Open Up: The Fascinating World Of Locks, Keys And Safes

Rekeying a Deadbolt Lock

21 December 2015

Lumi Perala

If you have lost the keys to your house, the best security measure is to rekey the locks. Locksmiths charge a fixed fee for rekeying each individual lock. If you cannot afford to hire a locksmith, here is a simple guide on how to rekey door locks on your own.

Buy a Rekeying Kit

Rekeying kits consist of tools that are used for making new keys such as a wire tool ring removers, cylinder followers, lock pins and plug followers. You can purchase a rekeying kit at your local hardware store. Rekeying kits vary depending on the brand of the lock. If the door locks in your house are from the same brand, then you will only need to buy one rekeying kit. One kit can rekey up to six locks. However, you can still order for more pins if you want to rekey more than six locks.

Remove the Door Knob

A door knob is secured in position by a clip that can be reached by inserting a wire through a small hole. Use the wire tool in your rekeying kit to access the clip.  Depress the knob clip and then pull the knob from the door. Remove the lock cylinder and door knob housing. The lock cylinder is the small metal tube that is mounted on the handle of the door. It is the place where you insert your key when attempting to unlock or lock the door.

Remove the Retainer Ring

With the ring remover from your rekeying kit, push the retainer ring to remove it from the lock cylinder. The retainer ring like the name suggests is a metal ring like object inside the lock cylinder.

Remove the Cylinder Plug

The cylinder plug is the top casing of the internal mechanism where the key is inserted. Insert the key inside the cylinder and turn it so that the lower and upper lock pins are separated. Using the plug follower provided in the rekeying kit, push the cylinder and remove the plug.

Remove the Old Lock Pins and Insert the New Pins

The lower lock pins are bullet shaped and have pointed ends that touch the key. Insert the new key into the lock cylinder. This will help guide you where to place the new lock pins. The new pins are coded numerically or color coded so that they follow a chart that shows where each pin should be placed. The chart is provided in the rekeying kit. Use small pliers for gripping the pins and inserting them. The pins must align with the new key.

If the pins are not coded, you will have to use trial and error by inserting and removing the key to ensure it fits into the lock after the new pins have been fitted.

Reassemble the Lock

Replace the lock's cylinder plug and the retainer ring. Replace the lock cylinder in the door's knob and attach it back to the door. Insert the new key to ensure that it unlocks and locks properly.

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