Originally Posted By: bubbatime
I have a lock that sits out in the rain all the time. It was corroded and non functioning about 5 years ago. I put a few drops of Breakfree CLP gun oil on the moving parts and its been perfect since (several years ago) Maybe not the right oil for the job but has been more than satisfactory.
General purpose gun oil does work very well for hinges, locks and other household things.
I use Corrosion X with success on everything I have tried. It is even safe (and actually good) for ignition locks and places where electronics are present.
Specifically for locks, if it is a clean, mostly indoor environment, nothing beats fluid film. It will keep the lock buttery smooth and protected almost for life with one heavy application. If the lock is in a dusty/desert environment then one of the dry, teflon type spray lubes work best.
I do not like graphite on locks at all. All it does is make the lock feel more dry and crunchy.