Fine Lock Shop – Smart Door Lock & Locksmithing

Category: Uncategorized

  • Barrel Bolt, Hidden Type

    Barrel Bolt, Hidden Type

    This item is getting popular nowadays in Kuching. We have seen a lot in our client door (asking for repair)

    It is marketed as an additional locks for a wooden door. Same functions as a surface mounted barrel/tower bolt below:

    Standard Barrel Bolt

    Yes same function as above, but concealed into the door, not on surface.

    Under some circumstances, we might recommend this concealed barrel bolt, like special location, rarely opened door, etc. 

    However, as a standard guidelines, we say, avoid using this. Why? If you notice the top photo, there is a gear-shape key. There is also a gear inside the lock body. After repeated use, bolt-in, bolt-out (using the gear), what will happen to the gears? Both become rounded and later flatten. So you can’t bolt-out/ bolt-in anymore (actually can, if you use a sharp item and slowly hook the bolt in, but you will not want to do it everyday). No more gear teeth, so to speak. It might happen to the key, or to the gear inside the lock. 

    The problem lies in the material used. Those gears are usually made of Zinc Alloy, a relatively soft metal. 

    The photo that you saw on top, that bolt is sold by us, a highee quality type, full stainless steel lock body, yet the key is still Zinc Alloy. So it will last longer than those Zinc-body concealed bolt, but not too long. One day the key will still become flatten, although the gear inside the bolt part won’t.

    We will continue to search for a manufacturer that produce full stainless steel bolt with stainless steel key. Stainless steel gear-key will last much longer, but we still need to test it first in order to not distribute a problematic items. 

    Meanwhile we will say, stay away from this concealed barrel bolt, unless under a rare circumstances that make it a no-choice.

    Use those surface mounted type. Old fashioned, but time tested.


    Advise From Locksmith,
    The Fine Lock Shop Team

  • Door Sometimes Just Get Swollen

    Door Sometimes Just Get Swollen

    Swollen Door

    This door expands. It keeps on expanding so after a while, it is quite bad. So once you push it to close, it is hard to open. This customer ask someone from outside to help kick to door open. And the door cracks. (UPDATES: After checking on the client’s door, just the surface laminate layer crack actually, not the whole wood wall. Inside still solid)

    Wooden door is quite hard to predict. Some expand, some shrink, some twist. And some happen to new door (can claim warranty), some happen after 1 year, some happen after 2 years, etc. 

    We are fully focused on locks, so door knowledge is somehow limited to experience only. From experience, we can guess what type of door will expand, what type of door shrinks, etc. But why? We can only guess, can’t be sure.

    We have worked with some door seller. Some just sell. Some is a contractor carpenter. They are almost the same like us, they can explain what happen to the door but is a pure guess on experience. 

    But there are a few, who are really  specialised door maker. He knows what’s wrong with the door once he sees and touches it. The differences with common carpenter is he can explain to us the technical and scientific reason behind it. Just like a teacher explaining in details.
    So for door problem sometimes we need a skillful and experienced carpenter’s advise or if better a specialised door maker’s advise. We always keep their number with us. Called them up so often that we have become friends.

    Here we list a common door-cannot-close problem:

    1. Hinge problem. It might be the hinge screw worn out or loosen, or the hinge is a bad quality type. Change the hinge (cost more than installing new door, as the workmanship involved is actually removing, and reinstalling door again, so is a “double work”)
    2. Door expand: need to plan the door or grind it
    3. Door shrink: causes the door to unable to latch. In this case the strike plate needs some extra padding to thicken it so that it can catch the door latch.
    4. Door twist: can opt to readjust strike plate, or readjust hinge alignment 
    5. Door joint problem : the door spine/ bone joint is no longer strong, causes the door to drop in shape. Need special angle steel plate to lift and strengthen the joint.

    Advise from locksmith,
    www.finelockshop.com

  • Great Alternative To Sliding Door Lock

    Great Alternative To Sliding Door Lock

    Usually a sliding door, be it wooden or aluminium (steel sliding is rare), will need 4 items to work:

    1. A hook lock mortise
    2. A Key Cylinder
    3. An escutcheon (or common people call, key cylinder cover)
    4. A door pull

    But there are some other alternatives like the above photo. The all-in-one sliding hook lockset. 

