Residential locks

[bobhdus]

So in dealing with family and friends and being in the Locksmith trade, I am at a point to where, there are so many ways to defeat locks and it's getting harder and harder to know what locks to recommend to others to use for their own homes. As far as businesses are concerned, they usually buy the more expensive locks and locking systems, but what do you recommend for residential that is affordable for the average consumer and reasonably secure? Kwikset and the kwikset Smartkey are junk, Schlage is junk, Weiser is junk. Does anyone have any suggestions on what affordable knob/ deadbolt locks would be good to recommend? I though about just adding the bump proof spring/ pins into standard cylinders but don't know if it really helps. Any ideas? If I am breaking any rules on posting this let me know. Thanks all.

[mcsteve]

It's pretty hard to find any decent residential locks in the US, as far as I can tell. I can't find anything better than Schalge, locally.

My opinion is that unless you're spending a lot of money reinforcing door frames and hardware, putting bars over the windows, etc. there just isn't a lot of point to having a high-security lock on a home. If the neighborhood tweaker wants your flatscreen, he's just going to kick the door in, or smash out a window.

[bobhdus]

Yeah I agree with you. But the last thing I want to do is to install a lock that is going to be the weakest point. The old skeleton key locks with the internal wards that were used 50 plus yrs ago are actually higher security than these newer Kwikset locks. Some look at it as an opportunity to sale other items to a customer, but I personally watch for when there are big sales on different locksets and I can save more money buying in bulk from my distributor, I want to be able to stock some decent locksets so I have them on hand to install. Thanks

[Evan]

It's pretty hard to find any decent residential locks in the US, as far as I can tell. I can't find anything better than Schalge, locally.

My opinion is that unless you're spending a lot of money reinforcing door frames and hardware, putting bars over the windows, etc. there just isn't a lot of point to having a high-security lock on a home. If the neighborhood tweaker wants your flatscreen, he's just going to kick the door in, or smash out a window.

@mcsteve:

You need to stop looking at the big box stores for locking hardware and instead locate the locksmith supply house in your area and purchase real locks from that supplier...

Arrow and Sargent make excellent Grade 2 locksets that will outlast two or three installs of the equivalent Kwikset or Schlage Grade 3 products... However they will often cost more each than the entire "contractor pack of 2 deadbolts and 2 keyed entry knobs" made by Kwikset...

You get what you pay for... A lock you pay $10/each for will last a lot less time in use than a lock you pay $40/each for unless your locks are intentionally being vandalized...

~~ Evan

[Varjeal]

Agreed. Companies like Dorex and LSDA also have grade two locks that are a bit more expensive but twice the quality of hardware store brands. If you don't know where to get 'em and your local lockie isn't helpful, toss me a pm and I'll sell/ship ya one.

[raimundo]

Isn't scorpion the cheaper of the better locks?
Maybe varjeal knows.

I bought a LSDA (locksmith distributors of america or something like that but made in china) and it was just a typical pin tumbler lock on a common keyway, nothing special.

[Evan]

Isn't scorpion the cheaper of the better locks?
Maybe varjeal knows.

I bought a LSDA (locksmith distributors of america or something like that but made in china) and it was just a typical pin tumbler lock on a common keyway, nothing special.

@raimundo:

The difference between a "real lock" vs. the junk stuff is that a real lock will not self destruct under normal use and will typically have a solid brass cylinder vs. the junk stuff's pot metal cylinder...

Real locks will also have the ability to have high security cylinders installed in them, if you want to go through the process of ordering them from a locksmith, the junk stuff can not use cylinders other than the ones provided by the manufacturer...

~~ Evan

[globallockytoo]

I'm bringing in a product from Italy that is very good quality. It is called Meroni.

Not cheap, but very good quality hardware for competitive prices. Operates differently to conventional knobsets.

If you want to see it, do a search in Google for Serrature Meroni. Or Combina or Nova by Meroni.

I am happy to PM you a link to my site if you want.

[bobhdus]

Anybody ever use Cal-Royal locksets? They are obviously imported but supposed to be heavier duty at a reasonable price. Some of them even comply with the BA Act. (Buy American Act). The rest of the specs are the standard meet or exceeds blah, blah, blah... but never I have never messed with them before. Another Locksmith mentioned them in another forum. The other ones shown above are good as well, but I never priced them. I need to get with my distributor I guess. Thanks

[Varjeal]

Thanks raimundo for the reminder..Scorpion does indeed make a grade two residential lock of good quality. This brand plus the two I mentioned will all take retrofit cylinders so that you can have pretty much any commercial or residential keyway you would like to match your existing stuff.

Remember that grade of lock does NOT in any way suggest deterrence against DE or NDE techniques. Grade of lock only determines the minimum quality of components and specfic uses thereof. Don't get tricked into thinking otherwise.

I have, in the past, worked for employers who have used Cal-Royal products. Their grade two product isn't all that bad but I do find some of the components, especially the latch return springs to be kind of weak and some of their press-fit components often rattle, which is why I recommended the brands I did.

So when you are shopping for a lock, pay particular attention to the grade of luck, and have your own look at the components its made of especially in the area of the interaction between the latch and spindle/clutch components. If you see plastic parts in those areas, stay away from it.

[globallockytoo]

I like Cal-Royal products and they are definitely competitively priced, but LSDA is as good quality and equally competitive (and sold more widely, I think)

I agree about the weak return springs tho.

[bobhdus]

Just talked to my Locksmith Vendor and besides Bilock, Arrow and the others mentioned above, for the price, he highly recommended Masters Residential grade 2 Locksets that are supposed to be Bump and pick resistant (not full proof of course). They call it the Night Watch deadbolt. It will not open from the outside even with a key if the inside latch is pulled out. The price for either the handle lockset or the deadbolt was roughly $10. These aren't heavy duty but for the price and availability it's better than the big box stores.

[Rickthepick]

How would you fare repinning the cheap locks with more security pins?

[bobhdus]

Good question. Personally, for Residential locks, if the customer wanted them keyed alike, I would quote them for repinning, but of course this depends on the make and design of the lock. At that point, I would try to get an understanding of what they are wanting to accomplish. If it's just a masterkey job to match a couple of locks then so be it. But most home locks are crap and the fact that some are not even installed right, may give an opportunity to offer an upgrade. If it is a newer Home, I would suggest to re key them both to a new key cut and issue new keys. That helps keep any past contractors from making a surprise visit with a builders copy. Most people do not get all of their keys that came with their door locks after the home is built. Think about it. Most Lock sets come with at least two keys. When the Builder is building a home, they sometimes make copies for their workers. Then the Buyer only gets two keys. What happened to the rest? Some good piece of advice that was given to me on here, is to never buy any door hardware that does not say somewhere on it or the key what it is. Some companies are proud of their quality, others just want to match and blend in. If it's worn, I would suggest replacing it though as you don't want to work on a lock for it to fail a few weeks later due to previous wear and tear. I also try to use the appropriate grade (1 or 2).

[globallockytoo]

if you are rekeying a customers supplied lock, then certainly charge for the rekey but if they purchase the hardware from you, then most locksmiths in the wider world, include keying alike with the hardware purchase.