ARTICLE

How to get a locksmith for your mailbox key

News Image By  
Share this article:

Most people think that mailbox keys are simple and can be easily cut. But this is not true. There is a two-part combo that needs to be cracked to gain access. Mailboxes typically have a latch on the front and the back or are screwed in place. The hasp goes over the top of the rear door, with a latch or locking mechanism inside this hasp where a key will fit. The mail delivery person inserts the key into the lock and turns it, opening the mailbox.


Since there are only two keys for a typical mailbox, one for each family member, it will be costly to get a locksmith to make a new one if you lose your key. The cost will vary according to where you live and what kind of mailbox it is made of. It is cheaper to pay someone to cut a new key than to buy a new mailbox in many cases. A good locksmith should be able to make you a new one. They do not sell mailboxes but can most probably supply you with the correct key or instruct you on how to make your key. Contact them today!

The process of obtaining a key for a mailbox from a locksmith


Before making the key, the locksmith will need to look at the mailbox itself to determine the right kind of lock and make of key to use. The mailbox lock is a simple brass lock with three pins in most cases. The key will be a standard house key, but it will have longer teeth to push all three pins up to open the mailbox.

Some mailboxes are more challenging to open, and if the locksmith has difficulties determining which key to use, they will have to disassemble the box to get a clear look at the lock. A more difficult problem could be that your mailbox has been tampered with, and you need a new lock. Either way, the locksmith will know what to do and can provide you with professional mailbox services such as mailbox installation, mailbox unlock or lock replacement.

Types of mailbox keys available


You will be given a small box that contains the key to your new mailbox. It would be best if you stored this in a safe place to avoid losing it along with your previous one. There are several types of keys used by mailboxes, and most are brass and can be cut by any good locksmith. The more unique mailbox keys require special machinery and tools to copy them. They will only be able to make a key for you if they sell that particular mailbox brand.

The lock types that are commonly used on mailboxes


Brass is the most common type used in mailboxes. Most mailboxes are brass, whether at the grocery store, in a public park, or office building. Brass locks will have a thin covering over the back of the mailbox. The first type used on those boxes was called a fluted lock, and the following type of lock was called a cylindrical lock. And this is the most common kind of modern mailbox lock found on public buildings. They have a round brass ring that goes through the entire back of the box and is screwed into place. Each side of the L-shape has a round hole that fits around each pin to form the proper key alignment.

The cylindrical locks have huge teeth to fit over each pin, which prevents the key from rotating in the lock, keeps the pins from coming out of their holes, and makes it almost impossible for someone to open the mailbox without being able to place a key straight into the lock. And this is why most people purchase a new lock for their mailbox once it is paid off. The last type of lock used on mailboxes is called a lever or Camlock, a very strong type of lock rarely used on public mailboxes. It requires a unique key to open the mailbox and takes up more space than the other types. It can be found in mailboxes in banks, schools, and other businesses.

How to keep your mailbox secure


If you are going on vacation or think that your mail can be delivered without any issues while you are not present, it is a good idea to leave a note in your mailbox or have the mailman hold your mail. If this is not an option, there are some things you can do to make sure that no one takes it. Embarrassing letters, statements, and other personal items should be put in a special box rather than the mailbox itself. Some people use large plastic bins and place them behind their mailbox.





Other News

July 24, 2025Volcano Watch: Why Growing Earthquake Swarms Are Raising Red Flags

While much of America is distracted by politics, pop culture, and inflation, a deeper danger has been quietly building: the volcanoes of t...

July 24, 202510 Economic Facts That Are Hard To Ignore

If you ask 1,000 different Americans about the state of the U.S. economy, you will get 1,000 different opinions. But what is the truth? ...

July 24, 2025When The Church Becomes A Show: The Tragic Theatrics Of Modern Evangelism

In a desperate bid to be "relevant," many modern churches have swapped the sacred for the sensational. The pulpit has become a platform. T...

July 24, 2025Will AI Be Listening To Your Every Word? Amazon Hopes So

For years, Amazon has insisted its Alexa devices only listen when prompted by a "wake word." But now, the company appears ready to drop th...

July 23, 2025Facial Recognition At The Pulpit: How China Uses Tech To Monitor Christians

In churches across China, facial recognition cameras now line the walls-even at the pulpit-transforming sacred spaces into surveillance zo...

July 23, 2025A Generation Still Hungry For God: The Stunning Response At Harvest Crusade 2025

In a world often filled with headlines that depress, divide, and discourage, something radiant happened this past weekend in Anaheim, Cali...

July 23, 2025NJ Lawmakers Want To Force Homeschoolers To Teach Radical Ideologies

As more families flee from increasingly extreme "public education," New Jersey lawmakers have a radical new bill to force homeschool paren...

Get Breaking News