Filling a keyhole outside.

Flaker

Background; there is an old door used as a gate near my house. it leads down to a small, private alley. It locks with a big old key so the keyhole is quite large.

Now, only a couple of people have a key or are entitled to a key. Unfortunately, one of these people left the key in the lock and it was stolen. Whoever has taken the key is now using the alley as a bit of a dosshouse basically. Thay are causing a serious nuisance.

The general consensus between those who use the alley is that we would love to close the gate up on a permanent basis - we can survive without it. What I am trying to find out is there something we can put into the lock to seize it up basically and pervent them from putting the key in the lock or even if they get it in, from being able to turn the key?

One of the guys tried some filler he had lying around his house, but this was picked out in a day or two. I also tried metal glue, but this was also picked out. We need something that will set like concrete or metal and can't be picked out. Any suggestions....????

The nature of the door and where it is means it would be hard to fit a bolt or something to it and changing the lock isn't an option either.

christy02

Could you not mix some cement and fill the keyhole with it?
Would it not be easier to just replace the lock?

christy02

Could you not mix some cement and fill the keyhole with it?
Would it not be easier to just replace the lock?

thomas anderson.

Super Glue worked for me

Flaker

No, if it was easier to change the lock we would have done it. It would be uber expensice to change the lock because of the type we've been told.

I'm not sure where we could get cement but if it'd work we'd scare some up from somewhere. Would it set hard enough (and quick enough - approx. 8 hours) not to be picked out?

Tokyo

If it's being used as a gate, why not put a bolt and padlock on it? That way if anybody needs access in the future, it can be opened. Also makes replacing future locks a lot more straightforward...

Flaker

Flaker wrote: »

Background; there is an old door used as a gate near my house. it leads down to a small, private alley. It locks with a big old key so the keyhole is quite large.

Now, only a couple of people have a key or are entitled to a key. Unfortunately, one of these people left the key in the lock and it was stolen. Whoever has taken the key is now using the alley as a bit of a dosshouse basically. Thay are causing a serious nuisance.

The general consensus between those who use the alley is that we would love to close the gate up on a permanent basis - we can survive without it. What I am trying to find out is there something we can put into the lock to seize it up basically and pervent them from putting the key in the lock or even if they get it in, from being able to turn the key?

One of the guys tried some filler he had lying around his house, but this was picked out in a day or two. I also tried metal glue, but this was also picked out. We need something that will set like concrete or metal and can't be picked out. Any suggestions....????

The nature of the door and where it is means it would be hard to fit a bolt or something to it and changing the lock isn't an option either.

Maybe I needed to bold this in the original post :P

Tokyo

Flaker wrote: »

Maybe I needed to bold this in the original post :P

My apologies. Read it on a small screen, obviously didn't see the last line.

corglass

Flaker wrote: »

Maybe I needed to bold this in the original post :P

What's wrong with the concrete idea?

Cuddlesworth

If there is concrete underneath you could just drill a hole in it where the door swings and drop a rebar into it.

scorn

What about a standard keyhole blocker (keyhole lock). That way you can then remove it again with it's own key in the future if needs be.

A quick search led me to this image (hope it's ok to post it - I'm not affiliated, just trying to help)

Prenderb

Could you fit/screw a small rectangular steel plate over the hole?

Tokyo

Pick up a tube of that Metal Epoxy Putty - any decent hardware store will have it. Knead it, feed it into the lock, and it will go off in about 10 minutes. Short of someone taking a drill to it, it won;t be coming back out again.

Flaker

mike_ie wrote: »

Pick up a tube of that Metal Epoxy Putty - any decent hardware store will have it. Knead it, feed it into the lock, and it will go off in about 10 minutes. Short of someone taking a drill to it, it won;t be coming back out again.

Thanks. Something like this is exactly what I was looking for. Everyone, thanks for your help.