rating of cylinders for front door locks

One of the most popular, in demand, reliable and constantly developing systems of locking mechanisms is the cylinder. She was born just over a hundred years ago.

This system is easy to use, does not require any extra effort when opening the lock, and if the key is lost, it is enough to replace only the cylinder (cylinder) without touching the entire locking mechanism. Another undoubted advantage of cylinder-type locks is that all cylinders are compatible with locks from different manufacturers. If you need to replace the cylinder, which will meet all quality standards, you should understand which cylinder is better. We’ll talk about how to really choose the best cylinder in this article.

If you're going to lock yourself, then lock yourself securely.

The need to protect one's property arose at the very moment when a person thought of this very property.
The history of the development of metallurgy and mechanics is in many ways the history of locks, which have now become so familiar that it is difficult to imagine yourself without a set of keys in your pocket. Our rating includes the best locks that have earned positive reviews from experts and ordinary buyers. However, along with the improvement of locks, the methods of breaking them also improved - the classic growing “conflict of sword and shield.” Not enough privacy? The lock will be opened with two wires. Not strong enough? Then no one cares about secrecy - such a lock will be rolled up or knocked out. Therefore, a high-quality lock is, in its own way, a product of both engineering and strength of materials, and, naturally, its production will require appropriate experience and technical capabilities. The caustic saying “Come to me, thief, I have Elbor” also didn’t come out of nowhere, did it?

And when we talk about locks today, no matter how much we try, we cannot embrace the immensity - so let’s talk about the best manufacturers, and in their catalogs you can confidently search for a lock that is suitable for your application and budget.

Rating of the best lock manufacturers

Place	Name	Rating	Price
1	Abloy Oy	9.6 / 10	14 000
2	Mul-T-Lock Technologies Ltd.	9.4 / 10	13 000
3	ABUS	9.3 / 10	5 400
4	Mottura	9.2 / 10	7 000
5	CISA	9.1 / 10	3 800
6	Kale Kilit	8.5 / 10	1 700

Abloy Oy

The business card of the company is, naturally, the cylinder cylinder “Abloy”, which was well known in our country back in the Soviet years. Back in 1907, Emil Henrixsen, the founder of the company, invented a cylinder with 360 million key variations, which did not use pins, but rotating disks that were supposed to line up bevels on the surface of the key in the desired position - and a line of locks of this type, Abloy Classic, is produced still.

Naturally, the company did not stand still: the lock developed, and now the company offers more burglary-resistant systems Abloy Sentry and Novel (protected by patents until 2027) and Protec2 (until 2031). In addition, the company also develops electromechanical systems: for example, in the Abloy CLIQ electronic system, you can flexibly configure access rights for electronic keys, monitor their use, even from a smartphone - and at the same time retain the ability to use the Protec2 mechanical cylinder.

The manufacturer’s line is very wide, so the Finns have even taken a step towards simplifying the choice of lock, at least in size: Abloy Modular cylinders can vary in length, so it’s difficult to make a mistake with the choice - the cylinder can be made longer or shorter. The secrecy of Abloy larvae has been increased to almost 2 billion combinations, and this despite the fact that a disk cylinder is, in principle, much more difficult to break into than a pin one - so you will have to be afraid first of all of forceful hacking... Well, with purely mechanical strength, Abloy locks are also quite good good, by the standards of cylinder locks, of course. Drilling out, in particular, a set of freely rotating discs is a Sisyphean task compared to conventional cylinder locks, which do not have free rotation.

Mul-T-Lock Technologies Ltd.

Now the company owns more than five hundred patents in the production of locks - for example, the classic pin mechanism was turned into a telescopic one: one pin was placed inside another, thereby greatly increasing the secrecy of the lock and complicating the work with a master key. This system is now used in the “basic” Classic line, which, by the way, has a fourth class of burglary resistance - the highest according to the Russian standard. And it is also used as the main one in more complex lines of Mul-T-Lock locks.

