In the article, we will talk about how to independently make locks for a garage or for outbuildings. As a rule, locks that are used in garages or outbuildings are made according to simple designs. They are opened using special keys. Due to the fact that they are installed indoors, this makes them as invisible as possible. The manufacture of such locks is carried out individually, all the wishes and capabilities of the owner are taken into account.
It’s quite difficult to pick master keys for such locks, this is the main advantage when compared with standard models. We will consider what home-made locks are for use in garages and outbuildings, and also talk about their differences from those copies that are sold in stores and markets.
Features and varieties of home-made lock designs
The garage is necessary in order to protect the car or any other vehicle from external factors, including theft. As you know, with the help of a garage you protect your car from the effects of rainfall and other natural phenomena. But there is no complete guarantee of the safety of your vehicle. To a greater extent, the safety of the machine depends on how strong and reliable the lock is.
There are several types of garage locks:
- Mounted.
- Mortise.
- Overhead.
- Rack and pinion.
- Mixed devices.
The main criterion that distinguishes these devices from the rest is the manufacturing method. But there are both factory modifications and homemade ones. We will talk about the latter in the most detail. After all, home-made locks for garages are increasingly being used due to the fact that they are very reliable and it is more difficult to open them.
What to look for
If you decide to purchase a factory copy, then you need to determine its quality. Very often, the price indicates what quality the product has. If you want to purchase a high-quality and reliable device, you have to fork out and spend quite a lot of money.
The fact is that in this case the lock will not be made using stamping, as is done in most cases. It will be assembled by hand by professionals. There are several points that will distinguish products assembled at the factory from homemade products. As a rule, artisanal second-class home-made products have a rather low quality, hence we can talk about the low reliability of the design.
If you decide to make a castle yourself, you will lose in quality - this is undeniable. And this will primarily be reflected in the safety of the vehicle. Mounting the castle is a very important step, it must be approached very responsibly. When installing the lock you need to consider one thing. Normal protection will only be provided by a mechanism that is not striking or cannot be seen at all.
Principles of operation of padlocks
Such designs are most common, the whole mechanism is located in a suspended housing. In homemade padlocks, locking is carried out using a pin or other similar elements. They are inserted inside the mechanism. In order for the construction to work, it is necessary to install special eyes on the flaps that are planned to be locked. An arc is established in them, which, in fact, also produces locking. But this design option has one very big minus, which completely crosses out all its positive qualities.
Such a lock can be cracked very easily. The fact is that such lock structures are installed on the outside of the building. Therefore, any attacker has direct access to it. Using a master key or grinder, you can easily open such a home-made garage lock. Most often, locks of this kind are used for added protection when combining occurs. In other words, several mechanisms are used to lock the garage.
Homemade locks
Such locks are also quite popular, they have one advantage. They are mounted exclusively inside the garage doors. Locking occurs with the help of several sliding rods. The lock is opened using an individual key, which is installed in the well.
When you turn it, the valves are extended. The design of the lock is a little more reliable, but all the same, if desired, it can be opened without any problems. To do this, the locking elements are simply sawed, or the key is selected.
Mortise locks
There are several disadvantages in this design. Firstly, it has very low reliability. Secondly, it is very difficult to mount it. The use of such structures is allowed only as an additional measure of protection. It is very difficult to make such a design on your own. Therefore, it is better to give preference to another mechanism for locking doors. We will talk about them later.
Homemade designs
Very often you can find turntables for locking garage doors. They work like a deadbolt. The design is simple, you can do it yourself. The principle of operation is as follows:
- On the inner side of the gate it is necessary to mount the eyes, they can be made of both metal and wood.
- In the center of the gate, a turntable must be installed with a through bolt. It will be driven by rotation relative to the central part.
- The ends of the turntable should fall into the eyes. That is how they lock the sash from the inside as reliably as possible.
At the same time, there are absolutely no parts of the castle on the outside. Hacking this design is almost impossible, so its reliability is very high.
Espagnolette
This is the simplest design, reliable and efficient. Ideal for locking garage doors. Therefore, it can be used in most cases. But let's find out what a latch is? This is a metal pin that moves inside special eyes. As a rule, it is installed on the inside of the wings. This device functions as a valve.
Locks for swing gates
This is a type of latch, but there is a slight difference. Latches, as a rule, move in a horizontal plane, they are usually used if the gate has one leaf. If the gates are oar, then the elements are made of metal rods that move vertically in the eyes. These eyes are mounted on the wings. In order to lock the door as securely as possible, holes must be made under the metal rods in the ground. They should be larger in diameter than the pins.
In order to increase the reliability and strength of the entire structure, it is necessary to install metal tubes of suitable diameter in the holes. It is advisable to concrete them after installation. But such constipation has one drawback. They only close from the inside, so you will need to install an additional door. Usually these locks are used if the garage is attached to the house, or is located in the yard.
How to make a castle yourself
And now let's look at a simple instruction for the manufacture of an overhead system with a valve. It should be set in motion with a special homemade key.
The design consists of such elements (we will consider at the same time their manufacture):
- First, the base of the castle is made. A metal plate acts in its quality, it is desirable to use it with a thickness of at least 3 mm. The diameter of the plate is 10 mm.
- Two overlays must also be cut from a similar metal: a width of 22 mm and a length of 120 mm.
- Next, you need to bend these pads in a vice.
- After that, you need to make a valve.
- Make a guide tube, the outer diameter should be about 1 cm. Subsequently, the lock key should enter it. The length of this tube depends on how thick the gate is. The edge of the tube must be cut at an angle of 60 degrees.
- At the first stage of assembly, it is necessary to weld the pads on the edges of the base. If suddenly there is a deformation of the elements after welding, they must be straightened. If the curvature is small, then it can be eliminated.
At the corners of the plate, it is necessary to drill 4 holes, with the help of which the lock will be fixed to the sash. Install the guide tube into the hole in the plate. As a result, you should get a relatively cheap and simple home-made lock with a "secret".
The bevel must be directed towards the lining. After that, you can weld the tube to the base, but do not forget that these elements should be perpendicular. Next, you need to install the lining and valve. Two bolts with a diameter of M4 must be screwed into the valve. The length of the bolts should be about 8 mm. These screws will limit the stroke of the valve. It is recommended to install spring washers under their heads so that they do not twist during the operation of the lock.
The key to the lock with a "secret"
As a key, it is necessary to use a rod with a circular cross section, the diameter of which is 8 mm. The length should be about 15 cm. This is the best value. As you know, making a home-made garage lock with your own hands is half the trouble, you will still need to make a tricky key.
It is necessary to bend one edge at a right angle, this will be the handle that you will hold when opening. On the other side, you need to form a cut at an angle of about 60 degrees. Near this cut it is necessary to drill a hole. Next, make a groove. After that, collect the key for a do-it-yourself lock with your own hands.
The secrecy of this design is ensured by the fact that key-hole holes are drilled in the valve, and there may be an interval of 1 mm or more. This will provide the castle with the greatest number of privacy options. Similar home-made door locks are commonly used in warehouses, outbuildings and garages.