ABS Locks - Avocet - worth it?

[MonTheF1sh]

I have the thumb lock one and you have to remember to centre it back so it springs out or your cant use it from the outside (either lock or unlock).

[andy43]

Stugots said:

Guys looking at upgrading to ABS.

If your doors locked and key is in the lock internally, can you unlock door from outside with second key?

I believe a single type barrel (key outside, thumb lock inside) does away with this.

I only ask because if I get home early and the wife is shaggin the bin man, I can't get in!!

Cheers. Milkman.

No - if the milkman's already got his in the other side you can't push yours all the way in. Might depend on the barrel length though. Of the lock obviously.

[DBSV8]

Stugots said:

LeadFarmer said:

First thing I did when we recently had aluminium bifold doors fitted was to change the locks to ABS Avocet. I didn't particularly go for these believing they we're the absolute best, I just wanted to get rid of the factory locks incase the installers/staff had kept a key and replace them with something better.

Guys looking at upgrading to ABS.

If your doors locked and key is in the lock internally, can you unlock door from outside with second key?

I believe a single type barrel (key outside, thumb lock inside) does away with this.

I only ask because if I get home early and the wife is shaggin the bin man, I can't get in!!

Cheers. Milkman.

No

We have ABS Avocet , and while they are extremely good , if your keys are in the lock on the inside , you cant open from the outside ,

cheers

[Rosscow]

I have one of these, but the thumb turn version. As mentioned above, you must make sure the thumb turn is centred before closing the door behind you!

[LeadFarmer]

I initially wanted the thumb turn version as we use our patio door numerous times each day, even in winter and didn't want to rely on using a key. What put me off was that when we go on holiday etc then if anyone breaks in (via another entry point) then the thumb turn allows them an easy exit through the patio doors. We leave our key on the inside of the door lock all the time in case of fire etc, but when we go away for more than a day I remove the key out of sight.

[Rosscow]

LeadFarmer said:

I initially wanted the thumb turn version as we use our patio door numerous times each day, even in winter and didn't want to rely on using a key. What put me off was that when we go on holiday etc then if anyone breaks in (via another entry point) then the thumb turn allows them an easy exit through the patio doors. We leave our key on the inside of the door lock all the time in case of fire etc, but when we go away for more than a day I remove the key out of sight.

Yep, I can understand that.

However, we are using an auto-locking multipoint lock in our front door so the thumb turn acts as the main opening device on the inside - we don't have any lever handles, etc.

It's basically a modern, high security version of a Yale night latch lock.

[netherfield]

Stugots said:

Guys looking at upgrading to ABS.

If your doors locked and key is in the lock internally, can you unlock door from outside with second key?

I believe a single type barrel (key outside, thumb lock inside) does away with this.

I only ask because if I get home early and the wife is shaggin the bin man, I can't get in!!

Cheers. Milkman.

You need the Cisa Astral for that eventuality, fitted one to the Mother in laws bungalow, so at least the family can gain access if she has left the key on the inside, which she normally has done,telly on full blast and asleep in the chair,not bonking the milkman though.

Or there is another firm called Maco(Shand security) which does the same, this was fitted to her new door recently fitted,claimed by the door people to be better than Avocet and Cisa, I had them put the old lock back until I get chance to get some more keys organised.

Edited by netherfield on Monday 16th February 17:45

[ss312]

The ABS lock is the mutts - does its job when it's been snapped - read into it and it's the only one that the police were using because it was stopping repeat break ins.

We came back to find some screws on the floor in the living room and only when opening the door did we realise that it had been attacked outside in the back garden.

[ss312]

That's funny - never knew that, nope I'm a postman.... It's just my initials and a important date to me

Sounds like a good lock as well - as long as it works that will do me!

