We all work in commercial settings and we are all appointed a desk to have our personal space.
One of the integral parts of our working desk is the filing cabinet where we keep all our important files. For those of you who don’t have a filing cabinet at their workplace, it is a piece of furniture where employees often stack up important documents. While some cabinets are simple, others have a complex mechanism for a lock that enables the owner of the cabinet to secure their belongings. The most common type of locks used in filing cabinets is cam or plunger type locking systems. In the hustle and bustle of everyday lives, we often fail to realize how our cabinet locks may succumb to wear & tear because of excessive usage. Is one of your filing cabinet locks giving you a tough time? Are you having difficulty opening/closing your file cabinets? Well here’s just about everything you can do to replace your malfunctioning filing cabinet lock.
Steps Involved in Changing a File Cabinet Lock Assembly
Filing cabinet locks can be fixed using a drill bit or removing the assembly and turning it upside down to remove whatever key bit or gunk is stuck inside the lock’s cavity. However, drilling or taking out the assembly can damage the filing cabinet door in the process so it’s best advised that you replace the old lock with a brand new one. To begin with, here are a few simple steps which you need to follow in order to resolve your filing cabinet lock problem.
Step # 1
Open the drawer which is adjacent to the lock. Sometimes turning the cabinet upside down will allow you to open the drawer if it’s in a stuck position. In case, if that does not work then you may have to drive a drill bit through the lock cylinder. The process is to be done with precision so it does not damage the cabinet. Once you’ve drilled the lock carefully, the drawer can easily pull open & be removed.
Step # 2
There’s a C-shaped clip at the back of a filing cabinet lock drawer. Grab it using pliers or some other grasping tool. Remove the clip carefully and you will be able to slide the lockout from the file cabinet.
Step # 3
Now go to the market, find a similar lock to your existing lock and make a purchase. Come back and install the lock in your filing cabinet. The specific instruction for installation may vary from one lock type to another. So check what type of lock you’re planning to install and read the instruction manual carefully before installing the lock. A few things to keep in mind when installing a lock is to make sure the keyway is uprighted. The cam (tailpiece) should be pointing down.
Step # 4
When installing the lock, hold the c-clip flush against the inside wall of the cabinet. The clip has two prongs so make sure to insert them into the drilled holes around the lock body. Secure the lock firmly in place. Make sure the lock at the back of the cabinet section aligns properly with the locking mechanism in the cabinet. Check whether the lock is working or not using a key to test the drawer’s functioning.
And that’s just about it, you’ve successfully installed a cabinet lock!
Cabinet lock fixing can be a tiresome process. It may require an expert hand to do a fine job. MT Locksmith in Los Angeles has ample experience in removing/fixing/replacing all kinds of locks professionally.
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