Maple Leaf Locksmith LLC now has the capacity to clone high security transponder-enabled car keys that are milled. If your key looks like one below, I can probably clone it. I am working on a javascript selector so that the end user can find out if I can clone their key before they call.
Author: Bjørn Madsen
A Norwalk Mortise Lock as Art
Thieves Are Probably Hacking Keyless Cars Right Now
Interesting developments in the game of leapfrog between security researchers and criminals. Looks like the criminals figured something out before the white-hats this time. The prevailing theory on the matter is that thieves have figured out how to open cars that use fobs (plastic bits that replace the need for a key; the driver can operate the car simply by having a fob in their pocket) by using a signal amplifier. The signal amplifier in effect increases the range so that the car is fooled into thinking the fob is in close proximity. That is to say, thieves may have figured out that they can buy a $20 amplifier that will amplify the signal of your fob. The amplification of the fob’s signal means that the challenge/response communication between the fob and the vehicle can happen from 500 feet away instead of twenty feet, for example.
In the linked articles researchers suggest that keeping your fob wrapped in tinfoil will block the signal from being amplified. They also suggest keeping your fob in a freezer. They suggest that the freezer acts as a Faraday cage. I suspect that it does not act as a Faraday cage but rather has lots of insulation that prevents the signal from getting out. I don’t think that there is a lot of electricity going through my freezer’s door. If it works though, it works.
Mortise Locks: Beautiful Working Antiques
Key Safes Leave Your Property Vulnerable.
I just got back from rekeying a mansion that I rekeyed a few years ago. The reason they paid me over $300 to rekey again so soon is because contractors left a “key safe” hanging on a doorknob at the side of the house in an alleyway, and somebody came along with some boltcutters and cut that lock off and took it with them. There is only one reason to cut one of these locks off, and that is to take the lock home and open it to get the key out so that you can unlock the door it is attached to.
It is pretty stupid to put these on your house in the first place. Anybody with $20 can silently remove one of these in moments and take it home to work on it with whatever tools they have in the privacy of their garage or crack house etc. If they have an angle grinder or sawzall they could have your key thirty minutes to an hour after they remove the key safe from your property. Then some guy has a key to your house! More than 50% of the time residential break-ins are due to the thief having a key.
If a contractor says he wants to put one of these on your doorknob, emphatically tell them no. I am surprised that contractors would use these in the first place, because they could be liable for damages if their key safe is the reason that a house was broken into and property damaged or stolen or worse somebody attacked.
The best option is to use an electronic lock. A decent Schlage electronic deadbolt now costs $100 at local hardware stores. A second option is to use a wall mounted key safe. No shackle to cut off. Only way to get it off is to pry really hard for a long time. Another good option is to use SFIC locks if you can afford them.
Give me a call if you decide that you want a more secure option than dangling a key in front of the noses of would-be thieves.
High Security SFIC Cores For Sale
I just got my first batch of SFIC interchangeable cores from CX5. These have a sidebar to make drilling and picking your locks more difficult. That makes them harder to bypass than a conventional SFIC cylinder. They also use a restricted keyway so you don’t have to worry about unauthorized duplications. Give me a call if you want a better lock!
My Baldwin Thumblatch Won’t Open My Door Anymore
UPDATE: I made a video illustrating how to fix this problem yourself if your lock is not covered by Baldwin’s lifetime warranty or you don’t care about it. This weekend three separate customers called about their Baldwin locks not working from the outside (though in two of the cases, they worked from the inside). In two of these cases it was because of stripped gears made of cheap die-cast metal. The replacement part is 5399-003-G for many of these, which are usually from Baldwin’s “Image” line. Baldwin made some of these parts kind of weak so they released a conversion kit to replace these parts that are known to fail.
You can take the piece apart that the thumblatch interfaces with. It has a thin piece of metal covering some gears. The thin piece of metal is held on with either screws or little metal tabs that must be bent back. Once you have it off you have to turn the gears 180 degrees and then put it all back together correctly. And then alleviate the issue which caused the problem in the first place.
The important thing to know about these Baldwin parts that frequently fail is that they are covered under a lifetime warranty. The other important thing to know about them is that you must alleviate the issue that caused them to fail in the first place. After the part is replaced, make sure that it is really easy to use the thumblatch. If it is difficult to use, there will be too much pressure on the gears in the lock. This may be because the strike is installed too close to weatherstripping so that the latch binds against the strike, or it may be because the lock was installed slightly off center so that there is undue pressure on the latch. Baldwin hardware runs on the heavy side, and if you screw it in where it hangs it will be pulling the latch down from where it should rest. That translates to premature failure.
If you are handy with a screwdriver, take your broken thumblatch off the door and take it to a Baldwin dealer. They can supply you with a replacement part free of charge due to the lifetime guarantee from Baldwin. If you live somewhere more rural or don’t want to deal with it all call 800-566-1986 and describe the problem. Baldwin will mail the parts out to you. You can then hire somebody like me to swap the broken parts.
Good luck with your lock!
