The lock tag has no wiki summary.
11
votes
5answers
3k views
What kind of lubrication should I use for a lock?
I recently made the Yale lock on my front door much easier to open by spraying some WD-40 in there.
However, I just saw this question on WD-40 not being a “true” lubricant, and wondered whether it ...
3
votes
2answers
75 views
How can I install modern locksets on these interior doors?
I've recently bought my first house which I'm very excited about, got into the decorating phase and decided to replace the door handles - some of which were damaged - with nice new ones. Being a ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Did I break my Kwikset SmartKey lock by trying to rekey with a key that doesn't fit all the way?
I got a Kwikset deadbolt lock (has key hole on both sides instead of key hole externally with latch internally). This lock uses SmartKey technology so you can rekey the lock to use a new key rather ...
3
votes
2answers
639 views
How do I fix an exterior door knob that will unlock but not turn?
My back door (which is only two years old) has a door knob that recently suddenly stopped turning. I can lock and unlock it, but it just won't turn. Here's a picture of the inside of the door knob:
...
5
votes
4answers
821 views
How can I prevent an outside lock from freezing?
I store a bunch of the "outside stuff" in the shed for the winter. Mainly things that I only use when the weather is warmer. It pretty much remains locked up for the winter. Occasionally though, I ...
2
votes
2answers
279 views
Are there any simple electronic door locks available?
I have an office door I need to keep locked but allow easy access.
It doesn't have to be super secure, it has a proper deadlock for when we are closed, it just has to stop people casually walking in.
...
1
vote
3answers
192 views
How do I open a padlock after it has frozen?
I do some maintenance on the neighborhood ice-skating rink. To control the lights, there is an outside electrical panel that is locked with a padlock.
This padlock always get frozen. Every time I ...
3
votes
4answers
3k views
Why does my latch not retract when I push or swing the door shut, but will retract when the knob/lever is used?
This just started today. I have to turn the knob in order for the latch to retract. Before, I could just push to door shut and the latch would retract when it hit the plate on the door frame. But now ...
7
votes
4answers
2k views
How can I fit a Schlage lockset in my front door?
I moved into a condo with a Kwikset lockset in the door. I wanted to replace it with a Schlage lockset, but the actual bolt portion of the deadbolt was too large to fit into the pre-drilled hole. If ...
1
vote
0answers
107 views
Searching for biometric fingerprint door lock/handle with interchangeable core [closed]
The company I work for is wanting to install a bio-metric fingerprint and keypad door lock with handle on the door to our new office. I am having difficulties finding a door lock that meets certain ...
1
vote
0answers
197 views
Where can I find a replacement 3" drilled split spindle with a hook at the the end? [closed]
I have an old RH&CO mortise entry lock and the drilled, split spindle is broken. I cannot seem to find the 3" drilled split spindle with a hook at the end anywhere. I have tried local hardware ...
4
votes
3answers
775 views
How do I disable a lock?
I have the following door handle / lock combination that leads out to my garage. The key for the door has long been lost and sometimes someone will turn the internal lock and the door cannot be opened ...
7
votes
5answers
1k views
Is it worth having two locks in exterior doors?
I've noticed that some places have a lock in the knob and a deadbolt in the exterior doors, and some places have a knob without a lock and just a deadbolt. Is there a benefit to having a lock in the ...
2
votes
0answers
122 views
How do I replace an old-style (“wide screw posts”) garage T-lock handle?
My garage features an old-style T-handle very similar to Prime-Line GD 52169 or National Hardware V7643, except that the distance between the hole centers is 1-3/4".
Unfortunately, I cannot seem ...
2
votes
3answers
6k views
How to remove a stuck key?
A hypothetical question - if I get a key in the door lock from one side of the door, could I somehow use another key to open the door from the other side?
And what if you could "engineer" the stuck ...
3
votes
1answer
466 views
How can I remove a Mortise Lock and deadbolt from a door?
I got an old door from a junk yard that I'm trying to reuse. The door is going to end up being sliding barn door so I have no use for its existing door knob and lock mechanisms. From what I can tell ...
15
votes
1answer
1k views
How does Schlage SecureKey Re-keying mechanism work?
Here is their consumer info. And here is an amateur teardown, although I can't tell from the pictures how the thing actually works. Does any one have any better powers explanation?
But beyond just ...
1
vote
1answer
302 views
Push button lock unlocks when knob turned
Recently my bedroom lock (a push button lock) has been acting funny. It's hard to push the button in and the button and handle sort of need to be jiggled to push it in all the way. Once it's in it ...
4
votes
3answers
955 views
Where do I buy a weather proof combination padlock?
I have a shed that I use a padlock to secure. The last lock I had lasted a year before failing. It cost about $40. My wife prefers combination so she won't need her keys just to work in the yard.
I ...
2
votes
1answer
242 views
What is causing discoloration on my bronze-finished lockset?
We bought a bronze finished lockset about five years ago, and now a lot of it is ashy looking and green in some places. It looks a little worse every year. It's on an exterior door facing west. ...
2
votes
2answers
641 views
Where can I get a new key for an old lock?
There are two locks on my apartment door. The key to the bottom lock was lost long ago - before I moved in - and we now just use the top lock.
The bottom lock is probably 50-60 years old and ...
5
votes
5answers
988 views
Home wireless lock
How can I improve my home with a kind of front door lock that would act like those car that can unlock when it receive signal of the key in your pant?
My goal would be to keep my keys in my pant ...
1
vote
2answers
306 views
Replacement key for an old sewing machine?
I'm having an old sewing machine with a simple lock, for which I can't find the key.
What's the best way to:
Find a good replacement key for it
If it's not possible, pick the lock so that it'll be ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
How do I replace mortise locks with bored cylindrical locks?
I purchased an older home that has mortise locks in all of the doors. They're all very difficult to use and some of them don't work at all, making the doors difficult to impossible to close. Since I'm ...
2
votes
1answer
244 views
what parameters should I look for when choosing an electric deadbolt?
I am looking for electric deadbolts for external steel doors - to place several of them on a door - one on each side (top, bottom, left, right) for extra security.
I want to buy just the deadbolt ...
8
votes
5answers
2k views
What is the best way to secure a set of folding attic stairs?
My company is opening a new office in an existing office building. While inspecting the office prior to move-in, I noticed that the attics between all suites in the building are open to each other. ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
How so I fix a loose Kwikset deadbolt faceplate?
We have a kwikset deadbolt on our main door and the faceplate has come loose. There are no visible screws on either side of the door, so I am assuming they are under the brass plate on the inside of ...
