Types of furniture locks, reliability level of different mechanisms

Purpose and features

Furniture locks belong to the group of detachable fastening fittings, which also includes door handles, clamps, latches, hooks and latches. According to the structure of the mechanism, they are divided into certain categories. The design of the device depends on the material it is made of. Due to the fact that furniture locks are designed for a certain thickness of material, where the installation takes place, their structure will differ.

Furniture locks are used on cabinet doors, drawers, wooden safes, bedside tables, wall cabinets and other parts of furniture items. To understand what the products are intended for, you should consider their features:

1. Material of manufacture - furniture locks are mainly made of durable materials - steel, aluminum, metal alloys. If it is made from a less practical material, such as plastic, the feasibility of its use is reduced. The best are metal options that will reliably hide the necessary items;
2. Fastening area – depending on the material where the lock will be installed, many of its characteristics change. For example, the option for installation on glass will have a thickness less than its counterpart, which is intended for furniture made of laminated chipboard. This indicator should be taken into account when choosing a device;
3. Mechanism - according to the principle of operation, there are push-button, rack and pinion, rotary and retractable. Each of these types of furniture locks for cabinets is used for specific purposes;
4. Type of lock - there is a mortise lock, which is built into the surface of the facade, as well as overhead options. The latter are much easier to install: you don’t need to call a specialist to attach them, because everything can be done yourself;
5. Reliability – modern manufacturers of furniture fittings have taken care to ensure the reliability of locking mechanisms. Mechanical options are gradually losing popularity, they are being replaced by innovative analogues: magnetic, electronic and code options. They provide an increased level of reliability;
6. Size – according to the dimensions of the cabinet or other furniture, locks can be selected according to the size.

The main purpose of locks is to ensure secure storage of documents and other valuables. Another functional purpose is to close doors that are constantly opening.

Product Features

Furniture locks are included in the basic package of many sets and are installed at the factory during the assembly process. The traditional design is a conventional locking mechanism equipped with a tongue, a key and other necessary elements. The main purpose of the part is to keep the doors tightly closed. If necessary, you can install this element on finished furniture, where the presence of locks was not originally designed.

The main feature that furniture locks have is their size. Compared to conventional designs, they are reduced several times. This allows for hidden installation and maximum hiding of locking mechanisms.

Furniture locks are used on various items, doors or drawer linings. The following designs exist:

1. Button lock. Used for sliding wardrobe doors. To close it, you need to press the lock cylinder (or lock cylinder). Unlocks with a key - 2 pieces included.
2. Rack and pinion. Used for fixing glass sliding sashes. This group also includes a latch version, which is installed on hinged doors in a horizontal position.
3. With latch. Its design is closest to conventional locking mechanisms. Used for installation on hinged doors of cabinets or on drawer linings. Locks itself, opens with a key (2 pieces included).
4. Overlay for glass sashes. There are models for single and double door cabinets.

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Button lock

Rack and pinion

With latch

Invoice
Different materials are used for production:

• steel;
• aluminum;
• metal alloys;
• plastic.

The most preferred are steel devices, which are durable and reliable. Depending on the type of finish, there are gold, silver, and blackened products. The selection of a suitable model is carried out taking into account the type of design of the element and the design style of the headset. A lock in furniture should not only fulfill its direct tasks, but also provide decorative design, decorate the doors or linings of various products.

Steel

Aluminum

Metal alloys

Plastic

Types of mechanisms and methods of fastening

Furniture production today distinguishes several types of fastening locks, on which the operation of the entire mechanism will depend. These are overhead and mortise options built into the surface of a furniture product. We should also highlight the padlock: although it does not look very attractive on furniture, it still provides a good level of reliability and security. To fully understand the picture of choosing furniture locks, it is recommended to consider the operating features of the mechanisms and installation methods:

