What is the recommended way to deal with this? Graphite is supposed to be the best, but I’ve never been able to make that work. The pins are usually tight enough that if I pull one, coat it with something (oil, graphite, whatever), when I reinsert the pin, the material I put is squeegied out.
The only thing that works is something my real estate person told me. They use PAM spray on squeaky hinges so that when they show a house, nothing squeaks. I’ve tried that, but it only lasts a week or two. I’m hoping for something I don’t have to repeat for a year or more.
Pull the pin, insert grease into the hinge hole (use a Q tip or other similar small implement) then put some on the pin and reinsert. If you’re just doing the pin, I suspect much of it is being scraped off as you reinsert the pin and there’s almost none getting onto the 2nd and 3rd hinge flange.
Worth a try, anyway. But yeah, lithium grease. I use graphite in some areas where grease will pick up and retain dust, but the interior of a hinge seems it would be a good solution.
I’d be tempted to run the shank of the pin against the wire wheel in my bench grinder. Can’t see that it could hurt, and just maybe (kind of a stretch) it would clean it up a bit and make a difference. Likewise, removing the pin and then putting it back, several times. And turning the pin while it is in place.
And since I didn’t notice any mention of it yet, molybdenum disulfide grease is yet another one to try. Or silicone spray sold for garage doors.
Maybe a good time to upgrade to these: 6 Pack Heavy Duty Door Hinges, 4 Inch Ball Bearing Door Hinges Stainless Steel Hinges with 1/4" Radius Corners, Heavy Duty Door Hardware for Left and Right Hand Door, Brushed Nickel.
I used similar on my entry doors as well as the shop door, but go ahead search for the size/color you need, I see several just a click away… Maybe just replace the squeaky ones as they are likely taking the load..
I forgot to add, particularly for entry doors, make at least one of the hinge screws, long enough to reach the stud so it adds a lot of strength. making it much more secure. Many hinge kits come with just 3/4 or 1 inch decorative screws, better to find one that reaches that stud…
I can do both. I was going to pull the pin soon (haven’t done it yet) and apply some lithium grease inside the hinge. I also can do a little sanding, if that would help.
This one hinge is really loud. We get the occasional creak from other hinges in the house, but this ONE is really bad. Don’t know why. The one to the master bath is dead-silent, by contrast. Seems to be the same hinges throughout the house.
Not really. Sanding metal doesn’t do much, and might even raise some burrs unless you work it with progressively finer and finer emery cloths. But never say never.
I repeat: go for a thinner pin. If you want to try it for free, remove the pin and drop a 10p nail in the slot and see if that relieves the noise without cocking the door. If so, use it, or measure the diameter of the pin and go to the home store and get a slightly thinner one.
Hey, it’s Halloween! They all should freely squeak! Then tomorrow go after it, if you remove the pins, coat them with one of those solid lube sticks or even bar soap, graphite maybe added as well, an Amazon search for door hinge lubricant comes up with a ton of possibilities!
