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File Cabinet Lock
The file cabinet lock is a very important part of protecting your files and other valuables that you may have stored within the drawers. It doesn't matter if you have a metal or a wood file cabinet, there is a lock that you can install without it taking away from the look of your valuable piece of office furniture.
Unfortunately, there are times in which locks break. Perhaps the key has broken off or another moving part of the mechanism has broken. Finding the right one doesn't have to be hard, nor does the installation. Once installed, you can once again rest with the fact that your valuable files and items are protected.
Types of Locks
Every file cabinet model takes a different model of file cabinets lock. They also have different appearances. For example, the knockout in the drawer may be oval. If that's the case, you will need to look at your cabinet to determine what model you have so that you can find the right lock to fit into the hole.
The file cabinet can come with different types of locking mechanisms. The key type is the most common, but there may be some instances in which combination locks are used. They are built-in and will not open unless the right combination is entered.
Also, you may want to see if you have a file cabinets lock that locks all of the drawers or just one. Many have just one drawer that locks so that one drawer can be accessed easily, while the other contains very sensitive documents that no one except the person with the key should access. It's all rather simple.
In the end, you can't really underestimate the security of what is inside all of your cabinets. The slightest piece of information could prove profitable to someone else, even if it doesn't seem that way to you. This means to make sure you protect everything, regardless of the design or file cabinet dimensions.
Lock Replacement
When you receive your new file cabinets lock, you will have installation instructions to follow so that you can easily install your new locking mechanism. Believe it or not, the installation is not hard. As long as you have the right model, you should have no problem.
As for how you install your new lock, you have to remove the old one. This can be done by inserting a drill bit into the keyhole and drilling right into the cylinder. This will unlock it if it is locked and allow you to carefully remove the cylinder without damaging the cabinet. If you don't have to do this, all you will have to do is crab the c-shaped clip that is at the back of the filing cabinet lock and squeeze it so that you can slide the filing cabinets lock right out.
As you can see, the removal is not that difficult. You then follow the specific instructions that have been provided to you with your new file cabinet locking mechanism. First, you will need to place your key into the lock to make sure it is a fit. You don't want to outfit your file cabinet with its new locking mechanism and then find out it is not going to work for you.
When you place the new lock into the hole, make sure the tailpiece is pointing down so that you know it is upright. You don't want to install it upside down because that means you'll have to start all over again. If you have a C-clip, you will then hold it flush within the inside wall of the drawer that locks and insert the prongs through the pre-drilled holes in the file cabinets lock.
If everything lines up, you have successfully installed your file cabinet lock. Just make sure that you don't close the drawer before testing the file cabinet. You don't want to close the cabinet and then not be able to open it back up. This could result in you having to use the drill again and this means destroying what you have done and starting all over with a new locking mechanism.
If you find that you need help with installation, there are resources and individuals to help you if you have any questions. No one wants you to install your locking system wrong or have to start over with a replacement. That would be an inconvenience, so don't be afraid to ask for advice, especially if it is the difference between correct and incorrect installation. There are people to help.
So know what kind of file cabinet lock your file cabinet requires so that you can order the right one. And don't be afraid of the installation process. The instructions will help you properly install so that your file cabinet will be secure in no time.
