Changing locks

[CoogarXR]

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.

Problem is, then you have to leave the deadbolt open for your whole vacation or whatever. I like my locks to be locked when I am not home, that's kinda the point of having them, lol.

 

[gungatim]

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

You win the internet today!

 

[lml999]

We moved into a neighborhood where most people leave their doors open.

Seriously.

But since we were accustomed to locking our doors, I replaced all the deadbolts and entry knobs with Baldwin, then keyed them all to a single common key. If for some reason that key is compromised, I can rekey them to something different. Takes a minute per lock, including opening the beer.

Note - I had a car that I could start with a screwdriver. '66 Volvo 1800S, so much slop in the ignitiion cylinder that virtually anything would turn it. Ignition key would pull out with just a tug.

But since only I knew that a screwdriver would start it...

 

[lml999]

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?

I use the Blink XT camera systems. Wireless, battery powered, outdoor/indoor, will notify you if motion is sensed. I have one on the front door to let me know when packages arrive, a second on the back door to let me know when the wild turkeys are crapping in the backyard or snow is sliding off the solar panels. Then I have one in the back yard to watch the coyotes. And one in the kitchen to see if the dog is howling while we're away.

They all connect via a wifi hub. I bought mine a couple of years ago and pay $0 monthly for a modest amount of cloud storage. I think they have a service now that costs actual money. Not sure if there's still a 100% free option.

Pretty nice setup...available on Amazon.

 

[Macman756]

I like the Blink and also my Nest Cams..

 

[Pate]

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

Primus uses side pins that ride along the unique milling on the side of the key blank. They do not use their own keyway, in fact were designed for commercial customers to have the ability to cross key Primus and non Primus cyls using the same key for applications that don’t require a higher level of security. Your unique Primus number gets you a specific side pin combination based on zip code. The higher the level, the higher the restriction level. Primus isn’t a great option for homeowners due to the cost of the cyls and keys and no more physical security. You can use the newer Everest keyways in C (non restricted) or D (restricted) if you need key control. I’m in the lock business and can’t justify putting it on my own house.

 

[jeffmoss26]

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

Yes. You can put just about any brand of cylinder in there. Standard SC1, Primus, even medeco...

 

[jeffmoss26]

You win the internet today!

Nah, make it Ford 80 bit!

 

[nadogail]

I use a building hardware store that has been in business since 1912 at the same address, Berger Hardware in San Diego.

 

[DJF3]

After locking myself out of the house (twice), I'm going all electronic. No more keys for me. It's very handy!

 

[yeldogt]

Primus uses side pins that ride along the unique milling on the side of the key blank. They do not use their own keyway, in fact were designed for commercial customers to have the ability to cross key Primus and non Primus cyls using the same key for applications that don’t require a higher level of security. Your unique Primus number gets you a specific side pin combination based on zip code. The higher the level, the higher the restriction level. Primus isn’t a great option for homeowners due to the cost of the cyls and keys and no more physical security. You can use the newer Everest keyways in C (non restricted) or D (restricted) if you need key control. I’m in the lock business and can’t justify putting it on my own house.

Understood there was a matching non-Primus keyway for use where you wanted the Primus key to work and did not require the "control". I wanted to get Primus cyl for Baldwin locks and could not do it ... they also used a different keyway ..so the Primus key would not work.

I did it for the possible better key control. I have a beach house and a winter weekend house and it was nice to know the key was not out there being copied by everybody. It's nice having one key .... worth it for the few hundred bucks.

Will google Everest

 

[rlitman]

Understood there was a matching non-Primus keyway for use where you wanted the Primus key to work and did not require the "control". I wanted to get Primus cyl for Baldwin locks and could not do it ... they also used a different keyway ..so the Primus key would not work.

I did it for the possible better key control. I have a beach house and a winter weekend house and it was nice to know the key was not out there being copied by everybody. It's nice having one key .... worth it for the few hundred bucks.

Will google Everest

Primus is a Schlage brand. Baldwin is a Kwikset brand, ever since the same parent company bought both. Schlage and Kwikset are competitors, and always have been.

I actually have some cheap Chinese Baldwin lever sets that are clearly of Kwikset origin too. But a lot of the pricier Baldwin stuff is still of good quality, so don’t read too much into the fact that they’re the same company now.

 

[yeldogt]

Primus is a Schlage brand. Baldwin is a Kwikset brand, ever since the same parent company bought both. Schlage and Kwikset are competitors, and always have been.