However, it was not only the Israelis who invented cylinder locks. In particular, Mul-T-Lock Matrix lever locks are interesting: they allow multiple recoding; if you lose a key, you don’t have to buy a new lock (after all, you can’t change one cylinder in lever locks!), it’s enough to “reprogram” the old one to a new set of keys. Just pull out the old SIM card (no, not the same one as in the phone) from the inside and take out a new one from the sealed bag with the purchased set of keys - and your lock will no longer be unlocked with the keys from the old set.

ABUS cylinders use a large number of pins arranged in three planes. As a result, good resistance to “intelligent” hacking is achieved - well, a carbide insert works against brute force, preventing the cylinder from breaking. In general, the locks of this company deserve our recommendations in terms of price-quality ratio - it will, perhaps, be even slightly higher than that of the popular “Italians”, and therefore the score of today’s rating will be higher.

Mottura

However, despite the company’s still great name, it is worth considering that they have had problems with quality in the last six or seven years. We are talking not only about burglary resistance, but also about basic reliability. Agree, getting into a situation where you can’t leave the house or enter it is an unpleasant thing. Therefore, the “junior” series of locks, which are now assembled in China, cannot now be called a good purchase - the “senior” series have enough strong competitors.

Kale Kilit

What spoils everything, probably, first of all, is the inscription “Made in Turkey” itself: at comparable prices, the average buyer will prefer “Italian”, so it is not surprising that Kale Kilit in Russia has somehow taken root in the budget segment.

How to choose a good lock?

cross locks on sale , but they are not worth considering seriously - in terms of reliability and burglary resistance, they are “behind the rest.”

As for resistance to hacking , it is worth separating the concepts of burglary resistance and secrecy. Secrecy is a parameter showing the possible number of combinations for a particular lock. In the film traditionally watched on New Year's Eve, this moment was played out - yes, in two identical houses on identical streets in Leningrad and Moscow, the key to one lock turned out to be absolutely identical to the key to the second. Theoretically, the higher the secrecy, the more difficult it is to open the key with a master key - although in reality, the design of the lock itself and the presence of “traps” in it for a burglar are more influential here.

But, no matter how many millions of combinations for the cylinder the manufacturer promises, it does not matter if the lock can be cracked with brute force - rolled, knocked out, drilled, and so on. The Russian standard provides for four classes of burglary resistance , of which the first is “I believe that people are honest” locks, and the fourth is “well, you’ll have to tinker.” Naturally, a fourth class lock itself is preferable, but only in one case - if it is correctly installed in a strong door . And this is confirmed by sad practice - powerful locks are simply pulled out of cheap doors by opening the outer thin plate, rather than bothering with breaking the lock itself.

The same applies to padlocks : why bother with the cylinder if you can saw through the shackle or even the hinges on which the lock hangs? So in any case, the issue of security is a complex issue .

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Winkhaus door lock range

✔ Locks for apartments and houses

The optimal solution for apartments and private residential buildings to ensure security (standard level) and quality are mechanical lock cylinders of the RPE/RPS series. In their design, the cylinders of this series have 5 spring-loaded pins and up to 8 springless pins horizontally on each side. This degree of secrecy makes it seriously difficult to open the cylinder by probing or selecting an illegal duplicate key. The complex paracentric profile of the cylinder channel and key completely eliminates the production of a duplicate in domestic “metal repair” centers, even if you have the original on hand. The burglary resistance of the keyTec RPE/RPS series cylinders is confirmed by protection class 4 (according to EN 1303) and VdS -2156 protection class B+.

Photo: Winkhaus locks are used in various conditions

Buy locks from the German company Winkhaus

✔ Lock with double-sided key – additional comfort

For increased user comfort, the keyTec N-tra series of cylinders is ideal, having an original double-sided key that can be inserted horizontally into the lock on either side; its planes (lower and upper) are symmetrical, so you don’t need to think about which side the key is inserted into the cylinder.

