I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer and
one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all looked
good.

Now we have lugged it up to the office it won't open.
It seems to be locked.
I assume the mechanism may have shifted during transit.

Does anyone know how easy these office furniture locks are to pick?

I could always drill it out, I suppose, but it would be nicer just to be
able to undo it.

The furniture is labelled "Project" and the key number is 125 and (we
think) 78 on top. Could possibly be 7R?

Bloody typical!


Cheers



Dave R


--
W7 64 bit HTPC Intel Core i5 2500k Asrock Z68 Extreme 4 Gen 3

On Saturday, 9 November 2019 18:44:14 UTC, David WE Roberts wrote:
I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer and
one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all looked
good.

Now we have lugged it up to the office it won't open.
It seems to be locked.
I assume the mechanism may have shifted during transit.

Does anyone know how easy these office furniture locks are to pick?

I could always drill it out, I suppose, but it would be nicer just to be
able to undo it.

The furniture is labelled "Project" and the key number is 125 and (we
think) 78 on top. Could possibly be 7R?

Bloody typical!


Cheers



Dave R

plenty of youtube vids


NT

On 9 Nov 2019 18:44:10 GMT, David WE Roberts
wrote:

I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer and
one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all looked
good.

Now we have lugged it up to the office it won't open.
It seems to be locked.
I assume the mechanism may have shifted during transit.

Does anyone know how easy these office furniture locks are to pick?

I could always drill it out, I suppose, but it would be nicer just to be
able to undo it.

The furniture is labelled "Project" and the key number is 125 and (we
think) 78 on top. Could possibly be 7R?

Bloody typical!


Cheers



Dave R

Project Office Furnitu the script at the top of their web page
(project.co.uk) invites you to order replacement keys from them.

Alternatively, there are master keys for those locks and the chances
are that your local seller of second-hand office furniture has got one
and could open the cabinet for you.

Actually, I'VE got one of those master keys - about forty years ago I
worked for a company that sold on those cabinets as new and I kept it
in case it came in useful. I've just turned the house upside down
looking for it and all I've achieved so far is an upside-down house.
Sorry. I'll get back to the thread if anything turns up but do try
Project and/or a second-hand dealer.

Nick

On 09/11/2019 19:15, wrote:
On Saturday, 9 November 2019 18:44:14 UTC, David WE Roberts wrote:
I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer and
one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all looked
good.


plenty of youtube vids


You need to find te videos that say bypassing the lock rather than picking

Example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R5VIz2U_MI

The exact same technique is used on some padlocks
https://youtu.be/7Lsm4l3mRqw?t=782


--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On 09/11/2019 18:44, David WE Roberts wrote:
I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer and
one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all looked
good.

Now we have lugged it up to the office it won't open.
It seems to be locked.
I assume the mechanism may have shifted during transit.


Many of these cabinets have a mechanism preventing more than one drawer
opening so just make sure that BOTH drawers are FULLY in their closed
position before trying to open one of them.


--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On 09/11/2019 20:55, alan_m wrote:
On 09/11/2019 18:44, David WE Roberts wrote:
I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer and
one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all looked
good.

Now we have lugged it up to the office it won't open.
It seems to be locked.
I assume the mechanism may have shifted during transit.


Many of these cabinets have a mechanism preventing more than one drawer
opening so just make sure that BOTH drawers are FULLY in their closed
position before trying to open one of them.


If it is the normal type meaning not a high security type then they are
very easy to pick, I can pick mine in around 5 seconds.

On 09/11/2019 18:44, David WE Roberts wrote:
I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer and
one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all looked
good.

Now we have lugged it up to the office it won't open.
It seems to be locked.
I assume the mechanism may have shifted during transit.

Does anyone know how easy these office furniture locks are to pick?

Easy..
put a small screwdriver in and put slight pressure in the unlock direction.
use a paper clip to run the end along the tumblers.
usually open in a few seconds.

