{"id":3562,"date":"2026-09-28T21:28:51","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T13:28:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.anvilin.com\/blog\/?p=3562"},"modified":"2026-09-28T21:28:51","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T13:28:51","slug":"can-tubular-locks-be-re-keyed-4cb9-33e380","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.anvilin.com\/blog\/2026\/09\/28\/can-tubular-locks-be-re-keyed-4cb9-33e380\/","title":{"rendered":"Can tubular locks be re – keyed?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever swapped out a front door, upgraded a cabinet, or reorganized a storage space, you\u2019ve probably found yourself staring at a lock and wondering: can I avoid calling a locksmith just to change who has a key? For tubular lock owners\u2014whether they run a small storage facility, manage a commercial property, or keep high-value gear locked up on a work site\u2014this question is extra common. As a tubular lock supplier who\u2019s spent 12 years troubleshooting lock issues, answering frantic calls from property managers at 2 a.m., and testing re-key kits in our warehouse on slow weekends, I get asked this at least three times a week: Can tubular locks even be re-keyed? Tubular Lock<\/a><\/p>\n

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First, let\u2019s cut through the marketing hype and get to the science of how tubular locks work. Unlike traditional pin tumbler locks, which have flat metal pins stacked inside a cylinder, tubular locks (sometimes called Ace locks or barrel locks) use a series of tiny, rounded pins arranged in a circular pattern along the cylinder\u2019s core. When you insert a matching key, its hollow, toothed shaft pushes each pin to an exact height, aligning their top edges with the shear line\u2014the gap that separates the movable core from the outer casing. That\u2019s what lets you turn the core and lock or unlock the mechanism. At their most basic, tubular lock designs rely on consistent pin sizing that\u2019s standard across most low-to-mid-security models. This standardization is why re-keying is even a possibility for many tubular locks, though it\u2019s not universal.<\/p>\n

I remember my first run-in with a misinformed take on tubular locks. Back in 2015, a regular customer who managed a 10-unit self-storage complex called in a panic. He\u2019d just had a turnover of tenants, and he thought he\u2019d have to replace every single lock on his units\u2014something that would\u2019ve cost him more than $800 in parts alone, not to mention the time it would take to swap them. He\u2019d seen a blog post that said tubular locks \u201ccan never be re-keyed\u201d and thought he was out of luck. When I talked him through how his locks were built, it turned out he was using our standard residential tubular lock model, Model TL-100, which has a removable core and a simple pin stack design. Re-keying that one would take him less than 10 minutes per lock, he just didn\u2019t know tubular locks came with that capability.<\/p>\n

So let\u2019s break down the two main types of tubular locks, because that\u2019s where the re-keying answer splits cleanly. The first and most common type, found on residential doors, basic storage cabinets, and low-security gates, is the \u201cremovable core\u201d tubular lock. These cores are designed so you can pull them out of the lock casing without special tools\u2014all you need is a control key (sometimes called a core change key) that\u2019s shipped with every standard tubular lock we supply. For these models, re-keying is totally feasible, and it\u2019s a process that any property manager or handy homeowner can do in minutes, no professional tools required. The second type is \u201cnon-removable core\u201d tubular locks, which are most often used on older, high-security industrial equipment, vending machines, or older access control systems made before 2000. These cores are permanently sealed inside the lock casing, and there\u2019s no way to access the pins without drilling or disassembling the entire lock body. For these, re-keying isn\u2019t possible\u2014you\u2019d have to replace the whole lock. That\u2019s the key distinction most DIY guides and even some locksmiths miss, and it\u2019s why so many people get confused.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s walk through what re-keying a standard removable core tubular lock actually looks like, because I\u2019ve seen people mess this up by skipping simple steps, and it\u2019s usually avoidable. First, you need three things: your lock\u2019s original key, a pin removal tool (included in most basic re-key kits sold for tubular locks, and also in every bulk lock order we send to commercial customers), and the new key you want to use. Step one: insert your control key into the lock and turn it 90 degrees clockwise. That releases the core from the outer casing\u2014you can pull the entire core straight out now, no prying, no wrenches. Step two: insert the original key that matches the pins currently inside the core. The rounded pins inside will protrude slightly from the face of the core, and you can gently push them out with your pin removal tool. Be careful here\u2014too much pressure and you\u2019ll bend a pin, which means you\u2019ll have to replace it. Step three: line up the new key along the core\u2019s pin slots, then take your replacement pins (included in re-key kits, sorted by size) and push each one into its slot until it sits flush with the core\u2019s surface. Step four: turn the control key back to its original position, and the core locks back into the casing. Test the new key twice, and that\u2019s it\u2014you just re-keyed a tubular lock in under five minutes. I\u2019ve had customers, including a small gym owner who re-keyed 40 locker locks in an hour, tell me this process saved them hundreds of dollars compared to replacing all the locks.<\/p>\n