Photo: vertical pins of the keyTec N-tra cylinder An additional convenience is the ergonomic shape of the key, which does not have “toothed” protrusions and does not “injure” the internal pockets of clothes and bags. High protection against burglary is provided by 6 spring-loaded and up to 8 springless pins on each side of the cylinder. The burglary resistance of keyTec N-tra complies with the 6th highest protection class (according to EN 1303), as well as the VdS 2156 standard, protection class B+.

✔ Multi-level protection

Maximum protection for the front door can be provided by the mechanical cylinder of the keyTec X-TRA series, which is the top model in terms of protection and internal design complexity. In its body it contains up to 20 spring-loaded locking pins, installed in a circle in 4 rows. This model has different profiles and allows you to provide multi-level protection for single doors, as well as create large access control systems (Master Key) for large facilities with a large number of users. The system has the 6th highest burglary protection class (according to EN 1303) and VdS 2156 protection class B+.

Photo: keyTec X-tra cylinder pins All WINKHAUS mechanical cylinders are manufactured in Germany and come with Safety Cards included. All information on the cylinder (or cylinder system) is encoded on the card. Further production of duplicate cylinders and keys is possible only if you have this Card.

Review of three popular cylinders in the mid-price range

Often, when choosing a cylinder mechanism of the specified price range, the buyer does not engage in preliminary collection and analysis of information, considering the differences to be insignificant, but focuses only on the appearance, attractiveness of the packaging or the advice of the seller. However, it is among such cylinders that the spread of characteristics from model to model and from manufacturer to manufacturer is very large, because This is the most massive segment, and different brands use different strategies to gain their share in it. This difference is very well illustrated by the participants in our review.

Let's look at the three most common models of cylinders with a perforated key:

Apecs SC-M is one of the most common Apecs cylinder models;

Fuaro R600 – a model with a punched key from Trade-Lock, the top one in the Fuaro cylinder line;

MSM “with perforation” is a cylinder common in the markets, of an unnamed series from a manufacturer positioning itself as “Spanish”.

Let's take a closer look at the test participants:

Apecs SC-M

Single-row security mechanism with vertical milling of secrets (the so-called “punch cylinder”) and six code pins.

There are two support pins with a groove to prevent opening with master keys.
The width and depth of the groove are good, which makes this protection effective and can actually make it difficult to open using this method. The chamfer of the code and support pins is smooth and small, which has a good effect on resistance to tampering methods.

There is patented bumping protection using a short code pin and a specially shaped channel in the core. At this price point, the presence of bump protection is unique - usually the preserve of more expensive privacy mechanisms.

The core contains two hardened inserts to resist drilling. And although, in general, cylinders in this price range can do little to oppose forceful methods of opening, the presence of such inserts can become an unpleasant surprise for a burglar and increase the time required for breaking.

Fuaro R600

Also a single-row security mechanism with six pins and a punched key.
The first thing that attracts attention is the rather thick and massive key, which evokes a feeling of reliability and solidity. However, this is exactly the case when you should not trust your feelings, because... there is no real benefit from such a thickness, rather, on the contrary - a large key hole in the core makes it easier to open the cylinder using many hacking methods.

If you pay attention to the pins, you will notice an extremely uneven and large chamfer. Such a large chamfer makes it easier to open using manipulation methods - after all, in order to open the cylinder, you don’t need to set the pins exactly, but just get into a gap equal to the sum of the chamfer heights of the code and reference pins, which in this case is simply huge.

It is commendable that the manufacturer provided support pins with grooves to protect against master keys. The only pity is that the quality of these pins is extremely low and the groove is narrow and shallow, so there is little real benefit from such “protection”.

The quality of the core is good, but no additional protection is provided.

Another punch cylinder, but with seven code pins. The addition of one pin relative to the cylinders discussed above is a small plus, but only if the pins are of appropriate quality.

