Picking a desk lock

[Bob Eager]

Or just tip it up and move the locking bar back to where it was.

[Alan J. Wylie]

I've had a metal "Bisley" filing cabinet for 30+ years. After a recent house move the drawers were stuck closed. Wiggling a steel rule down the side of one of the drawers released the stuck locking bar.

I've just discovered what was causing the problem. I'd placed some magnets recovered from old hard disk drives on the side of the cabinet, and they were preventing the bar from sliding!

Anyway, coffee break is over, must get back to restoring the old bathroom door.