Looking for a Door Lock Book

[DoktorD1313]

Hi there, guys!

Let me start off by saying if there is a more appropriate section of the forum for me to post this in, please by all means move this thread
(moderators). It didn't seem to fit well into any one section.

Anywho... We run a family owned hardware store and we offer rekeying of many locks (Kwikset, Schlage, Weiser, etc..). However, more and more frequently we are receiving styles of locks that we're unfamiliar with including some higher security series and even some commercial locks (including our own storefront deadbolt).

We've always had our trusty "The National Locksmith: Door Lock Encyclopedia", but we're looking for something that is more updated and covers a wider range of lockset models/series. What is contained in ""The National Locksmith: Door Lock Encyclopedia" is PERFECT for what we do, but doesn't contain enough.

Does anyone have a suggestion?

We've seen that the ALOA has quite a few reference books, but it's difficult to tell what would be contained in which publication.

Thanks for any suggestions, guys!

[Jacob Morgan]

For unusual locks, the National Locksmith put out the Lock Repair Manual several years ago. It has some less-common locks, but is older than the book you already have. There is also a book out there titled Servicing Lever Handle Cylindrical Locks, which would cover lever hadle locks, obviously.

If you are looking at high security locks and such you might be better off referring a customer to a locksmith, or maybe partner with a locksmith such that you would take down what work needs to be done and get a commission for being the middleman. Like how some hardware stores take in saw blades that a shop in town sharpens for them. High security parts would be expensive to stock for something you only see a few times a year and key blanks hard to come by and may require special equipment to cut. It would not be a matter of just taking apart a knob to get out the core to repin, the pins may be unlike anything you have ever seen before and pins are not the only things in there. Maybe you could note the makes of the high security locks you are seeing then contact the factories and see who locally is authorized to work on them?

[Squelchtone]

good advice from Jacob Morgan. I'd like to add that in my research on locks, I've found that many lock manufacturers offer free Service Manuals in PDF format on their support websites. Just choose the line or family of lock and they offer a Service or Rekeying manual.


Here is the Michigan Locksmith Association's very nicely organized site with links to every manufacturers manuals http://www.lsamichigan.org/tech_manuals.html

Example from their page: Corbin Russwin CK4200 heavy duty knobset manual: http://www.lsamichigan.org/Tech/CR_Knob ... Series.pdf

Here is Schlage's page: http://www.schlage.com/en/home/support/ ... lates.html

Here is Sargent lock, an Assa Abloy company: http://www.sargentlock.com/documents/

Hope that helps
Squelchtone

[Tyler J. Thomas]

good advice from Jacob Morgan. I'd like to add that in my research on locks, I've found that many lock manufacturers offer free Service Manuals in PDF format on their support websites. Just choose the line or family of lock and they offer a Service or Rekeying manual.


Here is the Michigan Locksmith Association's very nicely organized site with links to every manufacturers manuals http://www.lsamichigan.org/tech_manuals.html

Example from their page: Corbin Russwin CK4200 heavy duty knobset manual: http://www.lsamichigan.org/Tech/CR_Knob ... Series.pdf

Here is Schlage's page: http://www.schlage.com/en/home/support/ ... lates.html

Here is Sargent lock, an Assa Abloy company: http://www.sargentlock.com/documents/

Hope that helps
Squelchtone

And I'll add to this: you'd be shocked at the amount of information most of us have in our own personal libraries. I've learned a lot from LP101 member photos, for example. If you ever need something specific, feel free to ask. Just pay it forward down the road.