The chamfer of the reference and code pins is large, but smaller than that of the previous test participant. There are no support pins with grooves or other protection against manipulation methods.

Authors of the article: Yakovlev Denis, Russ Anzor Expert consultant: Kutylovsky Vladimir Alekseevich

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Best Cylinder Locks for 2022

A cylinder lock is one of the popular locking mechanisms, in addition, it is a cheap option as it does not have complex electronics or components. It is based on simple and accessible parts, but this is both the advantage of this device and its main disadvantage. It is important to buy high-quality equipment that will not only be repairable, but will also protect the apartment from penetration. Therefore, the editors of the YaNashla website have prepared for you a rating of the best cylinder locks for 2022.

What is a mask?

If a lever locking mechanism is installed on the front door, it will have to be completely replaced. For cylindrical mechanisms, you only need to change the internal part. The mask is considered the code part with the help of which the bolts move.

The secret mechanism is able to prevent unauthorized entry into the apartment and ensure the safety of residents. Only by inserting the key to a specific lock can it be opened. When you turn the key, pins, washers, moving probes, or turning blocks line up in a combination that opens the lock. Such covers should not be opened with another key or hacking device.

The core is metal and has an oblong elongated shape. Due to its resemblance to insects, it was called a larva (or maggot). To choose the right interior for a cylindrical lock on the front door, you need to know exactly the dimensions of the door leaf, especially the width. A device designed for locking iron entrance groups is not suitable in size and weight for installation on PVC plastic doors.

Description and varieties

If you look at GOST, then a cylinder lock is indicated as: “a mechanism that moves and installs the lock bolts in a specific position, and also ensures the secrecy of the product.” If previously a standard master key was required for hacking, today this does not always help. Like all machinery and equipment, locks have also undergone modernization, which gives a person more security.

There are 4 forms of the mechanism:

Most often there are mechanisms made according to European standards. Such models have a specific shape, and a brass profile is used for production. Such locks have high burglary requirements.

Pin cylinder lock

A classic mechanism, the main element of which is a core with a connector. Inside there are special channels in which a unique code is embedded. The height is determined by the number of slots on the key. There is also a spring that moves these channels. But the main difference is in the support pins.

As soon as the key enters the hole, each notch located on it moves the pin to a certain height. When rotating, the code and support elements are located on the same line, making the core easy to rotate. At the same time, all code details remain in place. This is the whole principle of operation of such a device.

If you look at the instructions, almost every lock that has a standard shape has a name: DIN standard mechanism.

The main details of this mechanism are:

Disc cylinder mechanism

In this case, the main mechanism is represented by a disk that has a unique shape; only the corresponding key can recognize them. As soon as the unlocking process occurs, this element moves deeper towards the core. If the correct option is used, then rotating the structure will not be difficult.

Such models do not tolerate exposure to sub-zero temperatures, so it is not recommended to use them outdoors. It is best to install them on interior doors or leaves that carry a large load. Compatible with all materials, including glass.

There are several options for installation method:

Features of locks with halyard latch

This option is easy to use. Closing occurs due to mechanical action. The method serves more as an auxiliary tool. There are two versions sold in stores: with and without a tongue lock. Most often, models are in demand for installation in residential premises or offices.

Hale handles are suitable for all types of door structures. The product does not have any functional features. To a large extent it is just decoration. So, if an element does not fit the new design, it can be easily replaced, which is convenient in some cases rather than changing all the components.

Manufacturing materials

Cores are made from brass and aluminum. The latter is considered cheap due to its poor resistance to mechanical damage. The material is easy to drill or knock out, so complex structures are not made from it. For the same reason, there is no point in raising the secrecy class and it is not difficult to find a master key for such constipation.

In addition, parts made of this material wear out faster. But because of this, the demand for aluminum products does not fall. They are used to equip interior doors and entrances to utility rooms.

