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.
On the other hand, the best thing to do with an older, well-built, fire-rated, or otherwise high-end file cabinet is to replace the lock. Your local locksmith can order the lock you need and/or put it in for you.
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 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.
Even though many businesses store important and private information on servers and in the cloud these days, the file cabinet is still an important part of the office. Standard procedures still call for keeping employee and customer files, contracts, insurance information, and other reference papers on-site so they are easy to get to.
A file cabinet is a storage unit that is needed both at home and at the office. You must have kept important things in a cabinet, like work documents, office files, and daily necessities. But how can this information be kept safe if the file cabinet doesn’t have a lock?
A tumbler is inside every filing cabinet lock, just like it is inside every door lock. The same thing happens with this tumbler. When the key is put in, the teeth of the lock push and roll the tumblers into place based on the shape of the key. You can turn the key in the filing cabinet lock if the key fits and the tumblers lock into the open position. If the lock is already set, this process will unlock it. If the lock is already unlocked when the key is put in, it will lock the cabinet.
Can you lock a metal filing cabinet?
You can put a lock on your filing cabinet if you want to. It’s easy to put a lock on a filing cabinet, whether it’s for a small business that wants to protect its documents or a homeowner who wants to keep their privacy at home. You won’t need more than ten minutes to finish.
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?
Piston-driven locks These are used on sliding glass doors, just like the ratchet lock. When the lock is shut, a bolt inside the mechanism moves in a slot forward and backward. The sliding glass door can’t be opened because of this.
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 drill into a metal file cabinet?
An electric hand drill should come with a 1/8-inch metal drill bit. Drill a small hole in the middle of where the lock will open. Instead of the 1/8-inch bit, you should use a 3/4-inch metal drill bit.
How do you use a key to open a file cabinet?
Depending on the model, to open the cabinet, turn the keyhole so that it is no longer locked. Turn your paperclip either clockwise or counterclockwise to do this. Once the keyhole is in the right place, take the paperclip out of the lock.
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.
Can the key to a filing cabinet be copied?
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.
How can you tell if a drill bit is for metal or for wood?
What factors determine if a drill bit is good for metal? Dark-colored metal drill bits are often easy to spot. When you buy something fresh, the packaging should say what it is made of. Most of the time, tungsten carbide, cobalt, or titanium are used.
Can the lock on a filing cabinet be changed?
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.