# Lost my keys -- doorknobs still usable? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 1, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-keys-doorknobs-still-usable/315162 "2005-08-01T16:39:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-keys-doorknobs-still-usable/315162/1 "2005-08-01T16:39:24Z")
A couple weeks ago, I lost my set of keys on a train. Fortunately, I was able to remake the keys for my front door and desk, due to borrowing my roommates’ keys and having a spare set for my desk. However, the door to my bedroom, which has a knob lock and a deadbolt, had only one set of keys, which were on my keychain. Very luckily for me, I left my door unlocked that day. For personal security and paranoia reasons, I like to leave my room locked when I am out of the house…what is the best (i.e. cheapest) way to go about making these doors lockable again? Is there a way to get a new set of keys without replacing the knobs, or is that the better way to go about it? ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-keys-doorknobs-still-usable/315162/2 "2005-08-01T16:53:52Z")
The cheapest way would be to remove the doorknob and take it to a locksmith shop (as opposed to having the locksmith make a housecall). In just a few minutes they will be able to re-key the lock to a new setting and give you a set of keys to match. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-keys-doorknobs-still-usable/315162/3 "2005-08-01T18:24:39Z")
If the lockset is low-end, it might be cheaper to simply replace it with one from the hardware store. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-keys-doorknobs-still-usable/315162/4 "2005-08-01T21:43:24Z")
> [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > The cheapest way would be to remove the doorknob and take it to a locksmith shop (as opposed to having the locksmith make a housecall). In just a few minutes they will be able to re-key the lock to a new setting and give you a set of keys to match. FWIW… I had to have a car rekeyed about 10 years ago. If memory serves, the car only had one key that opened everything as well as started the engine, and it cost about $75. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-keys-doorknobs-still-usable/315162/5 "2005-08-01T22:57:41Z")
Now that you’ve had your educational experience, consider putting a spare room key in your wallet. That way, you can still get in even if your primary keys are lost. Having been locked outside a running car once :smack: my lesson was learned. If I lose my keys _and_ my wallet and/or pants, then I have greater troubles. 😉 Also, if the knobset and deadlock were keyed alike, take one to the local locksmith. They can pick it open and then decode the key from the pinning array, make new keys and you’re good to go. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-keys-doorknobs-still-usable/315162/6 "2005-08-01T23:05:04Z")
When I first bought my house, I had a lock smith come in. He was able to key 4 different locks to all use the same key. This cost about $150. It was 4 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-keys-doorknobs-still-usable/315162/7 "2005-08-01T23:20:04Z")
> [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > The cheapest way would be to remove the doorknob and take it to a locksmith shop (as opposed to having the locksmith make a housecall). In just a few minutes they will be able to re-key the lock to a new setting and give you a set of keys to match. Amen. The old lock now has two owners. Get it re-keyed ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-keys-doorknobs-still-usable/315162/8 "2005-08-01T23:28:12Z")
well, I went to the nearest locksmith with FatBaldGuy’s suggestion, and I was told it couldn’t be done with those locks. Bought and installed new ones, $12.99 each. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-keys-doorknobs-still-usable/315162/9 "2005-08-02T22:11:29Z")
maybe this is better suited for the MPS or even BBQ Pit, but this story isn’t over yet. Somehow my landlord already noticed that I changed the locks on my bedroom door. This can only mean that either somebody tipped him off, or he’s been spying on me like James Bond. Well, now he wants the old doorknobs back, despite the fact that I originally paid to have them installed when I moved in. He’s arguing now that I only paid for the installation, not the actual doorknobs, but I find it hard to believe that the installation of two locks on a door would cost $120, and if it did, I would not have agreed to pay it. Long story short, he’s not getting them back because they’ve already been thrown out, and the garbage man was through here this morning. Like he usually does, he’s expecting a miracle to happen and said he’s stopping by tonight and wants the doorknobs. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-keys-doorknobs-still-usable/315162/10 "2005-08-02T22:26:55Z")
Not disagreeing with what you were told **fusoya** , but even a $6 Kwikset Tylo-the cheapest of cheap locks can be repinned. True, it’s not worth my or your time to do so unless you’ve got a dozen in an apartment building that need to be mastered when you can effect the swap with Mr. Screwdriver in 10 minutes. If you had a Schlage, an Arrow, or Russwin-those are locks with some physical integrity-they’re worth repinning. Good luck with psycho landlord. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-keys-doorknobs-still-usable/315162/11 "2005-08-02T23:18:46Z")
yeah, it was an Arrow. I replaced it with a Franklin. Maybe that explains why he’s so anxious to get the old ones back…there wasn’t a lock at all on my door before I moved in, and I’m more concerned about keeping my roommates out of my room than I am a professional burgler, so it doesn’t make a difference to me what kind of lock it is. As far as my landlord is concerned, this isn’t the first time he’s asked the impossible of me…granted, I still haven’t figured out how to PERFORM the impossible either. Unfortunately, my lease just expired yesterday and I haven’t actually signed the new one yet…that’s the other reason he’s coming over tonight.