Yes many of these are pretty rubbish and even the small end of a nail file
can get them open, but on the other hand some of the better ones are
actually normal locks. Hope yours is one of the former!
Brian

--
----- --
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 9 November 2019 18:44:14 UTC, David WE Roberts wrote:
I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer and
one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all looked
good.

Now we have lugged it up to the office it won't open.
It seems to be locked.
I assume the mechanism may have shifted during transit.

Does anyone know how easy these office furniture locks are to pick?

I could always drill it out, I suppose, but it would be nicer just to be
able to undo it.

The furniture is labelled "Project" and the key number is 125 and (we
think) 78 on top. Could possibly be 7R?

Bloody typical!


Cheers



Dave R

plenty of youtube vids


NT

On Sat, 09 Nov 2019 20:50:52 +0000, alan_m wrote:

On 09/11/2019 19:15, wrote:
On Saturday, 9 November 2019 18:44:14 UTC, David WE Roberts wrote:
I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer
and one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all
looked good.


plenty of youtube vids


You need to find te videos that say bypassing the lock rather than
picking

Example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R5VIz2U_MI

The exact same technique is used on some padlocks
https://youtu.be/7Lsm4l3mRqw?t=782

Thanks.

Now being tempted by lock pick sets off t'Internet.

Also realising that a decent (may not break off in the lock at first use)
set is about £20.

Obviously an investment, but as the cabinet only cost £10 this does seem a
counter intuitive solution.

Cheers




Dave R


--
AMD FX-6300 in GA-990X-Gaming SLI-CF running Windows 7 Pro x64

On Sunday, 10 November 2019 17:27:25 UTC, David WE Roberts (Google) wrote:
On Sat, 09 Nov 2019 20:50:52 +0000, alan_m wrote:
On 09/11/2019 19:15, tabbypurr wrote:
On Saturday, 9 November 2019 18:44:14 UTC, David WE Roberts wrote:

I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer
and one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all
looked good.


plenty of youtube vids


You need to find te videos that say bypassing the lock rather than
picking

Example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R5VIz2U_MI

The exact same technique is used on some padlocks
https://youtu.be/7Lsm4l3mRqw?t=782

Thanks.

Now being tempted by lock pick sets off t'Internet.

Also realising that a decent (may not break off in the lock at first use)
set is about £20.

Obviously an investment, but as the cabinet only cost £10 this does seem a
counter intuitive solution.

It also seems a pointless spend.


NT

On Sat, 09 Nov 2019 20:17:21 +0000, Nick Odell wrote:

On 9 Nov 2019 18:44:10 GMT, David WE Roberts wrote:

I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer and
one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all
looked good.

Now we have lugged it up to the office it won't open.
It seems to be locked.
I assume the mechanism may have shifted during transit.

Does anyone know how easy these office furniture locks are to pick?

I could always drill it out, I suppose, but it would be nicer just to be
able to undo it.

The furniture is labelled "Project" and the key number is 125 and (we
think) 78 on top. Could possibly be 7R?

Bloody typical!


Cheers



Dave R

Project Office Furnitu the script at the top of their web page
(project.co.uk) invites you to order replacement keys from them.

Alternatively, there are master keys for those locks and the chances are
that your local seller of second-hand office furniture has got one and
could open the cabinet for you.

Actually, I'VE got one of those master keys - about forty years ago I
worked for a company that sold on those cabinets as new and I kept it in
case it came in useful. I've just turned the house upside down looking
for it and all I've achieved so far is an upside-down house. Sorry. I'll
get back to the thread if anything turns up but do try Project and/or a
second-hand dealer.

Nick

I think that I have tracked the key down.

https://www.fastkeys.co.uk/key-search-result/LOWE+AND
+FLETCHER/78000-78999/240

This key range is used in Project wooden furniture, and the lock has 78 on
the top and 125 on the bottom which should make the key 78125.

Roughly £3 and £1 postage.

I will wait to see what Project say on Monday.