For external barriers, lock cylinders made of brass are used. They are best suited for metal entrance doors. The material allows you to create strong and complex parts that are little subject to wear. Therefore, the product range has a wide price range. From the average price for a cylinder with multi-thousand security combinations to really expensive designs with the highest degree of protection.

The latest models are protected from drilling by the addition of super-hard alloys at the tip of the keyhole. Since such locks are easier to knock out than to open with a master key, security in this area has also been thought out. In the area of the cylinder, a cover made of especially strong metal is installed on the door, leaving only a gap for the key.

Rating of the best cylinder lock models

A high-quality lock that is perfect for installation on an interior door. It features a simple but safe mechanism. The location method is universal. The body is made of high-quality material, which, although not highly resistant to frost, is still effective against mechanical shocks, which will prevent a hooligan from simply breaking the structure from the outside. Installation does not require special knowledge, just follow the instructions and that’s it.

The average cost is 520 rubles.

Source

Value for money

The cost of the cylinder is also important - inexpensive Chinese mechanisms (made of low-quality materials costing 200 rubles) attract many; outwardly they look reliable, but in fact they will not provide even a basic level of protection. The higher the quality of the material and the resistance of the cylinder to various opening methods, the higher its price. A high-quality lock will ensure the security of your home and will serve without failure for many years.

List of companies producing, selling and installing window and door structures and their components (locks and cylinders).pdf

LLC "INTBK" Moscow, Zelenograd tel.: +7 495-740-59-97, +7 916-353-73-33 e-mail,

The OKNA MEDIA portal recommends: Multi-point locks - types and characteristics

How to choose the best lock cylinder

One of the most popular, in demand, reliable and constantly developing systems of locking mechanisms is the cylinder. She was born just over a hundred years ago.

Cylinders for multi-point locks Winkhaus – German quality and reliability

Unlike conventional cylinders, a series of cylinders from the German brand Winkhaus are designed specifically for enhanced protection against both manipulation and force breaking.

The German company Winkhaus has been specializing in the production of cylinders of varying degrees of complexity for many years. All models are distinguished by high build quality, precision execution of small parts, resistance to wear and long service life.

Winkhaus mechanical cylinders meet the highest requirements for reliability, strength and reliability - safety class No4 according to European quality standards DIN 18252; certified by SKG (Facade Construction Quality Foundation) and Russian GOST 538-2014.

The cylinders have been tested for strength and burglary resistance and comply with burglary protection classes 4-6 (according to EN 1303) and VdS 2156 protection class B+.

Photo: mechanical cylinder keyTec RPE All protective elements of Winkhaus cylinders are made of stainless hardened steel and reliably resist forceful hacking methods (drilling, breaking out, knocking out, bumping). The complicated geometry of the cylinder mechanism completely eliminates the possibility of copying the key and making an illegal duplicate.

Winkhaus cylinder keys are made from soft copper-nickel alloy. This combination allows the key to individually “get used” to the internal geometry of the cylinder and at the same time not erase its working elements over time.

What kind of tricky “beast” is this cylinder?

First, let's try to figure out what a cylinder is. This is a special device with the help of which the bolts are opened - the force of the key turned in the keyhole is transferred to the internal mechanism that ensures the movement of the door lock's shutoff valves. In addition, it is in the cylinder that all the secrecy of the lock is hidden.

The incredible accuracy and peculiarity of the cylinder structure allows only the “original” key supplied with the product to open the lock (most often there are from three to five “original” keys).

The cylinders are available in two of the most popular shades, harmonizing with locks and doors of any color:

Depending on the type of locking mechanism, cylinders come in two systems:

When trying to understand which cylinder is better, you should realize that no matter how reliable the mechanism is, it needs additional protection, which is provided by armored linings.

