To recommend the best lock for houseowner, locksmiths always need to stay updated.
This year’s SECUREX expose us to many many latest electronic locks. In the photo is the CEO of Keywe himself explaining his vision and direction for the company.
European brand as well, starts to venture into electronics locking.
We can easily see there is where the future is headed to. By that time, locksmithing is not only about security, but also on convenience.
In fact, right now, almost all our high end client already start using electronic lock.
How about you? Ever think of changing to a smarter lock?
This broken mortise belongs to one quite famous digital lock company in Korea. Some Korean company make really durable and long lasting lock. But not this. Milre.
Even though we ourself did sell Milre also, but we will clearly explain to our client the pros and cons. Milre has some unique advantages over others, like twice longer battery life and really really competitive price.
On the downside, however, it is not built to last really long. This is not a problem in Korea, as Korean changes their digital lock quite often even before break down, in order to stay in trend.
But in Malaysia, we will use our digital door lock and squeeze everything out of it until it totally break down or lock us out. And for Milre, it will happen quite fast. How do we know this? Up to now, Milre brand is the highest number of servicing and lock-break that we’ve performed.
(1) Majority component is Zinc Diecast, which is quite fragile. Upon any impact, diecast don’t bent or get dented. They just break apart. (2) And the switching component uses a lot of AB flip switch, which is known for less durabilityas compared to press switch. (3) Lastly the deadbolt mechanism is designed to be dependent on latch action for locking instead of motor. This uses really a lot of gear (zinc diecast) and higher possibility of failure.
Of course, not to say every unit is the same. If you happen to be lucky, or maybe if you use the milre in a really soft and careful way, it will still last quite long. But if you’re just “standard-lucky”, or use your lock in a typical Malaysian way, probably be good to put our number in your wallet.
Sometimes you just have some area that you need to lock even though there is nothing important inside. Like dog cages, kids barrier, etc. And if those area are not exposed to direct rain, you tend to get just some cheaper padlocks.
Problem is, if you have several of those padlocks, you will have whole bunch of keys.
We locksmiths understand your problem. That’s why, even for cheaper padlocks, there are products that can be programmed into one-key-open all, so that you won’t have to keep and label dozens and dozens of keys.
Just like you, couple of our own staffs use digital lock at our own house. We know the kind of response that it brings to our visitors.
Whenever a family or friends (especially with kids) we always heard they “wow look at this lock!”, Or the kids will say “wow mommy look at this lock!”. And they will start asking multiple questions.
We might think digital lock is pretty common nowadays, but that’s not true for Kuching. Actually it’s still far far away from being common. It’s still very rare and only a few privileged people started to use it.
As an owner ourself, we know the feeling of using one. It’s special. It feels cool. Like Tony Stark. And it feels safe that we will not forget to lock our door anymore.
What a weird thing that just a lock can give us such a feeling. No wonder it’s getting trendy globally.
You’re looking to get a digital door lock. What’s the purpose?
We’re not 100% sure about you, but majority of our client look forward to manage their time better, and for convenience. The time wasted to look for keys, or making a return trip just to check if you forgot to lock your main door, are a simple waste of time.
But we give you caution here: if you get a digital lock with low quality, it will give you more headache than convenience. You will have to waste even more time to service it, get locked out, waiting for locksmith to come, etc etc etc.
Among the factors to look at are: material (more plastic or metal?), experience (new manufacturer or experienced), electronic part (processing speed, mobo quality) and locking mechanism.
So before deciding on digital lock, get a neutral and experienced advice. And don’t put your trust in brand name alone. Digital lock is still a new technology for every company. So even good brand are still testing it and might run into a lot of problems.
Yes we do need a good padlock. But that’s just half the battle.
Padlock hasp (so called padlock-eye or padlock-ear) also needs to be strong. In this case it gets cut-off. But also in many cases it just get ripped of from the welded part.