I actually have some cheap Chinese Baldwin lever sets that are clearly of Kwikset origin too. But a lot of the pricier Baldwin stuff is still of good quality, so don’t read too much into the fact that they’re the same company now.

Baldwin always used Schlage keyways ..... You can use a Schlage blank in a Baldwin lock. The Baldwin blanks are nicer ..... They are bigger to turn the Estate collection mortice locks.

The first Asian Baldwins were fine .... I need a new rim lock for my rebuilt doors and it looks like they still use the Schlage keyway for the Estate.

I would have liked to get a keyway for the Baldwin that would take the same Primus key ..

 

[lml999]

After locking myself out of the house (twice), I'm going all electronic. No more keys for me. It's very handy!

The last time I locked myself out of the house (many years ago), I was able to open a closed/locked basement window without breaking anything and squeezing through.

Since then I've hidden an actual door key somewhere on the property. Much easier. If I remember where it is... Uh oh.

Oh right, it's in the outdoor shower.

And again...I live in a neighborhood where people leave their doors open. Not just unlocked...but open!

 

[drivesitfar]

I like the idea of an unopened front door if weather is great, but what about critters and not the ones you call your pets?

thanks for all the good information on how Baldwin and Schlage and Primus and Kwickset are related.

just curious what happened to Titan cause they used to be a grade or two above shclage and kwikset?

LML & MAC: thanks for the tips on Blink and maybe Nest man too.

Mac: I noticed this is your first post so while i'm making a post I'd like to welcome you to the forum and hope you find some good information here and a few great members to share your knowledge and learn from too.

it's sunny in SEATTLE so gotta run!!

 

[Pate]

Baldwin always used Schlage keyways ..... You can use a Schlage blank in a Baldwin lock. The Baldwin blanks are nicer ..... They are bigger to turn the Estate collection mortice locks.

The first Asian Baldwins were fine .... I need a new rim lock for my rebuilt doors and it looks like they still use the Schlage keyway for the Estate.

I would have liked to get a keyway for the Baldwin that would take the same Primus key ..

The C keyway by Schlage is copied by most aftermarket companies. The only key that may be more popular is the KW1 Kwikset keyway. The Primus cyls can be ordered for any mortise, rim or Schlage screw cap knob/lever cyls.

 

[briann898]

Problem is, then you have to leave the deadbolt open for your whole vacation or whatever. I like my locks to be locked when I am not home, that's kinda the point of having them, lol.

CoogarXR, well, that's actually a valid point. But sometimes it can be locked and stuck, and being acting like that in the most inappropriate time, and that's what I hate. Thanks God, when I had such issue in Toronto, I had contacts of these guys ( web link: https://doorhelper.ca/ ), who arrived within two hours and helped to resolve that problem, changing the whole lock.

 

[nadogail]

Your neighborhood has a lot to do with your risk of criminal mischief.

Your best protection is a nosy neighbor who knows what is and isn't supposed to be going on. I also feel the that alarm license sticker posted outside your door scares away some people.

 

[Chapter21]

I got fed up with the wad-o-keys a few years ago. I use only SFIC commercial style locks. These are interchangeable cores with nothing more than a special key needed to change them. I have a bunch of rentals and I can literally rekey the deadbolt while people are still inside without even unlocking the door!

SFIC locks are available in almost any type you can think of - deadbolt, door knob, pad lock, cabinet lock, etc. It is typically commercial grade hardware, so better quality. And it isn't very expensive because of how common it is! It also is not brand specific, you can interchange Schlage, Master, and Medico if you wanted to. Most brands make an SFIC version of everything else they make.

The cores are easily keyed alike, or various levels of master keys. They come from whichever brand is your favorite, and, you can get anything from a cheap 5 pin to a high security 7 pin with numerous other security features. They use these in banks and pharmacies. You can often buy a lot of matching cores already to go on ebay from some commercial place changing out their locks. Or there are lots of people who will custom pin them however you like.

Nothing is more interchangeable/universal than SFIC, few things are more secure. And it's cheap!! I can get into 12 different houses with a single key, but they cannot get into each other's house!

 

[Max]

I need to re-key all of my locks. Most of the locks are poor quality, so I don‘t mind upgrading the lock sets at the same time. SFIC looks very interesting, and the special tools + pins seem like an ok price. But it looks like the gotcha is making the keys - the keypunches I’ve looked at are $1K and higher.

Key duplicating seems to be about $450 for the equipment, but making new original ones is 2x. I have just started looking at SFIC - are there cheaper key making options out there?

