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| Many of our keys will fit a lot of locks. Trying to find a key to fit can be difficult but not to difficult if you understand how they work. Most of the keys here are made for furniture pieces. First thing is to understand that many locks on furniture were rather generic. In other words 2 or 3 of these keys will open many of the old locks but not all. If you look at your lock on the inside you will see a peg that the key slides over. This may be your first obstacle. The key may actually open the lock but the key won't slip over that peg. It can be either that the hole in the end of the key isn't big enough and or deep enough. This can sometimes be cured by taking a drill which has a slow speed and drilling the key deeper and or wider. You do run the risk of damaging the key, if the side walls of the key become to thin or if the drill bit punctures out the side wall of the key. I have drilled keys many times and had success. Before you do drill you should first see if the flag or ward, as it is called, is not to long for the depth of your lock. Example if the lock is 1/4" thick and the ward of your key is 5/8" then the flag is to long. In this case you can grind down the ward so that it fits. The other hurdle which is sometimes tough is that the design cut of the ward doesn't match the lock. Just like your car keys...you may be able to insert a GM key in a GM lock but it likely won't turn as they are all different. But as I stated above 2 or 3 key cuts fit many locks. This can sometimes be overcome opening up the lock and fit the key to that lock by visual inspection and grinding the ward with a dremel tool. Of course if you already have a key that fits, you can match the new key to that key. Mostly it takes nerve and a little common sense to open a lock and fit the key to it. Locks are often seal and can be difficult or nearly impossible to open and once they are open parts may fly due to spring mechanisms or loose parts. Another problem I have encountered is the locks sometimes have a peg missing. You may get a new lock or I have actually put a screw through the back of the lock and ground of the threads of the screw if necessary. I know this all sounds like greek but it isn't that hard. On rare occasions I have failed to fit a key but mostly, I have had success. When I was in the antique business, I was forced to do many things like fitting keys and was surprised at my ability to make things work. Fear is probably the biggest obstacle for most people, to overcome. On your first purchase of keys you may want to buy more than one, to cut out some guesswork. WARNING...We will not take back any keys which have been altered or damaged. You work at your own risk on keys & locks. This information is only intended as an aid to help. |
