[masraum]

Originally Posted by rockfan4

As a kid I was fascinated with locks. They were like puzzles, but easier to solve sometimes.

I've replaced and re-keyed several of the locks at my house, of course the builder put the cheapest ones he could find, and I'll admit the ones I replaced them with aren't any more secure but at least the finish is nicer. I put a storeroom lock on the side door of the garage, the outside lock is always locked so as long as you remember to close the door it is secure. Somebody in my house, and it's not me and it's not the dog, has an issue with remembering to lock doors, so that will solve that.

I needed a couple different size pins for the re-key job, went to a local locksmith and he said he couldn't sell them to me, I had to bring the lock in. Went to Menards and the guy gave them to me, no charge.

I have a couple more locks that I want to change out, bought a set of 3 locks with no keys off eBay for next to nothing, but I've lost my touch for picking or bumping them. I need to turn the cylinder to remove it. I can get 3 pins lifted, but I can't get the last two. Only 5 pin locks.

New locks, the inside lever will turn and on some they will unlock the door, others it will just open., I had to replace the new lock on the back door because the dog figured out she could paw at the lever and get the door open. Which would be fine if she closed the door behind her, but she's a dog, so she doesn't. She can't turn the button on the old lock I replaced it with because she doesn't have thumbs.

Back when we had our home, we had 4 or 5 keys for our home, Front door with 2 locks, back door with two locks, side door with a lock and garage to home with 2 locks. It was a huge PITA, so I bought a kit online similar to the photo below except it didn't come with the tweezers. It included several keys and enough pins to rekey all of the locks in the house to use the same key. It was pretty easy to do.



I have a door with keyed lock inside the house for "practice" and some tools. In just a min or two I was able to rake the lock open, but I'd like to work with it more one pin at a time to get a feel for working each pin individually. I haven't tried a deadbolt or padlock, but those will be next.