On 12/05/08 01:17 pm Paul Franklin wrote:

I have a couple of Master padlocks (the kind with laminated steel
bodies) on outdoor gates. Now that we have had some snow and the temp.
is down several degrees below freezing, I find that they are frozen: I
cannot turn the key without blasting the locks with a heat gun first.
Yes, they were hanging with the keyhole facing down, but perhaps
moisture (melted snow) got in between the shackle and the body and then
froze.

Any recommendations for padlocks that are more weather resistant?

I shoot the lock on my shed with WD40 in the fall, both in the key
hole and the shackle holes. Seems to help keep moisture out. Then I
get one of those hard foam cones they sell to put over outdoor faucets
and put that over the lock. Has worked well for me.

I was about to object to your suggestion of using WD40, but I Googled
first. Although Master does suggest *not* using WD40, they warn even
more strongly against using graphite, which I had thought was the only
acceptable lubricant for locks. They suggest light oil on the shackle
and a Teflon-based lubricant for the keyway.

Perce