How to buy the perfect cylinder

There are many types of cylinders, distributed according to the level of secrecy and reliability, resistance to force. The main parameters that you first need to pay attention to are:

How wear-resistant the lock is directly depends on the quality of the internal components of the product, as well as the materials from which they are made. The lubricant used in the device must be taken into account.

If we add here the build quality of the components and the entire device as a whole, then we can talk about the reliability of the mechanism. The higher the reliability and wear resistance of the cylinder, the lower the likelihood that at some point it may refuse to function or will be opened with a master key.

What to look for when choosing?

In addition to the choice of larva. It is important for a person to focus on:

Protection. This parameter can be obtained from a consultant. It is worth asking what material the mechanism is made of and what its strength is. Because safety depends on it. When simple material is used, it is easy to drill and it will be easier for an attacker to get to the larva.
Coherence of the mechanism. Build quality plays a key role here; it is better to trust well-known manufacturers on the market than to save on a fake. It will also be useful if the lock turns out to be repairable.
Auxiliary options will simplify use and create safe operating conditions. There are models with the ability to recode, install a gear element, etc.

The safety of personal property depends on these characteristics. Therefore, it is important to approach the choice of equipment responsibly. Here the rule: “the more expensive, the better” works 100% and often the money spent fully pays for itself after the first unsuccessful hack.

Is there no method against scrap?

The reliability of the cylinder also depends on how effectively it can withstand forceful hacking options:

Today there are many developments that help counter any of the above options. First of all, they relate to the raw materials from which the cylinders are made - for example, it can be hardened steel or other hard alloys that undergo hardening. Almost no drill can take such materials.

Separately, we can recall Mauer cylinders, made using a special “red line” technology, when when trying to break the mechanism, only the front part breaks off, and the cylinder itself remains inaccessible to burglars, but at the same time continues to function reliably when using the original key.

Almost all models of Mottura brand cylinders are, in turn, equipped with a special knockout protection system, and therefore they effectively withstand any method of force, except drilling.

Most cylinder manufacturers offer consumers to purchase additional armored linings, which will significantly increase the security of the mechanism and, accordingly, the safety of the room.

Therefore, when determining which cylinder is better, do not forget about the linings, which are divided into two types depending on the installation option:

The first type of lining is mounted on the lock. Some of the most reliable products are considered to be products from Cisa and Mottura. These models are virtually impossible to tear off from the door leaf, and therefore their protective properties are incredibly high.

The overhead protection is mounted on the outer door leaf. Although, they are often considered more decorative, since they provide protection from drilling only until they are torn off. The most popular products are from Kale, Ritko and others.

Kinds

First you need to decide where the mechanism will be installed, and then decide which door lock is the most reliable. An apartment or a good private house needs really powerful locks, while for a small dacha, bathhouse or barn, economy class is quite suitable.

Cylinder locks

The cylinder system appeared more than 100 years ago, but despite their age, these mechanisms are still present in most door lock ratings. All such structures consist of 2 parts, locking and secrecy.

The uniqueness of the system is that the secrecy part can be replaced within 5 minutes; just unscrew the fixing screw at the end of the door leaf. At the same time, cylinder cylinders are considered very reliable.

Opening the lock without damaging the mechanism is problematic. Previously, such a cylinder could be knocked out or drilled, but now there are models with anti-vandal protection. Details on how to choose a door lock with a cylinder head can be found “HERE”.

Mechanisms with a cylinder cylinder are considered one of the most reliable door locks

Lock with cross cylinder

A lock with a cross cylinder is a type of cylinder mechanism. In our country, these locks appeared in the mid-nineties and immediately created a sensation; the tetrahedral key in the shape of a cross, with security notches on each side, looked solid and inspired confidence.

As a result, people began installing such locks en masse, but it soon became clear that the scammers overcome this barrier in a couple of minutes. They simply insert a powerful Phillips screwdriver into the keyhole and break out the cylinder. For installation in a utility room, a cross system is suitable, but we do not recommend installing it in a house - these are not the best door locks.

