So I'm house sitting...

[Pixtiva]

...and the guy who has the place said to NOT do anything - "Just jiggle the key." Said most emphatically to NOT replace the lockset. Which I'm guessing is somewhere on the order of 30-40 or so years old, maybe more...

Right. Joy. But hey, I'm just housesitting...

Okay, I'm not a locksmith, but I know a few folks (including friends who sell lock picking stuff at the Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot, and they're probably members on this system - Hey Dave & Rhino!), but I'm here near Pittsburgh, and they're somewhere in Ohio...

Anywho, the "just jiggle the key" bit has more or less quit working. I've tried some lockeze, etc., no luck.

So, this is a basically crappy "in the knob" kind of lock. It'd take my buddy Dave 15 seconds to get through it.

Took me 30 seconds or so with a piece of stiff plastic to 'loid it (it has the little "don't 'loid me piece on it, but that doesn't work - thankfully). But I'd really rather not do that.

(I used to work for a real estate company - I'm a little rusty...)

So, I've whipped out the poor man's machinist's blue, and took a sharpie and colored a key...

And jiggled it a little. And then a little more...

So now I've got several bright points on the "turn in this direction" portion. I'm going to get a "fresh" key cut from this one tomorrow, and probably pick up a blank and a small file or two.

(uh... Dave, sorry, but I can't find the pick set I bought from you... I'm hoping to make it in the fall - I'll bring some good "beverage")

So, should I file down the "bright" areas, or are those areas which should be a bit higher?

Any assistance would be most welcome - Otherwise I'll be using pieces of soda bottles to get inside for the rest of the summer...

(I would LIKE to replace the thing - a $10 doorknob lock would likely be an upgrade, but again, I'm just housesitting. Should I post a picture of the infernal thing?)

Thanks, and if I run into you at Knob Creek, I'll supply a Tasty Beverage or three...

[Raymond]

It is truly amazing how many people will go around the block just to get across the street.

Since you are going to be living there for a while, put on a cheap ($10) lock just to satisfy your ease of access. When the owner is very close to home put his original lock back on so he can deal with the problem.

And, while his original lock is off, clean it, lube it and otherwise make it work right and then put it back on.

[Pixtiva]

The thing also doesn't appear to have any visible screws on the outside (interior or exterior). There was what appeared to be a "screwdriver pry slot" on the inside, so I popped off the piece that was up next to the door, but I can't figure out where to go from there, except to get into another "screwdriver pry" looking point on the inside shaft. It might be kind of like the pins that are used for some firearm parts, but this is "screwdriver" shaped...

Seriously - I can send you photos, and I -really- don't want to take the sucker apart, and then not be able to put it back together and have the guy come home and go through the roof...

[Pixtiva]

As for cleaning and lubing the original lock - I'd rather hand him a key that works without "just jiggle it."

(oh, I do have to admit that my "just jiggle it" for the past two months was basically "Put some pressure on it, and run it in and out until it hits the sweet spot", and it has gradually grown, well... worse... uh... a LOT worse...)

[Raymond]

Let us know the name brand of the old lock. The name is usually on the face of the latch on the side of the door. Also, what keyway are you using?

If you get a fresh key cut it most likely will be no better than the one you have. Duplicating a mis-cut or worn key simply creates a new key that is already out of tolerances by the same amount. If you do get a new key cut, ask the locksmith to put 3-4 pieces of paper under the old key before cutting it so it will cut the new one 10-20 thousandths of an inch higher. Then you will have something to file down.

Please spend some reading time on the art of impressioning. If you are going to try this you might as well learn the right way to do it.

[Pixtiva]

Thanks... I'll add a few thou (not tenths?) to the "top" of the key...

The key itself looks like your basic "kwikset"* sort of key (those things with the triangular lookin' cutouts, right?)... The strikeplate side has a punched "PENNCRAFT" (if I make it out correctly) on it. Which sorta makes sense, since I'm in a southern suburb of Pittsburgh.

Regarding "impressioning" - am I somewhat close in thinking that what gets "cleaned" of my "budget machinist's blue" is what needs to go away?

(now to go go search "impressioning")

*I -do- know the difference between a lot of locks - with my old house, I put in some decent Schlage gear... Figured it'd stop casual folks...

[EmCee]

A golden rule on this site is not to pick locks that are in use or that you do not own (apart from moral and legal issues there's the risk of damaging the lock, even if you know what you are doing). I know that in this case you're not trying to pick it, but the lock is in use and it doesn't belong to you.

If the owner said do nothing then personally I'd do nothing out of respect for his wishes (perhaps the lock is 'antique' or has sentimental value to the owner). You're house-sitting, not renting. If the lock has reached the point where jiggling the key is a problem, can you not contact the owner to discuss options? He might agree to Raymond's idea of a temporary replacement, in which case the best option would be to call a locksmith; otherwise a photo of the lock might help folk to show you the way to replace it.

On the general topic of impressioning, yes it's the 'bright' (cleaned) spots that need to be filed. Then re-blue and jiggle again. Only file where the marks are - if no mark appears where one appeared before, leave that area alone. If a mark reappears in a place where last time there was no mark, then file there again. Little bit at a time.

Cheers...

[Pixtiva]

Uh... I told the owner when I opened the door the first time that I'd -happily- replace the lock on my own dime... Sigh... Oh, no... It's good, no need to do that.

Thanks - Maybe I can give him a key that'll work without a lot of pain... Past couple of weeks it was getting to be a serious PITA...

It's not an "antique" unless one counts "thin pre-Nixon stamped metal in need of brass polish" as antique.... I'm sure I can remove it, and I'm sure I can replace it with something functional (and likely more secure, with an actual working "don't 'loid me" piece), but I'm not sure if I can remove it and then reinstall it... Besides, I get the feeling that I've worn the heck outta things with my "forced jiggling " of the key...

Thanks - I'll let you guys know how the Home Depot experience goes... (of course Plan B is to take the sucker apart, and deal with the fallout later... But I'd rather not do that, and thanks...)

[EmCee]

Of course, the assumption with the impressioning option is that the problem is due to worn key and/or pins. It could be another problem such as damaged springs or whatever - in which case as Raymond said the new key won't work any better than the old.

Cheers...