Changing locks

[yeldogt]

My weekend place in a more rural area has Primus locks on it. They are levers -- it does not come in many styles. We have guests use the place often. The keys have to be done at a locksmith so it makes making them harder. They made 12 when I ordered the locks. Big keychain w/ the alarm remote attached ... have used this system before.

Pella and many other nice doors are available with "three point" lock hardware. Is it more secure ? Who knows -- they seal better.

Baldwin uses Schlage keyways ... Baldwin started making some stuff in China at least 20 years ago. The original Images line from there was actually not bad ... some of the newer stuff is not all that good. Images is no more. I picked up NOS Images from a guy on e-bay last year for around $20 a lock -- he had both lock and deadbolt. I bought 6 sets for my rentals.

 

[CraigStu]

We have been using the HD grade Schlage key pad deadbolts for maybe 12 years on 3 different houses. Love them.
https://www.gokeyless.com/product/s...erm=&msclkid=b1e09c2e087e1d703283fc1c63e34437
With these the electrical part just connects the knob to the deadbolt for maybe 15 seconds. You provide the muscle to turn the knob which moves the plunger. Our daughter got some other style where there is an electric motor(?) that actually moves the plunger. I like ours a lot better. We don't bother to lock the standard door lock at all, just use the deadbolt.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

And herein lies my problem. Let's suppose that a bump key (or bypass tool, or whatever) is used to break into my house. The police and my insurance company are going to laugh at me, and I'll be left absorbing the loss. A few extra bucks for high security locks that make the crooks break a window, and I'll have positive signs of forced entry and will be covered.

Are you sure? You are saying that your insurance policy says that your loss will not be covered if you use a certain brand of lock? I don't think so.

Your loss will likely be covered even if your door was unlocked. Read you policy.

 

[p00p]

Are you sure? You are saying that your insurance policy says that your loss will not be covered if you use a certain brand of lock? I don't think so.

Your loss will likely be covered even if your door was unlocked. Read you policy.

I'd dump that insurance fast if the policy is not covering the B&E in the way it's being described.

 

[yeldogt]

Are you sure? You are saying that your insurance policy says that your loss will not be covered if you use a certain brand of lock? I don't think so.

Your loss will likely be covered even if your door was unlocked. Read you policy.

It's unlikely -- unless an audit called something out.

Chubb will often require you to do things with locks and alarm systems ... they will not insure if you do not do after the audit.

 

[Toolfool]

I always use the Schlage commercial stuff on my own house and garage. Each building has one door that has a passage handle set and a keypad deadbolt (also keyed to all the locks) in case I forget or lose the key.
Some of you must have missed the multiple conversations about the big box store products being specially produced for them at lower quality than every other retailer and wholesaler.

 

[loganb]

Whatever you guys buy, just make sure it is not Kwikset smartkey

Jeff...as this is your field would you be able to give maybe a good/better/best suggestion for locks for the typical knob/deadbolt prep for the standard residential door prep?



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[jeffmoss26]

OK: Kwikset pin tumbler knob & deadbolt
Good: Schlage F series knob & B60 deadbolt
These are your home center/hardware store locks


Better: Arrow RK knob & E61 deadbolt
Best: Schlage A series & B660 deadbolt
With these two you can upgrade to better cylinders (6 pin, various restricted keyways etc) as well.

Super Best: medeco or mul-t lock high security deadbolts

 

[BigDaveZJ]

Between my house and shop I have 4 doors with knob and deadbolt. Each door used a different key because they were installed/changed at different times. If I remember right, 3 were Schlage and one was Kwikset. Bought a new Schlage unit to match the others and then bought this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00002N768/?tag=atomicindus08-20 Didn't take long at all to get all 4 doors on one key after watching a couple YouTube videos.

 

[drivesitfar]

JEFF: you are always a man with a few good words to post. THANK YOU!!

ALL: anybody have more secure locks to talk about since most of us know you can either pay to re key or do it yourself?

i'm also looking for best job box padlocks and trailer hitch or trailer locks?

 

[LS6 Tommy]

MEDECO and Best are good for commercial grade apps, but are limited on styles. EMTEK is very good for home use.

Tommy

 

[PelicanPines]

OK: Kwikset pin tumbler knob & deadbolt
Good: Schlage F series knob & B60 deadbolt
These are your home center/hardware store locks


Better: Arrow RK knob & E61 deadbolt
Best: Schlage A series & B660 deadbolt
With these two you can upgrade to better cylinders (6 pin, various restricted keyways etc) as well.

Super Best: medeco or mul-t lock high security deadbolts

6 Pin Quickset are my upgraded cylinders... My locks are Baldwin... I think that means they are Schlage... but don't know if thats F or A. I also know several of my mid length pins are "dumbbell" shaped... if that matters.

