Furniture lock: types, installation, recommendations for choice

Modern society is almost impossible to imagine without locks and keys, providing reliability and security in our time so difficult. Surely each of us will have several valuable items or documents that need to be stored away from prying eyes. They can be hidden in furniture boxes, equipped with special accessories.

Varieties and classification

When choosing a furniture lock, you should clearly understand what material it will be attached to. After all, today there are a lot of varieties of locking mechanisms.

All furniture locks can be divided into three main types - mounted directly on furniture; Half-embedded and fully integrated. The very design of the locking mechanism directly depends on the material of furniture, on which it will be installed. Thus, a furniture lock is made for metal, wooden or glass doors. Depending on the scope of operation there are harpoon-shaped, rotary, push-button and rack-and-pinion mechanisms.

How to choose a furniture lock?

As a rule, in shops are sold nightstands and cabinets, already equipped with locking mechanisms. But sometimes the consumer still has a need to replace them on his own. When choosing, pay attention to the shape, size and fastening of the furniture lock. Particularly reliable are tubular locking mechanisms, which are difficult to open. The key to such locks has a specific form, so the owner never confuses it in a common bundle. Those who are constantly losing their keys and then puzzles over the question of how to open a furniture lock, it is advisable to stop the choice of code lock mechanisms remotely reminiscent of the case hardware. Consumers, for whom it does not matter reliability and safety, and the design of the lock, you can recommend to walk around the specialized shops that offer a huge range of models.

Before buying a lock, it is necessary to make sure of easy turn of the key and smooth extension of the lock. This is considered a guarantee of reliability and durability of the locking mechanism. Remember that a quality model does not have external and internal defects.

Installation of a furniture lock on wooden doors

For the installation of locking mechanisms, you need to have elementary carpentry skills and a set of special tools. The installation of the furniture lock includes four stages. The most difficult and responsible are the first two, namely the marking of the installation site and its drilling. At the last stages, the mechanism itself and the counter plate are fastened.

The marking is carried out taking into account the width of the square case, the diameter and the length of the cylinder of the lock's face. To calculate the drilling center, you need to perform simple mathematical operations. By adding to the radius of the mask the distance from the edge of the cylinder to the edge of the extended latch tongue, add a couple of millimeters to this sum. The resulting distance must be retreated from the edge of the drawer or door at the place of installation of the locking mechanism. If the lock is installed on the outer door, then it is necessary to padding the wall thickness towards which it closes.

Then, taking an awl, it is necessary to do a small groove on the front side of the drilling center. This will improve the quality of drill centering. In order to avoid a possible chipping of the material, it is desirable to attach a small wooden lining to the back of the door. Drilling is recommended at low speed.

The lock is inserted into the resulting hole, after which the screw marks the screwing points of screws screwed with a screwdriver or a screwdriver. After that, you can proceed with the installation of the back corner.

Conclusion

Furniture lock Is considered one of the most important elements of the fittings, installed not only on drawers of tables, but also on the doors of hinged lockers. It is assigned not only utilitarian, but also purely decorative functions. So, a beautiful locking mechanism will transform an ordinary cabinet, turning it into a real work of art. To lock reliably protect your values, you need to give preference to models from well-known and proven manufacturers, who value their reputation.