In the article we will talk about how to make locks for a garage or outbuildings on your own. As a rule, locks that are used in garages or outbuildings are made according to simple designs. They are opened with special keys. Due to the fact that they are installed indoors, this makes them as invisible as possible. The production of such locks is carried out individually, all the wishes and possibilities of the owner are taken into account.
It is quite difficult to pick up master keys for such locks, this is the main advantage when compared with standard models. We will look at 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 homemade lock designs
The garage is necessary in order to protect the caror any other vehicle from external factors, including theft. As you understand, with the help of a garage, you protect your car from the effects of precipitation and other natural phenomena. But there is no full guarantee of the safety of your vehicle. To a greater extent, the safety of the car depends on how strong and reliable the lock is.
There are several types of garage locks:
- Mounted.
- mortise.
- Invoices.
- Rack.
- Mixed devices.
The main criterion that distinguishes these devices from the rest is the manufacturing technique. But there are both factory modifications and homemade ones. We will talk about the latter in as much detail as possible. After all, homemade locks for garages are increasingly being used due to the fact that they are very reliable and more difficult to open.
What to look out for
If you decide to purchase a factory copy, you need to determine its quality. Very often the price tells about the quality of the product. If you want to purchase a high-quality and reliable device, you will have to fork out and spend quite a lot of money.
The fact is that in this case the lock will not be made by 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-rate homemade products have a rather lowquality, hence we can talk about the low reliability of the design.
If you decide to make your own castle, you will lose quality - this is indisputable. And this will primarily affect the safety of the vehicle. Mounting the lock is a very important step, it must be approached very responsibly. When installing a lock, one thing must be taken into account. Normal protection will be provided only by the mechanism that is not striking, or it is not visible at all.
Principles of operation of padlocks
Such designs are the most common, the whole mechanism is located in a hanging case. In homemade padlocks, locking is carried out using a pin or other similar elements. They are inserted into the mechanism. In order for the design to work, it is necessary to install special eyes on the doors that are planned to be locked. An arc is installed in them, which, in fact, produces locking. But this design option has one very big disadvantage, which completely crosses out all its positive qualities.
This lock is very easy to crack. The fact is that such designs of locks are installed from 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 homemade garage lock. Most often, locks of this type are used for additional protection when a combination occurs. In other words, multiple mechanisms are used to lock the garage.
Rack 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 latches pull out. The design of the lock is a little more reliable, but still, if desired, it can be opened without problems. To do this, the locking elements are simply cut, or a key is selected.
Detachable locks
There are several shortcomings in this design at once. First, 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 a different mechanism for locking doors. We will talk about them further.
Homemade designs
It is very common to find turntables for locking garage doors. They work like a bolt. The design is simple, you can do the installation yourself. The principle of operation is as follows:
- It is necessary to mount eyelets on the inside of the gate, they can be made of both metal and wood.
- In the center of the gate, it is necessary to install a turntable with a through bolt. It will be driven byturning relative to the central part.
- The ends of the turntable must fit into the eyes. This is how they lock the doors as securely as possible from the inside.
There are absolutely no parts of the castle outside. It is almost impossible to crack this design, so its reliability is very high.
Latch
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 lugs. As a rule, it is installed on the inside of the sashes. This device functions as a valve.
Locks for swing gates
This is a kind 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 gate is hinged, then the elements are made of metal rods that move vertically in the eyes. These eyelets are installed on the sashes. 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 into the holes. After installation, it is desirable to concrete them. But such constipation has oneflaw. They are closed only 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 located in the yard.
How to make your own castle
Now let's look at a simple instruction for making an overhead valve system. It must be driven with a special homemade key.
The design consists of the following elements (we will consider their manufacture at the same time):
- First, the base of the castle is made. It is a metal plate, it is desirable to use it with a thickness of at least 3 mm. Plate diameter 10 mm.
- It is also necessary to cut two overlays from the same metal: 22 mm wide and 120 mm long.
- Next, you need to bend these pads in a vise.
- After that, you need to make a valve.
- Make a guide tube, the outer diameter should be about 1 cm. It should subsequently include the lock key. The length of this tube depends on how thick the gate is. The end of the tube must be cut at an angle of 60 degrees.
- At the first stage of assembly, it is necessary to weld the lining on the edges of the base. If suddenly there was a deformation of the elements after welding, they must be straightened. If the curvature is small, then it can be corrected.
At the corners of the plate, it is necessary to drill 4 holes, with which the lock will be fixed to the sash. Install the guide tube into the hole in the plate. You should end up with a relatively cheap and simple homemade "secret" lock.
The bevel must be directed towards the overlays. After that, you can weld the tube to the base, but do not forget that these elements must 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 travel of the valve. It is recommended to install spring washers under their heads so that they do not get out when the lock is operated.
Key for a lock with a "secret"
It is necessary to use a rod with a round section, the diameter of which is 8 mm, as a key. The length should be about 15 cm. This is the optimal value. As you understand, making a homemade lock for a garage with your own hands is half the trouble, you will also need to make a "cunning" key.
You need to fold 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. A hole must be drilled around this cut. Next, make a groove. After that, collect the key for a homemade lock with your own hands.
The secrecy of this design is ensured by the fact that turnkey holes are drilled in the valve, while there may be an interval of 1 mm or more. This will provide the castle with the greatest number of secrecy options. Similar homemade door lockscommonly used in warehouses, outbuildings and garages.
