Picking a desk lock

[David WE Roberts]

I bought a two drawer wooden filing cabinet (well, one filing drawer and one shallow drawer) on Gumtree. No key, but checked it out and all looked good.

Now we have lugged it up to the office it won't open. It seems to be locked. I assume the mechanism may have shifted during transit.

Does anyone know how easy these office furniture locks are to pick?

I could always drill it out, I suppose, but it would be nicer just to be able to undo it.

The furniture is labelled "Project" and the key number is 125 and (we think) 78 on top. Could possibly be 7R?

Bloody typical!

Cheers

Dave R

[tabbypurr]

plenty of youtube vids

NT

[Nick Odell]

Project Office Furniture: the script at the top of their web page (project.co.uk) invites you to order replacement keys from them.

Alternatively, there are master keys for those locks and the chances are that your local seller of second-hand office furniture has got one and could open the cabinet for you.

Actually, I'VE got one of those master keys - about forty years ago I worked for a company that sold on those cabinets as new and I kept it in case it came in useful. I've just turned the house upside down looking for it and all I've achieved so far is an upside-down house. Sorry. I'll get back to the thread if anything turns up but do try Project and/or a second-hand dealer.

Nick

[alan_m]

You need to find te videos that say bypassing the lock rather than picking

Example

The exact same technique is used on some padlocks

[alan_m]

Many of these cabinets have a mechanism preventing more than one drawer opening so just make sure that BOTH drawers are FULLY in their closed position before trying to open one of them.

[ss]

If it is the normal type meaning not a high security type then they are very easy to pick, I can pick mine in around 5 seconds.

[invalid]

Easy.. put a small screwdriver in and put slight pressure in the unlock direction. use a paper clip to run the end along the tumblers. usually open in a few seconds.

[Brian Gaff (Sofa)]

Yes many of these are pretty rubbish and even the small end of a nail file can get them open, but on the other hand some of the better ones are actually normal locks. Hope yours is one of the former! Brian

[David]

Thanks.

Now being tempted by lock pick sets off t'Internet.

Also realising that a decent (may not break off in the lock at first use) set is about £20.

Obviously an investment, but as the cabinet only cost £10 this does seem a counter intuitive solution.

Cheers

Dave R

[tabbypurr]

It also seems a pointless spend.

NT

[David WE Roberts]

I think that I have tracked the key down.

This key range is used in Project wooden furniture, and the lock has 78 on the top and 125 on the bottom which should make the key 78125.

Roughly £3 and £1 postage.

I will wait to see what Project say on Monday.

Cheers

Dave R

[David WE Roberts]

The temptation is to be distracted into learning to pick locks.

Perhaps one for the Xmas present list.

Cheers

Dave R

[DJC]

If you tip it up you may be able to access part of the mechanism from below.

[Jethro_uk]

Plus a see-through padlock for training :)

[billyorange007]

Try turning it upside down and giving it a jolt.

sometimes a dinner knife inserted between the side if the drawer and the carcase and pushed down will release it

[G r o g]

Buy a new key? That's what they did in an office I once worked in, there are places that specialise in such things. Then you'd have a key for too, to complete the set!

[tabbypurr]

A bent random pin is a costless hasseless way. Why pay for something you've no need for? I don't understand why some folk want to spend for zero advantage.

[Bob Eager]

My son knows about these things (office furniture supplier in a past life).

He says you can sometimes remove the base (screws etc.) to access the vertical rod that locks the drawers.

Failing that, new key is what they did. He always used these people:

[David WE Roberts]

Thanks to all.

Brief update:

Project were very helpful and offered a replacement key for £10 + VAT

Having already found FastKeys I used them for a replacement key because they were much cheaper.

The key turned up today and fitted the lock but wouldn't turn it all the way. I then stood the drawers up on end and joggled them and eventually the bottom drawer came free. Turning the key demonstrated that the drawers had been unlocked anyway. Refitting the drawer and putting the cabinet back down showed the drawers jammed again. At that point I stood the cabinet up on end again, joggled, took the drawers out and investigated the locking mechanism which was loose and managed to jump out of the channel. Investigated the base of the drawers and there are "peg and lock" fittings like Ikea furniture and kitchen units. These were loose. Tightened them up to take the flex out, investigated the locking mechanism with the bottom drawer out to check that I got the lock in the top drawer aligned correctly, then finally put it back down, fitted the bottom drawer, and all is fine and I do have a key which works.

With it tipped up I noted that it used to have castors. Hmm...that could be useful. Spent some time looking for some I was sure I had stored in case of need, then ordered some off Amazon.

£10 set of drawers now costing over £20 but they look pretty solid.

Ah, well.

Dave R

[Muddymike]

An old steel filing cabinet I use as workshop storage seemed to have locked itself in transit when we moved. Lots of jiggling of drawers and banging on the sides freed mine.

Mike