Take a Picture of Your Key for Safe-Keeping (Just Don’t Post it on Facebook)
Sometimes people are shocked to find out that they can have a lost key replaced simply by having somebody who still has the key send a picture of it in text message to me. If the code isn’t stamped on the key, the code cuts of the key can still be decoded.
I accomplish this by using a photo manipulation program that has the ability to measure distance from pixel to pixel. I first make sure the key in the picture is perfectly horizontal. Then I measure the distance from the top to bottom of the key where the key hasn’t yet been cut. Then I measure the distances in pixels from the bottom of the key cuts to the bottom of the key. If I then compare the width in pixels of the key where it is cut compared to the width where it is not cut and then multiply that ratio by the real world width of the key in inches or mm, I get a real world cut depth for that cut. Do it five more times and you have real world depth cuts for that key and can make a pretty good copy, either by cutting with a metric card or by looking at the closest known depths for that key and cutting to those depths.
If you cut to the nearest code depths chances are that your new key will work much better than the one in the picture! This is a great real world use of algebra if any middle school teachers out there want an application. Using algebra in this case saves my customer at least $100 and also allows me to cut a key without putting my coat on.
Login Attempts by Hackers
For some reason people in the former USSR are really interested in getting into this website. Somebody from Moldova even got locked out 50 times, meaning they must have tried at least 100 login and password combinations. I don’t know why these people want to bother with this website, but the following is a list of IP addresses belonging to the scuzzbuckets:
190.131.131.228 |
201.230.134.118 |
194.44.175.230 |
201.83.214.4 |
89.164.148.179 |
181.65.154.66 |
109.87.225.189 |
1.54.32.199 |
41.69.22.128 |
113.22.138.231 |
187.205.15.17 |
109.127.140.207 |
1.54.8.1 |
187.207.170.151 |
115.77.235.69 |
180.151.140.137 |
115.77.199.148 |
113.170.5.204 |
180.248.135.171 |
78.173.139.134 |
190.239.244.176 |
181.114.92.159 |
190.103.76.114 |
87.241.168.140 |
84.252.49.119 |
120.28.254.195 |
94.54.158.120 |
112.209.195.61 |
175.139.177.50 |
222.252.54.23 |
201.19.240.128 |
78.183.119.223 |
113.173.250.83 |
183.80.26.89 |
84.38.99.182 |
121.54.54.141 |
125.60.240.234 |
147.30.151.210 |
181.112.157.99 |
109.127.149.159 |
189.131.83.151 |
187.206.45.188 |
58.186.95.241 |
201.141.248.210 |
181.67.177.153 |
27.3.97.222 |
58.8.147.79 |
112.203.254.223 |
113.166.52.184 |
186.46.8.69 |
200.121.237.40 |
1.54.35.241 |
182.52.34.161 |
189.144.168.179 |
186.42.108.244 |
115.76.171.29 |
122.106.54.250 |
187.207.130.118 |
46.196.79.82 |
151.250.246.254 |
181.114.70.54 |
187.233.101.253 |
177.224.47.176 |
186.154.170.24 |
101.63.85.219 |
121.54.2.104 |
118.68.91.252 |
201.141.157.123 |
27.110.139.178 |
123.21.104.28 |
58.39.242.124 |
201.183.108.183 |
115.249.18.25 |
201.141.51.17 |
112.208.189.243 |
113.170.22.86 |
187.145.71.167 |
121.97.111.178 |
112.198.77.195 |
189.254.205.150 |
123.21.214.245 |
219.93.50.117 |
124.105.249.10 |
130.193.154.86 |
130.193.152.61 |
109.127.98.212 |
5.61.34.203 |
72.252.206.40 |
83.31.40.112 |
112.111.52.152 |
109.127.83.24 |
130.193.170.163 |
83.28.87.242 |
109.127.96.174 |
83.24.241.182 |
178.42.46.130 |
83.31.73.136 |
79.185.248.49 |
80.224.4.137 |
74.62.205.194 |
79.148.198.50 |
