Rekeying locks - anyone done it themselves?

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timmmay

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#222935 4-Sep-2017 19:23

I'm about to order some Yale locks from the UK for my PVC doors. They don't come common keyed. I can pay a locksmith $15 - $16 or so per barrel, which isn't bad, or I can do it myself.

I looked online. Rekeying locks looks fairly simple, quite fiddly, you just need the right tools and kit. Best I can see it could cost $80 for the kit, but then you're set for quite a long time, a number of changes.

Anyone tried this? Should I try to do it myself, or just pay the locksmith $30 to do the job now, and $30 later for another door if I decide to do it?

richms

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#1858391 4-Sep-2017 19:45

IME they get cheaper in volume. Issue comes with getting a key cut to your newly rekeyed locks - I tried many places and they wouldnt cut a standard kwikset blank by the numbers and insisted on going from a key, so if you need keys as well that may be an issue.

Richard rich.ms

Dratsab

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#1858429 4-Sep-2017 20:39

Done heaps myself, incl my parents whole house. Can you post a link to the model of lock? There's some barrel types I haven't touched, and won't because I don't have the right tools but I may be able to help out.

timmmay

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#1858432 4-Sep-2017 20:46

Dratsab: Done heaps myself, incl my parents whole house. Can you post a link to the model of lock? There's some barrel types I haven't touched, and won't because I don't have the right tools but I may be able to help out.

Thanks @Dratsab. Most likely this Yale lock, unless there's a good reason to get something else - any suggestions. I just know Yale as a good brand, and I need the 35/45 Euro profile size.

For $30 I should probably just pay someone who's done it 100 times rather than mess about with it myself.

Dratsab

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#1858487 4-Sep-2017 21:06

Yep - euro cylinders are a bit fiddly so I've generally kept away from them. Guys that do them regularly will smash them out really quickly.