Cross locks look solid, but their reliability leaves much to be desired

Level locks

These mechanisms are considered the main competitors of the cylinder system; their reliability is one of the highest. The key in such locks is a long steel rod, at the end of which there are 2 plates with security notches (professionals call it a butterfly).

The lock itself has a set of plates (levers) of different configurations; when you turn the key, the levers are aligned in accordance with the combination of notches on the butterfly and the lock opens or closes.

It is problematic to knock out or drill out such a lock; as for selecting a master key, mechanisms with 6 or more levers are considered reliable. The weak point of such a system is the open, through keyhole; debris can accidentally or intentionally get into it and then the mechanism will jam. An armor plate will help solve the problem.

Level lock diagram for the front door

Deadbolt locks

In such mechanisms, the key resembles a comb with teeth ground at a certain angle. When these teeth enter the keyhole, one after another they cling to similar grooves on the bolt and the lock opens. In the relatively recent past, such systems were often installed on the entrance doors of high-rise buildings.

There is no point in talking about any secrecy here, the key is easily copied, any locksmith can make a duplicate of it. The only plus is that the massive steel bolt is difficult to knock out. Such locks are intended for installation on utility and technical rooms; there is no need to install them in the apartment.

Deadbolt locks were developed for technical and utility rooms

Electronic systems

A new word in the lock industry, these systems have both their adherents and ardent opponents. On the one hand, there are no keys in the traditional sense; the lock is opened with a digital code, magnetic card or fingerprint, and it can be easily recoded for a new key. Advanced models can be controlled via the Internet and if a hacking attempt is made, they notify the owners. Plus, the vast majority of burglars have no idea how such locks are opened.

On the other hand, the coding system is imperfect and can be damaged by a voltage drop or exposure to a strong magnetic field, and an average hacker using special programs can open or close an expensive lock via the Internet.

If the owner does not have the funds for a good electronic lock, then it is better to give preference to traditional locking systems

Combination locks

Here we are dealing with two locks in one common body. There are now 3 types of similar structures widely available.

Two lever locks.
Two cylinder locks.
Level and cylinder lock.

The advertisement promises exceptional reliability, because 2 locks are always better than one. But these models also have their disadvantages:

the mechanisms are interconnected and if one breaks down, the second one may also fail;
most models need to be closed and opened in a certain sequence; if the algorithm is violated, the system is blocked; if there are children or elderly people in the house, this is fraught with consequences;
The dimensions of the box are quite impressive, so it is problematic to embed such a lock with your own hands;
high price, it is often cheaper to install 2 separate constipations than 1 combined one.

Combined systems are highly reliable, but are expensive and not suitable for every home

Intelligent cylinder protection

One of the options for opening cylinders is the intelligent method, the essence of which is the selection of keys and master keys. Modern cylinder models resist this method quite effectively, but not all of them. For example, cheap devices wear out quite quickly, making them easy to open with any key.

In general, the burglary resistance of cylinders is divided into several classes and depends on the time it takes an attacker to open the door lock. The simplest, weakly protected cylinders open in two to three minutes. It takes a burglar at least half an hour to open expensive, complex mechanisms. However, in most cases, robbers simply don’t have that much time. Therefore, if you really want to understand which cylinder is better, ask the seller for documentation accompanying the product. It must indicate the burglary resistance class of the mechanism.

To avoid opening the cylinder with a master key, manufacturers equip the internal secret part with false grooves into which the master key falls. Quite common are small wells of complex design, into which it is extremely difficult to insert a master key.

Reliable cylinders must also effectively withstand the so-called automatic master keys, which operate on the principle of vibration, leading to the opening of the locking elements. In theory, even the most expensive and reliable cylinder model can be opened in this way, however, as practice shows, in reality it only works on inexpensive models, and even then not always.

