Need to get into filing cabinet, lock has been drilled out

[HelpLockedOut]

Hi,

A tall metal filing cabinet, without a key, somehow "locked itself" a couple of days ago. Someone drilled out the lock but the drawers still won't open. There is just a big dark hole where the lock used to be...are there any suggestions as to what I can do to get into the drawers at this point?

Thanks!

[taylorgdl]

Call a locksmith.

Or if a "locksmith" drilled out the lock, call a better one.

Can't be of any more help without further details of the lock/drawers or photo's.

[JackNco]

lots of big filing cabinets also have a mechanism to make sure only one draw opens at a time. any chance thats what jammed not the lock in the first place?

[dougfarre]

Call a locksmith.

Or if a "locksmith" drilled out the lock, call a better one.

Can't be of any more help without further details of the lock/drawers or photo's.

No offense, but why would the person be here if they wanted didn't want to figure it out themselves. You don't tell a person who is trying to fix their computer to call a computer tech everytime they need to reinstall windows. Why do we treat locks so sacredly.... The more you sacred you treat it, the more reason people have to intact laws against the hobbiest community.

[vrocco]

I agree we should be helpful, but at the same time, I find it odd that a locksmith or someone in the know would drill the cylinder and not make sure the drawers open.

[Jaakko]

And unless the fling cabinet has a X-09 or an Abloy, why the locksmith didn't pick it, because usually there is only a cheap wafer lock?

[taylorgdl]

Can't be of any more help without further details of the lock/drawers or photo's.

[lostlink]

Sounds like the job was not completely finished............

If it is a typical file cabinet......

Those locks are usually pin and tumbler or wafer type and when the key is turned the lock housing usually pops out about a half inch or so to release the locking lever/bar/mechanizim, etc.
Likely you will have to get the remains of the housing out to release the locking mechanisim....

If the entire lock housing is gone you should be able to trip the lever with a slimline screw driver.

Some drawers have a button or some other type of ketch that you have to push to unlatch the drawer even when it is not locked.........

[WOT]

Try hitting jiggling each drawer back and forth, then push then all in. Then, try opening one of them.

File cabinets often have a mechanism to prevent you from having more than one drawers open to prevent tipping and as someone else said, this mechanism could be malfunctioning.

[globallockytoo]

In many cabinets, the locking mechanism is usually a bolt connected to an arm sliding down the edge of the drawer. It sounds like there was no locksmith. No locksmith would drill a lock and leave it (unless it was a scammer - who is probably not a locksmith anyhow)

Take a steel rule, slide it down the side of the drawers to feel where the locking mechanism is. When you find it, you just lift the mechanism and open one drawer, then you can easily repair it.