There are many different types of Euro cylinders available on the market today from £5 to £80 so whats the difference between these cylinders? Why would you want to spend so much more money on one compared to the other? The main difference between them is their security ratings and features. I have explained below the main differences between some of the ranges to help you understand the best lock for each situation.
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The basic 5 pin cylinders are the entry level cylinder for doors and although they do the job to lock and unlock the doors they are cheaply made and dont have the same security benefits of the more expensive cylinders. These are suitable for internal doors but should never be used on external doors.
The next step up from these 'basic' cylinders are the 6 pin ranges. These cylinders are ok but most are extremely basic without much in the way of security to prevent drilling, picking and snapping. These would normally cost around £12-20 and will offer some protection. These are very commonly used on the UPVC doors as they are extremely cost effective however a lot of them are extremely cheaply made so care needs to be taken when purchasing these cylinder. There are a couple of these types of cylinders I would recommend to customers as I have used them for years and found them to be very reliable.
There are a 'mid' range of cylinder we offer which is a Zone Euro Double, Zone Thumbturn , Zone 1/2 Euro Cylinders or the Zone Rim Cylinder all these cylinders are a standard 6 pin cylinder that we can supply keyed differ or make them all keyed alike for you.
The important thing to try to get with any Euro cylinder is the anti snap protection. This can be either the form of the anti snap lines on the cylinders or strengthening bars that prevent people from breaking the Euro cylinder and gaining entry. This is not essential on internal doors to bedrooms in HMOs or flats but always a nice idea for the main external doors to give that extra security.
There are 2 types of kitemarked cylinder on the market today and I have tried to explain the main differences between them.
These cylinders are a older tested cylinder range that give all the security features internally within the cylinder, anti bump, anti pick, anti drill but they dont have the anti snap protection. If used in conjunction with PAS24 handles then these cylinders can meet the 3 star rating but not with the more standard of UPVC handles. It is recommended that the 3 star rating is achieved for all external doors.
Cylinders with this rating are the top level cylinders, they have been tested for all the security features the 1 star cylinders have but also the anti snap as well. This gives them the 3 star rating on their own so there is no need to spend more money on additional PAS 24 handles.
Most insurance companies requirements at this current moment layout the requirements for UPVC doors as: 4 more more locking points on the Multipoint lock. (this is dependent on each Insurance Company policy, please always check the policy first to make sure they dont require additional locks) which is fine for most doors as they have nice high security multipoint locks in the doors. However they dont take into account that the easiest way to break into the house is through the Euro cylinder. This has meant that now there are Kitemarked Euro cylinders on the market that ensure that the cylinder you have is as secure as it should be and not a 5 pin style cylinder as explained above.
It is always recommended that you install 3 star kitemarked cylinders on all your external doors to get the best level of protection. We offer a few different versions of these cylinders. ABS Euro Double Cylinders, ABS Thumbturn Cylinders, ABS 1/2 Cylinders.
Alternatively we have the KABA 3 Star Euro cylinders which are a fantastic range of Euro cylinder with a high security restricted key section which means only you can control who can get the keys duplicated.
The type of door you are securing is important as there are so many different types of cylinders as explained above.
For all external doors its recommended that you install 3 star kitemarked cylinders however if you dont want to spend that much on the cylinders then there are other options that will give you a good level of security. We have a range of Euro cylinders to suit all budgets but I would strongly recommend not going for anything less than a 6 pin cylinder for your external doors.
Not many people have internal doors that use Euro cylinders and this is more for office blocks and very modern builds but with these doors this is the only time you may want to consider using the 5 pin range of cylinders. They are designed to be a lower security option but also available at a lower cost. We can offer the ISEO 5 pin range of cylinder on a masterkey system that will be tailored for your specific requirements and due to ISEO's outstanding build quality these will be a great entry level masterkey system.
There are 2 main key profiles you can get:
The key profile is basically referring to the shape of the key. There are many different shapes of keys that vary from manufacturer to manufacturer but most are all available to all Locksmiths and key cutters so there is no way to control the number of keys in circulation. This is called an Open Profile key and 99% of locks will be supplied on this as standard as they are easier to cut and more cost effective for the customer.
The Restricted profile keys are mostly unique to each individual locksmith, this is a lock that only they can offer so the keys can be restricted and controlled to certain individuals. We have a range of ABUS Pfaffenhain Euro cylinders and also ABUS Pfaffenhain Padlocks that are all available with keys that only we can supply. This way when you purchase these locks we can restrict your key number and then in the future only supply you with additional keys / locks.
Restricted profile keys tend to cost more than the Open profile keys so if you are using them for trusted family or sole use you may not want to go to the expense, but if you have multiple users and you need to issue keys out then this system is perfect to hand out 'X' number of keys and know that there are only this many in circulation.
but also different ways to have the Euro cylinders made.
The great thing about Euro cylinders is their versatility, you can have locks for your front door, back door, shed, garage, padlocks and even your work vans built onto a Euro cylinder so you can have 1 key to fit all. This way you dont have to have a jailer set of keys for all your doors around the property.
Its very important to measure the Euro cylinders correctly so that you purchase the correct length. If you have too much sticking out from the handles then this makes the cylinder easiest to grip and snap and on the other hand if the cylinder is recessed within the handles then this allows a build up of moisture and dirt to collect inside the door.
The easiest way to measure the euro cylinder is to remove it from the door. This can be done by following our steps in the Fitting Euro Cylinder guide.
Once you have the cylinder out the door if you measure from the outside to the center of the fixing screw and then the inside to the screw you will get the 2 dimensions required. Its important if you are ordering the kitemarked cylinders to note the external side as this will need to have the snap line on. Most brands cylinders are only supplied with the snap line on 1 side (external).
