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.
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.
Most filing cabinet locks are turned on and off by a single keyed cylinder. When you open the lock, the similar lock assembly opens all the other drawers. In file cabinets where only drawers with locks can be locked, a cam or latch on the back of the cylinder rotates into a locked or unlocked position depending on how the keyway is moved.
A locking bar is made for cabinets with a thin metal strip on each side of the drawers. If a file cabinet doesn’t have a rail strip on the outside, the locking bar won’t work. When the locking bar is moved, the swing arm, which is in this vertical metal strip, lets the cabinets open.
The standard lock mechanism for office furniture is a wafer tumbler lock. Desks and file cabinets don’t usually do much to keep people out who shouldn’t be there. Some employees are happy to open the lock on the cabinet door, take the key out, and do it. The only security this method offers is that if the door is shut, people might think the cabinet is locked.
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.
There are many options, and a locksmith can help you with each one. When you need to lock a filing cabinet, you may only need a filing cabinet key, you may want to add a lock, or you may need to replace a missing lock. Depending on how it will be used, a filing cabinet can be locked with a hasp, a plunger lock, a cam lock, a filing cabinet locking bar, or a dead latch lock.
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.
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.
Should locks be changed or rekeyed?
Changing the key to a lock is almost always cheaper than getting a new lock. This is because the key pins inside locks are cheaper, but you have to buy all new parts when you replace a lock.
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.
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.
How can you unlock a door with a screwdriver?
To open a privacy lock, you need a flathead screwdriver that fits into the hole on the doorknob. Once you’ve put the screwdriver in the hole, push forward. With a push-button privacy lock on your doorknob, the door should open with a loud click.
Can you change the keys to locks?
Because most homes have a lot of doors and locks, it can be expensive to change the keys. You can get a professional to rekey a lock for a small fraction of the cost. Even though most lock makers sell rekeying kits, they can’t be used with each other. For each type of lock in your home, you need to buy a kit.
Can you change the locks on your door by yourself?
Replacing a door lock is a pretty easy Do It Yourself project. You should be able to do it in less than an hour if you know how to use a basic screwdriver. The new locks come with detailed instructions on how to install them, and customer service hotlines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Is it possible to change the keys to every lock?
You can only change the locks to match an existing key if they all have the same keyway. You can tell if the locks use the same keyway by putting the key you want to use into the keyholes of the locks you want to open with it.
How do I open a file that needs a password?
Select Properties by right-clicking on the file. Then, choose Lock File from the list of options that comes up. To open the file, right-click it and choose “Unlock File” from the menu.
What’s the point of a core key?
The cylindrical part of the key that goes into the lock is the key core. When a key is put in, pins inside the core rise, so only the key that goes with that core can turn and open the lock.