Lock Repairs In St Louis

I find it interesting, but not surprising that lately I am being called more and more often to repair locks for customers in and around the St Louis region, who have obviously had another person come in before me to try and repair the same thing.

More often it seems to be that the person before me, either didnt carry replacement parts or didnt know the methods to dismantle and reassemble the lock in question.

Simple things like, 2-3/4" Kwikset Latches (Backset), or replacement strike plates for entrance sets or mortise locks, replacement spindles for connecting handles together, replacing delicate sized machine screws, etc.

Now, I dont carry replacement parts for everything, simply because the cost to repair an item as opposed to replacing the item is labor intensive. Many people seem to live with an attitude that they want to continue paying peanuts for products and services, yet expect those products and services to last.

It is simply untrue. If you pay peanuts you will get monkeys. The reason that Baldwin Products are guaranteed for life, is because they are manufactured from extremely high quality components and built to standards that surpass most industry minimums. They are priced at the upper end of the spectrum of course, but rarely do you hear of a Baldwin Lock breaking down and parts being unavailable. One simply has to contact the Baldwin Factory, speak to a trained operator and order their replacement part. The factory will, in all likelihood send it to you including shipping, for nothing.

In coming articles, we plan to expand upon repair techniques for various lock products, so you can begin to understand the types of things locksmiths do to repair locks in St Louis, Missouri and across the world.

Making The Grade - Classifying Locks

Many people make the mistake of thinking that one lock is as secure as the next. And coming from the standpoint of the consumer, it may look like the only real choices fall into the categories of color, brand and style. The appearance will be a factor but the primary focus of any lock purchase should be: will this protect me, my family and our property? And in that respect some locks don’t cut it. Does it really make since to try to protect your $150,000+ house with a $10 lock?

ANSI (American National Standards Institute)and BHMA (Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association) are two companies that regulate and test lock hardware to verify that the manufactures can live up to their claims with regard to strength and usage (cycle) promises.

The companies issue 3 Grade levels:

Grade 1(Heavy Commercial), Grade 2 (Light Commercial/ Heavy Residential) and Grade3 (Light residential.) The cycle requirements for the Grade 3 status is 200,000, which means it should withstand 200,000 cyclesbefore failure. The Grade 2 requirement is 400,000 cycles and the Grade 1 requirement is 800,000.

Along with the cycle standard there is also a strength standard. The strength standard regulates how much pressure or force the lock is designed to withstand during use before failure. The Grade 3 requirement for a door knob is 120 lbs of force and for a lever set 180 lbs. The Grade 2 knob is 150 lbs and the lever set is 225 lbs. And the Grade 1 knob is 300 lbs and lever set 450 lbs. The strength standards are designed to provide minimum levels of durability to guard against rough usage and vandalism.

Most of the locks sold at hardware stores are of the Grade 3 variety designed for residential use, quite often in a construction version with a part-plastic latch. So even within the Grade rating there is a variance between one Grade 3 and the next. For instance: A lock that’s made out of pot metal could meet the minimum strength and cycle standards. But who wants a lock that fails on the finish line when for a little more you get a Grade 3 lock made out of higher quality metal that can meet and exceed the minimum standards; and look good doing it?

Many locksmiths carry the higher quality locks that will better secure your home or business, and yes they tend to cost a little more. The question isn’t: “Can I afford better locks?” the question should be: “Can I afford not to have them?”

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Pro-Magic Lubra-Gel

Pro-Magic Lubra-Gel, is a high-pressure penetrating lubricant that is dispensed as a penetrating oil, then sets up as a grease like lubricant.

It is tailored for institutional and industrial use.

About 12 months ago, we completed a job for the local manufacturer of this incredible product. We were extremely lucky to be given 2 cans of this product. This product is not found on retail/wholesale inventories, but it is sold to companies that purchase from Cobitco Inc. Their Chesterfield, Missouri office is the only manufacturer of it.

I have been extolling the virtues of another teflon based lubricant for some time and this product is of a similar value, but made locally. I used it today to lubricate a frozen lock. With one tiny squirt, the lock was like brand new. I have been using it for quite some time now, to help with various job requests and it hasn't failed me.

Lubra-Gel will penetrate hard to reach areas, then set up as an excellent lubricant. Solvent evaporation is designed to provide this needed penetration.

As far as I know, it is not sold retail or wholesale, but if I can convince the company to start, you will be the first to know.

(my apologies for the poor picture - it is my last can)

For a copy of the MSDS, please email us.

Palindrome - Once Every Thousand Years

01022010

Do you know what a Palindrome is?

According to Dictionary.com a palindrome is:

a word, line, verse, number, sentence, etc., reading the same backward as forward, as Madam, I'm Adam or Poor Dan is in a droop.

Today is a once in a thousand year event. In the USA, the common method for writing todays date is 01/02/2010.

Our once in a thousand year sale is on today only for any product we sell. Find any product we stock and we will let you have it for it's wholesale cost price + 33% + shipping. This special is today only for any orders received before 00:00 on January 3, 2010. Only email orders will be considered. Please email us today for your discounted product.

As an example our Pocket Door Lock With Key, regularly sells for $85.00 + shipping. Today only we will let them go for $65.00 each + shipping.

