A small amount of dry lubricant — graphite powder rather than an oil-based product, which attracts more dust over time — applied to the dial mechanism and worked through by turning the dials fully a few times keeps a combination lock smooth and prevents the grit buildup that causes most jams.
Store the lock set to its combination and slightly open rather than fully closed and forgotten in a drawer between trips, which reduces the chance of the mechanism seizing from prolonged disuse.
What travelers ask
My lock's dials feel gritty — is it broken?
Gritty dials are usually dust or fine debris inside the mechanism rather than a mechanical fault. A light application of a dry lubricant like graphite powder, worked in by turning the dials through their full range several times, resolves most cases without needing a replacement.
Last reviewed 26 August 2026