Cylinder Type Locks

In most homes around the country, you will find that their front door is equipped cylinder type lock-sets. A standard lock cylinder would normally contain pins that can be changed in order to match a particular key. Once the cylinder was matched to the new key using different sized pins inside it, the key will now operate the lock successfully.

There are several advantages to having a cylinder type lock. One of them as mentioned is the fact that they can be re-keyed to fit a different cut key. This can save money instead of changing the entire lock or lock-set, a professional locksmith can simply remove the cylinder from the lock and change the combination of the pins even without removing the entire lock. In addition, a cylinder can be easily reconfigured  in order to turn it into a wafer tumbler lock or a disc tumble lock for example.

A cylinder can be used to implement a type of high security system as well such as master-key. A master-key system will typically allow you to use the same type of key on all the locks in your home. A task in which a cylinder type lock will easily allow. In a cylinder type lock for that purpose, the mechanism can be removed and set-up to adapt a master-key type system. However, if needed, the locks can be configured to use different type of keys.

For additional security, a home owner has the option to choose between a single or double cylinder type locks. In a situation where a double cylinder lock is desired, a key would be needed from both sides of the lock in order to get it opened. This option is mostly popular in homes where there is an easy access to the front door where there are windows around it. That way, an intruder won't be able to reach in and unlock the door from the inside. However, in some places in the U.S., having a double cylinder type lock is not permitted due to safety reasons in case of an emergency.

With a long list of advantages for using a cylinder type lock in your home, there are some disadvantages as well. One of the main issue with a cylinder type lock is the fact that most types can easily be picked open. Intruders normally equipped with a pick tool set can easily use it in order to force the pins inside the cylinder to the open position. Another type of method many intruders like to use on cylinder type locks is a bump key. Although it have to be from the same name brand such as Schlage or Kwikset as the targeted lock to be used on, it is normally the quickest way to unlock a cylinder type lock.

For more information about cylinder type locks and higher security solutions, give us a call or visit Premier NorthWest Locksmith Spokane.

Everest lock Fix

In the lock business, each manufacture would use its own design for a lock or cylinder. Although most types of residential locks would seem to be the same, the internal design would be different. For the average locksmith technician most types of residential locks are serviced in the same way regardless of the manufacturer, but it would mostly depend on the type of line. For a standard line of locks such as the type that could be found in an apartment complex property, the design would be very similar between a Schlage and a Kwikset type of lock. However, for the average locksmith technician, the problem in servicing a particular type of lock will begin when the lock is unique and uncommon which most likely will require a special care.

I got a call the other day from a customer who just came back to his home but was having trouble getting his key inside the lock in order to unlock the door. The customer seem pretty certain he was using the right key, so I figured that either the key was bad or the lock was badly contaminated. Either way, talking to the customer on the phone, it didn't seem it would be too difficult of an issue to resolve.

Once I got to the customer's home I wanted to see first what type of lock the customer had and looked like it was a Schlage Everest which was not very common and my first ever to work on. I then took a look at the key and it didn't seem to be worn out which made me believe the lock may be contaminated. After spraying some lock lubrication inside the lock, I made an attempt to insert the key inside the lock but still without any success.

I called a Spokane locksmith co-worker of mine to see if he had any info regarding that particular lock and according to him, it was a common issue. The key-way on these locks get easily damaged from inserting the key in the wrong way repeatedly. The solution was very simple. All I needed to do was take a proper Everest blank and use it like a "bump key" until it will reform the distorted area allowing the key to be inserted smoothly again.

Schlage Double Cylinder Deadbolt

As a locksmith technician, I feel there is a big difference between servicing a residential type lock and a commercial type one. Usually, commercial grade locks will be much more heavy duty than residential type ones even though they may look similar at times. Most beginner locksmith technicians normally do not provide much services for commercial grade locks as these type require a little more skills, knowledge and special tools. However, sometimes, even the experienced locksmith technician will run into a particular commercial type lock that will puzzle him to find a solution.

I got a call recently from a local restaurant where the manager wanted to re-key all the locks in the restaurant to match one key. Normally, most restaurants are equipped with commercial grade standard locks and since I had enough experience servicing these types of locks, I didn't hesitate much to take the job. However, I did realize that it might be a few hours gig since the restaurant manager mentioned that there were about 6 doors with locks to re-key.

Once I got to the restaurant, the first thing I checked was the type of locks that doors had installed on. By what I've seen, all the door were equipped with a standard commercial grade Schlage lever handle and a deadbolt. I started taking apart all the locks to prepare them for a re-key. It took me few hours to complete the re-key and put all the locks back together, but when I was done, the manager said I forgot one door which was the door to his office.

The door to his office had a type of Schlage double cylinder deadbolt that I was not familiar with and probably was more high security than the other locks I re-keyed. When I asked why did he had a double cylinder deadbolt installed, he said that it was because of the safe in his office. As I examined the lock, I couldn't find any way that I could remove it in order to do a re-key on the cylinder.There was no retainer screw that I could find holding the cylinders together. I then called a Spokane locksmith co worker of mine to see if he had any experience with this type of lock before and luckily he did. Apparently, the inside cylinder had a plate over the retaining screws which explained why I could not locate them. All I needed to do was removing the plate to access the screws. Once I did that, it didn't take very long to finish re-keying that lock as well.

Residential Locksmith Service in Spokane

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