Separate Doors - Same Keyed Locks...?

[PatrickW]

One of the doorknobs on my garage has fallen apart, and the rest of them on my house are old and on their way out...

They all use the same key. I'd like to buy a new set (that all use the same key) and replace them all at the same time.

I've looked for "like keyed" doorknob sets at the local hardware stores, but can't find sets of more than 2 doorknobs.

Ideas...? Do they sell "packs" of like-keyed doorknobs?

Thanks,

- Patrick

 

[OldCarGuy]

Go to Home Depot or Lowel’s . Either place will make all the locks you want keyed alike if you purchase them there. My local Lowe’s has a limit of six locks though. So when I purchase 16 locks and asked them to be keyed, they told me their limit of six. But re-keyed all when I said I would make three trips to the counter.

Or you can call the local key shop and pay a handsome price.

 

[Der Bugmeister]

Rona rekeyed mine when I bought some new locks as well. I suspect most hardware stores will be able to help you out with that when you buy new locks.

 

[PAToyota]

I was able to get them all rekeyed alike by my local locksmith. It was pricey if he came out and did it, but I took things apart myself, had my father "house sit" while there were no locks on the house, and took them in. It was pretty cheap that way.

 

[...dave]

Also, at least for the Quikset locks at Lowes, they had a key code on the top of the individual boxes... if you poke around a bit, you can usually find at least four or five with the same key code as long as you stick to the same style.

When i replaced all of the locks on our new house (the previous owner had five different locks! Sheesh), i got the type of non-locking doorknobs that you use on closets, and just put in deadbolts on all the doors. Knob locks are useless, IMO... occasionally i'd end up locked out of the house because somebody turned the button, and i could slip them with a credit card in just a minute or two. If you're going to put in locks, you might as well use the deadbolt and at least give them a little bit of a challenge.

...dave

 

[zr1nsx]

Loews and Menards both will key locks alike. Even if you bring a old lock that is manufactured by a brand that they carry, they will duplicate the the key code. It's very simple to do. I had 6 sets done at the local Menards and it took all of a half hour to do all 6 sets.

 

[DIGGER_DAVE]

Also, at least for the Quikset locks at Lowes, they had a key code on the top of the individual boxes... if you poke around a bit, you can usually find at least four or five with the same key code as long as you stick to the same style.

When i replaced all of the locks on our new house (the previous owner had five different locks! Sheesh), i got the type of non-locking doorknobs that you use on closets, and just put in deadbolts on all the doors. Knob locks are useless, IMO... occasionally i'd end up locked out of the house because somebody turned the button, and i could slip them with a credit card in just a minute or two. If you're going to put in locks, you might as well use the deadbolt and at least give them a little bit of a challenge.

...dave

No Dave, your OPINION is absolutly RIGHT!

A couple of years ago at our "Block Watch" meeting we had a security expert demonstrate how USELESS "LOCKING Door Knobs" really are!

He had a sample Locking knob mounted on a "sample door." He then proceeded to take a PIPE WRENCH and TWIST the knob OFF; then with a screw driver, turn the remaining mechanisum, and OPEN the door. Total TIME - 15 seconds!!

The solution is DEADBOLTS - the longer the "throw the better." (deeper penetration into the door jamb)
BUT! Cheap dead bolts can be defeated just as quickly! (same "twist them off" trick with the pipe wrench!) They are shaped so a wrench can get a "grip."

Now, I don't sell these type of dead bolts and I don't get a "kick back."
But the security guy showed us a type of dead bolt that has a HARDENED DOME SHAPED exterior piece that a pipe wrench CAN'T get a grip on.

The keys are "half round" with "notches" cut along their length. The company who manufactures these dead bolts, claims OVER 10,000,000 code combinations!! Our security expert said that this one lock that even the PROS CAN'T PICK!!

One feature is that different locks (they also sell padlocks, HARDENED CASE and HASP) can be CODED DIFFERENTLY from each other; and use separate keys ONLY for that lock; BUT can be OPERATED with ONE MASTER KEY!!

In my case, to allow the power and gas meter readers to enter the side gate which is padlocked with one of this type; to read the meters.
The padlock key is in a "Lock Box" mounted outside the gate (used by the utilitiy companies around here) and ONLY WILL OPEN THIS ONE PADLOCK! It WILL NOT open any other of the padlocks (4) or my house (3 deadbolts) or shop locks. (2 deadbolts)

The lock smith (who is an EXCLUSIVE dealer, bonded etc., etc.) issues a LOCK CODE to the buyer, and without the LOCK CODE ID CARD will NOT cut keys for ANYONE! Even though the guy I bought my padlocks and deadbolts from knows me, (from our community association) I STILL have show him my ID card!

These type of locks are ONLY sold by authorized lock smiths. If you look in your yellow pages under "Lock Smiths" for ones that have the name "Authorized "ABLOY" Dealer", you can save a lot of possible grief, and cut down on the number of keys you need to carry.