A little trick that works for me when fitting nightlatches.

[HeadHunterCEO]

Its true well trained rodents can be an invaluable locksmiths tool...

I have a couple of well trained rats that i can pop through the letter box to go and find the spare keys. I also have a couple of performing Chinchilla's (they do impressions, magic tricks etc.)... they amuse the customers when it takes a while to pick the lock.

Of course this may not be true.... i may just have awful spelling...

I have always wanted a trained ferret to help pull wires for access control and such.
Ferrets are pretty smart also

[jason]

When Longleat House (stately home in the UK) had wiring fitted they used ferrets with cord tied to them to run between the rooms, the cord was then used to pull the cables through.

I don't think that they were particularly trained, they just lured it into the other room using food.

If I remember correctly you can get a harness for ferreting to get them out of rabbit holes or taking them for a walk

[UNFORGIVEN]

if i have problems with the tail going in then i cut a piece of thin card or double over some peper with a slot in to guide it into

[jason]

erm.. if we're still talking about mice and other rodents - wouldn't that be animal cruelty?

[SteveW]

They get a fair days pay for a fair days work, sick pay, holidays and maternity leave....

[baggpuss555]

Back to original post..Ive always put the key in the cylinder and turned so that the bar is in the vertical position as shown.... ↑.....
Depending on Nightlatch model obviously..Also hold latch open on the snib.
Thats just my experience ..The paper idea was is cool too.

[NKT]

Could you not just use a bit of dexterity? Or, at the outside, just use a hook pick? I assume most people here have one of those?

A top tip for fitting a fast rim cylinder - use a power driver. Re-use the old screws if they fit, otherwise chop them to the same length as the others and file them so they work - easily the slowest part of the job - and get it onto the door. Now grab a set of bolt crops, and cut the tail to the right length while it is in situ. Aim a fraction long (I go for 10mm rather than 7mm), and give it a whirl. Job done with 3 more screws, and a test.

If it jams, chop it down a fraction more.

I actually fitted a replacement cylinder for someone who was locked out whilst on a warrant run, in under 10 minutes, including getting them in, when I spotted them struggling with a dodgy lock a few doors from my van, while the agents worked out where we were going next!

[RangerF150]

heres a tip on figuring out where any strikeplate-deadbolt mismatches are, put lipstic on the bolt face and then close the door and move to bolt to transfer some of the warpaint onto the edges of the strike plate. and if ya cant handle it, just don't flame me

I use some duck tape, stick it on the strike plate, close the door and throw the bolt, the tape marks real easy and leaves an impression on the strike plate.

The lipstick sounds like a good idea but could end up in the divorce courts