How To Rekey Locks In A Historic Home

STEP ONE: REMOVING THE LOCK

When we need to rekey locks at historic homes, the easiest way to make sure the new key fits is to remove the lock entirely. This is because historic locks have a variety of components that the key needs to be compatible with in order to work and keep your home secure.

As locksmiths with experience handling historic locks, we can safely disassemble and remove a historic lock from your home without damaging it or the door. While you may be tempted to do this part yourself, it’s safest and easiest to let our team of experienced locksmiths handle the job from start to finish.

STEP TWO: FITTING THE KEY TIP

When fitting a key to a historic lock, the tip must fit into the opening slot and be able to turn. If we have a blank key with a bit tip that perfectly fits the keyhole, all we need to do from there is file notches into the bit so that it can work the bolt and wards in the lock.

It’s important not to force the key tip into the keyhole, as this could damage both the key and the lock, leading to a longer rekeying process and more repairs. Job Done Locksmiths knows how to tell if a key tip fits a keyhole and how to make adjustments to the key if it doesn’t. Trust our dedicated team to make sure your new keys fit your historic locks perfectly.

STEP THREE: FITTING THE KEY BIT TO THE KEYHOLE

If the bit is too long for the keyhole, we grind it down to the perfect length so that it fits but isn’t too short to throw the bolt. When measuring how long the bit should be, it’s important to take into account that the key needs to poke out the other end of the lock. We are able to precisely measure how long the bit should be to fit the lock, and can smoothly grind the bit down so that it doesn’t have any jagged edges that might damage the lock.

STEP FOUR: FITTING THE BIT TO THE LOCK CASE

The length of the bit must also be adjusted in order to fit the case of the lock. If the bit is too long, it will not be able to turn. If it is too short, it won’t be able to turn the bolt and may even become stuck in the lock.

We use specialized tools to adjust the length of the bit so that it fits perfectly into the lock case. Our locksmiths know how to measure keys to fit a variety of historic locks, so contact us today if you need to rekey locks at your historic Denver home.

STEP FIVE: WORKING THE BOLT

The next step in rekeying a historic lock is to make sure the new key can turn in both directions and work the bolt. When the key turns within the lock, it should push the lever out of the way and retract the bolt. This is where a key can get stuck because it catches on the bolt. 

In order to fix this, we file a notch into the bottom of the bit. This will allow the key to turn in both directions easily.

STEP SIX: NOTCHING THE BIT

In order for the key to work, it must be notched to fit the tiny bumps — called wards — inside the lock case. These aptly named bumps are created to ward off intruders and prevent false keys from retracting the bolt. In order for your new key to fit, notches must be filed into the key bit so that it can pass over the wards.

Our locksmiths line the key up with the wards to see where notches need to be filed on either side of the bit. We then carefully file those notches to make sure the key can smoothly turn inside the lock and fit the wards.

STEP SEVEN: TESTING THE KEY

Once the key has been cut to fit the different parts of the lock, we test it to make sure everything fits perfectly, the key turns smoothly, and — most importantly — the key can engage and disengage the bolt. 

We flip the key in different directions to make sure that the key works flawlessly with the lock.

STEP EIGHT: REASSEMBLING THE LOCK

Once we’ve established that your new key works with your historic lock, the final step is to reassemble and replace the lock. We make sure to dust and lubricate the lock so that no external factors affect your ability to lock and unlock your door. As we reassemble the lock, we test the key to make sure that everything still works seamlessly before replacing the lock on your door.

The process to rekey locks on a historic house can seem tedious and painstaking, but our locksmiths at Job Done Locksmith are passionate about creating beautiful keys for historic homes in the Denver area. We can  provide fast and reliable lock replacement or replace your existing deadbolt keyed the same as other entry locks.

From Denver Locksmith