There are best way to have a really strong hasp is:
Get a non-welded hasp. Available in many locksmith store, either clamped type or rivetted type. This will prevent rip-off attack. Also must be made of hardened steel. If just made of mild steel, it still can prevent rip-off attack, but can’t prevent the cut attack. Hardened steel cannot be easily cut or saw-ed.
The cheapest lock that we’ve seen is made of zinc diecast with plastic core. Actually we’re also surprised that plastic can be used to make the core (key cylinder). Zinc diecast are usually simple manufacturing process and uses recycle zinc as it’s main raw material. That’s why it’s cheap
And this photo, is a zinc diecast lock. Almost 2 years old. Broken handle, from just ordinary residential use. Owner apparently was not aware, as his contractor choose and install for him.
Digital Door Lock installed in Kuching, Kaadas K7 German company
You look for ordinary lock (mechanical type)in Kuching? We have it. Pretty wide range.
You look for digital door lock in Kuching? We have it. Also pretty wide range.
So if you want to know which one of these 2 types are people buying right now, we know the trend.
Few years before this, we can say, if we take out those ordinary lock from our business, we will get out of business very soon. But now? We can comfortably stop selling ordinary locks, and still survive.
We know the trends by numbers. Key-ed lock sales-down, digital lock sales-up. Pure proof, no estimation. People are going digital nowadays. Perhaps influenced by the evolution of phone. Just like phones are going more “digital”, door lock too.
Phone:
Before: Bring phone and camera and laptop.
Now: Bring ONE smartphone
Lock:
Before: Bring bunch of keys & your conscious mind (as you CANNOT forget/ misplace the key, if not you’ll be in trouble)
Now: Bring nothing. Just fingers.
One things that you should learn from today’s post, is this:
The key-type of lock at your front door – is going to be obsolete very soon – will be called old-fashion, embarrasing, NOKIA, out-dated, poor.
IS DIGITAL LOCK BETTER THAN MECHANICAL LOCK? The answer is irrelevant.
Is smartphone really better than NOKIA phone? Look at people around you. We’re becoming like zombie. Not talking to each other. Looking at phones even when family dinner together. Actually the world might even be better and happier without this invention, don’t you agree? But it’s of no use to debate. Trends that are coming will come, and unstoppable. And we, somehow will just follow it.
Installed a really cool digital door lock (deadbolt type) today, main reason is because the machine speaks English! It’s nothing very new, but just not much digital lock actually speaks English.
Quality wise, we think this is the best quality lock from all the Samsung digital lock range. Not the highest priced but highest quality. Also tested with ANSI American standard and achieved grade 2, which is pretty high. Another brand that we have, Yale, not a single digital lock from Yale achieved ANSI grade 2.
ANSI grade signifies the durability and also resistance against attack. Durability wise is easy to understand, Grade 1 = 800,000 usage cycle, Grade 2 = 400,000 cycle and Grade 3 = 200,000 cycle. If no grade, that mean the lock will not endure till 200,000 – failed the test.
So next time, you know how to see a good lock. By its ANSI Grade.
Do you know now you can control your lock in Kuching from anywhere in the world? Learn more here: http://bit.ly/smartlocklatest
Can a digital lock be installed on grille door? Yes of course. But there are some aspect to consider.
One of the problem is on majority grille, the gap ia big enough for a hand to go in, hence the hand can just press a button on inside of the lock and voila, the digital lock is unlocked. That’s how digital lock functions. Auto lock when door close, and to unlock from inside simply press a button.
Knowing this one of tha way is to make the grille (if you not yet make or buy) in a design that the gap will not allow hand to go through. Just like in this photo above.
Another way is there are actually models that are specific for grille. From inside, there is no button to press to unlock. You have to use remote control (usually will stick on inside wall beside your wooden door), and can also use key to unlock from inside. Yes need key or remote, so even if a hand can go through grille, no way to unlock. From outside can use passcode or cards or fingerprint. There are St Guchi or Yale if you look for such a locks.
