Furniture lock, which is better to choose, tips and important nuances

For reliable storage and shelter from prying eyes of household items or accessories, paper of high value, a furniture lock is used. This type of hardware is available in various forms, has various functional features.

Purpose and features

Furniture locks belong to the group of accessories of detachable fastening, here also include door handles, latches, 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 of its manufacture. Due to the fact that furniture locks are designed for a certain thickness of the material where the installation occurs, their structure will be different.

Locks for furniture 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:

Production material - mainly a furniture lock is made of durable material - steel, aluminum, metal alloys. If it is made from a less practical material, such as plastic, the appropriateness of its use is reduced. The best are metal options that reliably hide the necessary items;
Mounting area - depending on the material where the lock will be installed, many of its characteristics change. For example, an option for installation on glass will have a thickness less than its counterpart, which is intended for furniture made of chipboard. This indicator should be considered when choosing a device;
Mechanism - according to the principle of operation, there are push-button, rack and pinion, rotary and sliding. Each of these types of furniture locks for cabinets is used for certain purposes;
Type of lock - there is a mortise lock that is built into the surface of the facade, as well as overhead options. The latter are installed much easier: you do not need to call a wizard to attach them, because you can do everything yourself;
Reliability - modern manufacturers of furniture hardware 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;
Size - according to the dimensions of the cabinet or other furniture, the locks can be selected according to size.

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

Types of mechanisms and methods of fastening

Furniture production today identifies several types of lock fastening, on which the operation of the entire mechanism will depend. These are overhead and mortise options which are built in a surface of a furniture product. Separately, it is worth highlighting a padlock: although it does not look too attractive on furniture, it provides a good level of reliability and safety. To fully understand the picture of the choice of furniture locks, it is recommended to consider the features of the mechanisms and installation methods:

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 the drawer or cabinet. Mortise type today is divided into the following types of mechanisms: cruciform, cylinder, level. Cross-shaped designs are based on the use of a cylindrical mechanism, they have several code pins located in rows. The turnkey well is 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, in the shape of a snake. Their body can withstand almost any damage. The level lock consists of several plates moving in the formed groove. They are easy to replace and have a high-quality secret;
Laid on furniture lock - are easy to install, their installation will be possible even for a beginner. Options can be mounted on doors and drawers made of chipboard, glass, as well as mounted on double doors. According to the mechanism they are divided into: retractable - for tables, chests of drawers and drawers; locks with a rotary mechanism - good for cabinets with several drawers. rack mechanisms worn on a bar with teeth; harpoon-shaped, used for sliding doors; keyless locks with integrated snap button.

The last version of the overhead furniture lock has proven itself in operation on glass. For glass doors, locks with a sliding mechanism are often used. They have an elongated body and a swivel opening system. Also for glass, a rack and pinion mechanism, which is installed with the help of gear racks, is widely used.

Mortise

Overhead

High tech locks

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

Type of	Installation Features	Benefits	disadvantages
Coded	Locks are electronic and mechanical, which is selected depending on the preferences of the owner of the furniture. The locks are supplied with bolts and are fully ready for installation. In addition, a code type furniture lock can be with a magnetic key, universal or not have a key, which affects the fastening method.	Choosing a mechanical option, you can dial a large number of code combinations per day until the desired combination works. This is useful if a digital code has been lost. Hacking such a lock option is possible only with an endless set of numerical combinations or using a special identifier.	Due to the bulkiness, this option of the device is not always convenient to install on the cabinet doors.
Electromagnetic	First, the door leaf of the cabinet is marked, after which the lock plate is screwed. Next, a cable is inserted into the mounting compartment, the power of the lock is connected.	They are not amenable to hacking with a master key, have an easy degree of unlocking, a long service life, and ease of installation. Furniture locks are not susceptible to corrosion and have a high degree of protection.	Dependence on electricity: the problem is solved by installing a backup power source.
Electromechanical	Consists of a lock, power supply and control. It is easy to control with the remote control. When the power is turned off, programming may fail.	The device has a good repair ability.	It is not suitable for installation in humid rooms, therefore, it is impossible to fix the lock on the cabinet door in the bathroom.
Electronic furniture lock	An advanced method of protecting valuables in a furniture product. Work is carried out through the use of an electronic chip or card. To install the device, first impose the mechanical part, and then connect the wiring.	The hidden location of the lock system, the lack of a key, the ability to quickly change the code combination, ease of unlocking.	The furniture lock depends on the power supply, the models are not resistant to temperature extremes, and also do not differ in durability.

Which type of lock to choose for installation on furniture, decide the owner of the room. Mechanical options are easy to mount and operate, however, locks developed using new technology are considered more reliable.

Electronic

Coded

Electromechanical

Electromagnetic

Reliability Rating

Each lock has a certain degree of resistance to breaking. 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 cracking-prone options:

Electronic furniture lock - this type has a high cost, so the reliability of such a product is considered the highest. No wonder electronic options are installed on lockers in the locker room, where personal items of a person are in potential danger. The code, the key to which exists in a single copy, is pre-recorded in the reader;
Code analog - such a lock is also considered reliable, but no more than an electronic version. Its disadvantage is that you can forget the code numerical combination. To crack such a device, it will take a large amount of time;
Mortise lock - due to a cleverly invented mechanism of operation, this option will ensure the safety of storage of things inside the furniture;
The rotary and retractable types - due to the use of a key to unlock the lock, these products are considered reliable, but they cannot be called devices that provide complete safety and security;
Magnetic locks are less reliable devices, the principle of which is the use of a magnetic base;
Locks on latches - such options are considered obsolete, since they do not carry much reliability. They are less commonly used on furniture products, giving preference to innovation.

From the above information, it can be concluded that furniture locks based on the operation of the power supply are considered the most reliable. It is impossible to pick up a code for such devices, so they provide increased safety and security of things in furniture.