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How to open a toolbox without a key

When we hear the word “lock,” we immediately associate it with doors. The truth is many other things including all door types are secured with the help of locks. People may put them on everything they consider valuable. Toolboxes are no exception. Usually, they contain expensive tools, so it might be a good idea to secure them with a lock. If you do so, it means you’ll have to add another key to the bundle. The more keys you have, the higher the possibility of losing or misplacing one of them. How to open a locked toolbox without a key if that situation occurs? Sure Lock & Key is ready to help you open your locked out toolbox by yourself and if it proves a bit too difficult we will be happy to resolve the problem for you. After all, it's what we do. We offer a full spectrum of locksmith services. However, let's first try to do it without the help of a locksmith.

Toolbox locks

You have probably asked yourself whether you even need to install a lock on your toolbox. Before you decide, it’s good to consider a few factors. Let’s say you have a little plastic box with a bunch of regular screwdrivers, then installing a lock has no point. However, if you own a bunch of expensive tools and you want to make sure they are not going to be stolen, securing them with a lock may be a wise decision. The following question is, which type of lock to choose?
A lot of people choose padlocks for their toolboxes. They are small and easy to use and you don’t need a professional to install them. Also, padlocks are the cheapest option and can be used for locking different items. However, their security level is not that high because it’s pretty easy to break the shackle.
For higher security, you might want to use keyed cam locks or cylinder locks. Their mechanism is more complicated and breaking them is much harder. However, in order to install these locks, you might need assistance from a professional locksmith.

Some reasons why a toolbox is locked

If you have a lot of keys, it is hard to keep track of all of them. You probably don't use your tools every day. So, if you lose toolbox keys, you might not even notice it at first.
Another issue people might face is a broken key in the toolbox lock. Let’s say you are in a rush and want to take out your tools quickly. So, you don’t pay attention to how you’re inserting the key and it accidentally breaks. You may also lend your toolbox to someone who would use it without proper care.
Also, sometimes not only keys but locks might break. It’s a bit more complicated here because you will need to replace the lock completely. For that, you will need assistance from an experienced locksmith.
man with toolbox
These situations are not something you can predict and usually cause a lot of stress. So, if you need the problem rectified, as soon as possible, it’s obviously important that you are able to receive help right away. In this scenario, an emergency locksmith might be what you need.
man with toolbox

How to open a toolbox without a key

Most of these problems occur when we don’t expect them. So, they might cause some anxiety. So first of all it’s important to keep calm and not panic. That’s always the first rule in case of any locksmith-related trouble or really any emergency situation. If you realize that you lost your keys and you need to open your toolbox right away, there are a few things you can do. For example, if you use a padlock and don’t mind replacing it then you can just consider breaking it. That’s the simplest and fastest way to open your toolbox. Also, some people might try picking their lock. If you are unsure whether you can do it accurately, better don’t pick a toolbox lock yourself as you might accidentally break it. This step is usually not worth trying, especially if there’s a chance that the lock can still be repaired.
If you had broken a key while trying to open the lock, you’d need to extract it. In both these scenarios, the best thing to do is call a professional locksmith. They can help you with almost any key extraction. A locksmith can open your lock using special tools if you’ve lost the key. Also, they can offer you replacement keys for the toolbox.
When it comes to the broken lock, you might consider rekeying. What is rekeying and why may it be a great option? Rekeying is actually more affordable than fully replacing your locks. The locksmith will change the lock mechanism and provide you with a new key. So, it’s much faster and cheaper.

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Summing Up

We can all agree that securing our valuables is extremely important. If you own a bunch of expensive tools, it’s good to provide them with extra security. So, using a lock is necessary. If the day comes when a key is lost or it breaks, especially at a time when you need to open the lock right away then just stay calm and avoid unnecessary stress. If you really feel like you can do this yourself then make either a decision trying it yourself or letting a professional deal with it. Sure Lock & Key can help you solve any problems with locks or keys. Just give us a call!

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