Cheers



Dave R



--
W7 64 bit HTPC Intel Core i5 2500k Asrock Z68 Extreme 4 Gen 3

On Sun, 10 Nov 2019 10:51:28 -0800, tabbypurr wrote:

On Sunday, 10 November 2019 17:27:25 UTC, David WE Roberts (Google)
wrote:
On Sat, 09 Nov 2019 20:50:52 +0000, alan_m wrote:
On 09/11/2019 19:15, tabbypurr wrote:
On Saturday, 9 November 2019 18:44:14 UTC, David WE Roberts wrote:

I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing
drawer and one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it
out and all looked good.


plenty of youtube vids


You need to find te videos that say bypassing the lock rather than
picking

Example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R5VIz2U_MI

The exact same technique is used on some padlocks
https://youtu.be/7Lsm4l3mRqw?t=782

Thanks.

Now being tempted by lock pick sets off t'Internet.

Also realising that a decent (may not break off in the lock at first
use) set is about £20.

Obviously an investment, but as the cabinet only cost £10 this does
seem a counter intuitive solution.

It also seems a pointless spend.


NT

The temptation is to be distracted into learning to pick locks.

Perhaps one for the Xmas present list.

Cheers



Dave R



--
W7 64 bit HTPC Intel Core i5 2500k Asrock Z68 Extreme 4 Gen 3

On 09/11/2019 20:55, alan_m wrote:
On 09/11/2019 18:44, David WE Roberts wrote:
I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer and
one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all looked
good.

Now we have lugged it up to the office it won't open.
It seems to be locked.
I assume the mechanism may have shifted during transit.


Many of these cabinets have a mechanism preventing more than one drawer
opening so just make sure that BOTH drawers are FULLY in their closed
position before trying to open one of them.



If you tip it up you may be able to access part of the mechanism from below.



--
djc

(–€Ì¿Ä¹Ì¯–€Ì¿ Ì¿)
No low-hanging fruit, just a lot of small berries up a tall tree.

On Sunday, November 10, 2019 at 8:29:44 PM UTC, DJC wrote:
On 09/11/2019 20:55, alan_m wrote:
On 09/11/2019 18:44, David WE Roberts wrote:
I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer and
one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all looked
good.

Now we have lugged it up to the office it won't open.
It seems to be locked.
I assume the mechanism may have shifted during transit.


Many of these cabinets have a mechanism preventing more than one drawer
opening so just make sure that BOTH drawers are FULLY in their closed
position before trying to open one of them.



If you tip it up you may be able to access part of the mechanism from below.



--
djc

(–€Ì¿Ä¹Ì¯–€Ì¿ Ì¿)
No low-hanging fruit, just a lot of small berries up a tall tree.


Try turning it upside down and giving it a jolt.

sometimes a dinner knife inserted between the side if the drawer and the carcase and pushed down will release it

On 09/11/2019 18:44, David WE Roberts wrote:
I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer and
one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all looked
good.

Now we have lugged it up to the office it won't open.
It seems to be locked.
I assume the mechanism may have shifted during transit.

Does anyone know how easy these office furniture locks are to pick?

I could always drill it out, I suppose, but it would be nicer just to be
able to undo it.

The furniture is labelled "Project" and the key number is 125 and (we
think) 78 on top. Could possibly be 7R?

Bloody typical!


Cheers



Dave R


Buy a new key? That's what they did in an office I once worked in,
there are places that specialise in such things. Then you'd have a key
for too, to complete the set!

On Sunday, 10 November 2019 20:08:16 UTC, David WE Roberts wrote:
On Sun, 10 Nov 2019 10:51:28 -0800, tabbypurr wrote:
On Sunday, 10 November 2019 17:27:25 UTC, David WE Roberts (Google)
wrote:
On Sat, 09 Nov 2019 20:50:52 +0000, alan_m wrote:
On 09/11/2019 19:15, tabbypurr wrote:
On Saturday, 9 November 2019 18:44:14 UTC, David WE Roberts wrote:

I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing
drawer and one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it
out and all looked good.


plenty of youtube vids


You need to find te videos that say bypassing the lock rather than
picking

Example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R5VIz2U_MI

The exact same technique is used on some padlocks
https://youtu.be/7Lsm4l3mRqw?t=782

Thanks.