80.37.182.19 |
80.58.250.76 |
193.178.118.41 |
80.35.80.139 |
88.75.167.195 |
87.149.75.16 |
176.199.190.143 |
70.137.92.243 |
24.54.35.38 |
178.12.3.156 |
72.137.168.182 |
69.159.217.47 |
72.95.34.55 |
173.206.251.166 |
108.52.219.14 |
77.167.193.221 |
147.194.12.32 |
75.144.7.65 |
184.163.115.234 |
142.165.165.176 |
189.75.33.51 |
108.11.245.230 |
177.36.152.86 |
88.249.194.138 |
64.229.105.215 |
31.18.82.79 |
71.28.137.108 |
64.138.236.194 |
2.95.21.172 |
88.142.6.101 |
64.121.248.13 |
70.89.33.217 |
70.90.77.74 |
69.157.87.153 |
96.23.163.86 |
142.167.202.169 |
78.56.204.77 |
98.175.175.244 |
216.54.136.170 |
208.87.237.180 |
151.42.46.82 |
70.43.115.130 |
97.79.4.241 |
108.162.182.92 |
95.240.61.243 |
75.155.31.210 |
173.212.115.94 |
217.248.154.234 |
91.53.232.2 |
77.185.118.136 |
67.68.174.247 |
24.101.56.151 |
24.202.156.44 |
70.83.172.76 |
142.179.118.178 |
93.180.123.181 |
68.149.40.219 |
24.172.34.138 |
209.202.4.238 |
209.89.62.165 |
68.149.72.24 |
93.198.3.214 |
90.189.56.138 |
84.154.2.142 |
50.197.96.178 |
89.0.233.35 |
24.222.119.227 |
70.29.217.43 |
24.8.135.79 |
94.213.102.93 |
173.212.116.220 |
93.210.248.196 |
87.231.101.28 |
142.162.168.106 |
64.34.155.93 |
69.146.167.74 |
69.9.78.180 |
93.220.32.25 |
198.53.232.3 |
156.34.75.217 |
94.221.146.60 |
72.145.240.228 |
37.5.68.231 |
82.123.231.77 |
24.120.211.98 |
96.11.179.146 |
202.28.35.248 |
216.167.254.11 |
206.45.56.92 |
99.67.46.254 |
24.87.82.103 |
91.13.43.226 |
24.201.42.191 |
69.196.29.157 |
5.167.42.186 |
173.13.228.154 |
142.162.217.253 |
69.26.83.116 |
83.81.197.98 |
70.81.91.51 |
142.161.76.104 |
74.42.134.211 |
198.53.127.136 |
184.69.140.186 |
68.62.12.66 |
96.20.48.112 |
108.240.232.212 |
78.53.44.42 |
64.110.216.151 |
92.78.251.110 |
93.64.106.105 |
65.95.73.9 |
76.16.139.85 |
68.33.98.213 |
75.158.193.218 |
184.56.82.249 |
71.17.237.193 |
12.162.132.122 |
24.36.173.134 |
67.193.216.52 |
50.77.97.42 |
88.73.153.195 |
69.55.18.227 |
31.45.248.143 |
88.168.167.137 |
69.159.52.14 |
77.185.95.151 |
74.220.170.157 |
91.211.59.89 |
75.158.58.111 |
156.99.30.162 |
24.129.190.146 |
173.160.206.1 |
24.150.96.144 |
70.29.220.169 |
209.104.231.147 |
182.93.204.155 |
79.208.122.143 |
98.113.16.231 |
24.36.186.33 |
67.71.13.183 |
72.89.161.38 |
208.44.127.6 |
50.27.156.130 |
136.166.251.100 |
66.252.64.2 |
99.195.162.113 |
96.21.54.152 |
99.248.129.19 |
70.30.26.186 |
87.245.21.36 |
2.0.51.78 |
74.210.240.168 |
71.185.218.193 |
78.47.146.174 |
113.199.168.54 |
204.237.21.23 |
72.1.133.41 |
202.53.75.84 |
72.38.234.4 |
71.17.35.146 |
198.254.242.230 |
107.207.88.167 |
205.250.40.73 |
213.238.8.9 |
99.236.17.198 |
99.224.127.27 |
98.200.73.176 |
89.107.7.120 |
70.24.191.155 |
71.180.171.113 |
95.91.247.211 |
184.146.246.13 |
206.45.18.176 |
31.133.8.2 |
24.131.114.70 |
70.27.48.105 |
77.13.53.162 |
195.145.111.202 |
99.234.130.82 |
75.175.37.67 |
174.113.42.135 |
174.94.62.228 |
71.190.247.180 |
70.64.131.87 |
75.87.165.163 |
66.232.201.101 |
75.109.176.236 |
74.240.161.127 |
70.29.8.81 |
213.23.158.250 |
71.204.161.34 |
96.255.77.186 |
58.9.43.20 |
88.10.150.4 |
141.0.42.4 |
194.12.69.209 |
37.16.61.63 |
190.3.189.192 |
178.90.219.62 |
2.88.71.106 |
217.128.127.229 |
193.169.195.61 |
109.2.224.78 |
109.2.86.217 |
94.45.71.59 |
122.53.111.90 |
178.205.71.200 |
178.207.59.180 |
178.206.198.140 |
84.229.248.210 |
114.32.11.118 |
89.137.108.20 |
94.28.58.250 |
122.169.114.156 |
88.80.109.72 |
117.196.49.221 |
176.226.171.238 |
186.53.58.55 |
93.87.3.206 |
175.126.111.48 |
54.207.34.20 |
54.209.113.17 |
195.3.146.93 |
