How to Drill Out a Schlage Lock

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Things You'll Need

  • Work gloves

  • Protective goggles

  • Electric hand drill

  • 3/32-inch high-speed steel (HSS) twist drill bit, with titanium nitride (TiN) coating

  • 1/4-inch HSS twist drill bit, with TiN coating

  • Key blank

Based in Indiana, the Schlage Lock Company offers a wide range of locks for both residential and commercial applications. The Schlage B-series of deadbolt locks features the Everest, Primus and Primus XP security technologies, which prevent unauthorized key duplication and thwart all modern picking techniques. However, with the exception of a B-500 (or above) Series lock with a UL437-listed cylinder, Schlage locks can be drilled open using the same technique and tools that you would for any other brand of deadbolt.

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Step 1

Put on the work gloves and safety goggles.

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Step 2

Load the 3/32-inch drill bit into the electric hand drill's chuck.

Step 3

Line the tip of the drill between the top of the key slot and the edge of the cylinder, i.e., the part of the lock's surface that turns with the key. Ideally, you'll want the outer edge of the bit to line up exactly with the edge of the cylinder.

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Step 4

Bore a horizontal hole about 1.5-inch deep.

Step 5

Remove the 3/32-inch bit from the chuck and replace it with the 1/4-inch bit.

Step 6

Center the tip of the 1/4-inch bit over the opening of the hole you bored in step 4 and drill inward, i.e., horizontally. Basically, the first hole acted as a pilot hole; if you tried to drill the final hole first, the resistance from the metal would have made the drill harder to steady.

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Step 7

Remove the drill bit from the hole and insert a key blank into the key slot.

Step 8

Turn the key blank to release the bolt and open the door.

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