Yes, you can buy new locks for file cabinets. But you must have the right replacement parts on hand, be able to get to the cabinet, and know how to replace the parts.
A file cabinet is a piece of furniture that is used in offices and homes to store and organize papers. A lot of these cabinets have locks that work like cams or plungers to help keep documents safe. The owners of these cabinets have to change the locks on them often because keys get lost or to keep people from getting in without permission in an office setting. Even if you’ve lost the key, it’s not too hard to change the lock on a filing cabinet.
If you work in a busy office, replacing the lock core on your filing cabinet every so often could be a good safety measure. It’s not hard to get there. The method is more stylish if the old lock is open or if you still have the key if it isn’t. If not, you might have to drill out the old core and break it down. Most of the time, you need a wrench or a pair of pliers to make the switch. However, some manufacturers make cores that can be swapped with a special key. Now it’s easier to switch them out often.
To fix or change a file cabinet lock, you have to open the file cabinet. To do this, you might have to take apart the whole key lock mechanism. To take out the center cylinder of the cabinet lock, use a hammer and chisel or a drill. Be careful, and make sure the chisel is sharp, or you could ruin the whole cabinet. When you take this cylinder out, the locking mechanism is no longer in place, so the cabinet will open on its own.
A professional locksmith can make you a new key if the manufacturer can’t or if you can’t wait the time it takes for them to make you one. Even if the locksmith doesn’t have the key template they need to make a new key, they may be able to make the existing key work (if it hasn’t been lost) or pick the lock so you can get into the filing cabinet.
The drawers of HON file cabinets are locked with a cam lock. The bottom drawers are locked with a mechanism that works with the cam lock. The top drawer, on the other hand, is locked with a lock bolt on the cam. If you lose the keys or want to change the key, you have to replace the lock. Most file cabinets have cam locks that can be changed in the same way that the lock on an Hon file cabinet can be changed.
How can the lock on a file cabinet be changed if you don’t have the key?
If the only thing you need to get into the cabinet is the key you lost, you might not need to change the lock. Take a picture of the lock and a copy of the numbers on the front of the lock to a nearby locksmith. Most locksmiths can make a key that will open the cylinder if you lose yours.
Are file cabinet locks universal?
When opened and closed with a padlock, it can be used as a universal lock for all drawers or to replace the locks on certain drawers. One or more drawers can also be locked or unlocked with other filing cabinet locks.
Can a locksmith change the lock on a filing cabinet?
How a locksmith can help you get a new key for a file cabinet A professional locksmith can make you a new key if the manufacturer can’t or if you can’t wait the time it takes for them to make you one.
Can a second key be made for a file cabinet?
Most locks have a code on the front of the cylinder that can be used to make a key that will open the lock at a factory. It’s easy, doesn’t cost much, and gives you control over your secure spaces. Send us the codes via email, and we’ll send you the keys in the mail.
What is a plunger lock, anyway?
Plunger locks can be locked without a key. To open, just push in on the cylinder. Patented key programs protect the system’s integrity by making it illegal for unauthorized people to make copies of keys. The Medeco® Plunger Lock is a great choice for security, whether you need locks with the same key, locks with different keys, or a master key.
What kind of lock does a file cabinet have?
Locks for file cabinets can be pad locks, cylinder locks, or locks with a cam. They can be made of electrical or mechanical parts. Depending on the file cabinet, you can use lock bars, sliding teeth, or a keypad lock.
Do file cabinet keys come from Home Depot?
Home Depot can also make skeleton keys for older locks and keys for padlocks and cabinet locks.
How can I tell what kind of key it is?
It’s best to have a flashlight and a magnifying glass. If it doesn’t work, put a piece of paper over the key number and lightly shade it with a pencil. The number on the key should make a clear mark on your hand.
What does a key for core removal look like?
This key is needed to take out and put in new lock cores. It doesn’t work like a normal key to lock or unlock your door. Some locks need to be unlocked before the lock core can be taken out. It is also called a Pull Key, a Change Key, a Control Key, and a Core Removal Tool.
What does the lock on the drawer go by?
Cam locks are the simplest type of drawer lock, and they have an important part that makes sure you are safe. These locks have a cam and a lever that can be used to lock doors, lockers, cabinets, boxes, and drawers. The key goes into the base of the lock.
How do the locks on cabinets work?
This lock shuts the door by sliding a latch into a strike, just like a deadbolt on a home door. We like these because the back is bigger than a normal cam lock. You can find this back inside the drawer. Because of this, the force is spread out more evenly, making it harder to open.