Sometimes you need a lock but don’t have one. Maybe you’re staying at a sketchy motel and the door isn’t locking properly. If your front door lock is broken, you might be worried about a break-in. You may not have a lock on your room, so you would like some privacy. You might think you have no choice since you can’t simply lock a door without a lock.
If you clicked on this article, you know that your options aren’t limited. Nevertheless, you might be unsure of how simple or reliable it is to make a door lock.
There are a few methods you can use to make a lock for your door. All kinds of objects can be used to secure a door so that it cannot be opened without your permission.
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Each of the materials required varies in the difficulty of acquisition and effectiveness. Decide which one works best after trying them out.
Here are some methods for making a door lock
1. Fork method
A fork is all you need to make a lock for your door.
- Straight-handled forks that you don’t mind breaking
- A set of pliers
- The saw (optional)
- The rubber band is optional.
- Fabric or duct tape (optional)
First, use pliers to bend the fork’s teeth. You can bend one or all of the teeth at a 90-degree angle by moving up about a quarter of an inch. You can strengthen the lock by bending all its teeth, but you will also mark up your door frame more.
The next step is to remove the handle. It is possible to do this with your pliers, but a saw is not necessary. The fork handle’s strength depends on how sturdy it is. Normally, the bolt is inserted into the strike plate where the bent teeth are placed.
While the teeth catch on the strike plate, you should have the other end sticking out towards you. If you are worried about marking up your door, wrap the fork with duct tape or fabric. Do not block one of the gaps between the fork teeth, as you will need it for the next step.
Close the door over the fork. The handle should be inserted through the teeth. You can use rubber bands to keep the handle from slipping out, but they are not required. You can also use duct tape if you have it on hand.
The door should now be able to be locked. You can make a door lock with a fork.
2. The Barricade Method
For making a lock for your door with different barricades, you have a couple of options.
- Purchase a commercial door barricade, or
- Utilize the chair’s end, or
- As soon as you get outside, pile things up
First, you can purchase a lock designed for doors with no locks instead of making your own.
It is possible to choose from a few options. Burglar bars block doors, and addalocks work like forks. The Nightlock is installed into the floor as a barricade.
It is also possible to use a chair as you have probably seen in movies. The door must open inward for it to work. If it doesn’t, the chair won’t do much, and with enough force, a chair can be dislodged, but it may be worth trying.
Your door can also be piled up with other things if it opens inward. Due to the need for heavy objects, this is not the best option for you.
3. The Wedge Method
You don’t have to buy a door stopper to make wedge-shaped locks for your door. It is possible to choose from several options.
- Suitable for commercial use, such as door stoppers
- The cardboard or the cardboard
- In other words, a moldable clay
- A wedge can be made from any material that can be shaped
The door needs something to gradually latch onto.
It is possible to slide the door across a surface without getting too close to the ground by using wedges. Once it’s too far from the ground, a door can’t be moved. It is better to use a wedge than a barricade since a wedge cannot be knocked over.
Due to its unnatural position, wedge shapes require more or less breaking the door. By forming any malleable material into wedge shapes, you can make a door lock.
4. The Tying Method
These methods work for inward-opening doors, but this method works for outward-opening doors as well. When tying a lock to a door, certain conditions must be met.
- A tying lock must be attached to something
- This thing needs to be strong and immovable
Using a handle on your door will require a slightly different method.
- A handle can only be moved if both handles are turned
- The door must be attached with something sturdy, such as a coat hanger
Using the first method, you tie the rope-like object around the handle and then tie the other end around something sturdy. Knots are important, so make sure you do them correctly.
The strike plate can be unscrewed and tied around a screw before screwing it back in if you don’t have a sturdy object to use.
In the second method, you tie one end around the coat hanger (or whatever else you like) and the other end to the handle tip. When someone tries to open the door this way, the tie prevents the handle from fully turning.
You can see that there are several ways to use tying to lock your door. Choose the option that best suits your needs.
5. Sock Method
Creating a lock with only a sock requires some folding. I don’t think this is a big deal.
It is also better to wear thicker or longer socks for this purpose.
The sock just needs to be folded and stuck on the door. As the door closes around the sock, it should create enough friction to jam the door. Make a lock for your door using a sock.
To unlock the door, pull the sock while opening it. Once unjammed from the doorframe, the door should open.
Conclusion
You can make a variety of makeshift locks, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. If you want to know how to make a lock for your door, you can make most of them in a pinch.