My daughter lost a bag with keys and address information, so the
question is basically what should we do with the locks (Yale cylinders)?
Changing the cylinders is dead easy but could a locksmith modify the
existing cylinder and make new keys for it, or should I not bother and
just get new cylinders out of B&Q?

Thanks in advance!

"oh-news" wrote in message
...
My daughter lost a bag with keys and address information, so the question
is basically what should we do with the locks (Yale cylinders)? Changing
the cylinders is dead easy but could a locksmith modify the existing
cylinder and make new keys for it, or should I not bother and just get new
cylinders out of B&Q?

While a locksmith could modify the cylinders, it will probably take a day or
two, so what do you do about the doors while that is happening? OTOH, I
wouldn't buy cylinders from B&Q, unless they say how many pins the cylinder
has. Basic cylinders are five pin, but six pin is considered to be the
minimum needed to give good security and seven is even better, although more
expensive.

Colin Bignell

"nightjar .uk.com" nightjar@insert my surname here wrote in message
...

"oh-news" wrote in message
...
My daughter lost a bag with keys and address information, so the question
is basically what should we do with the locks (Yale cylinders)? Changing
the cylinders is dead easy but could a locksmith modify the existing
cylinder and make new keys for it, or should I not bother and just get
new cylinders out of B&Q?

While a locksmith could modify the cylinders, it will probably take a day
or two, so what do you do about the doors while that is happening? OTOH, I
wouldn't buy cylinders from B&Q, unless they say how many pins the
cylinder has. Basic cylinders are five pin, but six pin is considered to
be the minimum needed to give good security and seven is even better,
although more expensive.

It may cost more for a cylinder modification and all the new keys that are
required to be cut to match than buying a new cylinder with free new keys.

Adam

"ARWadsworth" wrote in message
.uk...

"nightjar .uk.com" nightjar@insert my surname here wrote in message
...

"oh-news" wrote in message
...
My daughter lost a bag with keys and address information, so the
question is basically what should we do with the locks (Yale cylinders)?
Changing the cylinders is dead easy but could a locksmith modify the
existing cylinder and make new keys for it, or should I not bother and
just get new cylinders out of B&Q?

While a locksmith could modify the cylinders, it will probably take a day
or two, so what do you do about the doors while that is happening? OTOH,
I wouldn't buy cylinders from B&Q, unless they say how many pins the
cylinder has. Basic cylinders are five pin, but six pin is considered to
be the minimum needed to give good security and seven is even better,
although more expensive.

It may cost more for a cylinder modification and all the new keys that are
required to be cut to match than buying a new cylinder with free new keys.

That depends on the security level. It is definitely cheaper for me to get
cylinders modified than to buy new ones, but I have lots of high security
locks in a three-tier master key system.

Colin Bignell

nightjar nightjar@ wrote:
While a locksmith could modify the cylinders, it will probably take a day or
two, so what do you do about the doors while that is happening? OTOH, I
wouldn't buy cylinders from B&Q, unless they say how many pins the cylinder
has. Basic cylinders are five pin, but six pin is considered to be the
minimum needed to give good security and seven is even better, although more
expensive.

Thanks for the tip!!! I just got two six-pin cylinders from B&Q at £13
each to replace the five-pin for my flat and six-pin for the communal
exit door, plus in all 14 extra keys (two for one deal at same B&Q). I
had it in my head that cylinders were far more expensive, must have been
from watching dodgy locksmiths being stitched up on TV...

On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:43:57 +0100, oh-news wrote:

My daughter lost a bag with keys and address information, so the
question is basically what should we do with the locks (Yale cylinders)?
Changing the cylinders is dead easy but could a locksmith modify the
existing cylinder and make new keys for it, or should I not bother and
just get new cylinders out of B&Q?

Change the cylinders and while you're at it fit proper mortice locks as
well, because a Yale won't stop anyone.

On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 18:59:51 +0100, Steve Firth
wrote:

|On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:43:57 +0100, oh-news wrote:
|
| My daughter lost a bag with keys and address information, so the
| question is basically what should we do with the locks (Yale cylinders)?
| Changing the cylinders is dead easy but could a locksmith modify the
| existing cylinder and make new keys for it, or should I not bother and
| just get new cylinders out of B&Q?
|
|Change the cylinders and while you're at it fit proper mortice locks as
|well, because a Yale won't stop anyone.

**5** leaver ones!!!
The best you can afford.

--
Dave Fawthrop dave hyphenologist co uk Google Groups is IME the *worst*
method of accessing usenet. GG subscribers would be well advised get a
newsreader, say Agent, and a newsserver, say news.individual.net. These
will allow them: to see only *new* posts, a killfile, and other goodies.

