Seattle's Maple Leaf Locksmith LLC – (206)335-4559

Category: Blog

  • Mortise lock fix: no set screw, stripped set screw

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    Bjørn Madsen
    in ,

    For all those hacks out there who want a cheap fix and also all my locksmith friends who need to get it secure for the night, here is the way. You can’t tighten a set screw that is missing or stripped out, but as long as the threads on the cylinder and the lock are…

  • Five inch backset electronic deadbolt options

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    Bjørn Madsen
    in ,

    I rarely have to install a 5″ backset deadbolt. I have never had to install an electronic 5″ backset deadbolt. The common options for deadbolts are either 2-3/8″ or 2-3/4″ backset. Making one of these work with a 5″ backset deadbolt is challenging. The easiest way to tackle this problem is to use an August…

  • Concealed Closers: Fixing other people’s mistakes

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    Bjørn Madsen
    in ,

    Got a call for a hollow aluminum door that wasn’t latching, thought it might be an easy fix on my way home. Those are often the jobs that end up getting you all dirty and take a lot of time in the end! This one was no different. I had to take the door down…

  • Keypad Mortise Lock Installation

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    Bjørn Madsen
    in ,

    People are always asking me how much it will be to install an electronic keypad lock on their door. Sometimes they have doors for which manufacturers in North America don’t design their locks, including mortise locks and multipoint locks. It is interesting when a solution for these two comes up. Thank goodness for people who…

  • Picking Locks in Seattle

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    Bjørn Madsen
    in

    This building is way too easy to unlock. Some of the pin chambers aren’t functioning, I only touched two pins here to unlock this door in Greenwood.

  • Easy Fix: Bent Mortise deadbolt

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    Bjørn Madsen
    in ,

    When people extend a deadbolt and then shut the door it mars the doorframe. It also may bend the bolt, making it nearly impossible to use with key or thumbturn. This is for entertainment value only, but I was able to bend this bolt straight with a pair of pliers. You should call a locksmith…

  • Used Safe for Sale

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    Bjørn Madsen
    in

    I have a used B rate 5 bolt burglary safe, its dimensions are 50x20x20 with electronic lock. List price is $1223. Normally you also pay a huge amount for shipping such a beast, especially if delivery address doesn’t have a loading dock. Then you have an extra $400 for liftgate service.The point is, this safe…

  • Product Review: Vevor Drill Bit Sharpener #MR-20G

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    Bjørn Madsen
    in

    Every locksmith goes through drill bits. We have to install things in metal doors, concrete, and if we are lucky, maybe wood. If you don’t know what you are doing you might break a lot of them, but as you get better at drilling you may find you are dulling them more often instead of…

  • Seattle Parking, Argh!

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    Bjørn Madsen
    in

    I now plan jobs based on where in town they are because parking is so difficult. Sometimes the only feasible way to do a job is to bring my motorcycle. I hate to do that because then I can’t cut keys, everything has to be planned out well. Part of the issue with parking is…

  • Safe opening: professionalism and lack thereof

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    Bjørn Madsen
    in

    Today I got a request from an NSP to go open a large Allied-Gary safe for their customer. This in itself is pretty ordinary. What set it apart experience-wise was that this guy specifically suggested that I use an angle grinder to cut a hole in the safe to unlock it. Aside from the health…