Make sliding balcony door operable

WD40 - can do a lot, but nothing properly

We currently also have a sliding lift door that needs maintenance. I've already tried WD40, but its lubricating effect only helps temporarily. Therefore, I am also looking for alternatives. WD40 also fails on squeaky interior doors after a short time.

I was already recommended Teflon spray. However, with these tips, you have to be careful whether it's ultimately the same as WD40. The reference to PTFE spray fits with this, because as far as I know, that would be, for example, a WD40, Caramba, etc.

PTFE = "Teflon", but certainly not the same as the "normal" WD40, which is a sprayable penetrating oil.

Hmm, I haven't cleaned or lubricated my sliding door for 8 years.. now I really have to consciously try whether it is stiff and I have just gotten used to it.

Yes, WD40 can do something wonderful. Removing WD40 stains. Well, cleaning old grease gunk also works quite well, since it is basically just petroleum with a bit of solvent. Therefore, the (permanent) lubricating effect unfortunately approaches zero...

MOS² and graphite are a huge mess because they are black. I would not use them in living spaces. I would recommend here:

Interflon Fin Super


Unfortunately a bit expensive, but worth every cent. And due to the Teflon content, it also has a very long lubricating effect. Still, it has all the advantages of a good penetrating oil. There is currently little as good on the market.

Best regards from mechanical engineering

P.S. If you ever need a similarly good spray grease, you should take a look at Interflon Fin Grease. After application, it is thicker and therefore does not run off so easily, but naturally also penetrates correspondingly less. It is therefore more intended for lubrication of disassembled or very well accessible bearings. By the way, the grease can also be used in food contact applications.

(The thread is quite old, but I was just directed here by my search engine. It is probably still being read.) So: Properly clean the aluminum rails with 80 grit sandpaper ... one should not, but rather use an old wool sock and dishwater, possibly a piece of plastic with a sharp edge. This significantly eased the movement of my 40-year-old lift-and-slide door. Old lubricant deposits had hardened into a bumpy edge. Now only a trace (!) of aluminum care wax (or car hard wax, of course polished afterwards) is applied to the running edge for the rollers. Furthermore, the end grain of the vertical frame part was scraping on the aluminum rail in places. This was clearly visible from the sanding marks. Above a spot without sanding marks, where there was air under the end grain, I was able to use the 80 grit sandpaper profitably after all. A reduction of just under a millimeter was enough. I am satisfied with the result, hope it works for you as well, and thank the other forum members for their experiences, which I did not have to make myself anymore.

Use Teflon spray. It lubricates dry and does not attract dust. It also holds up quite well. Yachticon from Norderstedt has something like that at a reasonably fair price. Unfortunately, Teflon spray is never really cheap. But the silicone oil from Aldi for 1,- also evaporates quickly.