[Mr71c]

I would not recommend fitting an Avocet ABS to a front door unless you can gain entry to your home from the rear as when these cylinders are snapped then you will not be able to enter your home, you will then have to call out a locksmith to gain entry and that will cost a small fortune, it would be best to fit the Mul t lock garrison break secure

as you can see the key still fits into and opens the lock even after being snapped and the new Mul t lock break secure XP is looking even more secure

However the best way forward either if your lock as a break secure sacrificial point or an anti snap bar within the cylinder you still need to protect your lock with a security handle like this
or go for the daddy of all security handles the Era lockguard
this handle will deffo stop them snapping your cylinder

[Sir Bagalot]

I asked about Euro Cylinders here

I fitted ABS. When doing research I decided not to upgrade the handles, as the general feeling was the locks were more capable of protecting the door.

Edited by Sir Bagalot on Wednesday 18th March 21:17

[dazwalsh]

The security handles offer an extra layer of protection as they cannot even attempt to snap the lock with those in place.

[Mr71c]

Sir Bagalot said:

I asked about [url=http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=1489310&mid=158895}Euro Cylinders here[/url]

I fitted ABS. When doing research I decided not to upgrade the handles, as the general feeling was the locks were more capable of protecting the door.

The ABS is so secure that once snapped the criminal can not enter your home through the door and neither can you unless you pay a locksmith to get you in so why go to that trouble. as the pictures show above the Mul t lock still allows access with a key once snapped and the security handle is a lot harder to break than the standard handles that come with the doors unless your buying a premium composite door

[eltawater]

So for all of the gushing reviews of the Bristan Ultion all over the web, I still can't find anyone who is willing to give me an indication of price.

Would someone please give us a clue as to the likely retail price please? £20? £40? £100?

[hab1966]

I was getting quotes of £50 for the Ultion keyed alike.

In the end I've decided to drop to the Brisant E locks and security handles.

[eltawater]

Thank you, that's sounding quite pricey compared to the ABS. Time to weigh up the hassle factor for dealing with a snapped Avocet lock....

[Rosscow]

eltawater said:

Thank you, that's sounding quite pricey compared to the ABS. Time to weigh up the hassle factor for dealing with a snapped Avocet lock....

People will only be able to snap it if you leave enough protruding to be snapped.

If you measure correctly and only have a couple of millimetres protruding from the handle or escutcheon then they'll find it difficult to snap anyway.

[hab1966]

eltawater said:

Thank you, that's sounding quite pricey compared to the ABS. Time to weigh up the hassle factor for dealing with a snapped Avocet lock....

I believe that the Ultion is an evolved version of the Avocet lock so it will be better and more expensive.

If you go for a decent security handle you shouldn't really need the Ultion or Avocet as (in theory) they wont be able to get at the lock. Maybe consider the Brisant E-lock and a decent security handle.

[Mr71c]

Rosscow said:

People will only be able to snap it if you leave enough protruding to be snapped.

If you measure correctly and only have a couple of millimetres protruding from the handle or escutcheon then they'll find it difficult to snap anyway.

that's bks a criminal will rip of your handle as they are very easy to break with a pair of mole grips and this will expose more of your cylinder, the handles on a upvc or composite door are hollow and made of thin steel that is why lock companies produced cylinders with sacrificial breaks so that the cylinder was left in tact hidden within the door. The best option is to use an anti snap cylinder as well as a security handle

[Rosscow]

Mr71c said:

Rosscow said:

People will only be able to snap it if you leave enough protruding to be snapped.

If you measure correctly and only have a couple of millimetres protruding from the handle or escutcheon then they'll find it difficult to snap anyway.

that's bks a criminal will rip of your handle as they are very easy to break with a pair of mole grips and this will expose more of your cylinder, the handles on a upvc or composite door are hollow and made of thin steel that is why lock companies produced cylinders with sacrificial breaks so that the cylinder was left in tact hidden within the door. The best option is to use an anti snap cylinder as well as a security handle

Well yes, obviously handle quality comes into it.

But on my front door, the cylinder protrudes about 3mm from the timber face of the door and then I have a solid flush stainless steel pull that leaves about 1mm exposed.