 

[cvairwerks]

When the MIL was alive and with us, I put an electronic lock on the front door. Made it easy if she had a problem and we were away from the house. We could give the 911 operator a code to open the door and not have to punch a window or spring the frame for the EMS to gain access to the house. Took me about 30 seconds to change the second code when we had to give it out.

 

[Chapter21]

I need to re-key all of my locks. Most of the locks are poor quality, so I don‘t mind upgrading the lock sets at the same time. SFIC looks very interesting, and the special tools + pins seem like an ok price. But it looks like the gotcha is making the keys - the keypunches I’ve looked at are $1K and higher.

Key duplicating seems to be about $450 for the equipment, but making new original ones is 2x. I have just started looking at SFIC - are there cheaper key making options out there?

Why are you trying to make your own? You buy a set of cores keyed to a specific key. You order as many keys with it as you need. They cannot make them at a normal hardware store. Replacement cores are only about $10-30 each depending on new/used and how secure you want it and how many key copies you want.

Cores also come with a key code (or you can specify your own). If you want keys in the future they are made from this code. There are lots of places online that will make one, even though it says do not duplicate. The newest cores available use a patented key blank, so only licensed locksmiths can get the blanks, and make the keys...but they make you prove you are the owner first. I don't use these since I have no need for that kind of key security.

I usually buy them in lots on ebay used, because when people re-key they need to dump the old ones. They are really cheap. No tools needed.

 

[infinkc]

Buy some Kwikset with the smart key. You can rekey anytime and key the locks together very simple. I had my parent buy them for their rental as they can rekey simply when a new tenant comes.
I had bought some before from build.com and they had the option to have it all keyed alike at purchase also.

 

[Max]

Thanks chapter21 - makes sense.

 

[Chapter21]

Buy some Kwikset with the smart key. You can rekey anytime and key the locks together very simple. I had my parent buy them for their rental as they can rekey simply when a new tenant comes.
I had bought some before from build.com and they had the option to have it all keyed alike at purchase also.

And now any teenager with the google can open the door. Fabulous. Everything Kwikset makes is a joke.

 

[Pate]

I need to re-key all of my locks. Most of the locks are poor quality, so I don‘t mind upgrading the lock sets at the same time. SFIC looks very interesting, and the special tools + pins seem like an ok price. But it looks like the gotcha is making the keys - the keypunches I’ve looked at are $1K and higher.

Key duplicating seems to be about $450 for the equipment, but making new original ones is 2x. I have just started looking at SFIC - are there cheaper key making options out there?

Standard and most restricted SFIC keys can be duplicated on a standard machine. I disagree that they are a cheap alternative for most residential applications. The locks are grade 2 or better which always cost more. They are not nearly as decorative in design or finish options. Upgrading most commercial locks to SFIC prep is a no charge option, but then you need to add a keyed core. Even the most basic aftermarket keyed core is going to be $20+. Original Best brand is 2x that.

 

[Chapter21]

I disagree that they are a cheap alternative for most residential applications. The locks are grade 2 or better which always cost more. They are not nearly as decorative in design or finish options. Upgrading most commercial locks to SFIC prep is a no charge option, but then you need to add a keyed core. Even the most basic aftermarket keyed core is going to be $20+. Original Best brand is 2x that.

I buy deadbolts, door knobs, and pad locks for SFIC applications in rentals for about $25 each. Usually on Amazon. As cheap as Kiwkset garbage, but usually they are grade 2.

You have to add the price of the core, like I said, they're about $10-20 on ebay all day long. Custom pinned even. I use only later model (newer keyway) genuine Best cores, but plenty of brands make good cores.

I agree there is not a range of "residential style" for cheap in SFIC, but basic knob and bolt they are every bit as cheap as everything else. You probably won't find some fancy thing your wife wants on the front door for cheap. All of my rentals get a stainless knob and bolt on every door, and I swap the cores around, with several sets on hand. Let me be super clear- I would not be doing this if it was not cheap.

You won't find them available at any box store, but funny enough, you will find them locking the door on almost every box store.

 

[gatewaysysop]

I’d stick with quality commercial grade locks. Falcon, Baldwin, or Schlege Commercial to name a few. Usually available at a locksmith shop and the will re-key for you. Most of the locks at the box stores are not top of the line units

This is the camp that I'm in. We put commercial Schlage deadbolts on everything, doors and outside gates, all of it. They are worlds better than big box garbage. Locksmith rekeyed it all alike, best money I ever spent.