Mila locks - what should we replace with?

[fallscrape]

Just discovered that our luxury locks fitted to high standard security doors are all Mila. Not tried to pick them purely because:

1) lots of posts saying they're easy
2) lots of posts saying they break easily

Rather get them replaced, then break the lock out of the door ;- ) and tell the neighbours - we've _all_ got them fitted as it's a new housing development. Especially since we had our garage burgled recently (lock wasn't tampered with, it wasn't even locked!)

Definately 5 pin, even my n00b hand could tell that, and my basic attempt at raking didn't work - I think I used too much tension from what people say on here. Decided to do a bit of research and then found the posts on the 'some easy, some very easy, some break too'.

So what should I replace them with? I doubt anyone professionally will be visiting our backwards little housing development to lockpick as we all have very hefty security alarms (which even get used! Blimey...) but obviously it'd be nice to sleep safe in our beds at night...

[biggar101]

muli-t lock man all the way. hard to pick. and dont break (i think )

[illusion]

Banham make expensive locks, but the ones I've seen are very good, and well designed.

If not a Yale might be an option for your door because they are relatively cheap, and provide an okay level of security it seems.

your home sounds like it only relies on locks as a last method of defense, so not greatly important - i'd go with a Yale IMO

[fallscrape]

considering my (parents) house is relatively unsecure in nature - I'd rather have the locks tightened up and not make them the last line of defense - I've not heard of anyone having their locks picked in my area - there's usually a much easier way of breaking in, or in some cases since it's such a small community and security is so lax you can walk in - that's why we were shocked at the garage being invaded.

My dad usually does the DIY - I'll have to convince him first before we go much further - it won't be high on his list of priorities tbh. I'm not concerned if anyone breaks in, I'm already working on my own security, I'd just like to find a safe that'll fit my laptops in!

[fallscrape]

Actually only two are mila - the back door is ISEO and the front door has a curly 'F' on it. Not sure what that is.

The Mila keeps catching my tensions in it - I'm worred they'll get stuck (a couple of times it was a tight squeeze and I really thought they'd snap off!

What's the point of having different manufactured locks on all the doors!

[illusion]

often if a lock becomes faulty most people will not have it repared, but will simply buy a new cylinder... my house has about 4 different brands on it

you could file your tension wrench down just slightly so it fits nicely in the lock.

since you are in the UK, you could try looking into a British Standard lever lock - they are deadlockable, and offer nice security, they're not very aestheticaly pleasing though, so you won't get eye-candy, but you'll get security as far as the lock is concerned.

There are many threads about home security, with some good ideas, perhaps you might want to take a look?

[fallscrape]

since the three locks use the same shell & deadbolt system, I think we'll just replace the cylinder. I've been worried about those locks before I found out they were crap because of the difficulty in opening them sometimes - they feel loose and rattle.

tbh, I need a wider tension tool rather than a slimmer one - it slips about in the lock - it's definately something wrong with my technique, though I'm still finding them difficult to rake. Perhaps once they're out of the door I'll try a little harder & be less worried about screwing the lock.

We've been in this house since it was built - my conclusion is that to save cash, they've installed a fairly good lock on the front door (even though I have no idea of the make) and one on the back patio doors. The other two theoretically should get less use, so they've installed cheaper locks to compensate.

Really quite annoying since the everything in the house is supposed to be top quality according to countryside homes ;- )

[illusion]

oh I think I have a solution.

Im guessing you are putting the tension tool opposite to the pins, this can mean that in some keyways it slips slightly, if you put it next to (adjacent to) the pins it should fit snugly. This requires you to change you picking a tiny bit , and if you are raking make sure you don't catch the tension wrench as you pull the rake back, because the tension wrench may ping out of the lock, and believe me it can be annoying tryig to find it.

never trust people who sell you houses

[pinky]

just cos there mila, doesnt mean an easy pick !!! many a good locksmith has struggled on a mila that thinks its a banham!

all euro profile cylinders are easy to break if fitted wrong regardless of cost and make, if fitted wrong they can be snapped and removed in seconds, including multilock, for instance a well fitted Mila is far more secure than a badly fitted multilock every time.

The Union Keyso 15 pin within pin system is good and they have tackled the snapping problem on this one, so well wort a look, also the new Chubb M3 range looks the part.

[fallscrape]

if he'd had sold the house to me, I'd have been a lot pickier about some of the work they've had to redo six times... especially when we discovered none of the overflow pipes on the bath had been plumbed in...

I popped into my parents house with my new gf - she had a bath and filled it a little too much (or rather I did the work of filling it...)

few seconds later there's a dripping sound in the kitchen and the ceiling collapsed...

Yes, you're right - to get extra leverage I put it right up high @ the top of the lot (it's an upside down jobbie, so it'd be the bottom of a normal lock) so perhaps I need to slip it down a little. Got the ok from my mum to swap 'em so I guess that'll happen tonight/tomorrow lol

Still not sure I'm raking right - am I just supposed to be flicking it backwards and forwards with only a little pressure on the pick and the tension? I guess I'm gonna have to search for that one

[pinky]

mila are not as suseptable to raking as to pin picking which is often more effective, though many pop with a raking motion from a half diamond.

treat as yale and you wont go far wrong

[illusion]

okay.. as far as tension try putting it at the bottom of your lock - in front of the pins so to speak.

to rake start with light tension, and draw the pick backwards and forwards in the lock, whilst increasing the tension, bit by bit, if it doesn't work then do it again - starting from the tension which seemed to be working best the last time.

[fallscrape]

during my pin picking I got a couple of the pins to stick right down inside the lock of the ISEO - biiiig pins in that one. Couldn't feel any difference when pushing down (no biting etc). Still trying to get a feel for it, so I'd prefer to work @ my desk for bit. Hopefully the postie will get here early tomorrow with the battery, then I can go get myself a lock to play with that I can break without crying over a locksmith bill on ;- )

Why don't they cap locks on the external side on patio doors? It's not often you want to get in through them. Just seems a little silly to open yourself to another attack - again, I'd have thought branding would be silly on the outside as well...

[Bump]

I offer a word of caution about practising on locks fitted to your parents house.

1. They are not yours and therefore your action doesnt comply within the accepted etiquette.
2. All picking causes some damage, the less expert you are the potential for greater damage.


If your parents are aware of the potential damage that might be caused and still give you permission then disregard, otherwise go out and buy dedicated locks on which to practise.

PS: I'm with Illusion, I would recommend a BS 3621 Mortice lock in addition to a cylinder.

[toomush2drink]

If your that worried about your stuff go for the safe, there are plenty on the market that will take a laptop. Mila can be a very easy or really hard pick so i wouldnt worry too much, as pinky says be more concerned about how far they stick out.