Woven lattices and animal hides – that’s how our ancestors protected their simple huts made of wood and clay. Fortunately, we can now rely on modern front doors and locks so thieves can’t get at our possessions. And we increasingly depend on high-quality locks that meet the highest security standards to achieve good burglary protection.

That’s why you can buy door locks from us, also prepped for profile cylinders – for front doors, but also for swing doors, garden gates, shed doors or cellar enclosures. Get inspired and find the ideal door lock for your application!

Front door lock with or without cylinder

“Open Sesame” – with these words, Ali Baba opened a treasure chamber in the well-known tale. Unfortunately, our doors still can’t be opened with magic spells, but they are especially secure – provided high-quality locks are used. A door lock consists at least of a lock case and a strike plate as the counterpart. Especially for front door locks or versions that must be particularly secure, a locking cylinder or profile cylinder is also used. Door locks can roughly be divided into the following three categories:

• Bit key lock: The simplest version is mainly used indoors and has the advantage that it usually does not require a cylinder. It owes its name to the colorful and therefore varied key shapes and bits. One major disadvantage, however, is that these locks are not very secure, because a single key theoretically fits more than one mortise lock despite the many variants. And thieves who are skilled with lock picks and similar tools can crack the lock quickly. A bit key lock should therefore not be used for front doors.  
• Lock with cylinder: Mortise locks with profile cylinder or profile cylinder lock are much more secure. They have an open locking channel in which a separate locking cylinder, such as a profile cylinder or double cylinder, can be fitted. The key points for finding the right cylinder for such a door lock are the door thickness, the dimensions of the lock rosette and door fitting, and the length of the cylinder.
• Bathroom or WC lock: Just like the bit key lock, bathroom or WC locks do not have a true locking channel, but a square spindle is essential here to operate the latch and bolt. It is driven from the inside by a thumb turn, while on the outside only a closing knob is fitted.

From rim locks to mortise locks

In addition, there are surface-mounted locks, mortise locks, inset locks or bar locks. Anyone looking to buy a door lock should, besides the type of lock, also pay attention to whether the door is right- or left-handed, as well as the backset. This measurement denotes the distance from the center of the keyhole and square spindle to the outer edge of the faceplate.

At Heimwerkertools, we offer both mortise locks – including for swing doors – as well as rim locks. Mortise locks are simply inserted into the routed recess on the lock side of the door, fixed with screws, and fitted with protective fittings and the square spindle. For rim locks, it is important to first mark the position and outline the opening for the faceplate before the holes can be drilled. A hole is also needed for the locking cylinder or bit key insert. In addition, you can buy knob locks, swing-door latches, overnight locks and padlocks from us.

How door locks work

The heart of many door locks is a locking cylinder. This fits perfectly into the mortise lock, which is anchored in the door leaf. To fix the cylinder, the cylinder and lock are screwed together. The cylinder has a locking channel. When the key is inserted, it can move the cam that operates the latch (door catch) or the bolt of the mortise lock. In doing so, the uniquely shaped key profile with its different details moves the tumblers inside the cylinder so that the spring-loaded locking pins release the locking mechanism in the lock. The result: the key turns and opens the door.

In the following article you will find more information about the structure and installation of door locks: Everything you need to know about mortise locks: types, installation and dimensions.

Frequently asked questions about door locks