If you would like any further assistance with ordering any of our range of cylinders or would to like to know more about them please don't hesitate to get in contact with our team.
Mortise cylinder and rim cylinder are both cylinders in door locks, and superficially they are very similar. However, in reality, they are different. In today’s guide, we will discuss in detail the differences between mortise cylinders and rim cylinders. If you’re wondering about this too, read on to learn more.
A Mortise cylinder is a type of lock cylinder, usually used in a mortise lock. A Mortise cylinder is just a hardware accessory that is usually used with a door lock that has a threaded exterior and a cam. The main function of this matching door lock is to facilitate the user to lock and ensure the user’s home safety. The threads on the outside of the Mortise cylinder are primarily for screwing into other manufacturers’ mortise lock boxes. A cam on the back of the cylinder operates the locking mechanism and a set screw holds the mortise cylinder in place. When you insert the correct key into the mortise cylinder and turn it, the gears in the mortise cylinder will turn, unlocking the door.
(More information about mortise lock: Mortise Lock: A Full Guide)
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Likewise, a rim cylinder is a type of lock cylinder, often used in rim locks. A rim cylinder is the mechanical and functional part of a standard lock cylinder and consists of a lock cylinder that can be rekeyed by a professional locksmith. Rim cylinders can incorporate a variety of different locking mechanisms, but the most common include chip cylinder locks, pin cylinder locks, and disc cylinder locks. The rim cylinder is specially installed on the night lock on the exterior door.
They are designed to be opened from the outside with a key and operated by a lever on the inside. When you encounter special circumstances (such as theft), you can quickly replace the rim cylinder in the rim lock to ensure your safety.
Next, iLockey will compare the mortise cylinder and rim cylinder from different aspects.
The mortise lock and rim lock, which are composed of mortise cylinder and rim cylinder respectively, are different in design features.
Smooth appearance: The metal on the outside of the Rim cylinder is smooth and flat, and there is no threaded appearance. So you’ll need to use long screws or mounting bolts to secure it to the door surface. This requires you to slide in the lock from the front, and tighten the bolt from the other side of the door. Without these two screws, the cylinder would slide off the door. In addition, due to the smooth cylinder shape of the Rim cylinder, suppliers should use custom paper tube packaging to protect Rim cylinder parts from damage during transportation.
Locking Rod: The back of the Rim cylinder has a short piece of metal rod that doesn’t sit flat against the back of the cylinder. You use the correct key to turn the stem through the door to unlock the device by turning the stem.
Outer Lock Body: Rim locks are designed with a rod and bolt protruding into the door. As a result, the Mortise cylinder looks like it sinks into the door when secured, while the Rim cylinder protrudes out. This could be in the form of an emergency bar, an exit bar, or some other form of external unit, of which the Rim cylinder fixture is the most common in commercial settings. The remaining forms are generally found in dwellings. To further illustrate what a panic lever is, it’s the horizontal length of metal that you push to open the door. A part of the metal will be depressed (like a big button) which will retract the latch and allow the door to open freely. The biggest difference is that one is inside the lock and one is outside the lock.
The difference between a Mortise cylinder and a rim cylinder can also be reflected in the advantages and disadvantages.
advantage
shortcoming
advantage
shortcoming
The security is not high, and it is vulnerable to attack and tampering.
Next is the comparison of differences in installation methods.
The mortise lock and rim lock composed of mortise cylinder and rim cylinder are also different in application.
A mortise cylinder is most commonly used for
Rim cylinder is most commonly used for
The locking mechanism of these two cylinders is also an important point of difference that you should be aware of. The locking system operates differently for rim locks and mortise locks. A mortise lock cylinder has a cam that rotates when the key is inserted. This triggers the lock. With a rim lock, as soon as the key is turned, the threaded rod turns to activate the lock. A mortise door lock actuates down from the inside of the door, while a rim cylinder actuates backward behind the door.
As we all know, the cost of an item is determined by many factors, including materials, functions, and labor costs. We mentioned above that the structure and installation of the mortise cylinder are very complicated, so the cost price of the mortise cylinder will be more expensive than the rim cylinder.
The structure and installation of the rim cylinder are simpler than the mortise cylinder, so overall, its cost will be lower.
So, after comparing the many differences between the mortise cylinder and the rim cylinder, which lock cylinder should you choose? Here are some factors you should consider when shopping.
Here are answers to frequently asked questions about mortise cylinders and rim cylinders.
Rim locks date back to the early ’s. The European rim lock was a popular security lock until the American rim lock was installed in the mid-s. The character of the rims hasn’t changed much over the years, which is why they can still be found in older buildings in the US and Europe. Interestingly, the Rim lock and the mortise lock are close relatives, as the creators of the Rim lock partnered with the same partners responsible for creating the modern mortise lock.
The Mortise cylinder is more secure, after installing the mortise lock, you need a lot of force to open the door. The harder the lock is to open, the more secure your facility will be.
If you want a more secure rim cylinder lock, we recommend looking for a lock that:
Rim cylinders come in only one standard size, so a locksmith will have no problem replacing the lock for you. A similar key is also available for the Rim cylinder, so you can use one key to open every lock in your home.
Now you know the difference between a mortise cylinder and a rim cylinder. Despite their many differences, they’re all ideal for keeping your home and business safe. Given the differences in locking mechanisms between mortise cylinders and rim cylinders, you should expect the same when choosing between models. However, that doesn’t mean one is safer than the other. All door locks are recommended for residential and commercial use. For the best indoor security, it’s best to hire a professional locksmith for the installation. If you want to consult other questions, please contact iLockey, we are always waiting for you.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of door cylinder supplier. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.