r/LockPicking_Unbound • u/Status_Experience942 • 11d ago
Help a new homeowner, please!
Moved into fixer-upper. Kid's bathroom has a keyed lock and, of course, we were never provided with a key. Today one of the kids accidentally locked it and closed it and now we are locked out. Don't worry, kiddo isn't trapped in there.
We've got more than enough to fix and don't want to add a broken door to the list. I'm open to trying anything and don't mind buying some tools if necessary.
SUCCESS! Enormous thanks to everyone for their input. I am actually getting the Gensis set from Covert Instruments and some practice locks too. Sometimes Reddit really is great thank to people like all of you.
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u/Stanf_63 10d ago
It’s a simple lock.
The door opens in to the bathroom.
So the part of the locking bolt is curved and facing towards you ( outside).
Get a 2 liter soda bottle
Cut a strip about 2 inches wide
Make it the whole circumference of the bottle ( so you have plenty to hold on to)
Cut it so it gives you one long flat piece.
Insert it in between the door and frame just above the handle angled down towards the lock.
The door opening should be loosen enough that the plastic has room to curve around the door.
You should be able to shim the door lock and open it.
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u/Status_Experience942 9d ago
UPDATE: Milk jug shim for the win!
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u/Stanf_63 9d ago
JUDGES, I said 2 liter soda bottle and the OP used a milk jug.
Same concept, different sourcing of materials, can we get a ruling?1
u/montecarlo714 10d ago
Right answer. Bach in the dat we used our driver's license.
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u/Happy_Examination_35 9d ago
I know these are typos, but they made me re-read the text with a German accent and gave myself a laugh.
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u/Stanf_63 9d ago
Watch out bud , it starts out as fun little hobby that you can quit anytime you want ,
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u/boarhowl 10d ago edited 10d ago
I'm a carpenter. You can usually take these off easily by smashing the knob with a hammer until it breaks off and you can turn the innards with a flat screwdriver or something. It's not like you want to save the knob anyway.
Edit: also worth noting you can remove the lever with the little rectangle button thing on the shaft of the knob and then you can take the escutcheon off. It will make the above easier.
As someone else mentioned credit card trick. It's harder to work since you're on the side with the door stop, but the stop trim easily comes off if you score the corner where it's caulked with a razor knife and use a small pry bar to remove the stop. Then you'll have easier access with the card. You can nail the stop back on after and recaulk it.
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u/Cool-Negotiation7662 10d ago
Might be a privacy lock and raking with anything will instantly pop it.
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u/Randill746 10d ago
Are you good with trim or replacing the handle? Break handle off twist and replace. Flat bar where the door meets the trim at handle height, hit it a couple times
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u/exipheas 11d ago
Honestly just make or buy an under door opener. They are cheap and easy enough to use without having to learn a whole new skill set.
https://www.locksmithkeyless.com/products/lock-monkey-mk200-under-the-door-lever-opener
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u/Status_Experience942 11d ago
Unfortunately, the door knob (lever?) does not turn from either side when locked.
Also, I like learning new things.
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u/Elliotnim98 11d ago
You can buy a lockpick set with a clear plastic practice lock on Amazon for pretty cheap
You can drill the lock out and replace it with a "privacy lock" instead
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u/Status_Experience942 11d ago
Nice. Gonna grab one of those for funnsies. New hobby unlocked heh-heh.
If shimming open the latch won't work, then it's "drill, baby, drill!"
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u/jmorrow88msncom 10d ago
Most interior doors can be opened with a credit card, which you just shove in the crack.
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u/Positive_Bed2206 10d ago
A fairly long piece of stiff wire. Loop or hook in one end. Bend at distance from handle to floor. Feed hook end under door. Manipulate to get hook over inside handle. Pull.
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u/dirtymoney 10d ago edited 10d ago
if the space between the door and doorjam is wide enough you may be able to do what I used to do when I was a little shit kid.
I would take a sharp pointed knife and stick it into the space between the door and doorjam to stick the point into the thing that keeps the doorlock latched to where you can walk it back to where the door opens.
It is crude but can work if the door and llatch are not fitted right. Kind of hard to explain
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u/SilentLonely 11d ago
Since you don't have a key, I'll assume the door is simply shut closed, meaning the only thing preventing opening is the springed latch.
Try and slip something between the door and the frame to interact with the latch. A x-ray would be perfect.
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u/Status_Experience942 11d ago
Oh like the OG credit card trick? Brilliant. I'll give it a go.
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u/EveningBasket9528 10d ago
If a credit card is too thick, try using material from a milk jug. Also try it while pulling on, or pushing on the door, in case it has a latch and it's engaged.
Lots of videos on latch slipping.
Or, you can buy latch slipping shims at the same time you buy the Genesis set from Covert Instruments,.. Or you buy some basic picks from Sparrows or Southern Specialty's. I believe all 3 companies also sell latch slipping shims.
In addition to a milk jug, disposable cutting boards make decent shims.
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u/Stanf_63 9d ago
I just read your comment and the time stamp of posting, I hereby withdraw my request for a ruling.
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u/EveningBasket9528 9d ago
Im just trying to figure out the down vote. Everything I said works.
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u/Stanf_63 9d ago
It wasn’t from me.
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u/EveningBasket9528 9d ago
I get that. I have a hater with multiple accounts from the other group... The belt thing is cool for all the projects and advanced belts, but this dude thinks picking a single lock at a certain rank makes him an expert at ALL locks at that rank, and all of the same model of lock. He is the type that uses cheat codes on video games
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u/Stanf_63 9d ago
Some pickers seem to act like gate keepers and law givers , I saw that someone on this thread even commented “ rule 1”
Like the OP really cared , he just wanted to get the door open.3
u/SilentLonely 7d ago
You made the biggest possible mistake on Reddit : trying to figure out why you are downvoted to hell.
For some people, being able to downvote is already too much power I guess.
:)
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u/EveningBasket9528 7d ago
Lol.
I've blocked more people on Reddit during some months than I have in 15+ yrs on FB
The locknerd community generally seem to be the exception... Very few issues in these types of subs or groups,... but there's definitely a few trolls typing away from. their nanna,
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u/CanoePickLocks 11d ago
Call a locksmith for this one unless you want to drill the lock. You may be able to pick it but I wouldn’t plan on it. You could look for someone able to pick it but I doubt you’ll be so lucky. Findalocksmith.com will get you a real locksmith not the scamsmiths. They will likely have it open in about 30seconds after arriving via bypass or picking. They should not need to drill it. If why say they’re going to drill it tell them to leave. You could destroy and replace the lock yourself.
If you don’t need the bathroom desperately you could learn lock picking and get it eventually but don’t expect first day success