Q&A for How to Pick a Filing Cabinet Lock

Return to Full Article

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    I have a table with a drawer I can't open.
    Animers
    Community Answer
    If there is a large object jammed inside the drawer, use a long, thin dinner knife or other dull item, such as a metal ruler, to gently jiggle the item back into place so that the drawer can open freely. Open the drawer as far as it will go without harming the structure of the drawer and keep working on changing the position of the object.
  • Question
    My file cabinet has a lock that you push in. How do I pick that lock?
    Animers
    Community Answer
    Push-button locks generally present on the outside of the door as a small, round hole centered in the middle of the knob. To pick this kind of lock, select a bobby pin or straightened paperclip.
  • Question
    Will this damage the filing cabinet's lock?
    Upnorth Here
    Top Answerer
    Yes, picking any lock will leave microscopic scratches inside the mechanism. Also, using the wrong tool or technique may significantly damage the mechanism mechanically.
  • Question
    Can I buy a new lock and key to replace the present one?
    Allison Bourgeois
    Community Answer
    Yes, in most cases, the old lock can be removed and replaced with a like one.
  • Question
    I have a filing cabinet with a push button lock that is a keyhole that sticks out when unlocked. To lock, the "button" is pushed in flush with the face of the cabinet.
    Upnorth Here
    Top Answerer
    Push-button locks generally present on the outside of the drawer as a small, round hole centered in the middle of the knob. To pick this kind of lock, select a bobby pin or straightened paperclip. Pressing in on the knob slightly during picking might reduce internal friction against turning the key cylinder.
Ask a Question

      Return to Full Article