I seem to remember a thread where someone had lost a key, and a psychic doper was able to determine its location. Please help*. I’ve lost the only key to my (Locked) shed, and need to get the mower out before the grass starts growing in the window.
Barring that, does anyone have any advice/experience with having a locksmith a) break a lock and b) install a new one? How much can I expect to be out? For what it’s worth, it’s a lock in a door handle, not a padlock.
If your suggestion of where my key might be is correct, I’ll make a donation to your favorite charity. Swear.
How sturdy can a shed be in most cases? As a backup plan, why not send a picture of the shed and lock area from about three feet away. I could see simply drilling out the center of the lock or using a pry-bar to allow the door to open without damaging the frame. Once open, changing the lock would be a snap. In some cases a hack saw could be used to cut the bolt. Time to think outside the shed.
If the shed hinges are on the outside, I’d vote for taking the door off the hinges.
Oh and for me, usually the padlock key is set somewhere convenient near the padlock - like a window ledge, or flat surface near by where I set it for just a second so I wouldn’t lose it.
If the hinges are exposed, remove the pins and open the door that way.
Otherwise, I suggest googling for lockpicking instructions and videos. (I can’t actually find you a good link from work, because a lot of resources are blocked, but they’re out there.) It shouldn’t be hard to pick–you can probably do it with a paperclip and a small screwdriver, if necessary.
Either way, once you get the door open, you can change the door handle yourself, lock and all, probably for around $20. No need to involve a locksmith at all.
Oh, and the key is in your junk drawer in the kitchen. The one nearest the refrigerator.
Barring that, I once had a locksmith come out and fix my lock for $150. My landlady was pissed. She knew a guy that would do it for a lot less. All I had to do was call her (my phone was on the other side of my door) or wait for her cousin, my downstairs neighbor, who was going to be back in 20 minutes (Like I knew that. In late December, he could be gone for a week).
It’s in the pocket of whatever pair of pants you were wearing the last time you used the key. I’ve folded up shorts and put them away with the house key still in the pocket about three times now.
My mother left her car key, on it’s nice big piece of ribbon, in the pocket of her slacks last week. And hung them in the closet upside down without disturbing the key.
I was going to start a similar thread, but looking for my car keys. They were lost for three weeks and I just found them. They had fallen between the passenger seat and the centre console. So, check there. Following that, try under the couch or just take the door off the shed.
I lost mine a couple weeks ago and they turned up a day later hanging on the hook in the bathroom I use for my facecloth. So my advice is - check all hooks in the house, even those not intended to hold keys.
