I have a locked patio door and i have lost the keys, the lock is a barrel type lock and there are no visible means of removing the lock. Is it possible to replace the lock?????

ALAN EVANS, May 2008

the only answer to getting the door to open is to drill the lock, dont panic its not a difficult as it sounds, first of all i would advise you to goto your local b&q or diy store and look at a new barrell to see how the lock works for yourself they are a really simple lock then get a sharp drill bit and drill where you put the key keep drilling changin the drill bit for a bigger one as you go along till you see the small catch inside the lock then simply twist it with a flat blade screwdriver till the door opens i have done severall of these locks it takes a while but you will get their, if you call a locksmith he will do exactly the same as i just told you and charge you around £100 for the pleasure to remove the barrell simply undo the grub screw in the door(the edge you cant see when the door is shut)... chris

chris, May 2008

the only answer to getting the door to open is to drill the lock, dont panic its not a difficult as it sounds, first of all i would advise you to goto your local b&q or diy store and look at a new barrell to see how the lock works for yourself they are a really simple lock then get a sharp drill bit and drill where you put the key keep drilling changin the drill bit for a bigger one as you go along till you see the small catch inside the lock then simply twist it with a flat blade screwdriver till the door opens i have done severall of these locks it takes a while but you will get their, if you call a locksmith he will do exactly the same as i just told you and charge you around £100 for the pleasure... chris

chris, May 2008

If the lock is a cylinder or a Euro cylinder type, it's secured by a single screw located just below the deadbolt on the door rim opposite the strikeplate. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylinder_lock

Mike Fader, May 2008