I will add... My deadbolts are double keyed (both sides require a key) This prevents somebody from simply smashing a window and reaching in to unlock the deadbolt. Huge fight with the town inspectors, and yes I know why... But I have my reasons. Oh... and my exterior doors are metal doors... with reinforced jams... would be easier to chainsaw a hole in the wall than come thru my doors... uhm... unless you are a locksmith with a pick.

 

[whateg01]

...This prevents somebody from simply smashing a window and reaching in to unlock the deadbolt. Huge fight with the town inspectors, and yes I know why... But I have my reasons. Oh... and my exterior doors are metal doors... with reinforced jams... would be easier to chainsaw a hole in the wall than come thru my doors... uhm... unless you are a locksmith with a pick.

This is the whole reason I find super locks to be kind of a waste. Doors locked? Go in through a window! And I've often wondered why even with super doors and bars on the windows, people think somebody can't easily get in. Not all, but most homes are only a sheet of drywall and some sheathing away from all their stuff walking away. I guess the noise made to get in that way might be a factor but with a sledge hammer, it wouldn't take long to punch through.

 

[jeffmoss26]

F series Schlage is what you would find in retail (we do sell them at our shop) A series is grade 2, locksmith stuff. Much more expensive. The Arrow RK is a happy medium.

 

[yyc_ranger_4x4]

I'm putting Schlage Century Connect touch pad locks on the house, along with Schlage knobs. The auto-unlock feature they offer is nice, at night I can lock the knob and in the morning I don't lock myself out when I walk to Timmies for a coffee using just the touchpad. The Schlage Connect also lets me connect the lock to the security system so it can all be monitored and disarmed when wife/kids come in.

Also re-pinning all the locks to match my father's place, and our cabin. Less keys to worry about.....since I have the pin kit myself, it's not much to change if/when I have to.

 

[p00p]

just install a GM passkey2 system. Not only will it prevent the intruder from gaining entry, it will keep you out as well.

 

[walta]

[QUOTE would be easier to chainsaw a hole in the wall than come thru my doors... [/QUOTE]

$150 Harbor Freight portable hydraulic will spread open your door frame in a few seconds.

 

[p00p]

The universal master key from HF.

 

[The Cobbler]

speaking of Lockpicking lawyer, I found this ( as all of his) videos interesting

 

[p00p]

speaking of Lockpicking lawyer, I found this ( as all of his) videos interesting

makes things easy.


I find the videos that person provides educational, yet creepy. that tone of voice lol

 

[Ralf11]

I'd like a lock that would match my fancy Honda wireless locking fob

 

[yeldogt]

F series Schlage is what you would find in retail (we do sell them at our shop) A series is grade 2, locksmith stuff. Much more expensive. The Arrow RK is a happy medium.

Do the A's come in different keyways?

I think my deadbolts (Primus) have round and the locksets on one house is round and the other has that funny double circle thing

 

[justanengineer]

$150 Harbor Freight portable hydraulic will spread open your door frame in a few seconds.

A well-applied size 12 will remove most doors and windows even faster for no investment.


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[yatg]

Another thing you can do if you rekey yourself is to set up a master key system. Master key opens everything, specific key to open the house, specific key to open the shop.

 

[rlitman]

Do the A's come in different keyways?

I think my deadbolts (Primus) have round and the locksets on one house is round and the other has that funny double circle thing

You can put just about whatever keyway you want into it. He's talking about commercial grade hardware, not the keyway.

I have A series Schlage handlesets in my exterior house doors, and they're fitted with Medeco cores.

 

[drivesitfar]

RL: where did you pick up the MEDECO cores for your Schlage cause sounds like exactly the upgrade I could use for me and my daughter's houses?

ALL: is there any truth if you add a dead bolt towards the top of your door that it makes it almost impossible to kick in?

that spreader wouldn't move my door a bit cause I live in a concrete block house that has steel frame around door frame, but i'm not so dumb to think nobody could ever break in somehow.

what is a good monitoring system (don't say offsite ADT or some other service) that I could install a few cameras and see what goes on outside my home 24/7?

or if there is another thread about that I couldn't find it so providing a link would be great if there is one.

thanks in advance

 

[rlitman]

RL: where did you pick up the MEDECO cores for your Schlage cause sounds like exactly the upgrade I could use for me and my daughter's houses?

ALL: is there any truth if you add a dead bolt towards the top of your door that it makes it almost impossible to kick in?...

