Now I have to LOCK the coop and run...

[Verboten]

Leah-yes I know I'm crazy :

... I have a flap of rubber stapled just above the padlocks to keep the moisture out. That's on my sheds not my coop but would work. I have dogs for the coop.

That is a good idea! Keeping the water away from the lock would definately be the best.
My locks are on gates that swing in both directions and the latching mechanism (they cost about half as much as the gate itself, but are nice) attempts to shield them from the rain but they fail miserably.​

 

[mudhen]

I'm using the jacketed Master padlocks. Didn't know that WD40 could cause problems with dirt collecting in the lock. That's all I've ever used to keep locks from freezing (even car door locks).
Silicone spray is better? Where does one get that?

 

[Leah-yes I know I'm crazy]

Spray a bit of wd-40 on a piece of paper and see how much dust sticks to it. Grease is good for sealed bearings but will hold anything that gets in there. That's why we won WWII...greaseless bearings on the tank tracks.
Graphite works well if you know how to do it. I think it's nearly one of those lost skills...maintenance rather than replacing things. Rub the key with graphite, turn it back and forth in the lock several times, repeat quarterly. My grandfather was a stickler for preventative maintenance and had the same lock on the house doors for sixty years. I myself only seem to do it when pinewood derby rolls around for scouts and I have the tube of graphite out anyway.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Would it work to just rub it with a pencil?

 

[Leah-yes I know I'm crazy]

Quote:
That'll work.

 

[the1much]

you can buy tubes of graphite for about a buck,, tip the lock up,, squirt in the graphite, then turn the key 10 or so timess,, do this once a month and ya locks shouldnt freeze.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Leah-yes I know I'm crazy :

Spray a bit of wd-40 on a piece of paper and see how much dust sticks to it. Grease is good for sealed bearings but will hold anything that gets in there. That's why we won WWII...greaseless bearings on the tank tracks.
Graphite works well if you know how to do it. I think it's nearly one of those lost skills...maintenance rather than replacing things. Rub the key with graphite, turn it back and forth in the lock several times, repeat quarterly. My grandfather was a stickler for preventative maintenance and had the same lock on the house doors for sixty years. I myself only seem to do it when pinewood derby rolls around for scouts and I have the tube of graphite out anyway.

I have to go back to history classes. I thought we won WWII because we droped the A Bomb, ya learn something new everyday this site is amazing. Thanks for the info on locks, I have seen the crud that gets on things after you use WD 40. My ? is where do you get graphite and what is it?​

 

[Marlinchaser]

I saw where teenagers are beating bums to death in the big cities NY/LA etc... Then posting tapings of the beatings on utube. Do you have any teenager wanta be thugs in the WV woods?? Maybe not a good solution 'cause then you would have to deal with the teenagers.

 

[Marlinchaser]

Quote:
You can get it at most hardware stores, hobby stores, walmart lowes home depot etc... should come in a little tube for about a dollar, comes in white and black/grey if you get the white it doesnt SHOW when you get it on your hands, floor etc.... the dark looks like you sharpened pencils then played in the dust

Edited to answer second part of question its a powder so it doesnt attract dust like a liquid wd40 does

 

[KrisRose]

Lock was froze up again this morning and my de-icer did'nt work

. So off to Home Depot for graphite, rubber flap, and anything else I thinK I might need

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