Now being tempted by lock pick sets off t'Internet.

Also realising that a decent (may not break off in the lock at first
use) set is about £20.

Obviously an investment, but as the cabinet only cost £10 this does
seem a counter intuitive solution.

It also seems a pointless spend.


NT

The temptation is to be distracted into learning to pick locks.

Perhaps one for the Xmas present list.

A bent random pin is a costless hasseless way. Why pay for something you've no need for? I don't understand why some folk want to spend for zero advantage.

wrote in message
...
On Sunday, 10 November 2019 20:08:16 UTC, David WE Roberts wrote:
On Sun, 10 Nov 2019 10:51:28 -0800, tabbypurr wrote:
On Sunday, 10 November 2019 17:27:25 UTC, David WE Roberts (Google)
wrote:
On Sat, 09 Nov 2019 20:50:52 +0000, alan_m wrote:
On 09/11/2019 19:15, tabbypurr wrote:
On Saturday, 9 November 2019 18:44:14 UTC, David WE Roberts wrote:

I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing
drawer and one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it
out and all looked good.


plenty of youtube vids


You need to find te videos that say bypassing the lock rather than
picking

Example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R5VIz2U_MI

The exact same technique is used on some padlocks
https://youtu.be/7Lsm4l3mRqw?t=782

Thanks.

Now being tempted by lock pick sets off t'Internet.

Also realising that a decent (may not break off in the lock at first
use) set is about £20.

Obviously an investment, but as the cabinet only cost £10 this does
seem a counter intuitive solution.

It also seems a pointless spend.


NT

The temptation is to be distracted into learning to pick locks.

Perhaps one for the Xmas present list.

A bent random pin is a costless hasseless way. Why pay for something
you've no need for? I don't understand why some folk want to spend for
zero advantage.

It isnt zero advantage. There is some risk with the use
of common stuff found around the house of it breaking
off inside the lock and making the lock unusable.

On Tue, 12 Nov 2019 07:21:04 +1100, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent
Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:



It isnt zero advantage.

Isn't it, you driveling senile idiot? G

--
Marland revealing the senile sociopath's pathology:
"You have mentioned Alexa in a couple of threads recently, it is not a real
woman you know even if it is the only thing with a Female name that stays
around around while you talk it to it.
Poor sad git who has to resort to Usenet and electronic devices for any
interaction as all real people run a mile to get away from from you boring
them to death."
MID:

On Mon, 11 Nov 2019 18:13:30 +0000, G r o g wrote:

On 09/11/2019 18:44, David WE Roberts wrote:
I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer
and one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all
looked good.

Now we have lugged it up to the office it won't open.
It seems to be locked.
I assume the mechanism may have shifted during transit.

Does anyone know how easy these office furniture locks are to pick?

I could always drill it out, I suppose, but it would be nicer just to
be able to undo it.

The furniture is labelled "Project" and the key number is 125 and (we
think) 78 on top. Could possibly be 7R?

Bloody typical!


Cheers



Dave R


Buy a new key? That's what they did in an office I once worked in,
there are places that specialise in such things. Then you'd have a key
for too, to complete the set!

My son knows about these things (office furniture supplier in a past
life).

He says you can sometimes remove the base (screws etc.) to access the
vertical rod that locks the drawers.

Failing that, new key is what they did. He always used these people:

https://www.fastkeys.co.uk/


--
My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £1 a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

On Mon, 11 Nov 2019 22:09:09 +0000, Bob Eager wrote:

On Mon, 11 Nov 2019 18:13:30 +0000, G r o g wrote:

On 09/11/2019 18:44, David WE Roberts wrote:
I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer
and one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all
looked good.

