I dunno... i did the mobil 1 trick on my inlaws lock about 5 years ago and its still working great ...

Tried it before too, no issues ever.

[Thaco]

Originally posted by BokCh0y


Tried it before too, no issues ever.

+1 for motor oil, i have a weiser powerbolt and it made it sound a lot smoother and less laboured when openening

[ExtraSlow]

Decided that I would test out the motor oil trick. Didn't have mobil1 around, so used Quaker State, hope that's okay.

I have heard that dry graphite is best for these things, but was too lazy to go to the hardware store, and wasn't worried about wrecking something that I was already planning to replace.

Nearly instant results on front door. It was so clearly in need of lubrication. Now doesn't appear to be damaged or worn out at all. Also "treated" the back door and the garage door. Garage is one off those wiser powerbolts, and it didn't get any easier to turn. Man that mechanism is stiff!

TLDR: Oil worked.

[90_Shelby]

Originally posted by cancer man



WD-40, not a true lubricant. It has a lot of solvent, is a water displacer used to slow down corrosion. While it is momentarily lubricating, most of it evaporates, the oily film left behind is to seal out water. – Fiasco Labs

The above doesn't have any counter points regarding why not to use WD-40 in a lock set. I would argue that the above are actually positive reasons to use it and not coat your key with crap before you put it in your pocket etc.

Originally posted by spikerS
oh god, please don't use motor oil or WD40 in a key lock, that is about the worst thing you can do. Those types of lubricants attract dirt and such and will degrade the internals so much faster...

I would love to see pictures of a lock set with "degraded internals" following the use of WD-40.

WD-40 doesn't attract dirt after use since it mostly evaporates and the remaining film also keeps moisture off the metal parts.