    There are many China brand, they break easily. 

    But there are also good one, although not easy to find. Still using Zinc Alloy material, but is thick and heavy, and good mortise mechanism.

    If you have budget, however, should just stick with the 4-piece hook lock. Priced higher, but so long lasting and so reliable. Stronger, piece of mind, and made of stainless steel material.

    Advise from Locksmith,
    www.finelockshop.com/blog

  • What makes a good padlock?

    What makes a good padlock?

    I come across this catalogue from a fellow locksmith in KL. I have got my hand on many St Guchi product and am not impressed. 

    But this is a Molybdenum padlock…

    Molybdenum is usually a premium padlock and among the best material for shackle. I ll try on a St Guchi Molybdenum padlock soon, but for now lets talk on some padlock’s shackle knowledge. Because everybody love padlock, except me (maybe)

    1. No. 1 most common material for padlock is Fake Hardened Steel. It can be cut, can be saw and it will rust. If you buy 10 different padlock from a hardware store, you will get around 8pcs that are fake hardened steel. 
    2. Secondly is Real Hardened Steel. Can be cut, but cannot be saw. It will rust, but depends on the quality of the chrome coating. How can we know it is a real hardened steel, you ask? Get a hack saw and try saw the shackle. If you manage to saw it, it is fake. But if can’t, it is real. At Fine Lock Shop, we try saw every single padlock that we sell. I will share some photos of our experiments next time.
    3. Stainless steel. The best for outdoor. It just won’t rust. But, it can be saw. Stainless steel is known for long lasting and highly rust resist, unfortunately it is not a really hard steel. Not as hard as real hardened steel. So there are pros and cons here.
    4. Boron and Molybdenum. This 2 are commonly used only at the expansive padlock. Might reach up to RM 500 per padlock if it comes with security key. You can’t saw it, can’t cut it. And all come with layers and layers of coating, makes it really hard to rust. So theoretically, boron and molyb will rust, but they are protected by the coating. Just early this year I have seen some Abloy-330 and 341 boron padlocks right here in Kuching Tabuan Jaya, put at outdoor to rain and sun for around 20years, still work smoothly and only some small dots of rust to the shackle. Very good padlocks.

    So now you know the shackle and its material. Next time you can choose a padlock according to your needs. 

    Another important aspect is the internal material and the key cylinder. No matter how good the shackle is, if the key cylinder is really cheap, the padlock can be compromised in seconds and it defeats the purpose of the padlock. I ll let you know how to choose a good key cylinder in the future.

    With Sincere.
    Francis, Just A Humble Locksmith.
    www.finelockshop.com

  • What type of Door Handle will Break Apart?

    What type of Door Handle will Break Apart?

    We have seen Zinc Diecast as the most oftenly break. Followed by Zinc Alloy.
    The above photo is a Zinc Diecast. It is installed at a Metal Door. Aged at 4 years.

    We changed to a fully stainless steel handle for him. Definitely won’t break.

    Advise from Locksmith,
    www.finelockshop.com/blog

  • Self Destruct by Customer (But still can’t enter)

    Self Destruct by Customer (But still can’t enter)

    A destroying attempt by our customer in Stapok. He said he tried the whole morning.

    But end up still need to call us to unlock. And need to buy new lockset to replace. And the need to pass the new key to all family member.

    If he call us in the first place, we ll unlock it in maximum 15 minutes. No need whole morning, no need change lock, no need to pass new key to family member.

    But is not his fault. Everyone has his right to choose. 

    1. Whether you want to call for professional, hassle free and save time, or
    2. Whether you want to save the professional fee, but spend some extra time and effort and maybe little bit of trouble.

    We respect their choice. We have some really poor client usually from some kampung, can’t afford our fee, but they are quite handyman, can even build a whole house themselves. We understand their condition. Hence we teach them the proper lock to destroy.

    But if you wanna do it, make sure, double make sure you have some handy skill. This is not for some office professionals. 

    If not, you will be like our client above. Time, effort, money, all wasted. Plus some trouble.