Now we have lugged it up to the office it won't open.
It seems to be locked.
I assume the mechanism may have shifted during transit.

Does anyone know how easy these office furniture locks are to pick?

I could always drill it out, I suppose, but it would be nicer just to
be able to undo it.

The furniture is labelled "Project" and the key number is 125 and (we
think) 78 on top. Could possibly be 7R?

Bloody typical!


Cheers



Dave R


Buy a new key? That's what they did in an office I once worked in,
there are places that specialise in such things. Then you'd have a key
for too, to complete the set!

My son knows about these things (office furniture supplier in a past
life).

He says you can sometimes remove the base (screws etc.) to access the
vertical rod that locks the drawers.

Failing that, new key is what they did. He always used these people:

https://www.fastkeys.co.uk/

Thanks to all.

Brief update:

Project were very helpful and offered a replacement key for £10 + VAT

Having already found FastKeys I used them for a replacement key because
they were much cheaper.

The key turned up today and fitted the lock but wouldn't turn it all the
way.
I then stood the drawers up on end and joggled them and eventually the
bottom drawer came free.
Turning the key demonstrated that the drawers had been unlocked anyway.
Refitting the drawer and putting the cabinet back down showed the drawers
jammed again.
At that point I stood the cabinet up on end again, joggled, took the
drawers out and investigated the locking mechanism which was loose and
managed to jump out of the channel.
Investigated the base of the drawers and there are "peg and lock" fittings
like Ikea furniture and kitchen units. These were loose.
Tightened them up to take the flex out, investigated the locking mechanism
with the bottom drawer out to check that I got the lock in the top drawer
aligned correctly, then finally put it back down, fitted the bottom
drawer, and all is fine and I do have a key which works.

With it tipped up I noted that it used to have castors.
Hmm...that could be useful.
Spent some time looking for some I was sure I had stored in case of need,
then ordered some off Amazon.

£10 set of drawers now costing over £20 but they look pretty solid.

Ah, well.



Dave R

--
W7 64 bit HTPC Intel Core i5 2500k Asrock Z68 Extreme 4 Gen 3

On 09/11/2019 18:44, David WE Roberts wrote:
I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer and
one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all looked
good.

Now we have lugged it up to the office it won't open.
It seems to be locked.
I assume the mechanism may have shifted during transit.

Does anyone know how easy these office furniture locks are to pick?


An old steel filing cabinet I use as workshop storage seemed to have
locked itself in transit when we moved. Lots of jiggling of drawers and
banging on the sides freed mine.

Mike

On Thu, 14 Nov 2019 09:30:16 +0000, Muddymike wrote:

On 09/11/2019 18:44, David WE Roberts wrote:
I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer
and one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all
looked good.

Now we have lugged it up to the office it won't open.
It seems to be locked.
I assume the mechanism may have shifted during transit.

Does anyone know how easy these office furniture locks are to pick?


An old steel filing cabinet I use as workshop storage seemed to have
locked itself in transit when we moved. Lots of jiggling of drawers and
banging on the sides freed mine.

Or just tip it up and move the locking bar back to where it was.



--
My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £1 a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

David WE Roberts writes:

I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer and
one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all looked
good.

Now we have lugged it up to the office it won't open.
It seems to be locked.
I assume the mechanism may have shifted during transit.

I've had a metal "Bisley" filing cabinet for 30+ years. After a recent
house move the drawers were stuck closed. Wiggling a steel rule down the
side of one of the drawers released the stuck locking bar.

I've just discovered what was causing the problem. I'd placed some
magnets recovered from old hard disk drives on the side of the cabinet,
and they were preventing the bar from sliding!

Anyway, coffee break is over, must get back to restoring the old
bathroom door.

--
Alan J. Wylie https://www.wylie.me.uk/

Dance like no-one's watching. / Encrypt like everyone is.
Security is inversely proportional to convenience