Fine Lock Shop – Smart Door Lock & Locksmithing

Tag: door lock

  • How to Choose the Right Smart Door Lock for Your Home

    How to Choose the Right Smart Door Lock for Your Home

    Choosing the perfect smart door lock for your home is a crucial decision that combines security, convenience, and technology. With an array of options available, it’s important to understand the different types of smart door locks and consider essential factors when making your selection. In this article, we will explore the world of smart door locks, provide valuable insights, and guide you in choosing the best option to meet your specific needs.

    1. Understanding Smart Door Locks: Smart door locks offer a wide range of features and functionalities that enhance the security and accessibility of your home. These locks utilize advanced technology such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Wifi to connect with your smartphone or other smart devices. Let’s explore the different types of smart door locks:
    • Keyless Keypad Locks: These locks allow you to enter a unique PIN code or card to unlock the door, eliminating the need for physical keys.
    • Bluetooth-Enabled Locks: With Bluetooth connectivity, these locks offer convenient access through your smartphone when you’re within range.
    • Wi-Fi-Enabled Locks: These locks provide remote access and control, allowing you to lock or unlock your door from anywhere using a smartphone app.
    • Biometric Locks: These locks use fingerprint recognition technology to grant access, providing a high level of security and convenience.
    1. Factors to Consider When Choosing a Smart Door Lock: Now that you understand the types of smart door locks available, here are some important factors to consider when selecting the right one for your home:
    • Security Features: Look for locks with robust security features such as encryption, tamper alerts, and anti-pick technology to ensure the safety of your home.
    • Compatibility: Check if the smart lock is compatible with your existing door and lock hardware. Some locks require specific door types or modifications for installation. I can’t guide your in detail here, as too many conditions of the door need to be considered such as material, stine width, thickness, grille distance etc.
    • Integration with Smart Home Systems: If you have a smart home setup, ensure that the smart lock can seamlessly integrate with your existing devices and platforms.
    • Power Source: Consider the power source of the lock. Some locks operate on batteries, while others can be hardwired into your home’s electrical system.
    • User-Friendly Interface: Opt for locks with intuitive interfaces and easy-to-use mobile apps for a hassle-free experience.
    • Lock material: It might come to your surprise, but smart lock comes in many material. Cheapest one will use plastic. Of course it will not be durable (but it’s cheap!). Other material arranged by hardness (and increasing cost too) will be aluminium alloy, zinc alloy, copper, and stainless steel.
    • Budget: Determine your budget and explore options within that range, considering the features and benefits offered by each smart lock.
    1. Additional Tips for Choosing the Right Smart Door Lock: To further assist you in making an informed decision, here are a few additional tips to keep in mind:
    • Read reviews and ratings from reputable sources and other homeowners to gain insights into the performance and reliability of the smart locks you are considering.
    • Consider the warranty and customer support provided by the manufacturer. A reliable warranty and accessible customer support can be invaluable in case of any issues.
    • Seek professional installation if you’re not confident in your own abilities. Proper installation ensures optimal performance and security.

    Choosing the right smart door lock is a critical step in enhancing the security and convenience of your home. By understanding the different types of smart locks available and considering factors such as security features, compatibility, integration with smart home systems, and budget, you can confidently select the best smart door lock to meet your specific needs. Stay informed, compare options, and make a well-informed decision to enjoy the benefits of a secure and technologically advanced home.

    And one more, you will need to know all your choices in order to make wise comparison. I will include the link below where you can download all digital lock available in Kuching together with the price for you. Transparent enough?


    https://home.finelockshop.com/

  • 2 Types of Door Lock Installer and Their Installation Method

    2 Types of Door Lock Installer and Their Installation Method

    There are two types of installer for door lock”:

    1. Contract Installer – usually used for project, where speed and quantity matter. The more installation they can complete, the more money they can make. Majority is a freelance.
    2. Specialised Trained Installer – only do end user work, attached to certain company that hires and trains them continuosly, doesn’t care about speed and quantity. But cares about strength, look and precision. Command a higher charges compared to contract installer. Use more updated tools and some special equipment.

    There are no good or bad here. Just what you require. What if you are just trying to fix some unimportant area of your old kampung house? You might choose contract installer.

    But if some important area, and you want it strong and good looking, go for specialised. If you choose a contract type, they just wana do it fast and might not even come back for rectification works.

    Our company has our own specially trained locksmith to do installation for you. We might command a higher charges compared to some contractor (few client, however, feedback said some common contractor also same or even higher charges than us), but all our clients realised the differences in our skills and commitments to deliver the best end result.

