Missoula Locksmith Services
Rekeying a lock can save you money by preventing someone from having access to your home. You can do this by rekeying a single door or multiple locks at once.
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When you rekey a lock, you change the key’s pins and screws to make them work with a new key. You can do this yourself or hire a locksmith to do it for you.
The first step is to determine the pin sizes of your lock. You can buy a key gauge that costs about $15. It measures the depth of cuts on your keys to give you the pin size. If you have several different keys from different manufacturers, you can use the key gauge to determine which pins will fit each one.
After determining the pin sizes of your lock, you can replace each set of pins with new ones. These come in sets and can be ordered online or at most hardware stores. You will need a pair of tweezers or small needle-nosed pliers to insert them into the lock. You should follow a chart that shows the order in which to insert the new pins.
Once you have rekeyed the entire set of pins, you can reassemble your lock. You can also rekey the lock by hand without removing the cylinder plug.
If you are rekeying the whole set of pins at once, you may need to hold the cylinder plug in place with a tool, such as a dowel, so that you maintain pressure on the upper pins and springs while pushing it out of the cylinder. This will help to ensure that the new pins are properly inserted into the cylinder.
You will have to be very careful not to damage the cylinder or other parts of your lock by rekeying it yourself. You can purchase a lock rekeying kit to make this task easier and faster.
Rekeying a deadbolt or latch is similar to rekeying a doorknob, but there are some differences. For example, a deadbolt lock uses a retaining clip instead of a C-clip, and you can also remove the retaining clip to get at the cylinder plug.
To remove the cylinder, you can either push it out with a dowel or tool or pull it out with your hands. You can even pull it out with a wrench or hammer, but be very careful not to damage the lock cylinder or other parts of your lock.
After removing the cylinder, you will need to put on protective gloves to prevent injury from touching the metal that is inside your lock. You can also use a pair of safety goggles to protect your eyes from debris and dust that could be flying around during the process.
Once you’ve put on the gloves and goggles, you can start rekeying the lock. Rekeying a lock is fairly straightforward and is a great way to save money.
The most important thing is to understand when and why you might want to rekey your lock. Some reasons include lost or stolen keys, moving to a new home, and maintaining lock control. Other times you might want to rekey your locks because they have been worn down or aren’t working properly.