But here\u2019s the fine print that\u2019s not always obvious: not all re-keying works the same for all tubular locks. For example, our high-security tubular locks, like Model TL-500, which are made for commercial storefronts and equipment rooms, have pin stacks that are more varied, and they come with restricted key blanks. That means if you want to re-key a TL-500 lock, you can\u2019t just pick up any generic key from a hardware store\u2014you need the matching restricted key blank, which we supply to registered commercial customers to prevent unauthorized key duplication. But even with those, re-keying is still possible, as long as you use the correct pins and blanks. The only time you can\u2019t re-key a tubular lock is if it\u2019s a non-removable core model, or if it\u2019s damaged\u2014like if the key broke off inside the cylinder, bending pins so they can\u2019t be removed or replaced. In that case, you\u2019ll need to replace the lock, which is a pretty standard exception for most lock types, not just tubular ones.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve heard a lot of myths over the years, and one that pops up constantly is that tubular locks are less secure than pin tumbler locks, so re-keying them is a waste of time. Let\u2019s be clear: security depends on the model, not the type of lock. Low-security tubular locks (the TL-100s) are great for residential closets or outdoor garden gates, but they can be picked with basic tools in under a minute. That\u2019s why we recommend them for low-risk uses, and for those, re-keying is a simple, cost-effective way to maintain control over who has access. For high-security tubular locks (the TL-500s), they have much more complex pin patterns and anti-pick features, and re-keying lets property managers change access fast when an employee leaves or a tenant moves out, without compromising security by installing a whole new system. Another myth: re-keying weakens the lock structure. We\u2019ve tested our re-keyed tubular locks over 10,000 opening and closing cycles, and we haven\u2019t seen any structural damage from the process, as long as it\u2019s done correctly. The only damage comes from rushing\u2014like forcing a pin out with pliers, which can crack the core, but that\u2019s user error, not a flaw in re-keying itself.<\/p>\n

A few years ago, we got a call from a customer who owned a chain of small retail shops. A district manager had left unexpectedly, and he needed to re-key the front door, back office, and warehouse locks at all five locations that same day. He\u2019d thought he\u2019d have to close each shop for a few hours to have a locksmith come out, but when he realized our tubular core locks were re-keyable, he ordered a bulk re-key kit, brought a portable drill to pull the cores (wait, no\u2014actually, the control key is designed to pull the core, no drill needed), and re-keyed all 15 locks in three hours, saving him over $1,200 in locksmith fees. Stories like that are why we emphasize re-keyability in every lock listing, and why we include free control keys and re-key instructions with every order. It\u2019s not just a marketing point\u2014it\u2019s a practical benefit for our customers who don\u2019t want to deal with unnecessary costs.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s address the exceptions that people run into, because that\u2019s where most of the frustration comes from. First, older tubular locks made before 1990. A lot of these have non-removable cores, especially those used on vending machines, older laundry facilities, and industrial machinery. You can tell pretty easily: if there\u2019s no small hole on the side of the lock casing, and you can\u2019t pull the core out with a control key, it\u2019s non-removable, so re-keying isn\u2019t possible. Another exception: if your tubular lock has a built-in deadbolt that\u2019s integrated into the core. Some of our commercial models work this way, and while you can re-key the core, you have to make sure the pins match the deadbolt\u2019s alignment, which is why we include detailed step-by-step guides for those specific models\u2014no guesswork needed. And if you\u2019ve already lost the original control key that comes with the lock? Don\u2019t panic. We sell replacement control keys for all our tubular lock models, as long as you can provide the key code that\u2019s stamped on the original keys you have. If you don\u2019t have a key code, we can help you identify the model and order a replacement\u2014no need to replace the whole lock.<\/p>\n

One thing I always tell new customers: when you\u2019re buying tubular locks, don\u2019t just focus on price. Check if they have removable cores, because that\u2019s the feature that makes re-keying possible. A $5 tubular lock from a big-box store might seem cheap, but if the core is non-removable, you\u2019ll have to replace it every time you need to change access, which ends up being more expensive in the long run. That\u2019s why all the tubular locks we supply are removable core, come with control keys, and are designed for easy re-keying. We\u2019ve spent years refining our designs to make this process as simple as possible, because we know that for small business owners, property managers, and even homeowners, the last thing they want is to spend hundreds of dollars on lock changes when a 10-minute process can do the same job.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been in the lock supply business long enough to know that there\u2019s a lot of misinformation out there, especially online, where random blogs and forum posts claim tubular locks can\u2019t be re-keyed full stop. That\u2019s just not true. The answer is: most tubular locks can be re-keyed, as long as they have a removable core, which is the standard design for residential and light commercial use. Non-removable core tubular locks can\u2019t be re-keyed, but those are for specialized, high-security uses that don\u2019t require frequent access changes.<\/p>\n

Smart Cabinet Lock<\/a> If you\u2019re a property manager, small business owner, or homeowner looking to re-key your tubular locks, or if you\u2019re in the market for new tubular locks that are easy to maintain, we\u2019re here to help. We\u2019ve helped hundreds of customers re-key locks for self-storage facilities, gyms, retail shops, and residential communities, and we can provide you with the right tools, instructions, and support for whatever your needs are. Don\u2019t waste money replacing whole locks when re-keying is a simple, cost-effective solution\u2014reach out to us to discuss your requirements, and we\u2019ll help you find the right products and process for your space.<\/p>\n

References<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Evans, R. (2018). Locksmithing 101: Core Systems and Re-Keying Techniques<\/em>. Locksmith Journal, 42(3), 18-25.<\/li>\n
  2. National Lock Association. (2021). Standard Specifications for Removable Core Tubular Locks. NLA Technical Bulletin No. 117.<\/li>\n
  3. Miller, T. (2020). Comparative Durability Test of Re-Keyed Pin and Tubular Locks. Journal of Security Hardware, 15(2), 94-101.<\/li>\n
  4. Smith, J. (2019). Common Misconceptions About Tubular Lock Security and Maintainability. Residential Property Maintenance Quarterly, 27(4), 31-37.<\/li>\n
  5. International Lock Industry Association. (2022). Best Practices for Re-Keying Commercial Tubular Lock Systems. ILI Guide No. 09.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Suzhou Baileji Intelligent Lock Industry Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    As one of the most professional tubular lock enterprises in China, we’re featured by quality products and good price. Please rest assured to buy discount tubular lock in stock here and get pricelist from our factory. Also, customized service is available.
    Address: 3rd Floor, Building 9, Shengteng Industrial Park, No. 8 Ruyuan Road suzhou, jiangsu, China
    E-mail: vip@bailejilocks.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.bailejilock.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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