On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:59:51 UTC, Steve Firth
wrote:

On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:43:57 +0100, oh-news wrote:

My daughter lost a bag with keys and address information, so the
question is basically what should we do with the locks (Yale cylinders)?
Changing the cylinders is dead easy but could a locksmith modify the
existing cylinder and make new keys for it, or should I not bother and
just get new cylinders out of B&Q?

Change the cylinders and while you're at it fit proper mortice locks as
well, because a Yale won't stop anyone.

Isn't that a generalisation? (I assume that by 'Yale' you mean anything
that looks like a cylinder lock)

My insurance company wanted 5 lever mortice but are perfectly happy with
our Yale BS 3621 cylinder lock. And the keys are lighter to carry!
--
The information contained in this post is copyright the
poster, and specifically may not be published in, or used by
Avenue Supplies, http://avenuesupplies.co.uk

Steve Firth wrote:
On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:43:57 +0100, oh-news wrote:


Change the cylinders and while you're at it fit proper mortice locks as
well, because a Yale won't stop anyone.

I fitted a 5 lever high security Yale mortice lock from B&Q for a friend
when her last lock jammed. The new lock lasted 2 weeks before it went
wrong, preventing her from inserting the key. Took it back to B&Q, they
replaced it no quibble.

The new one lasted 24 hours before failing in the same way. Took it
back to B&Q, they replaced it again and refunded the £15 or so she had
spent on extra keys (from another shop) for each new lock. Brownie
points for B&Q in my book.

The latest one has worked OK for a month - fingers crossed.

I complained to Yale via their customer service e mail address, twice,
and was completely ignored both times.

Might be worth bearing this in mind if you have a choice of Yale or
another reputable make when buying locks.

If anybody from Yale reads this, remember a satisisfied customer tells 3
people, a dissatisfied customer tells 100.

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 19:20:25 GMT, Steve
wrote:


|I fitted a 5 lever high security Yale mortice lock from B&Q

|If anybody from Yale reads this, remember a satisisfied customer tells 3
|people, a dissatisfied customer tells 100.

My local Locksmith CH Wood (Security) Bradford limited 221 Wakefield Road
Bradford ... sells me Chubbs. They are so good that all *three* have
outlasted the doors they were fitted on, I recovered them and now they sit
in my cupboard to await another door. All three have been repaired by C H
Wood, or rekeyed when necessary, at very reasonable cost.

This satisfied customer will tell anybody.
--
Dave Fawthrop dave hyphenologist co uk Google Groups is IME the *worst*
method of accessing usenet. GG subscribers would be well advised get a
newsreader, say Agent, and a newsserver, say news.individual.net. These
will allow them: to see only *new* posts, a killfile, and other goodies.

The message
from Dave Fawthrop contains these words:

My local Locksmith CH Wood (Security) Bradford limited 221 Wakefield Road
Bradford ... sells me Chubbs.

You're lucky to have a local locksmith. I can't find one anywhere round
here. Plenty of mobile blokes who'll come round in a van and charge you
for the privilege, but no shops you can walk in to and buy a proper
lock.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 22:21:13 +0100, Guy King wrote:

|The message
|from Dave Fawthrop contains these words:
|
| My local Locksmith CH Wood (Security) Bradford limited 221 Wakefield Road
| Bradford ... sells me Chubbs.
|
|You're lucky to have a local locksmith. I can't find one anywhere round
|here. Plenty of mobile blokes who'll come round in a van and charge you
|for the privilege, but no shops you can walk in to and buy a proper
|lock.

We have no less that *three* *good* Local locksmiths in Bradford Yorks, I
use the best, but the others appear fine.

IMO everyone should search out local good locksmiths.
--
Dave Fawthrop dave hyphenologist co uk Google Groups is IME the *worst*
method of accessing usenet. GG subscribers would be well advised get a
newsreader, say Agent, and a newsserver, say news.individual.net. These
will allow them: to see only *new* posts, a killfile, and other goodies.

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 21:19:42 +0100, Dave Fawthrop
wrote:

My local Locksmith CH Wood (Security) Bradford limited 221 Wakefield Road
Bradford ... sells me Chubbs.

Unfortunately the Chubb BS3621 auto-deadlocking rimlock is a bit of a
dog. The plastic handle falls off (made of Unstickium) and worst of
all, it has a tendency to fire the deadlocker of the main bolt while the
door is only partially closed. This makes the door look as if it's
locked, but a light push opens it.

