Bin cupboard lock....
Author
Discussion

dreamer75

Original Poster:

1,427 posts

252 months

Saturday 12th February 2011
quotequote all
After living here for 5 years and never having had a key for our bin cupboard we've never locked it.

It doesn't have bins in it (the wheelies don't fit) so it's used to store car parts and bits and bobs.

Tried to get in it this morning and somehow it's locked..... no idea how, who or why. And not having a key, no idea how to open it!

Does anybody know how I get into it?

Simpo Two

91,496 posts

289 months

Saturday 12th February 2011
quotequote all
Extreme violence. You may not have a door afterwards but it will be very satisfying.

sploosh

822 posts

232 months

Saturday 12th February 2011
quotequote all
Birmingham screwdriver?

Sorts most things

Shaman

699 posts

224 months

Saturday 12th February 2011
quotequote all
sploosh said:
Birmingham screwdriver?

Sorts most things
Manchester Socket Set

condor

8,837 posts

272 months

Saturday 12th February 2011
quotequote all
What sort of lock is it?
ie. is it like the lock on the outside electric meter door?
Are there other bin cupboards like it close by? - if so, you could ask a neighbour if they have a key. Chances are they'd be similar...or could be someone locked yours by accident thinking it was theirs.

Fatboy

8,257 posts

296 months

Saturday 12th February 2011
quotequote all
Shaman said:
Manchester Socket Set

Deva Link

26,934 posts

269 months

Saturday 12th February 2011
quotequote all
condor said:
you could ask a neighbour if they have a key.
Talk to the neighbours? Whatever next.

dreamer75

Original Poster:

1,427 posts

252 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
quotequote all
We are on very friendly terms with our neighbours, but they've been round in the past asking for a key so I doubt they have one! And if they locked ours by mistake I'd like to know what they were doing outside our front door wink

It's one of those round holes - I've never seen a key so I don't know what it would look like but there is a meter in it (I think it might have been the meter reading guy that locked it, seeing as we just got a bill with an Actual reading on it not an estimate).

Really need to get to the stuff in it, let alone the delivery men who use it to drop stuff - we've already missed out on one delivery frown

condor

8,837 posts

272 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
quotequote all
In that case it will more than likely have a triangular insert - very similar, if not the same, as the meter box key.
Just ask any of your neighbours/friends/work colleagues if they have one you can borrow.
The local hardware store probably sells them for about 50p

dreamer75

Original Poster:

1,427 posts

252 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
quotequote all
Ah ok so they're pretty generic? I'll pop to the shops tomorrow and see what I can find!

Deva Link

26,934 posts

269 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
quotequote all
dreamer75 said:
Ah ok so they're pretty generic? I'll pop to the shops tomorrow and see what I can find!
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detai...

..but probably the plain single triangular section one will fit.

condor

8,837 posts

272 months

Monday 14th February 2011
quotequote all
Deva Link said:
I saw a few of those in Poundland earlier today



FamilyGuy

850 posts

214 months

Monday 14th February 2011
quotequote all
If it's the triangular type then I've found pressing the door shut (to take the pressure off the lock) and a pair of long-nosed pliers does the job. If it's a square or splined hole then the right sized screwdriver usually suffices.

Deva Link

26,934 posts

269 months

Monday 14th February 2011
quotequote all
condor said:
Deva Link said:
I saw a few of those in Poundland earlier today
How much were they? hehe

Deva Link

26,934 posts

269 months

Monday 14th February 2011
quotequote all
FamilyGuy said:
If it's the triangular type then I've found pressing the door shut (to take the pressure off the lock) and a pair of long-nosed pliers does the job. If it's a square or splined hole then the right sized screwdriver usually suffices.
You have to be careful though - the bit that you're getting hold of is often only made of plastic.

badboyburt

2,043 posts

201 months

Monday 14th February 2011
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Its probably Square internally commonly known as a Budget Lock,



http://www.locksonline.co.uk/acatalog/Era_415_Rim_...

A Large flat bladed screwdriver will open it.