San Diego Lock & Safe™ :: Ask the Locksmith Blog! (Notes from the Trenches)

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

ATL: Can you make a square key...?

Ask The Locksmith Question:
Can you make a copy of my laundry key that is square? This is my place and address and can prove that if needed.

*(Kim's note) This is an example of one of those ambiguous, almost impossible to answer with certainty questions. Here's why...

Square can indicate a few different keyways/types. Generally the answer is Yes. The exception would be a "branded" / "restricted keyway" high security system such as Keymark, Medeco, Best, etc. Even then, the only exceptions would be ones that are above a specific level of security. These keys above a certain level of security and restrictions that require the locksmith that made and issued the original key(s) to be the only one able to make more.

Does the head of the key say anything? Does the strike plate of the door that the key fits into say anything? Or the cylinder itself?

Proving ownership per California law with lease agreements/mortgage paperwork applies only in situations where you are locked out of the premises. If the premises are open, we can make you a new key with as little as a piece of mail that matches your drivers license.

If it is simply a duplicate you need, we are a mobile locksmith company, and economically you might be best off taking the key to a standing locksmith shop.

If you have lost the keys altogether,and it is a specialized key or keyway, we charge $45 for a service call, approx. $15 to extract the cylinder, and fabricate a new key (range is based on type of keyway), and $1.75 to $18.00 for the key itself (again, range is based on type/availability of key, and if it is regular, or high security). Your alternative to the above is a rekey in the case of "normal" keys, which is $45 for the service call, and $13.50 for each lock cylinder keyed.

If it's a standard Schlage/Kwikset, the first 4 keys are included in the rekey.

Please give a yell with the above info if you have it, or if you need to ask any more questions.

We're not your normal locksmith company™... :)

technorati tags: locksmith, keyway, restricted keyway, medeco, keymark, keys, strikeplate, strike plate, cylinder, mobile locksmith, locksmith shop, keyway, rekey, new key, schlage, kwikset, locksmith company

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Sunday, December 18, 2005

ATL: Why does my Baldwin interior knob keep falling off?

Ask The Locksmith Question:
i have a front door lockset that the interior knob keeps falling off. The brand name is Baldwin...I like the set-up so i am looking to get a fix on the existing set...

Hi there...

We can more likely than not fix your lockset, however, this seems to be a common situation with Baldwin brand locksets... They "look" very pretty, but their structural integrity leaves more than a little to be desired. Any "fix" we put in place would be with that understood, and because of the above, would not be covered under our standard warranties. The brand and the hardware is just too unpredictable.

Unfortunately, I would not be able to quote you a definite price for repair without having a locksmith come out to see exactly what is happening with the lockset. It could be something as simple as a broken tailpiece, or stripped screws, or the lockset itself may have failed altogether.

We're not your normal locksmith company™... :)

technorati tags: locksmith, baldwin locks, locksets, broken tailpiece, locksmith company

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