
Jack Mathes owns ABC Lock and Safe in Portland, Oregon. He has over forty years at the trade.
ABC Lock and Safe is a lock shop at 3255 NE Wygant St that has been open since 1985. The shop handles lockouts, rekeys, lock repair, safes and commercial work, day or night. Jack writes about locks and safes, rekeying, home and business security and car keys.
You can watch Jack on real jobs in the video on our home page, or call (503) 766-5541 any hour.
Topics
Posts by Jack Mathes
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Mortise Lock vs Cylindrical Lock Which One Your Old Portland Door Has
How to tell a mortise lock from a cylindrical lock in under a minute, why so many older Portland doors still have one, and when to repair, rekey or replace it.
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Smart Lock Installation in Portland Seven Checks Before You Buy
Seven checks before a smart lock goes on your door. Door size, Wi-Fi, the grade on the box, batteries, Portland weather, and what Oregon law says for renters.
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Lost SentrySafe Key Five Ways Back In Without Wrecking the Safe
Where to find the key number, how to order a new SentrySafe or Honeywell key, why the screwdriver videos cost you the box, and Oregon's gun safe rule.
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The Easiest Thing to Pick a Lock With Six Locks, Six Different Answers
Which tool opens which lock, why bobby pins fail on a front door deadbolt, how burglars really get in, and what Oregon law says about lock picks.
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Why Do Locksmiths Charge So Much? What You Pay For, and What Is a Scam
Where a locksmith bill really goes, the fair price ranges, the bait and switch that makes the whole trade look expensive, and how to get a straight price.
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Will Ace Hardware Rekey a Lock? An Honest Answer From Locksmiths
When the hardware store counter is the cheap, smart move, when a DIY kit works, and when you need a locksmith at the door instead.
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Safe Installation in Portland, From Buying to Repair
Fire vs burglary ratings, bolting to concrete or wood, gun safes, lockouts and lost combinations, and when a repair beats a new safe.
Where to Find ABC Lock & Safe
3255 NE Wygant St, Portland, OR 97211
Don't Panic. Just Call.
A real dispatcher answers, sets expectations on time and cost, and gets a technician en route. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week.