Why Garage Door Lubricants are a Must

No matter how high-quality or expensive a garage door system is, its hardware can be permanently damaged if a protective lubricant is not regularly applied. This can lead to steep repair bills and delays if you’re in a facility. Action Industries has every part for every door, and we want to protect you or your customer's access point with our line of quality lubricants. Whether you need to protect a residential garage or a commercial dock and everything in-between, we can help. Read on to learn about Action’s professional and long-lasting lubricants that fit your specific needs for garage door systems and hardware!

What are Lubricants? 

A lubricant is a type of oil or grease meant to protect against rust and reduce friction on a machine’s working parts. This prevents machine wear and increases a system's lifespan. Garage doors, with their hinges, springs, chains, and rollers, are constantly moving when in use, so it is crucial to lubricate them for protection. 

What Happens if Lubricant is Not Used?

Without lubricant, at best, hardware may squeak as parts rub against each other and become a headache for anyone nearby. At worst, hardware will become damaged and lock up after being worn down from constant friction. When dealing with a garage door system, last thing you want is a door that will not open when you are running late for work or be in a facility unable to ship out products until repairs are made.
 

When to Use What Lubricant? 

Action’s spray lubricants are designed to penetrate hard-to-reach places on your door’s system to eliminate rusting, squeaking, and grime buildup on pulleys, door tracks, garage door rollers, and other metal components without any messy residue. Our formulas are patented and last longer than traditional silicone spray garage door lube. They also stand up to cold weather to keep all moving parts in your garage rust-free. Action's lubricants come in different formulas to better suit your specific needs, such as Ultra Gel, Penetrating, Food-Grade, and Multi-Purpose. 

Ultra Gel 

Our Ultra Gel lubricants contain a combination of natural and synthetic lubrication agents. Couple this with a high molecular weight polymer (PTFE), and you have long-lasting protection from extreme temperatures, weather, and corrosion. Ultra Gel is the most durable lubricant on the market for your garage door and is designed to reach even the hardest-to-reach places for a smooth operation. Our Ultra Gel won’t wash out from water and can be used on every garage door hardware component. This includes hinges, chains, gears, and brackets. To guarantee you have protection even in extreme conditions, Ultra Gel prevents the sticking and freezing of metal and rubber as well as functions in temperatures ranging from -30°F to over 600°F to ensure you’ll never wake up to a frozen garage door. 

Directions for use:

1. Shake the can vigorously for one minute after mixing ball begins to rattle. 
2. Saturate the area to be lubricated. 
3. If needed, repeat the application. 

Penetrating 

Penetrating Lubricant is tailored to penetrate and loosen advanced rust and corrosion from a garage door’s moving parts to keep them in peak condition. This lubricant works best on garage hardware that has not been lubricated in years. Our Penetrating Lubricant’s rust-fighting power is due to its special “creeping” nature, which allows it to easily get between your garage door’s parts to speed up the loosening process. The lubricant sprays on as a foam and can also withstand extreme temperature breakdown. 

Action’s PTFE SHIELD, Penetrating Lubricant with PTFE is similar to regular Penetrating Lubricant with the addition of PTFE that works great on industry applications and offers added lubricity during extreme temperatures. If you or your customer needs a lubricant that can control the amount of foam released, our 3 Way Valve Penetrating Lubricant has a nob that has three different settings so your lubrication can be precise and minimize runoff. 

Directions for use: 

1. Shake the can vigorously for 60 seconds after the mixing ball begins to rattle. 
2. Spray the lubricant on all corroded, rusted, or frozen garage parts. 
3. Let the foam stand for several minutes to allow thorough penetration.
4. If necessary, tap the part lightly to speed up and ensure penetration. You may need a second application in extreme circumstances.  

Food-Grade

Our Food Grade Lubricant is USDA-rated H1 to be safely applied on food processing equipment. Whether you’re involved in food processing, food production, or food safety, our tasteless lubricant puts your mind at ease in case of accidental contact.  

The lubricant’s foaming action minimizes runoff to provide long-term lubricity on any surface. It also resists temperature breakdown and has a special creeping formula that works its way deep into cracks to penetrate and loosen rusted bolts and lubricate moving parts. You can also use the lubricant to protect metal finishes from rust and corrosion. 

Directions For Use:

1. Shake well before using.
2. Clean the target surface thoroughly.
3. Spray light film. 

Multipurpose

Action also carries a range of Multipurpose Lubricants that are perfect for garage door system parts and other materials as detailed below.

Private Labeling 

Action provides the opportunity to create custom branding and logos on our Ultra Gel and Penetrating lubricants with our Private Labeling Service! Setting up your company with its own private labeled lubricant is the perfect opportunity to grow your business. You can install a door and leave a can of your private labeled lubricant behind with your company's information to spread the word of your business! Our Private Label lubricants are ordered in 20 cases or 240 bottle minimums. This bulk solution ensures the best price for companies looking to sell privately labeled garage door lubricant. Contact us or your account manager for more information!

Common Lubricant Questions:

What environmental factors should customers consider when choosing a lubricant?

For hardware in climates that regularly dip below freezing, use silicone-based lubricants. These lubricants will remain fluid and don’t thicken in low temperatures. When dealing with climates that have high humidity, dry lubricants (such as PTFE-based) are water resistant to help combat the extra moisture. If you are working in areas of high heat, the heat resistance of white lithium lubricants are the way to go.

Are these lubricants safe for use on other moving parts like hinges, rollers, and tracks?

Yes and no. Our lubricants are safe for the hardware components in a garage door system such as hinges, rollers, springs, locks, and more. However, lubricating the tracks is NOT recommended, as excess lubricant can lead to operational issues. Instead, clean tracks with soap and a dry cloth.

How often should a garage door be lubricated?

To keep a garage door system running properly it is wise to lubricate the hardware every six months, though constant use and harsh outdoor environments may require more frequent lubrication for hardware.

Are Action's lubricants safe to use around pets and children?

Action’s food grade lubricant is safe for both children and pets.

Do I need to clean garage door components before applying the lubricant?

Yes, debris such as dust, dirt, and old lubricant can lessen the effectiveness of new lubrication. Make sure to disconnect the power from garage door systems before cleaning when applicable.