Any lockpickers on the site?

[livias]

We have a pretty Georgian locking display cabinet. A removal company packed it up and put it in our barn three years ago. We have just unpacked it to put in the newly renovated house and discover that the key has gone missing. It is not a complicated key, it was just used to keep the door shut but without it I can't open the door and I don't want to damage the cabinet

I have tried all the other likely keys that I own (four of them) just on the off chance that one might fit but none does

Any suggestions as to what I should do next?

 

[MikeG]

I wouldn't do anything yet, until you've emptied the barn. There is a chance you'll stumble across the key elsewhere. In particular, look inside any pots or ornaments.

 

[Spoilt Victorian Child]

Look on YouTube, there are many tutorials, people do it as a hobby/challenge on padlocks. It's actually frighteningly easy to pick some locks with just two strips of found metal.

One acts as the lever (to simulate you turning the key), whilst the other jiggles the barrels into the correct alignment to allow the lock to turn.

Have a practice on some old padlocks first to get the technique.

But once your cabinet is open, you won't be able to close it without the key? (Or are you gonna replace/remove the lock all together?)

 

[paulc]

If the lock is anything like some of the small furniture locks I've come across, it will be a simple ward lock - These are easy to pick with a small piece of bent metal. An allen key would do the job.

 

[steveb]

I bought a "lock pick set" from ebay, complete with a transparent padlock so you can see what is going on. Got change from a tenner for them.

Along with various youtube tutorials it taught me a lot about locks, if you are scientifically inclined, although I think padlocks are probably easier prey than cabinet locks due to you being able to see what you need to turn.

 

[Zebra]

Ooh what suspense! Anyone want to take bets on whether livias will be able to pick her lock? Do let us know how you get on livias!....

 

[CliffordPope]

What happened to my yesterday's post on modifying a key and testing it to fit? It seems to have vanished.