61.228.60.5 |
197.226.209.51 |
2.176.192.77 |
111.92.98.195 |
219.85.190.144 |
46.158.124.116 |
61.39.62.134 |
59.183.142.81 |
115.112.117.149 |
94.233.48.138 |
37.105.7.133 |
94.229.228.251 |
118.70.182.196 |
185.3.33.233 |
86.34.133.70 |
95.68.169.52 |
31.200.192.66 |
195.238.117.53 |
91.235.75.76 |
41.226.254.176 |
130.255.199.115 |
109.92.222.20 |
92.247.128.176 |
121.166.84.103 |
71.160.91.155 |
1.171.117.172 |
81.149.236.202 |
93.87.146.240 |
178.234.143.44 |
93.123.244.144 |
121.174.19.216 |
159.0.131.150 |
79.127.85.130 |
119.226.236.14 |
178.121.169.108 |
194.28.75.249 |
113.184.49.215 |
114.38.229.7 |
123.22.176.244 |
84.238.139.96 |
90.150.203.236 |
124.30.231.115 |
81.218.116.129 |
90.188.39.41 |
189.187.109.194 |
41.139.197.30 |
217.26.6.108 |
78.130.194.39 |
220.227.37.49 |
178.23.6.97 |
89.215.89.195 |
31.47.37.240 |
61.70.96.179 |
195.189.196.52 |
188.19.225.111 |
114.27.177.236 |
92.81.202.204 |
188.114.18.86 |
92.252.139.109 |
200.61.30.68 |
37.55.6.70 |
88.147.217.53 |
91.211.104.28 |
37.45.143.168 |
5.228.251.57 |
194.29.180.105 |
85.141.207.50 |
37.16.247.162 |
109.92.1.67 |
145.255.21.10 |
200.73.196.106 |
31.210.211.112 |
188.230.84.59 |
88.87.25.216 |
42.61.222.209 |
113.182.25.70 |
95.73.49.159 |
220.73.1.172 |
118.161.174.44 |
190.240.68.210 |
88.83.195.50 |
182.73.28.202 |
37.9.53.64 |
175.126.82.54 |
94.100.100.243 |
85.56.63.19 |
46.19.231.236 |
91.212.179.13 |
92.101.47.73 |
176.212.87.138 |
31.204.102.100 |
86.98.91.199 |
178.46.208.65 |
93.157.198.165 |
111.255.139.122 |
77.85.216.31 |
2.227.130.82 |
92.36.77.106 |
128.73.131.73 |
95.43.82.201 |
5.238.59.213 |
113.189.147.65 |
46.12.57.126 |
27.97.183.204 |
121.180.86.111 |
5.102.253.80 |
5.105.111.108 |
190.134.55.173 |
109.166.131.236 |
93.72.96.32 |
93.127.75.41 |
114.45.227.76 |
5.164.122.40 |
109.228.121.17 |
80.108.24.133 |
85.118.193.169 |
37.131.168.254 |
5.238.19.69 |
59.91.202.26 |
59.127.113.61 |
109.197.112.71 |
109.92.195.30 |
212.7.253.108 |
178.125.102.45 |
213.132.237.19 |
61.228.82.154 |
85.26.234.9 |
41.129.64.69 |
95.154.66.210 |
111.255.157.11 |
60.51.150.147 |
1.54.21.131 |
113.160.206.80 |
110.77.198.249 |
62.245.40.13 |
220.130.201.181 |
91.214.152.122 |
116.93.234.138 |
94.255.80.58 |
117.214.246.251 |
88.147.165.216 |
31.162.2.239 |
31.135.84.98 |
113.171.73.227 |
212.3.147.194 |
176.192.1.98 |
59.89.19.43 |
111.243.240.172 |
46.172.1.9 |
178.65.94.218 |
109.166.137.116 |
114.38.245.37 |
122.161.254.51 |
180.246.77.238 |
89.35.251.65 |
92.43.21.11 |
5.79.65.102 |
183.90.191.26 |
186.56.236.100 |
193.33.237.131 |
118.99.208.61 |
1.227.15.229 |
112.156.62.51 |
185.38.251.13 |
82.118.24.207 |
37.139.50.100 |
89.221.247.114 |
212.48.69.188 |
176.123.31.20 |
176.123.31.21 |
176.123.1.20 |
176.123.9.11 |
176.123.12.8 |
190.161.242.29 |
83.166.233.14 |
83.166.232.19 |
190.41.58.57 |
176.123.9.12 |
62.193.242.1 |
176.123.31.27 |
62.193.242.107 |
64.8.109.59 |
83.166.232.20 |
46.39.86.35 |
183.87.39.190 |
188.68.254.11 |
37.230.117.90 |
187.163.177.250 |
200.193.237.107 |
88.247.133.78 |
195.211.155.140 |
177.32.46.77 |
185.25.48.163 |
217.137.225.153 |
95.163.121.119 |
1.234.83.77 |
78.172.103.204 |
93.86.97.53 |
87.109.103.135 |
1.168.164.31 |
94.176.165.72 |
84.240.209.103 |
194.79.45.67 |
122.160.48.228 |
85.232.220.102 |
189.132.188.173 |
79.113.75.102 |
188.48.35.183 |
1.2.136.245 |
177.84.32.18 |
78.93.76.14 |
94.29.32.49 |
85.102.7.103 |
36.236.107.165 |
186.52.219.255 |
186.57.192.211 |
181.26.14.101 |
201.46.140.250 |
188.129.80.127 |
1.174.140.177 |
121.254.109.23 |
46.42.4.164 |
