HP Pavilion Hinge Issue

[1shado1]

Back in July I purchased a cheap POS HP Pavilion laptop to use as a "spare". Well, after being opened and closed maybe twice a day since July, the right hand hinge feels like it is starting to bind slightly when opening the lid. Anybody have any recommendation for a lubricant that I can use on the hinge to stop the binding? I've never run into this problem before. Thanks!

Is it even "normal" to lube plastic laptop hinges?

 

[webworkings]

Your best bet is probably a silicone based lubricant. In either liquid or spray form. However, the liquid may be a better option than the spray, as you want to get it inside the hinge rather than just outside.

A silicone based one would be the safest. Using things like WD-40 or any mineral bases oils can damage the plastic over time. Obviously not what you would want. I have heard of people using the strangest things.

And in regard to being 'normal', well it is more common for the hinge to break than anything. I would start to wonder how many of those problems came from a hinge that is having trouble moving and gets broke vs just breaking. I don't think we get that info enough to know for sure how common it is, but I would bet doing this with a hinge would help more often than people might think.

 

[1shado1]

Many thanks for the advice, webworkings. Very much appreciated!

I will give a silicone-based lube a try.

Another question: any idea what kind of plastic most modern laptop chassis are made of? Styrene, maybe?

 

[webworkings]

As far as I know there is a wide variety of things used for laptops. Polycarbonate on most lower priced models. Then you can find higher priced ones with metal (usually aluminum) or even magnesium alloy and carbon fiber.