When changing the key of several locks to fit a single key, all locks must first have been manufactured by the same manufacturer. For example, if the lock on the front door is a Schlage, Schlage must also manufacture the other locks you want to change the key to match. They are called key-shaped locks and are sold at many reputable hardware stores. It's something homeowners need to know.
You can change the key in the locks to match the existing keys only when the locks have the same key ring. To check if the new lock uses the same slot, pick up the key you want to use and check if it slips through the hole in the new lock. If you slide in, the new door lock can be changed to use the same key. If the key doesn't slide inward, the lock cylinders (keys) are different and that lock cannot be made to work with that key.
With the same key, one key fits all locks. For example, front and rear door locks can use the same key, or all of the locks in an office can use the same key. Having the locks with the same key is very beneficial if you want to open 26% and close all the door locks with a single key. You can also buy the locks directly from the locksmith and they may have the same key at the beginning, as long as you remember to specify that they should.
When you buy from a locksmith or hardware store, they usually change the key in the locks to match a different existing key at no cost. If the new locks use the same keyway as the existing locks, you can practice the technique on old locks before starting with the new ones. If you make a mistake, pins and springs will fly everywhere and a local locksmith will charge more to reassemble them. This makes it easier, since it ensures that the correct pins are used for trouble-free operation, but it also increases the workload, since you may have to re-insert the key into all the locks (rather than just the new ones).
We went to a supplier (it sells a lot of accessories) and ordered a set of 5 locks with a series of keys: master key to open everything and secondary keys that would only open combinations. Let's say you bought a home, but there are one or two locks in the house that work with a different key than the rest of the locks (or you just don't have a key for one or two of the locks). The best thing to do is talk to your local locksmith licensed by the MLA to see what can be done and what the price will be. To save money, always carry them to a lock, don't install them (so the locksmith doesn't have to go to your location).
Each padlocked package will have a prominent 3- to 5-digit code number somewhere on the outside of the package, usually on the back. Join the largest locksmith association in the UK, all levels of membership are available to those new to the locksmith or the locksmith trade.
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