How To Change Tumbler On Desk Draw Lock

How to Remove Lock Cylinder From Desk-bound Drawer

There may come a time when y'all demand to remove the lock cylinder from your desk-bound drawer. Peradventure you accept lost your fundamental, or mayhap you desire to modify the locks. Whatsoever the reason, at that place are a few simple steps that yous tin can accept to remove the lock cylinder without causing any damage. This article will discuss how to remove lock cylinder from desk drawer.

How to Remove Lock Cylinder From Desk Drawer

Many older desk-bound drawers have a small lock cylinder fastened to the desk'southward drawer. The lock cylinder may be outside the drawer or inside the drawer. These locks were probable used to protect money and valuables from prying optics.

Button/Pin tumbler lock
Push tumbler lock removal tools
An empty paper towel curlicue or some other tube
A screwdriver with a T6 Torx head bit
One rubber band
A set of pliers

A Stepwise Guide on How to Remove Lock Cylinder From Desk Drawer

Step 1: Determine How the Lock Works

The first thing you lot will accept to practise is determine how your desk-bound drawer lock works. You will need to know whether it's a pivot tumbler or a button tumbler lock. Pin tumbler locks are detected by two modest holes drilled into the metal of the lock cylinder, whereas push button tumblers accept a round bump on their side. Likewise, if any other buttons or pins are in place, information technology might be challenging to open the lock, especially if they block admission to the screws that agree the lock together.

Footstep 2: Open up Your Desk Drawer And Examine How The Lock Is Congenital Into Information technology

Now that you know what kind of lock your desk drawer has, starting time opening information technology up. How yous practice this may vary depending on the type of lock, so information technology might be challenging to open your drawer if screws are holding it together. Please note how the lock is attached to the inside of your desk-bound drawer and what parts come into contact with each other (the front housing lock cylinder towards the back, metal rods that adhere them, etc.

Stride three: Decide Which Parts You lot Will Have To Remove

Based on what you saw after opening up your desk-bound drawer, there are just a few parts that you will accept to remove. The screws that secure these parts together are normally hidden nether plastic caps, which you can pop off with your fingers or pliers.

However, when removing these parts, be careful non to lose any of them, peculiarly if they are pocket-size pieces like pins and springs. Instead, employ tweezers to hold onto them and then they won't get lost. Also, remember how they were arranged inside the lock, so yous'll know where each part goes when assembling information technology again later on.

Pace 4: Loosen the Screws

The next affair yous volition demand to do is remove any screws in place. They will nigh probable be located on the dorsum of the lock cylinder underneath where it was drilled into identify. If there are any other pins or buttons, they should be removed at this indicate, too, with a pocket-size screwdriver. Exist careful not to damage the metal effectually where the pin/button heads are through trying to extract them; otherwise, new holes will accept to be drilled, compromising your lock's security further down the line.

Step five: Look for Numbers on Back of Lock Cylinder

Later all of your pins and buttons have been removed, hold your lock upwards to look directly at its dorsum. You should be able to see a serial of numbers and letters which will look something like this:

3 –> 5 –> eight–> one –> 4

If there are simply two rows of numbers, you need to find a lock option with a T6 Torx caput bit that matches up with them and insert it into your lock cylinder. If in that location are iii different rows, you might need to drill out the lock cylinder or buy some other ane birthday.

Step 6: Remove The Lock Cylinder From the Desk-bound Drawer

Once you have all of the necessary parts, information technology'south time to remove the lock cylinder from your desk drawer. You need an empty paper towel curlicue or another tube and a rubber band to practise this.

First, take one end of your condom band and put information technology into one end of the paper towel roll/tube, then stretch information technology out so that it tin get in and out through the other side without breaking hands. Then ready both ends onto either side of one part of your button tumbler lock (cull whatsoever role yous like) where pins are inserted, for example.

Finally, pull both ends simultaneously towards opposite directions until they snap apart, allowing that part to slide out of place. Once you've washed this for all parts, the lock cylinder should now be separated from the rest of its contents inside your desk-bound drawer.

Step 7: Open up Up The Lock And Remove The Locking Mechanism

Have your screwdriver with the T6 Torx head bit and insert it into either of the side holes of the lock cylinder. Make certain you cull one hole where pins are not inserted since this will affect how the locking mechanism is removed successfully.

At present turn clockwise slowly while advisedly holding onto either cease, starting with whichever you adopt so long as there's no pin stuck in them. One time all of the pins take been pushed upwards together, they should now exist able to slide out of place easily, so annotation which ones they were stuck in for reference when reassembling things subsequently on. Finally, don't forget to put those extracted pins dorsum inside their corresponding parts in the lock cylinder.

At present that you've successfully removed the locking mechanism, you lot can separate it from the residue of the parts in your desk drawer lock cylinder past using tweezers or pliers. It's commonly stuck to 1 part, but sometimes it may be hard to remove, and so make certain to pull hard if this is the case. Just proceed in mind where each part was positioned when taking it out considering reassembling them, subsequently on volition not be easy if they are mixed up.

Pace eight: Open The Desk Drawer With Your Lock Cylinder

Now that your quondam desk drawer lock has been taken apart and no longer functions, all that's left is to insert your paper towel tube into either of the two holes and pull your new lock cylinder out from its packaging.

Now position some paper towels around the rubber ring to absorber it as you push information technology back into place against those pins belongings it in identify earlier. Make sure that this office of your desk drawer lock is facing the right mode and inserted, specially if some screws are blocking its path, like in my instance.

Also, make sure that y'all position all the other parts on top of each other inside i finish of your newspaper towel ringlet/tube first, so push button them back into place with a screwdriver (or anything else) later on.

Your desk-bound drawer is ready to exist locked with its new lock in one case again! Ensure that you don't plough the key too hard in either direction when locking or unlocking; otherwise, information technology might crack. In that location's no need to worry if this happens because you can use a pair of pliers to curve back into place gently. These steps will assistance in how to remove lock cylinder from desk drawer.

Additional Tips:

When removing the cylinder from a broken key, make sure you insert the new one and try it several times to make sure it works.
Unplug your desk-bound lamp when working with the drawer lock. If you take access to a ability drill, use that instead of an electric screwdriver for added control.
Cylinders are inexpensive, and then buy several but in case you lot mess up this projection or lose one while taking them autonomously. You can store these parts in separate plastic bags to avert remixing them if you lot don't have old locks lying around anymore, non to worry! Locks are relatively inexpensive, so purchase five different types before starting this project if need be.
Though most locks come out without too much endeavor, some can exist stubborn and accept up to 30 minutes of prying.
If the screwdriver is challenging to motion through your lock cylinder, add more liquid (oil or WD-40) to it before applying more pressure on the tool.
Make sure you have a screwdriver with a good handle, so your paw doesn't balk upwards when removing stubborn locks.
If your lock cylinder still won't budge, try filing downward the tip's size with sandpaper before using more force to pry it open up.
A magnet can be used in place of a screwdriver, though information technology'southward commonly only constructive on smaller locks since larger cylinders are thicker.

You tin can check it out to Cutting a Lock Off of A Storage Unit of measurement

Conclusion

Nosotros promise you have learned how to remove lock cylinder from desk-bound drawer. Now that you have learned how to remove the lock cylinder from your desk-bound drawer, y'all can experience safe and secure knowing that you can access your holding when you need them. Think to always keep a spare key in a prophylactic place in an emergency. Have fun using your new skills!