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Last Answer on June 11, 2024

I want to change the deadbolt on my apartment door. I was told by a lawyer that the landlord likely has a master key that will open anything, even if it is a different brand of deadbolt. How can I ensure that a master key will not unlock my door?

Asked by svak216 almost 7 years ago

Haha there’s no such thing as a “key that will open anything”. That’s some terrible information, whoever told you that. You can’t lock your landlord out, they own the property. If they find that you have changed the lock without their permission, they have the ability to charge you to correct the problem, assuming that is in the contract you signed. They make privacy deadbolts that allow you to lock the door from the inside with no way to access it from the outside. It’s called a one-sided deadbolt. They require them on all rental properties here in Texas for that very purpose, for privacy so your landlord doesn’t walk in on you. You could request 1 that your landlord let you get 1 of those installed?

785 Votes

We have outdoor activities for which tourists have to pay. We have metal boxes where they can put in the fee. The box is secured by a padlock. But so far we haven't been able to find a padlock that can withstand a boltcutter or angle grinder. Help?

Asked by Ron Werner almost 8 years ago

Being that I don't know exactly what kind of application you are dealing with, I can only give you some ideas. First off, I've never seen a padlock hasp material that can't be cut with a grinder. What you need to find is something pick-resistant, and something that hides that shackle so bolt cutters and a grinder can't even GET to it. Just for some ideas- https://youtu.be/L6iMmCSayBQDepending on the design of the hasp, a "hockey puck" padlock might be an option. Mul-T-Lock makes a pick-resistant one with restricted keys. Look up model KW-TR100. Other brands make similar more inexpensive ones such as Abus & Master.

785 Votes

Whats the funniest Situation you had while on the job?

Asked by Basti83 almost 8 years ago

Some locksmiths have some awesome stories. Unfortunately I haven’t had many hilarious ones. I unlocked the wrong car one time. I figured it would be a good idea to get a head start before the customer came out to the small parking lot. I didn’t even notice there was an identical make, model, & color car right next to it! Another time I cut off the wrong padlock on a storage unit. That time it was the renters fault. After she slid the door open, “Oops! That’s not mine. Sorry! Oh yeah! It’s this one over here!” ????

785 Votes

What do you call a lock, that when you enter with a key, when the door shuts behind you It self locks behind you, so nobody else can come in without a key. However anyone can go out by pushing a bar

Asked by Manu almost 8 years ago

If you're referring to a bar that goes across the whole door, that is an exit device. The trim you're referring to for that exit device would be considered storeroom function trim. Also if you wanted the same type of functionality in a lever instead of a bar, that would be a storeroom lever.

783 Votes

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i have a Best door knob. I've attempted to depress the knob release by putting a papercli[ in the hole on the latch side of the knob but cannot find the rea\lease to allow me to pull out the knob ....what now? how do I get the door knob out?

Asked by arttriglione@comcast.net about 8 years ago

Being that Best would only sell to the end user, I haven't worked with many Best locks. BUT my guess would be it's possibly not a poke hole. It won't come apart like a typical lever. That hole is possibly a grab hole for a spanner wrench. You insert the tip of the wrench in that hole and rotate it counter-clockwise. If you don't have a spanner wrench, just use a big pair of pliers. Grab the part of the knob where that small hole is and twist it counterclockwise. It should start to get looser and eventually unscrew.

781 Votes

can i have my barrel lock plunger key repair

Asked by everette about 8 years ago

Not usually, but you might be able to get it duplicated onto a new key.

781 Votes

We have a retail store. On our front door is the deadbolt with lock access on front and back.
The inside should have a switch inside of a key. Is there an adapter that fits over the key so we can leave it in the lock?

Asked by Michele over 5 years ago

I assume you have a glass and aluminum storefront door. You can replace that inside keyed cylinder with a thumb turn, they are very inexpensive, usually $10-15. Labor time is 2-5 min. You can have a locksmith come out and do it for you, or probably YouTube it if you’re trying to save yourself money. https://youtu.be/nJT0moSoNJM

780 Votes

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Locksmith

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

I want to change the deadbolt on my apartment door. I was told by a lawyer that the landlord likely has a master key that will open anything, even if it is a different brand of deadbolt. How can I ensure that a master key will not unlock my door?

We have outdoor activities for which tourists have to pay. We have metal boxes where they can put in the fee. The box is secured by a padlock. But so far we haven't been able to find a padlock that can withstand a boltcutter or angle grinder. Help?

Whats the funniest Situation you had while on the job?

What do you call a lock, that when you enter with a key, when the door shuts behind you It self locks behind you, so nobody else can come in without a key. However anyone can go out by pushing a bar

Also on Jobstr...

i have a Best door knob. I've attempted to depress the knob release by putting a papercli[ in the hole on the latch side of the knob but cannot find the rea\lease to allow me to pull out the knob ....what now? how do I get the door knob out?

can i have my barrel lock plunger key repair

We have a retail store. On our front door is the deadbolt with lock access on front and back.
The inside should have a switch inside of a key. Is there an adapter that fits over the key so we can leave it in the lock?

Locksmith

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

I want to change the deadbolt on my apartment door. I was told by a lawyer that the landlord likely has a master key that will open anything, even if it is a different brand of deadbolt. How can I ensure that a master key will not unlock my door?

We have outdoor activities for which tourists have to pay. We have metal boxes where they can put in the fee. The box is secured by a padlock. But so far we haven't been able to find a padlock that can withstand a boltcutter or angle grinder. Help?

Whats the funniest Situation you had while on the job?

What do you call a lock, that when you enter with a key, when the door shuts behind you It self locks behind you, so nobody else can come in without a key. However anyone can go out by pushing a bar

Also on Jobstr...

i have a Best door knob. I've attempted to depress the knob release by putting a papercli[ in the hole on the latch side of the knob but cannot find the rea\lease to allow me to pull out the knob ....what now? how do I get the door knob out?

can i have my barrel lock plunger key repair

We have a retail store. On our front door is the deadbolt with lock access on front and back.The inside should have a switch inside of a key. Is there an adapter that fits over the key so we can leave it in the lock?

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We have a retail store. On our front door is the deadbolt with lock access on front and back.
The inside should have a switch inside of a key. Is there an adapter that fits over the key so we can leave it in the lock?