glued locks

[cipher]

How do locksmiths usually bypass and repair locks that are glued shut? Thanks.

[JonathanEricLopez]

Well depending on the type of glue used to seal the key-way... I would have to say once those pins have glue on them in the cylinder it sorta almost disables the pins from even separating(Making it almost impossible to be picked open)... But if you actually have access to the lock (I'm taking it that you do) you can unscrew the lock off the door and try putting the lock cylinder in a bowl of nail polish remover... And hoping that after maybe 20 mins. or so the key-way/pins would be freed of all the glue.... and this would then allow the lock to be serviced and re-keyed/fixed.

I hope this helps!

[femurat]

I've seen this question asked before... let me check... http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=44311

Cheers

[Ortin468]

Playing around I have had some luck if you can get the cylinder in an "ultrasonic bath", aka jewelry cleaner machine filled with REAL acetone. The vibrations help it along greatly. Actually not bad for cleaning any small parts, toss them in and grab a cup of coffee. (note... acetone eats most plastics, so be careful,find one that you can change the bowl or line it with something like foil).

An improvised one could be a bowl on the bench with the bench grinder on, or something similar. Warmer solutions speed stuff up also, but watch the vapors and the flash point.

[JonathanEricLopez]

Ortin468 you've just convinced me to go out immediately and purchase a jewelry cleaner machine!! Haha but seriously it's nice to know that I was somewhere on point with the nail polish cleaner I mean that stuff does contain a small amount of acetone right?

[yng_pick]

we've had a few calls on glued locks, including having 3 techs at one of the high schools for about 5 hours clearing out locks. We use acetone and plastic plunger/hypo style needles. Spraying the lock out and using picks to clear it to the point where it can be worked, then opening it to clean it out.

[mhole]

I'd use whatever method is fastest to remove the lock and replace it - there are very few locks out there that cost more than
15 man hours of labour. IMO trying to salvage a glued lock is hardly ever in the locksmiths or customers best interest.

[yng_pick]

True, but it can add up quickly with Sargent original hardware, or any grade 1 hardware for that matter.

[mcm757207]

In a lockout situation you can sometimes use (carefully) a small butane torch to melt the glue away.

[ElAbogado]

In a lockout situation you can sometimes use (carefully) a small butane torch to melt the glue away.

Best advice yet. Don't bother with acetone or nail polish remover. Super Glue is not nail polish and won't respond kindly to these chemicals.

I used a small jeweler's welding torch to apply precise heat to the plug. While hot, the superglue is liquid and the cylinder can be turned to open the door and remove the cylinder (as in Schlage D series locks).

I have extensive experience with this, being a former School District Locksmith. I've done this at least 1,000 times before.

El Abogado

[JonathanEricLopez]

Wow... A welding torch it seems so simple but just never would have thought to do something like that.... Interesting.

[JonathanEricLopez]

Oh and if you actually happened to "melt" away this glue would it actually just sit inside the lock or just dissipate in the air? How would you make sure that the glue was totally allowing the top and bottom pins to seperate. For instance If I happened to get a call from someone locked out of their house and I was forced to pick a lock that had super glue in it... How much time would I have to hold this small torch up to the lock cylinder? And would this cause the pins inside to maybe... Expand. Especially if your torching your cylinder for a prolong period of time?

What do you think?

[darklighterz7611]

Oh and if you actually happened to "melt" away this glue would it actually just sit inside the lock or just dissipate in the air?

Bit of both i think, goes viscous again and also turns into a gas (this technique is still used to get fingerprints). But once opened the lock should be immediately disassembled and cleaned (replacing the springs may be necessary as the heat can mess them up) or preferably have the lock replaced.

How much time would I have to hold this small torch up to the lock cylinder? And would this cause the pins inside to maybe... Expand. Especially if your torching your cylinder for a prolong period of time?

usually about 7-15 minutes, and yes there will be a lot of expanding etc throughout the lock, springs, pins, bits of loose material, glue etc etc. hence replacing the lock or at least the parts is preferable to just cleaning it up.

How would you make sure that the glue was totally allowing the top and bottom pins to seperate. For instance If I happened to get a call from someone locked out of their house and I was forced to pick a lock that had super glue in it...

You'll know the pins have reached the sheerline when the lock opens sorry couldnt resist. I deffinately wouldnt be picking a lock thats glue'd for 4 main reasons

1 it'll be a very very hard unusual pick (tho you could maybe use the heat to enable you to deform the springs (till their flat) then as the remaining glue cools and sets it may keep the springs and driver pins above the sheerline????? bit of gentle reheating and prodding to loosen any key pins stuck.lol its a theory )

2 the lock will be too hot for my poor small picks to handle let alone my hand be near or the awkwardness of keeping the heat in the lock while trying to manipulating

3 i'd get crap on my picks, they'd get hot and deformed id get angry and kick the door in

4 just dont do it. Also the chances of them not having a key on them and the lock being glued are very very very unlikely

[Unsightly Picks]

There are some nifty hobby places that sell an agent that breaks down superglue it smells like nail polish remover mixed with paint thinner but i guess it might be worth trying to squirt some in there. If it's a cheap lock i would just drill it and replace the plug for 2 bucks and rekey, since you will probably spend more time trying to open it then it would cost to replace.

[Raymond]

Be very careful with using acetone or nail polish remover as it will mess up the finish of the door. The same with a torch. Make a duplicate key if possible before using the customer's original. I do recommend using the torch on the key and apply gentle but steady pressure to insert the key into the lock. The heat will transfer to the pins and melt the glue. When the key is all the way in, and the lock turns, you can then repair or replace as desired.

Saw type broken key extractors can also drag out a lot of the glue.