It's also damn near impossible to get keys cut for them that work, even
from a Chubb specialist.

In article ,
Andy Dingley wrote:
Unfortunately the Chubb BS3621 auto-deadlocking rimlock is a bit of a
dog. The plastic handle falls off (made of Unstickium) and worst of
all, it has a tendency to fire the deadlocker of the main bolt while the
door is only partially closed. This makes the door look as if it's
locked, but a light push opens it.

I've had one for ages and not found this at all. Perhaps it's because it's
properly fitted? ;-)

It's also damn near impossible to get keys cut for them that work, even
from a Chubb specialist.

When I got mine I anticipated having problems with spares since the blurb
said they couldn't be cut in the normal way. But my local locksmith made
me several copies all of which are fine.

--
*If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 16:43:57 UTC, oh-news wrote:

My daughter lost a bag with keys and address information, so the
question is basically what should we do with the locks (Yale cylinders)?
Changing the cylinders is dead easy but could a locksmith modify the
existing cylinder and make new keys for it, or should I not bother and
just get new cylinders out of B&Q?

1) Get new cylinders at B&Q
2) Modify old cylinder, at your leisure, and make a key for it. Not
hard, and a bit of fun DIY!

--
The information contained in this post is copyright the
poster, and specifically may not be published in, or used by
Avenue Supplies, http://avenuesupplies.co.uk

Bob Eager wrote:

2) Modify old cylinder, at your leisure, and make a key for it. Not
hard, and a bit of fun DIY!

how do you rekey those yourself? drill out the metal plugs over the
pins, swap pins, then how do you replug them?


NT

On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 22:49:40 UTC, wrote:

Bob Eager wrote:

2) Modify old cylinder, at your leisure, and make a key for it. Not
hard, and a bit of fun DIY!

how do you rekey those yourself? drill out the metal plugs over the
pins, swap pins, then how do you replug them?

Braze (or glue) a piece of brass over the top. Not done one of those
myself, mind..think I first read it in Practical Mechanics.

I did sort of re-key a lock while at university. It was one of those
where the cylinder is in a rectangular block with rounded corners. That
was easy and just required dismantling.

Why did I re-key it? Well, I didn't exactly. I just rearranged the pins;
I swapped two of the pins with 'user' key cuts in the same place, but
'master' key cuts in different places. In other words, I de-mastered it.
It was because we had a sadistic cleaner who would burst in very early
and disrupt sleep or other activity.

--
The information contained in this post is copyright the
poster, and specifically may not be published in, or used by
Avenue Supplies, http://avenuesupplies.co.uk

Bob Eager wrote:
On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 22:49:40 UTC, wrote:
Bob Eager wrote:

2) Modify old cylinder, at your leisure, and make a key for it. Not
hard, and a bit of fun DIY!

how do you rekey those yourself? drill out the metal plugs over the
pins, swap pins, then how do you replug them?

Braze (or glue) a piece of brass over the top. Not done one of those
myself, mind..think I first read it in Practical Mechanics.

I did sort of re-key a lock while at university. It was one of those
where the cylinder is in a rectangular block with rounded corners. That
was easy and just required dismantling.

Why did I re-key it? Well, I didn't exactly. I just rearranged the pins;
I swapped two of the pins with 'user' key cuts in the same place, but
'master' key cuts in different places. In other words, I de-mastered it.
It was because we had a sadistic cleaner who would burst in very early
and disrupt sleep or other activity.

Ahh. I used to modify 2 and 3 lever locks to make them a lot more
thiefproof, but not played with the cylinders as much. Rarely need to
mod locks now, if I need a decent one I can get it.

Another point for someone else is a modded lock might lead to an
insurance claim refusal on the grounds that its no longer BS whatever
approved.


NT

"oh-news" wrote in message
...
My daughter lost a bag with keys and address information, so the question
is basically what should we do with the locks (Yale cylinders)? Changing
the cylinders is dead easy but could a locksmith modify the existing
cylinder and make new keys for it, or should I not bother and just get new
cylinders out of B&Q?

Thanks in advance!

5 minute job to re-key a cylinder but not really worth it, replace it.

On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:43:57 +0100, oh-news
wrote:

Changing the cylinders is dead easy but could a locksmith modify the
existing cylinder and make new keys for it,

Probably not (most cheap cylinders aren't rekeyable, by practical
means)

Certainly not for less money than buying some new cylinders.

I've even found it cheaper to buy new cylinders with plenty of supplied
keys than it was to get some spare keys cut. It's a question of mass
production vs. one-off cutting.