113.182.34.98 |
82.127.1.94 |
37.110.114.64 |
58.186.123.143 |
1.172.181.39 |
175.156.247.243 |
94.78.73.199 |
1.200.238.233 |
78.36.109.223 |
213.155.219.60 |
95.22.67.154 |
109.96.134.228 |
88.204.204.38 |
112.105.167.253 |
46.237.69.75 |
113.163.147.12 |
91.191.235.82 |
111.125.24.5 |
109.63.35.239 |
37.25.114.158 |
5.105.90.140 |
193.34.8.232 |
213.87.130.54 |
91.244.240.6 |
197.27.14.136 |
82.117.196.126 |
77.210.200.141 |
84.22.48.187 |
95.215.164.59 |
89.65.72.198 |
85.94.164.249 |
178.78.0.83 |
219.70.251.146 |
78.188.217.242 |
190.43.65.15 |
212.143.166.175 |
41.233.253.217 |
183.80.249.135 |
118.40.251.223 |
59.31.249.149 |
123.192.229.170 |
186.89.79.157 |
36.239.209.175 |
163.24.92.252 |
190.95.253.162 |
91.229.229.17 |
188.143.233.245 |
176.40.120.60 |
200.27.231.114 |
95.225.180.37 |
177.43.63.141 |
188.143.234.53 |
74.63.45.18 |
67.19.162.146 |
94.179.190.98 |
54.201.126.170 |
144.76.248.188 |
85.95.252.162 |
94.80.95.163 |
103.246.17.131 |
37.235.54.79 |
195.3.144.84 |
31.215.205.151 |
212.7.218.95 |
149.154.157.140 |
192.210.59.36 |
198.58.123.44 |
46.39.88.49 |
46.39.88.55 |
46.39.88.232 |
46.39.88.78 |
37.55.76.127 |
109.120.163.94 |
213.179.252.37 |
46.39.88.213 |
85.102.244.101 |
91.199.139.17 |
94.158.33.51 |
178.137.229.37 |
78.182.216.224 |
91.124.69.156 |
93.81.191.129 |
78.139.105.254 |
80.69.50.121 |
5.206.41.134 |
89.235.223.201 |
178.35.192.199 |
46.39.88.153 |
85.107.208.208 |
80.56.142.16 |
178.191.62.43 |
87.245.177.27 |
88.245.19.199 |
46.48.179.102 |
37.215.51.206 |
46.241.113.200 |
176.51.2.243 |
37.187.67.49 |
87.244.137.35 |
87.244.150.197 |
87.244.150.229 |
87.244.167.71 |
201.81.51.151 |
67.225.220.93 |
87.244.166.119 |
23.88.77.68 |
77.126.210.32 |
151.0.53.232 |
190.206.137.213 |
84.94.162.72 |
87.244.136.62 |
118.96.186.208 |
87.244.156.198 |
193.109.248.66 |
94.233.182.59 |
88.235.35.135 |
119.197.101.133 |
79.100.168.21 |
36.68.104.64 |
87.244.171.4 |
37.55.70.1 |
92.252.165.8 |
212.22.215.182 |
78.154.164.203 |
87.244.155.224 |
87.244.166.19 |
195.211.155.156 |
85.25.198.229 |
175.126.111.78 |
95.188.10.215 |
77.30.3.223 |
91.200.12.55 |
72.67.57.33 |
46.219.84.208 |
177.81.201.200 |
110.89.20.40 |
62.210.78.197 |
121.205.198.223 |
184.179.17.212 |
112.207.188.213 |
104.194.12.154 |
115.77.13.135 |
203.125.35.138 |
59.6.235.97 |
187.36.139.75 |
195.138.91.181 |
104.194.19.104 |
178.150.81.202 |
199.58.73.2 |
2.182.151.31 |
77.125.148.67 |
120.37.216.60 |
117.26.194.168 |
110.86.185.154 |
110.89.23.174 |
27.153.233.237 |
27.153.210.63 |
110.82.169.4 |
110.85.75.66 |
110.82.169.208 |
110.82.170.242 |
110.82.170.237 |
110.82.171.189 |
82.146.38.90 |
91.183.61.191 |
194.214.167.60 |
46.118.126.42 |
78.92.124.32 |
81.182.194.16 |
193.108.220.26 |
27.153.249.13 |
91.183.64.107 |
86.101.106.225 |
91.179.156.93 |
178.212.44.118 |
87.97.64.80 |
81.182.162.183 |
27.153.187.23 |
216.70.91.153 |
78.7.167.146 |
78.4.169.174 |
95.72.154.238 |
217.74.43.38 |
82.104.65.14 |
217.146.199.144 |
89.97.104.218 |
78.4.195.18 |
109.195.180.204 |
97.68.144.254 |
82.146.33.216 |
78.6.3.46 |
212.183.168.108 |
62.219.191.232 |
104.46.59.81 |
85.195.91.10 |
54.154.0.128 |
91.200.12.56 |
93.54.30.102 |
109.162.42.11 |
93.61.73.145 |
79.141.172.21 |
89.97.121.177 |
54.93.94.225 |
62.210.188.180 |
91.200.12.51 |
85.25.100.63 |
46.166.188.202 |
24.114.29.162 |
178.137.85.56 |
46.119.117.247 |
213.128.81.42 |
134.249.50.142 |
190.205.173.110 |
62.168.226.245 |
94.29.131.202 |
110.4.12.173 |
188.163.83.89 |
46.118.28.223 |
109.127.83.87 |
109.127.98.227 |
95.241.106.161 |