One of the most common methods of opening locks is “bumping,” when a pre-prepared model of a key is inserted into the keyhole and hit with all force with a hammer or other heavy tool. As a result of such an impact, the pins and pins diverge, and the cylinder rotates easily. Modern expensive models of locking mechanisms easily resist this method of hacking due to several factors:

There are many models designed to withstand “bumping”, but in general, cylinders from many companies can withstand this method of hacking. For example, these are products from the following manufacturers:

The most popular hacking methods were given above, but there are others. In practice, they are not actually used, since they have long become ineffective. Such methods include the use of acid, which, according to some, corrodes the internal filling of the mechanism. However, on the metal used in locks, under the influence of acid, a salt coating is formed, which does not allow the acid to have a further negative effect. In addition, the internal parts of cylinders and locks today are most often made of hardened steel or cupronickel, which are virtually unaffected by the effects of acid.

What are the prices for cylinders for the people?

The easiest way to determine which cylinder is best is to look at its cost. Thus, even a schoolchild can easily open the cheapest models in a matter of minutes by reading or watching relevant literature or videos on the Internet. Quite often, the cheapest cylinders are sold even without packaging, indicating the manufacturer. Such products not only cannot increase the protective properties of the door, but also fail very quickly, which leads to the need to buy a new product and, accordingly, additional money expenses.

Buying a cheap cylinder is only justified if it is purchased as a temporary constipation. For example, when carrying out renovation work in a newly purchased apartment, which subsequently involves purchasing a new door with a full-fledged, reliable lock.

For the entrance door to an apartment or house, it is recommended to purchase cylinders of the mid-price category. Models from this group of products are significantly superior to cheap products in terms of reliability and ability to withstand various hacking options. Even an experienced specialist will have to spend a lot of time opening the lock, drilling or knocking it out, making a lot of noise, which will attract neighbors or people simply passing by. And even then, such opening options are not always effective, since hardened steel is used to produce cylinders, which prevents the product from breaking. Considering the use of modern, reliable materials, cylinders in the mid-price category operate flawlessly for many years, do not break down and do not require replacement. Models in this price category are installed in at least 70% of doors.

The third category of cylinders, the most expensive, guarantees the maximum level of protection and safety. Only hacking geniuses, of whom there are not so many in the world, can open them. Cylinders of this type are able to withstand forceful and intelligent hacking methods. Particularly durable materials and innovative developments used in the production of locks of this type can even completely block the device at the slightest attempt to break into it, be it drilling or selecting master keys. Naturally, the cost of such cylinders, used in conjunction with specially designed armored linings, is incredibly high. It is recommended to install them only if you are confident in the overall reliability of the door, which cannot be broken or cut off its hinges. Otherwise, spending on expensive cylinders is not entirely justified and it is better to limit yourself to a locking mechanism in the middle price category.

We hope you can now understand which cylinder is better and purchase a truly reliable and durable mechanism. When purchasing a product, be sure to take into account all the above parameters and characteristics of the cylinders. Do not be guided only by the promises of the seller and the fame of the brand that produces the mechanisms.

A big secret

When trying to determine which cylinder is better, be sure to check its security rating. This concept is often used to express the number of possible combinations of a cylinder created by its pins. According to manufacturers, the most reliable models cannot have less than a thousand combinations, and in elite, expensive cylinders the number of combinations reaches several million.

In fact, everything is much more complicated and the concept of secrecy should include many characteristics, including:

In addition to the above characteristics, the secrecy of the cylinder is directly influenced by the quality of its manufacture, which has a positive effect on its durability and reliability.

Larva with pinwheel

The main goal of such a mechanism is ease of use, which is achieved thanks to the turntable. If you have such a lock, then you can open and close the door from the inside without a key. In addition, the turntable has no dead spots, so you can always open the door leaf from the outside.

This is what a Chinese 60 mm cylinder type mechanism looks like, with a pinwheel mounted on the inside

Chinese cylinder mechanism