Whether you have accidentally locked yourself out or your front door was accidentally shut behind you, there are several ways to get it open. For instance, there are paper clips and butter knives that can help you. In addition, you can use a credit card or remove the door from its hinges.
Picking a lock with an unbent paper clip
If you are locked out of your house and you’re unable to buy a new lock, you can pick it with an unbent paper clip. However, you will have to work fast and carefully. This is because if you’re not careful, the flimsy little item could break.
Luckily, there are a few simple tricks you can employ to make picking a lock with an unbent paper clip easier. These include the proper angle of rotation, as well as the use of a tension wrench.
The most important trick is to get the right amount of pressure on the tension wrench. Too much pressure could bend the tool out of shape, while too little pressure will not be enough to open the lock.
There are several different ways you can make a paperclip tension wrench. One method is to open the end of a paper clip into an L-shape. Ideally, the curve should be 0.4 inches. Once you have made the L-shape, the end should be inserted into the bottom of the keyhole. You should then rotate the tool in the same direction the lock turns.
Using a credit card
If you’re trying to open a door that has no keyhole, you may want to try using a credit card to unlock it. This method is one of the simplest methods of opening a locked door. However, you will have to do some practice to make sure the method works.
First, you need to ensure that the latch bolt of the door isn’t blocked. The latch bolt is an angled bolt that slides into the edge of the door. It is best to use a credit card or a laminated card because they are both flexible and sturdy.
Next, you’ll need to insert the card into a small gap between the doorknob and the door frame. You should then push the card against the angled part of the bolt. As you do this, you’ll force the bolt back into the door.
Once you’ve done this, you can begin to slide the doorknob away. When the door starts to open, you’ll want to grab the knob with your non-dominant hand.
Opening a doorknob with a butter knife
Opening a doorknob can be a chore, but it can be done with style and finesse. This article will give you a few tips on how to get the job done with minimum fuss.
The best part is that you can do it with the help of a paper clip or two. You can also save the specialized tools for a more secure location.
The butter knife is a great little tool for the do-it-yourselfer. For example, you can use the knife to unscrew a hinge on an interior door or to unscrew a lock with a deadbolt. It is also handy for opening a locked cabinet door or for prying a drawer open. To open a doorknob, the process may require you to rotate the handle.
One of the simplest methods is to leave the door ajar. You can also unhook the latch using a putty knife. A more elegant solution, however, would be to remove the hinge bolts.
Removing the door from its hinges
If your door is locked from the inside or from the outside, the only way to open it is to remove the door from its hinges. This is a very easy task to do. Using a screwdriver or a tool, you can remove the hinges and open the door.
For example, if the hinges are on the outside of the door, you can use a hammer to loosen the pins and then pull them out. Alternatively, you can use a flathead screwdriver to do the job. However, if the lock is on the inside of the door, you may have to take out the screws, plates or plastic plates.
A good method to open the latch bolt is to feed the wire into the gap between the door and the jamb. You can also tie a power cord to the door lever and pull it through to make a hook. Another way to open the latch bolt is to push a rigid plastic card through the gap.