74.14.237.15 |
79.28.255.65 |
195.3.144.241 |
64.132.211.226 |
65.205.93.10 |
85.128.142.64 |
175.126.62.151 |
210.124.81.2 |
93.79.72.220 |
176.102.37.92 |
94.29.127.51 |
91.200.13.64 |
82.146.38.254 |
211.110.140.70 |
109.95.210.150 |
91.200.13.45 |
177.83.226.146 |
84.18.132.17 |
176.102.37.84 |
93.170.82.35 |
117.18.73.66 |
201.81.67.99 |
66.118.164.146 |
190.199.254.211 |
198.204.243.115 |
195.211.155.196 |
87.244.134.66 |
175.44.52.51 |
87.244.156.165 |
87.244.137.91 |
87.244.132.178 |
212.114.165.198 |
85.113.38.80 |
88.229.253.45 |
46.118.123.156 |
176.8.91.38 |
174.21.158.168 |
91.242.217.119 |
46.119.59.134 |
178.137.163.38 |
182.239.127.139 |
54.206.24.213 |
109.120.163.60 |
141.255.162.189 |
109.197.193.202 |
91.208.16.3 |
209.200.10.204 |
188.143.234.100 |
117.173.199.111 |
174.143.63.187 |
69.73.158.224 |
178.137.17.141 |
178.137.93.130 |
97.77.104.22 |
195.34.78.141 |
182.74.154.246 |
182.239.95.136 |
213.135.93.46 |
37.247.110.55 |
37.239.46.26 |
46.118.29.69 |
212.145.64.56 |
213.60.51.127 |
62.193.196.86 |
193.104.41.186 |
95.163.121.138 |
37.57.200.107 |
94.249.192.112 |
113.184.98.98 |
110.44.101.46 |
120.29.98.194 |
189.139.188.196 |
78.165.178.58 |
95.153.161.107 |
178.165.26.204 |
113.178.5.207 |
193.203.49.210 |
186.255.71.242 |
187.252.189.169 |
188.225.77.83 |
195.154.235.55 |
61.31.132.58 |
46.171.148.25 |
61.74.246.102 |
176.111.65.87 |
213.129.100.55 |
211.219.252.14 |
88.132.178.120 |
46.16.228.92 |
14.140.182.227 |
109.103.159.105 |
92.80.197.246 |
1.55.29.215 |
58.11.57.219 |
77.222.97.113 |
212.233.180.25 |
113.162.162.67 |
117.193.183.169 |
118.69.37.138 |
212.86.229.206 |
222.102.108.109 |
187.18.236.129 |
117.212.228.48 |
95.188.56.209 |
85.173.85.10 |
83.14.202.18 |
113.162.56.100 |
115.241.94.14 |
213.87.133.44 |
59.99.64.16 |
58.8.197.42 |
41.223.162.75 |
217.77.222.64 |
122.100.179.218 |
122.167.85.61 |
176.62.87.51 |
111.241.132.134 |
113.162.196.103 |
85.132.37.213 |
188.112.197.190 |
49.159.146.126 |
117.208.243.62 |
122.163.219.2 |
212.156.44.134 |
37.7.46.189 |
89.121.147.83 |
88.204.231.186 |
212.210.146.42 |
200.2.179.208 |
1.244.187.96 |
101.78.186.254 |
81.180.36.141 |
89.122.140.88 |
79.120.104.58 |
114.36.200.91 |
105.228.194.151 |
95.72.155.208 |
37.214.8.233 |
92.49.167.144 |
130.204.169.216 |
109.69.7.62 |
178.45.150.204 |
58.141.36.76 |
220.188.64.247 |
79.141.237.61 |
178.165.87.11 |
94.232.6.181 |
203.125.11.226 |
180.210.191.6 |
46.107.236.11 |
109.172.46.106 |
117.217.208.89 |
5.238.236.49 |
86.122.71.99 |
117.222.110.179 |
62.158.223.188 |
222.124.35.90 |
37.190.37.84 |
122.160.158.187 |
187.54.73.131 |
189.24.245.0 |
93.72.90.199 |
93.136.123.202 |
178.65.143.22 |
218.187.84.237 |
80.98.197.247 |
194.190.110.238 |
178.60.44.247 |
42.116.75.99 |
58.9.239.177 |
94.51.188.234 |
79.106.97.66 |
182.64.159.209 |
113.171.75.28 |
112.216.133.234 |
2.133.160.187 |
195.122.24.167 |
188.191.234.129 |
178.149.223.179 |
93.187.120.28 |
200.111.79.201 |
112.105.242.136 |
113.162.120.10 |
188.19.182.111 |
87.245.180.146 |
193.25.177.67 |
89.121.208.70 |
182.64.141.173 |
85.37.247.185 |
186.145.100.186 |
113.178.13.197 |
178.66.216.61 |
130.0.184.110 |
178.70.174.71 |
190.142.67.22 |
188.254.126.25 |
87.119.127.57 |
31.128.135.233 |
200.87.153.219 |
106.220.45.22 |
178.223.52.74 |
80.251.164.52 |
123.22.99.12 |
178.67.114.165 |
37.150.253.43 |
178.217.39.210 |
176.113.207.20 |
37.19.61.60 |
46.216.39.45 |
87.246.10.34 |
181.40.41.76 |
83.24.59.159 |
111.241.41.139 |
125.62.194.162 |
118.167.118.156 |
1.162.139.30 |
49.159.18.174 |
78.97.159.103 |