This is a never to be repeated sale (at least in our lifetime), that you could benefit from.

Act quickly. There are only 21 hours to go!

Kaba - Ilco Simplex 5000 Mechanical Pushbutton DoorLock

This is the world reknowned Kaba - Ilco Simplex 5000 Mechanical Pushbutton Doorlock, that can be installed on almost any door.

I recently installed one of these locks in a high-trafficked door that requires keyless access.

This lock is a Grade 1 lockset that features a really easy entry method, options for passage function (to leave it unlocked), key override for selected keyholders.

It is relatively simple to install in place of most existing door locks and the installation can be completed in about 1 hour.

We recommend our Bilock Extreme Security cylinders be used in conjuction, to offer bump proof, pick proof and copy proof keys, preventing unauthorised duplication of keys.

$499.00

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2oz bottles of Triflow on sale

We previously posted about the Tri-Flow product on November 22, 2009 and now make it available to all our customers. From 2010 on, all new Bilock customers will receive a complimentary bottle with their first order. (Previous article below)

Having worked in the locksmith trade over a quarter century, I have worked with many lubricants over the years. My favorite lubricant and the one I recommend to all my customers is Tri-Flow.

Many tasks I perform for customers often involve repairing locks due to the wrong product having been used, in attempt by an unknowing homeowner or handyman to DIY (do it yourself).

While the DIY industry is one of the biggest, often the advice given may not be correct or may be given by someone with no real experience.

The most common lubricant (and I use the term loosely, here) found in most hardware stores is WD-40.

WD stands for Water Displacement and 40 is the fourtieth formula that achieved it's purpose.

When you displace water, you effectively dry out the application (remove any lubrication).

WD-40 was designed to dry the points on wet motors. It is designed to "dry out" wet metals. It is a penetrating fluid that can temporarily lubricate metal parts, but will dry out (and gum up) as it is designed to do.

I strongly recommend that customers think twice before using WD40. I cannot tell you the number of times I have seen or see it used in locks. Whenever I ask a client, "did you use something to lubricate this lock?" and they answer with "WD40", my standard reaction is "Uh Huh!". This often has them asking what they should use and I always recommend Tri-Flow.

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Locksport - The New Testing Laboratory

Schuyler Towne is a hobbiest with an unusual hobby. He is a member of Locksport International, a non-profit club of people whose interests include solving the mechanical puzzles of lock and key mechanisms.

Schuyler is not an unusual person, but a ethical and modern thinker, whose goal it is, to identify weaknesses in mechanical key (puzzles) locking systems.

This is why various nouveau manufacturers are seeking out the services of Schuyler and other locksport enthusiasts, to test their products before they come to market.

Police departments and other law enforcement offices across the United States, had hoped that Locksport International was a passing fad. According to Jim Pasco, National Executive Director of The National Fraternal Order of Police, lockpicking and other manipulation techniques are freely available to anyone and everyone through instructional video's on Youtube and other online mediums.

This can represent a serious concern for home owners and tenants, offices and corporations, concerned with everyday people's abilities to covertly bypass the security of their properties.

Schuyler and his fellow locksport enthusiasts, maintain strict adherence to their cardinal principle, "Never pick a lock you don't own, and never pick a lock that's in regular use," but the same cannot be said for other on-lookers.

Bilock products represent a thorn to many lock pickers and locksport enthusiasts because the product is so difficult to pick or bypass. Bilock cylinders are tailor made to retro-fit many existing hardware brands, so even if you have a Schlage, Baldwin, Arrow, Corbin-Russwin, Yale, Assa, Abloy, Medeco, Mul-t-lock or Lockwood product (and many others), you can convert them all to one of the industry's few 100% bump proof and virtually pick proof and copy-resistant key and locking products, without the expense of replacing hardware.

Combined with the almost 8000 color key head combinations, you can easily identify your keys, improve use by arthritically challenged or even sight impaired users.

An article appeared today on National Public Radio.

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Biometric Ignition Lock System

We are pleased to announce an upcoming product we will soon make available.

The Biometric Ignition System is a DIY installation, although we do recommend a professional auto-electrician complete the install.

We do believe that the future of car security products will be heading this way.

This complete systems offers fingerprint recognition/access to vehicle systems, GSM communications port and standard car alarm style audio alerts.

This powerful device combines a primary and secondary security system that allows only authorised fingerprints (Primary) to deactivate the guard, in turn allowing an authorised key holder to operate the ignition.

The benefit here is that even if your keys are stolen, the perpetrator can still not steal your car because their fingerprint will not be enrolled.

The system also uses a shock sensor to indicate attempted unlawful entry or to alert when objects hit the vehicle. Do you like to know when those pesky neighborhood kids kick their ball and it hits your car? Now you can be alerted with a text message to your cell phone.

The unit houses a GSM SIM card that can connect to the carrier of your choice. This enables 2-way communications with the security system on your car.

Has your car been stolen? Use your cell phone to switch off the fuel system, effectively making the thief run out of gas.

Taken your car to the mechanic? Temporarily disable the fingerprint controller, remotely until the mechanic's work is completed.

(coming soon)