File cabinet locking bars that are on the outside of metal filing cabinets are held in place with a padlock. The bars make it impossible to open the file cabinet’s drawers. Locking bars come in different sizes to fit cabinets with 1 to 5 drawers. They lock all of the drawers at the same time.
You can keep insurance policies, birth certificates, copies of your will, and other important papers in a metal filing cabinet, but they won’t be safe if the cabinet doesn’t have a lock. Instead of buying a new file cabinet, just cut a hole in the metal cover, lock the cabinet, and no one will be able to get to your files.
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.
Open the cabinet drawer that is closest to the lock. You have a few choices if you don’t have the key and the cabinet is locked. Most of these locks depend on gravity, so turning the cabinet on its side will sometimes let you open the drawer. If not, you can use a regular drill bit to drill through the cylinder of the lock (the part where the key goes). Be careful so that you don’t damage the cabinet itself. After you drill the lock, it should be easy to open the drawer.
A nail clipper’s file can have a straight or curved tip. For this lesson, you need a nail clipper file with a curved tip because flat-tipped ones can’t open file cabinets. Also, make sure the nail clipper’s file is small enough to fit through the keyhole.
Most filing cabinets have a metal bar that runs the length of the cabinet that can be moved down to stop the drawers from opening. Putting the bar up will make the drawers open. Before you use tools to break into your locked cabinet, try this: tilt the front of the cabinet up and feel along the right side of the bottom, toward the front. You need to find a hole. You can feel the end of a metal rod if you put your finger in the hole. By pushing up on the rod, you can turn off the locking mechanism and get the drawers to open. If a coworker can hold the filing cabinet while you push up on the metal bar, this will be easier.
How does a filing cabinet’s locking system work?
Most filing cabinets have drawer locks that make it hard to open the drawers. The lock is now in a position where it is locked or closed. The lock is stronger than any system inside a cabinet that would let things move. In interlocking systems from the past, you couldn’t open drawers when the lock was on.
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. Depending on the type, some locks have keys and some don’t.
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.
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.
How safe are the locks on file cabinet doors?
If you judge them by how they look, standard filing cabinet locks aren’t very safe. Many of the locks that furniture makers put on file cabinets are simple, standard locks that only do one thing: keep the cabinet locked.
How do you unlock a national cabinet?
The HY-KO NA12 Blank National Cabinet Lock Key is a replacement key made of nickel-plated brass that has been milled to exact specifications. The key is made to work with National padlocks and other residential and business locks that are compatible.
Can you get a new key for the file cabinet?
If you lose the key to your vertical or lateral file cabinet, it’s easy to get a new one. Most of the time, the support from the cabinet maker is enough, but it may take a while. You might have to wait for a new key for weeks, which might be too long.
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.
What is a plunger for a latch that won’t open?
A “deadlocking plunger” is an important part of a door lock system. It keeps a small screwdriver or credit card from opening a locked door. It is also called a “deadlock plunger” or a “deadlatch plunger.”