5.55.162.0 |
14.32.55.115 |
95.79.130.39 |
46.164.224.104 |
46.229.194.209 |
81.161.20.183 |
114.26.21.55 |
178.120.58.137 |
95.37.241.127 |
92.231.169.209 |
181.130.148.30 |
46.39.1.177 |
41.76.168.10 |
188.233.34.167 |
178.148.118.104 |
91.202.204.37 |
185.5.5.191 |
89.74.40.244 |
196.206.230.150 |
212.164.184.60 |
109.93.214.60 |
77.87.97.186 |
88.5.132.70 |
93.78.83.247 |
178.222.181.30 |
79.106.109.152 |
88.206.3.65 |
78.1.85.139 |
62.68.58.152 |
201.211.186.35 |
212.2.149.41 |
86.34.73.23 |
176.102.32.209 |
46.19.224.190 |
178.209.112.114 |
213.74.218.122 |
110.142.20.177 |
212.34.227.42 |
88.100.106.78 |
95.82.50.37 |
182.186.153.192 |
118.142.70.35 |
177.72.220.7 |
123.21.80.103 |
190.181.7.188 |
79.188.243.214 |
217.118.93.121 |
31.28.45.94 |
1.172.228.84 |
176.103.83.96 |
93.73.187.84 |
95.243.205.146 |
46.191.155.4 |
212.5.149.171 |
109.92.107.3 |
77.29.143.244 |
177.229.5.212 |
80.249.85.193 |
178.68.224.75 |
93.86.174.209 |
83.110.107.170 |
189.68.17.178 |
171.78.83.53 |
190.202.86.138 |
181.164.43.18 |
212.200.82.63 |
83.149.8.205 |
86.120.173.47 |
186.55.64.220 |
190.252.148.2 |
186.93.204.48 |
109.166.142.31 |
95.107.210.33 |
85.246.33.92 |
81.192.101.176 |
113.162.245.11 |
190.234.105.95 |
94.159.209.247 |
112.166.30.150 |
190.97.199.27 |
37.252.67.228 |
128.69.47.160 |
95.76.161.173 |
81.202.120.157 |
77.65.110.106 |
188.162.167.23 |
111.254.41.35 |
134.0.33.1 |
93.78.205.197 |
59.152.138.34 |
209.115.232.65 |
111.68.32.180 |
62.162.198.214 |
201.26.72.79 |
189.196.18.209 |
220.135.201.64 |
46.71.83.175 |
83.228.25.59 |
77.244.209.94 |
123.22.108.92 |
190.156.210.119 |
123.28.140.35 |
92.80.2.102 |
211.225.170.15 |
114.25.21.226 |
178.212.178.226 |
117.0.119.207 |
85.12.201.100 |
211.72.229.91 |
78.40.221.16 |
14.161.37.128 |
113.160.62.54 |
219.252.16.118 |
60.251.163.184 |
116.50.242.161 |
59.3.206.96 |
117.6.9.36 |
84.109.129.120 |
113.163.2.84 |
87.109.200.16 |
113.170.183.230 |
83.217.196.231 |
114.47.228.46 |
95.190.17.221 |
122.117.174.245 |
114.38.168.19 |
85.235.46.250 |
188.76.22.164 |
109.93.149.14 |
89.218.179.158 |
203.115.28.180 |
60.250.200.211 |
113.170.194.173 |
61.38.134.27 |
180.148.4.101 |
117.220.238.65 |
79.181.62.97 |
195.24.146.22 |
31.192.156.219 |
94.100.102.226 |
115.252.105.222 |
212.92.206.133 |
122.252.237.34 |
117.0.171.136 |
119.159.58.180 |
115.78.160.254 |
122.165.14.238 |
134.249.12.137 |
31.43.223.18 |
123.23.247.72 |
123.192.214.220 |
195.98.73.252 |
121.242.61.169 |
105.233.7.97 |
109.165.61.160 |
114.45.57.26 |
213.55.105.195 |
79.27.118.93 |
59.177.7.138 |
79.28.192.97 |
113.179.32.144 |
77.245.112.177 |
212.164.3.189 |
186.225.142.162 |
178.204.180.31 |
186.92.176.45 |
118.160.47.189 |
98.23.207.87 |
87.231.24.73 |
177.32.179.243 |
37.99.107.239 |
113.162.207.103 |
74.207.237.35 |
122.254.0.108 |
195.98.68.114 |
79.191.125.220 |
112.135.14.14 |
41.109.124.255 |
92.87.71.176 |
123.205.129.171 |
141.105.172.133 |
178.175.41.89 |
113.166.150.192 |
31.146.124.200 |
95.57.95.117 |
46.241.135.251 |
190.17.113.110 |
79.131.209.114 |
197.3.243.14 |
181.67.201.10 |
211.172.11.13 |
91.218.209.226 |
46.173.118.102 |
82.81.161.26 |
85.90.193.224 |
193.188.81.114 |
78.161.43.106 |
46.70.115.51 |
190.234.33.175 |
197.3.235.193 |
86.125.235.193 |
113.172.51.187 |
109.93.181.137 |
91.205.68.18 |
89.105.231.189 |
123.26.39.169 |
180.245.180.22 |
111.243.172.107 |
95.70.52.97 |
151.0.49.68 |
190.113.214.28 |
187.201.136.139 |
113.160.106.205 |
118.37.185.197 |
178.125.219.114 |
190.42.238.248 |
41.41.115.74 |
37.63.228.148 |
200.106.17.152 |
