We recently completed a job for a residential client in East Memphis, TN 38111 that required a range of locksmith skills and expertise. The home featured multiple storm doors, each with a different type of lock, including a Marks lock, a Pado security lock, and Anderson locks. Additionally, the property had an ornamental security door on the side entrance. In East Memphis, especially in areas like 38111, 38117, 38157, 38120, and 38119, it’s common to see homes with older locks that need skilled hands to restore them without resorting to expensive replacements.

Overcoming Lock Issues

The Pado lock was especially challenging due to years of rust buildup. The cylinder was stuck from lack of use and poor maintenance, which caused significant wear and tear on the lock. Instead of recommending a complete lock replacement, which would have been costly, we used our expertise to carefully remove the cylinder, restoring its functionality. After replacing the cylinder, we made a new key, ensuring it operated as smoothly as possible. The lock now works “smooth as silk,” saving the customer from the high cost of replacing the entire lockset.

In addition to the Pado lock, we faced another issue with the Marks lock, where the key was stuck. To resolve this, we used specialized key extraction tools to safely remove the key without damaging the lock. We then crafted a new key from scratch, bringing the lock back to full working order, which was particularly important as the client was preparing to sell the home and needed all locks functioning perfectly.

Sourcing Hard-to-Find Locks

One of the standout moments of this job was on the front security gate. Other locksmiths had told the customer that they needed to replace the entire gate due to the difficulty of sourcing locks for it. However, at GI Locksmith, we can source and install locks that other companies often can’t find. We were able to install a new deadbolt on the security gate without replacing the whole structure, saving the client thousands of dollars on a replacement.

Tools and Techniques

At GI Locksmith, we often craft our own custom tools to handle unique lock situations like this. For this project, we used:

• Key extraction tools for safely removing the stuck key from the Marks lock.
• A dremel to carefully buff out rust and polish the locks, restoring their appearance and functionality.
• A rubber hammer to loosen the cylinder on the Pado lock without damaging the surrounding lockset.
• Precision files to smooth out the lock internals and ensure a perfect fit for the new keys we created.

Our combination of tools, skills, and experience allowed us to overcome the challenges presented by these old locks and restore full functionality to the home’s security system.

If you’re in East Memphis or surrounding zip codes and dealing with difficult or old locks, GI Locksmith has the skills and resources to restore or replace them without resorting to costly replacements.

Contact us today to get your storm door serviced or rekeyed!

Check out the images below to see how we tackled these tough locks and restored them to smooth operation!