    Advise from Locksmith,
    www.finelockshop.com/blog

  • Are they really made in Italy? Australia? You’re duped. They are made in China

    Are they really made in Italy? Australia? You’re duped. They are made in China

    It is a common marketing gimmick today. Just put a Western country name with the logo. You will think their product comes from there.

    Like the photo. “Auzzieslzzp.Australia”. Fact? Made in Malaysia. 

    Not so bad if made in Malaysia. But for locks, they will be from China. What actually are you buying? From Italy or China?

    We want the accurate knowledge to reach our reader, and not influenced by some marketing gimmick. Below are the list of some brand, and where majority product comes from.

    1. St Guchi Italy (Malaysia company. Made in China)
    2. Genom Italy (Malaysia company. Made in China)
    3. Milano Italy (Malaysia company. Made in China)
    4. Yale ( US company, but since past few years product sold in Msia are made in China to fight for cheapest price and product in project)
    5. Stanley (US company, but product sold in Msia are made in China to fight for cheapest price and product in project)
    6. Dorma (US company, but product sold in Msia are made in China to fight for cheapest price and product in project)
    7. Keyline German (Msia company. Made in China)
    8. GT Benz German (Msia company, Made in China)
    9. (We will update this list from time to time)

    How to detect it is a marketing gimmick, not genuine origin? Very simple. Fake origin don’t write “Made in Italy”. They just said “Italy”

    Only GENUINE product write Made in Italy.

    For quality product, make sure they are written “Made in Italy/ Swiss/ Japan/ Korea/ Spain”. If not written then probably it means made in China


    Advise from Locksmith
    www.finelockshop.com

  • Key Alike Padlock. Square Key. One Key Open Lock

    Key Alike Padlock. Square Key. One Key Open Lock

    Square key padlock uses disc system, and really takes a lot of work and time to rekey to key alike. If Master Key? Even more work and more time.

    But it can be done. Like the above case. One key open 6 padlocks. Keyed Alike.

    www.finelockshop.com

  • Repairing Yet Another Contractor’s Mess

    Repairing Yet Another Contractor’s Mess

    The door is badly installed. When closed it has a huge gap on the upper part. And the installing contractor tell the owner “I can’t do anything about it”.

    So we adjusted the hinge and balanced the door installation. In the process, while removing the hinge screws, few screws break apart. Not one, but few. The hinge is GKY. It is a very good hinge, comes with real stainless steel screws for itself. By right their screw will not break apart that easily.

    But the installer did not use the provided steel screw. He used zinc alloy drywall screw. Actually using zinc screw is easier. These screws are fast and extremely sharp. It’s really easy to screw into wood frame. Don’t need any pilot hole, just drive it straight in. Contractor’s convenience, however, comes at a cost for the owner. Those “easy screws” are soft and easily bent, easily break.

    We are not sure why they used those screws instead of the steel. It might be they don’t know the differences and thought it is OK to use any type of screws.

    In locksmithing, we also sometimes use those screw, but just as temporary screws to check on the margin, fitness and positioning. Aftr check, we will remove them and use the steel screws. Zinc screws must not be used on locks and hinge.

    Zinc screws:

    • Very sharp
    • Very fast and easy to drive
    • Soft material. Easily break apart.
    • Not suitable on door and fittings

    Steel screws:

    • Not sharp, need pilot hole first
    • Might slow down installation
    • Hard material and will not break apart or easilt bent
    • Strong to use on door and fittings

    So make sure not to use soft screws on the most important part of your home.

    www.finelockshop.com
    An advise by locksmith

  • More Value for Money (Metal Cabinet Lock)

    More Value for Money (Metal Cabinet Lock)

    Famous brand for office tall metal cabinet lock is AZUM. 

    • Cost: RM 60 or above
    • Can be ordered keyed alike? : NO

    If need to Key Alike, we to charge additionally. But it did last long and build with zinc alloy and PC, solid inside and good material.
    But now ww have this brand, MY.

    • Cost: RM 38
    • Can be ordered keyed alike?: YES

    Material is equally heavy duty. Same material too. And don’t need additional rekey cost. 

    So why not?

    www.finelockshop.com
    By real locksmith, not some salesman