subject: Types Of Locks: From Deadbolts To Digital, A Guide To Common Locks [print this page] There are many types of lock options available and it may seem overwhelming choosing the correct type to fit your needs. This guide along with the expertise of your professional certified locksmith will help you in your decision making.
A cylinder lock is a lock constructed with a cylinder that a locksmith can easily unscrew to facilitate re-keying. The cylinder may contain any of a variety of locking mechanisms, including the pin tumbler lock, the wafer tumbler lock and the disc tumbler lock.
The first main advantage to a cylinder lock is that the cylinder may be changed without altering the bolt-work hardware. Cylinders can be obtained from various manufacturers in different formats that can all be used with the same type of key. This allows the user to have keyed-alike, and master-keyed systems that incorporate a wide variety of different types of lock, such as night-latches, deadbolts and roller door locks. There are two common types of cylinder locks: pin tumbler lock and wafer tumbler lock.
The pin tumbler lock is a mechanism that uses different length pins to prevent the lock from opening without the right key. Pin tumblers are most commonly used in cylinder locks.
The wafer lock is a mechanism that uses flat wafers instead of pins to prevent the lock from opening. The most common application for these locks are desks and cabinets. They can also use double bitted keys which are most commonly found on automotive locks where the wafers are arranged in opposed sets.
The lever tumbler lock utilizes a set of levers to prevent a bolt from moving. The number of levers is usually odd which allows for symmetry and enables the door to open from both sides. The most common of the the lever tumbler lock is the double acting lever tumbler. It is most commonly found in residential and commercial doors.
Today, the key-less lock is becoming more and more popular. Places like hotels and office buildings have replaced the key with the Key-Card lock system. In this system the door unlocks when a card is inserted into a locks slot. Another type of key-less lock is the biometric lock. This lock is widely used in high security areas or when trying to protect something valuable. In this type of lock, software is used to match a stored fingerprint which will then unlock the door. Another type is the numeric code lock. This lock is opened once a code is entered on a keypad and helps prevent lockouts or problems arising form misplaced keys.
If you are considering installing any of these types of locks contact your local locksmith for further assistance. Always make sure the locksmith company is certified and insured and they are available 24/7.
