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Anyone use Kwikset locks?

D

desura

Diamond Member
I'm thinking of getting some. Just a few q's...

1. how much more expensive are they than regular locks? they seem actually...to be about the same price

2. are they more fragile than regular locks?

3. are they easier to hack and break open?
 
The Kwikset Smart Key locks are good if you are a landlord as it allows you to rekey the lock on the fly whenever a tenant moves out.

For your self, the regular non-smart key locks are probably just average. They are probably half the price of Schlage locks and also feature a life-time warranty but you should double check that.
 
I used them throughout my house.

Not really anything to say... they get the job done.

A lock is pretty hard to screw up.
 
I put all new Kwikset locks in when we bought the current place. Definitely not the highest quality...but they're better than no locks. :\
 
I've switched us over to Kwikset locks. The price was similar to Schlage locks but the quality seemed much higher. The Schlage locks seemed to have a lot of play in them while the Kwikset ones were much better put together, IMO. and locked/unlocked smoothly.
 
I use them in my house. Kids have a tendency to lose their keys about once a year so it makes it easy to rekey.
 
ZaneNBK said:
I've switched us over to Kwikset locks. The price was similar to Schlage locks but the quality seemed much higher. The Schlage locks seemed to have a lot of play in them while the Kwikset ones were much better put together, IMO. and locked/unlocked smoothly.
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Ditto. They are probably the best brand that Home Depot carries.

Of course there are better brands, but you'd have to go to a proper hardware store, or order them online. And be prepared to spend a little money.
 
Vincent said:
A locksmith told me that they are very easy to pick.
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Nobody is going to be picking your locks. They're either going to look for an unlocked door or just jimmy the door.

Edit: Or just bust a window and climb in. Locks just deter casual thieves/thieves of opportunity.
 
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ZaneNBK said:
Nobody is going to be picking your locks. They're either going to look for an unlocked door or just jimmy the door.

Edit: Or just bust a window and climb in. Locks just deter casual thieves/thieves of opportunity.
Click to expand...

Kicking down the front door is another easy way for a thief to enter...
 
I think kwikset locks were the ones i drilled into and got into the house in a matter of 15 seconds.

Friend lost her only key the house. I took my old C3 craftsman drill and a random drill bit, drilled right in the both locks and got her in 15 seconds. Took me longer to read the instrutions to install a new lock.
 
There are different levels of Kwikset locks.

A door lock is not going to keep anyone out that wants to get in 9 times of out 10. They will go for a window or just kick through the sash.

Bumping locks is very over portrayed.

I have 6-pin Kwikset locks.
 
They are OK and very easy to re-key.

For security, use 3" drywall screws to secure hinges and the strike plate.
 
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desura said:
I'm thinking of getting some. Just a few q's...

1. how much more expensive are they than regular locks? they seem actually...to be about the same price

2. are they more fragile than regular locks?

3. are they easier to hack and break open?
Click to expand...

Kwikset is juat a brand of locks. Asking what you asked is like asking "Ayone use Duracell Batteries? How much more expensive..." etc.

Are you asking about their smartkey locks? I've never used them but have heard that they can be more of a headache then they're worth.

It's pretty trivial to re-key a cylander.
 
Just moved into my house, and the sellers did not give me keys to the locks. I just had the realtor key for one door.

They all had Kwikset locks on them, and I found a Youtube video that taught me how to take the locks apart and reset them. That saved me a lot of money.
 
Blackjack200 said:
Kwikset is juat a brand of locks. Asking what you asked is like asking "Ayone use Duracell Batteries? How much more expensive..." etc.

Are you asking about their smartkey locks? I've never used them but have heard that they can be more of a headache then they're worth.

It's pretty trivial to re-key a cylander.
Click to expand...

The problem is a house-call is expensive. Taking them in is cheap, but then unless you have someone that can sit at home with doors without deadbolts (and occasionally handles as well), then you are screwed.
 
BergeLSU said:
Just moved into my house, and the sellers did not give me keys to the locks. I just had the realtor key for one door.

They all had Kwikset locks on them, and I found a Youtube video that taught me how to take the locks apart and reset them. That saved me a lot of money.
Click to expand...

That defeats the purpose of kwikset no?
 
Kwikset is a brand, not a model.

Locks do nothing but keep moron criminals out.
Thieves don't pick locks anymore, they kick the door in, break a window, use a reciprocating saw on your exterior wall, etc.
 
thx for replies.

Yeah, I meant smartkey of course. I think kwikset is the only one who makes anything like them anyways...

Kind of wonder about the little rekey tool thing. Is there a chip or anything in it? If so...doesn't that mean that it needs a battery? How exactly does this shit work?

But yeah, someone wants to steal, they're going to break a window.
 
desura said:
thx for replies.

Yeah, I meant smartkey of course. I think kwikset is the only one who makes anything like them anyways...

Kind of wonder about the little rekey tool thing. Is there a chip or anything in it? If so...doesn't that mean that it needs a battery? How exactly does this shit work?

But yeah, someone wants to steal, they're going to break a window.
Click to expand...

It's mechanical, basically just a pushpin to enable reset function. I have the Weiser one with keypad. I think all Weiser locks come with Smartkey now.
 
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desura said:
thx for replies.

Yeah, I meant smartkey of course. I think kwikset is the only one who makes anything like them anyways...

Kind of wonder about the little rekey tool thing. Is there a chip or anything in it? If so...doesn't that mean that it needs a battery? How exactly does this shit work?

But yeah, someone wants to steal, they're going to break a window.
Click to expand...

Schlage makes something similar. I have a Smartkey on the front door...as the guy above me mentioned, it's mechanical. You stick in the current key in, turn, stick the tiny ass rekey tool (IE, a thin piece of metal) into the rekey slot, remove old key, put in new key, turn 180 degrees, and it's rekeyed.

Before I bought it, I thought it was a stupid idea, but considering the number of contractors and such as we've had in the house in the 4 months we've owned it, it's become well used.
 
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