1. Mortise furniture locks - this option is considered reliable; it also does not impair the appearance of the furniture product and provides quick access to the contents of a drawer or cabinet. The mortise type today is divided into the following types of mechanisms: cross-shaped, cylinder, lever. Cross-shaped designs are based on the use of a cylindrical mechanism; they have several code pins arranged in a row. The turnkey well is made in the shape of a cross. The reliability of this type of mortise furniture lock is low. Cylindrical mechanisms today have several types of cuts: finger-type, telescopic, snake-shaped. Their body can withstand almost any damage. The lever lock consists of several plates moving in the formed groove. They are easy to replace and have a high-quality secret;
2. Overhead furniture locks are easy to install; even a beginner can install them. Options can be mounted on doors and drawers made of chipboard, glass, and also installed on double doors. According to the mechanism, they are divided into: retractable – for tables, chests of drawers and drawers; locks with a twist mechanism are good for cabinets with several drawers. rack and pinion mechanisms that fit onto a bar with teeth; harpoon-shaped, used for sliding doors; keyless locks with built-in latch button.

The latest version of the overhead furniture lock has proven itself in use on glass. Locks with a retractable mechanism are often used for glass doors. They have an elongated body and a rotary opening system. Also for glass, a rack and pinion mechanism is widely used, which is installed using toothed strips.

Mortise

Invoices

How to install it yourself

Installing a furniture lock will be quite feasible for most users. The greatest difficulty is the installation of a mortise structure. Procedure:

1. The necessary tools are being prepared. You will need an electric drill, a Forstner drill or a pen drill (the first is better), a ruler, an awl, and a screwdriver.
2. Marking is being done. Usually a diagram is attached to the lock, which is placed on the door and the centers of all holes are marked. If there is no diagram, you need to accurately determine the dimensions and mark the drilling points on the sash. They are marked with an awl to leave indentations for centering the tool.
3. The necessary holes are made. As a rule, you need a through one for the mechanism and several blind ones for fasteners, although there may be other options.
4. The lock is fixed, a decorative ring is put on the cylinder.
5. Next, focusing on the position of the part, the installation location of the counter structure is noted. It is attached to a fixed part of a cabinet or table.

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The last step will be to check the functionality of the product and adjust the response bracket, if necessary. As a rule, you need to slightly bend the corner to achieve the desired result. After this, the installation is considered complete, and normal operation of the lock begins.

Tools are being prepared

Marking is being done

Holes are drilled

The lock is fixed

A counter structure is being installed

High tech locks

To ensure high reliability, hardware manufacturers today offer high-tech locks that differ in operating principles from previous options. To understand the classification and purpose of such locks, it is recommended to look at the proposed table with characteristics.

It is up to the owner of the room to decide which type of lock to choose for installation on furniture. Mechanical options are easy to install and operate, but locks developed using new technology are considered more reliable.

Electronic

Code

Electromechanical

Electromagnetic

Reliability rating

Each lock has a certain degree of resistance to burglary. According to this indicator, the reliability of the device is determined. Based on this information, a rating has been compiled showing the gradation from the most reliable locks to the options that are prone to burglary:

1. Electronic furniture lock - this type has a high cost, so the reliability of such a product is considered the highest. It’s not for nothing that electronic options are installed on lockers in the locker room, where a person’s personal items are in potential danger. A code is pre-recorded in the reading device, the key to which exists in a single copy;
2. Coded analogue - such a lock is also considered reliable, but no more than the electronic version. Its disadvantage is that you can forget the code number combination. It will take a lot of time to hack such a device;
3. Level mortise lock - due to the cleverly designed mechanism of operation, this option will ensure the safety of storing things inside the furniture;
4. Rotary and retractable type options - due to the use of a key to unlock the lock, these products are considered reliable, but they cannot be called devices that ensure complete safety and security;
5. Magnetic locks are less reliable devices, the operating principle of which is to use a magnetic base;
6. Latch locks - such options are considered outdated, as they are not particularly reliable. They are less often used on furniture products, giving preference to innovation.

From the information provided, we can conclude that furniture locks based on power supply are considered the most reliable. It is impossible to find a code for such devices, so they provide increased safety and security of things in furniture.

Suvaldny

Turning

Magnetic

Espagnolette