Sorry. I shipped some of my locks to and bought more from an out-of-state dealer who's no longer around. Best I can say is to find a Medeco dealer. They can order cores to fit any decent commercial lock. I got a matching Euro cylinder for my storm door for example. In my case, I'm kind of in a sticky situation, because without a local dealer, I'm finding it impossible to get more replacement keys.

I know that a high mounted lock helps prevent kick-ins by using the door's springiness against the energy delivered by the foot. That's one reason that magnetic locks are mounted up top.

 

[The Cobbler]

Keep in mind with Medico is the keyways are locksmith specific, so once you get into a system, you're basically stuck with the locksmith , even for keys

 

[drivesitfar]

I'm ok having to see a REAL LOCKSMITH for better locks and new keys if that means my level of security is more than just a little.

 

[yeldogt]

You can put just about whatever keyway you want into it. He's talking about commercial grade hardware, not the keyway.

I have A series Schlage handlesets in my exterior house doors, and they're fitted with Medeco cores.

They go together ?

You can't the Primus is all the keyways ....

 

[yeldogt]

Keep in mind with Medico is the keyways are locksmith specific, so once you get into a system, you're basically stuck with the locksmith , even for keys

The Primus can get down a rat hole as well .... although, I don't know how Medico manages the keys. The guy that ran the facilities for our company told me years ago.. just order 2x the number of key you think you will ever need.

If you order everything at once most places include two keys per lock ... so you can end up with many keys. The Primus have a second cut

 

[drivesitfar]

are you saying Primus will work for Schlage locks? and it's same security or better than Medico?

I hear you on making extra keys at the time of purchase as long as you can control who has them.

ALL: speaking of that if any of you locksmiths gets asked to make a key that says no keys made of this key or DON'T COPY (or whatever was stamped on them) is it against the law for you to make a new key for that person even if he says he's the owner of the lock or how do you make that call?

 

[rlitman]

are you saying Primus will work for Schlage locks? and it's same security or better than Medico?

I hear you on making extra keys at the time of purchase as long as you can control who has them.

ALL: speaking of that if any of you locksmiths gets asked to make a key that says no keys made of this key or DON'T COPY (or whatever was stamped on them) is it against the law for you to make a new key for that person even if he says he's the owner of the lock or how do you make that call?

Primus is a Schlage line.

As for “do not duplicate” keys, in most cases, a locksmith will ask for an authorization letter on company letterhead. Medeco has magnetic strip swipe authorization cards for some systems to increase the security. Still, that’s just about protecting the relationships between the dealer who has a contract with Medeco to follow and Medeco. There is no legal requirement to not copy.

 

[drivesitfar]

makes sense. thank you

 

[yeldogt]

are you saying Primus will work for Schlage locks? and it's same security or better than Medico?

I hear you on making extra keys at the time of purchase as long as you can control who has them.

ALL: speaking of that if any of you locksmiths gets asked to make a key that says no keys made of this key or DON'T COPY (or whatever was stamped on them) is it against the law for you to make a new key for that person even if he says he's the owner of the lock or how do you make that call?

Primus is a Schlage line -- if you google it you will see how it has a secondary cut on the side of the key .. I also believe it uses its own keyway (not that that would be hard to overcome)

The secondary cut makes them hard to copy ... they also say (do not copy -- on the key). Not that this would stop someone trying to get into fort knox.

But -- it's going to stop someone from getting a key made at home depo or Ace.

Also -- the locks and deadbolts are noticeably heavy. I had to pick up a set of locks for a temp door on my project last year ... and they weighed nothing. Just as a test after I no longer needed them -- i hit the lock with a hammer and it just came out

 

[Jmonnty]

I might recommend leaving one of your doors keyed differently. I never use my front door, so it's keyed differently than all the other doors. That way if I need to give somebody a key to get in and feed my pets or something, they get the oddball key. That way when they lose it or copy it or whatever, I only have one door to re-key, lol.

Yes, I have had people both lose and copy my key. So it happens.

A better idea is to have the knob or lever cross keyed to your key and a change, leaving the deadbolt on your key only. This way your key works and you have a key to loan out.

 

[drivesitfar]

J: great idea on the lower lock handout key and keeping the deadbolt key different and for you only.

YD: I agree some things they sell as QUALITY is just JUNK.

 

[nh_yota]

People lock their doors?

/i'm kidding

 

[billwood437]

People lock their doors?

/i'm kidding

My door is typically locked only when we are sleeping, the only time anything really important is in the house!
If someone is going to rob me I don't want a broken slider door or windows. A lock is not going to stop a thief. My handgun will if I am home though. I spend my money on surveillance cameras and let the police hopefully get my stuff back.. it's also nice to live in a small community with neighbors that keep an eye open..

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[gungatim]

an