14.166.216.233 |
147.30.133.166 |
91.108.139.12 |
190.236.46.188 |
95.133.83.96 |
78.3.109.193 |
151.238.5.139 |
1.53.203.178 |
181.74.135.170 |
86.150.61.78 |
188.51.238.184 |
117.192.43.161 |
85.236.178.170 |
181.37.30.165 |
62.212.57.134 |
178.121.65.153 |
36.234.35.198 |
178.90.125.201 |
114.41.118.58 |
123.241.35.174 |
113.166.195.213 |
27.75.97.86 |
94.154.26.30 |
42.116.54.60 |
46.100.214.135 |
77.254.85.122 |
190.90.238.51 |
60.249.223.1 |
180.177.134.238 |
46.147.46.73 |
111.243.75.2 |
121.185.40.133 |
88.227.236.240 |
59.180.160.142 |
36.227.66.124 |
188.51.228.114 |
41.129.20.195 |
94.178.81.206 |
176.74.107.230 |
114.43.243.3 |
85.64.21.192 |
186.120.211.251 |
85.130.45.129 |
190.56.253.77 |
179.187.236.104 |
178.64.206.45 |
89.229.185.243 |
113.179.42.5 |
85.173.147.60 |
31.15.84.240 |
178.216.123.224 |
41.129.45.2 |
109.172.46.22 |
195.160.164.22 |
92.113.247.121 |
79.27.112.183 |
188.26.221.231 |
109.229.48.216 |
113.162.88.114 |
89.137.193.177 |
27.74.107.233 |
217.26.6.74 |
5.166.159.58 |
62.196.111.2 |
1.55.110.15 |
37.190.63.24 |
14.165.58.234 |
82.240.161.213 |
59.120.77.33 |
105.158.150.155 |
189.164.4.70 |
89.146.164.209 |
1.34.6.63 |
117.206.4.105 |
118.170.53.119 |
114.42.125.97 |
124.225.250.228 |
180.93.145.89 |
113.162.231.161 |
182.52.61.168 |
46.158.62.103 |
113.161.176.12 |
201.69.137.109 |
218.111.192.245 |
190.237.246.231 |
113.186.8.225 |
89.216.220.66 |
14.167.56.109 |
112.223.152.149 |
212.75.135.218 |
190.26.94.155 |
24.18.132.45 |
37.113.160.37 |
193.169.195.67 |
182.239.95.137 |
110.4.12.178 |
184.82.29.169 |
46.174.67.107 |
212.24.62.22 |
37.9.53.109 |
195.154.222.124 |
174.21.89.67 |
187.205.127.75 |
223.204.64.158 |
213.242.25.161 |
Dress Up Your Fence’s Gate
Every once in a while I go to a job and find an old mortise lock that for whatever reason the customer does not want anymore, usually because it has malfunctioned. Some people like having a modern-looking lock. If they hired me to open their door because their lock malfunctioned some people elect to replace their mortise lock with a cheap doorknob because if the knob malfunctions you can unscrew it and remove it from the door (if you can get inside)
Usually these old locks have some very ornate thumblatches and other trim, and I just can’t stand throwing these away. I now have many of these but haven’t found a purpose for them yet until just now. I propose using them as fence gate pull handles.
I used to build fences and have quite a bit of experience putting them together. Usually I bought a kit including black hinges and a latch and they look very nice when installed. Lots of people opt for a cheaper latch, just a small metal latch like this:
There are other options though. For a while I was using architectural closeout pull handles. You can use dummy handles made by lock manufacturers. Why not use these stately old thumblatchs? The only drawback is if your fence isn’t attractive enough to stand up to the beauty of these timeless mortise trim thumblatches then it may look out of place. You can fix that though. You really ought to seal/stain your fence anyway to protect it from the weather and warping. A cedar fence will turn grey quickly if you don’t treat it correctly from the outset! You may as well stain it an attractive walnut or something that will look good and then the fence will be complemented by attractive trim.
If you want me to install one of these wonderful antique thumblatches on your gate let me know. I can’t bare to throw these away, I want them to be used for something.