    We are still only human, we do make mistakes sometimes as well, but we will rectify it until you’re satisfied.
    Some Knowledge Sharing,
    www.finelockshop.com

  • Door Lock – Same Look, different Durability

    Door Lock – Same Look, different Durability

    Mortise lock is among the most durable lock – or supposed to be. Buy a good one will last you a lifetime.

    Lousy Locks (But cheap)

    Out of all our locksmith services, we do come across some pretty new mortise locks that had totally broken beyond repair, without sign of abuse.

    Common brands that we replace are some unknown brand (a brand that is not known by any locksmith are 95% come from China)

    We do remember some that we often change/ break due to lockout, like Fuyu (China), Kasa (China), no brand (China), and Tyson (China). Average age is like 3 to 5 years.

    Really Good Durable Locks (Worth every penny)

    We also serviced some, really old lock that just need to top up some oil like Frascio (25 years old Italian), Yale (10 years old British), Chubb (30years old British), Kale (20 years old Turkish). 
    How do you differentiate good and cheap locks? 

    Ask a professional.

  • Door Lock Problem, due to Installer and Hardware

    Door Lock Problem, due to Installer and Hardware

    Common problem among split type mortise lock.

    Most budget type lever handle has this problem. One of the problem lies in the construction of the spindle. Solid or curved type spindle is not stable enough hence causing the lever to loose or just come off later.

    Choose a hollow/ tube spindle with punch thru tightener. While it cost more, you will not have loose/ tercabut problem. 

    From outside looks the same. It’s the inside. 

    If you did not ask us and simply walk into our showroom, you might think why our lock priced higher than other non locksmith shop. But please realise you are not comparing apple to apple.

  • A Very Impressive Door Lock in Kuching

    A Very Impressive Door Lock in Kuching

    A customer walk in and ask to re-key his 10 years old house lock (one key drop somewhere and could not be found)

    We are very impressed with his lock. We knew he bought it either KL or Singapore, because they did not buy from us. It is EZ Brand, top range. We do sell it but we have never opened in till the key cylinder to rekey it. This is the first time we open all the way into the Key Cylinder.

    From outside looks like a common key cylinder, but inside is all good material and high security feature. Definitely an upper ANSI Grade 2 lock at least. In Kuching majority deadbolt, sorry to say, failed to pass the lowest Grade 3.

    This lock uses pin-within-pin key system, which makes it very hard to pick. Added with anti pick and anti bump top pin, I have to say this lock is simply beyond even my ability to pick it.

    How about drilling? You can see hardened steel pin inserted at the head of the cylinder:

    Which mean you can’t drill it either. 

    This is a very very impressive deadbolt. Worth every ringgit spend. Price: around RM 200 (high security, last very long, and safe)

    Ordinary China deadbolt might cost around RM 30, but they have nothing to compare with this deadbolt.

    Choose wisely.

    Advise from Locksmith.
    The Fine Lock Shop

  • Why Your Key Snap?

    Why Your Key Snap?

    No matter what quality your key is, even the best and thickest silver-nickel alloy, it will still snap if the below situation occurs.

    1. Lock not smooth/ stuck/ grinding/ badly installed. Usually sign is like the left photo, key twisted.

    • This might happens if the lock is of bad quality, some really cheap locks usually made in China. Or,
    • Badly installed locks, causes the bolt/ latch can’t really fit perfectly into the strike hole. So when lock or unlock, the bolt is actually grinding the strike. Or,
    • Still badly installed locks, the external and internal is not in the same horizontal or vertical line. The lock will not works smoothly and you need more force to turn the key

    2. The user used unnecessary excessive force on the key. The sign for this is bent key, not twisted.

    • Sometimes user use the key to pull the door while the key is inside the lock. The key becomes like a pull handle. 
    • If your door do not have a pull handle, install one. Must not use the key to substitute the pull handle

      Advise from Locksmith,
      www.finelockshop.com

    • Bettee Lock for Aluminium Sliding Door

      Bettee Lock for Aluminium Sliding Door

      This lock is getting more and more trendy among aluminium sliding, usually for bigger house. It is stronger and seems more durable than common aluminium lock with square casing. 

      But in the end still depends on workmanship. If alignment and positioning is not right, even the best lock fails.

      Can consider this type of lock for your sliding door (if not yet fabricated)

      Advise from Locksmith,
      The Fine Lock Shop Team

    • Royal President Guardian Digital Lock

      Brand: Royal President Guardian

      Functions: 

      1. RF Cards x 30pcs
      2. Passcode x 4 sets

      Origin: South Korea

      Comments: Royal President specialises in electronic locks.  Very reliable brand.

      Extra Service (has to do them Free of Charge): 

      1. Reposition Barrel Bolt.
      2. Door Closer Adjust.
    • 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