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Are there any other brand of door knobs/locks, price and quality, between Baldwin and Kwikset/Schlage/Master?
I have tried doing a search in the net, looked around at the home center store, etc. For example, a regular passage door knob, no privacy lock, for a Baldwin is about $48 and $9 for the ‘5 year finish guaranteed’ kwikset/schlage.
Is that it? Not too many choices between $9 and $48
Thanks, Eug
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Replies
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b WBA At Your Service
It's unfortunate that people lump Kwikset and Schlage together because Schlage's product line is definitely a step above most of what Kwikset has to offer. If you search Schlage's website, I'm sure that you can find something for less than $48 that suits your needs.
http://www.schlagelock.com
*Agree 100% with Tim's assessment: Schlage make several lines and their top are not only quite good, but are very close to it's corporate mate, Baldwin in design.
*There is a pretty good listing of the Baldwin and Schlage lines at:http://www.precisiondoors.com/
*Check clementhardware.com They carry a couple of other makes that are in-between. They're also near my home and a great bunch of folks. A family hardware store with competetive prices, especially on Baldwin.
*I like the kwikset from my experience during apartment maintance. The kwikset is a easy lock to rekey, maintance is very simple. Now understand kwikset is mainly a good entry level lock in price. basically it a good lock, will not hole a safe door shut but still a good lock.
*Check out Emtek. http://www.emtekproducts.com/I've seen their knobs at some local door shops and lumber yards (Arizona). They have some unusual designs and finishes. The prices they quoted me for oil rubbed bronze were less than a similar Baldwin set. Don't know about their long term quality though they do seem well built.
*Kwikset is making a better grade with the name Titan. What I've seen so far looks ok.
*Schlage gets my vote.I disdain Kwikset.Baldwin is fine if you want a beautifull piece of impecably finished brass attached to a junk lock works.For around $23 a pop i put all new Schlage levers inside my home with their new brushed pewter (619) finish. Levers are much more ergonomic than knobs IMO. These levers have a 10 year warranty on finish and lifetime on the works.I favor the 660 series deadbolts about $60. Obviously not a cheap deadbolt but no comparison to Kwikset.For rekeying the Schlage A series, Al series, and D series are the easiest. You don't even turn a single screw in the process.Frankly Kwikset are laughably easy to pick.joe d
*I recently went through the same search for passage leversets for my own 3 boys rooms.Both Kwikset and Schlage levers were wobblingaround on their stamped eescutcheons (and all sscratched up) within a couple months. I finally ponied up for the cheapest Baldwin leversets and I couldn't be happier.For $50, they're the real solid deal. Even the clear finish seems more durable.
I too have been looking and haven't found much comparable to the Baldwin. I really think the knobs, especially egg shaped, look alot better if they do not have a push button or thumb turn on the inside and a little universal key/tool hole on the outside of the knob itself like the Kwickset and Schlage (even their high end stuff) That pretty much leaves you with Balwin and Weslock which have the lock buttons and tool holes discreetly located on the rosettes. Anyone else know of others with this feature?
My current customer got some Cifial brand locks, made in Portugal, that are configured like Baldwin with the privacy button on the rose. The husband is an engineer, and he liked the small angle of lever throw needed to fully retract the latch. I should be into the locks this coming week, may report back.Bill
I checked out Cifial's website. Good looking stuff, but like most of the brands, they don't show any picture of the rosettes except for passage sets which don't have holes or buttons. Stuff is expensive too, a little higher than Baldwin. Let us now how the install goes and what you think of them compared to the Baldwin both in quality and looks. Thanks!
Update time. I put in 5 of the privacy sets yesterday. I like them. My last experience with Baldwin was too long ago to compare, so I won't go there.The Cifial hardware is solid and accurate. The latches retract fully and the levers are heavy forgings with stainless setscrews (sets are satin nickle over brass). The levers only move about 20 degrees to fully retract the latch, which my customer really likes a lot. The effort is higher, but with big levers it is no trouble at all to muster the force required. One finger will open the latch for me.The roses are what appears to be zinc castings, not heavy enough to be brass. They are held to the inner parts by an elegant tubular threaded retainer nut on each side. This is a better system than others I have seen. There are snap-in plastic bushings to prevent metal-to-metal contact where the lever meets the rose. They are quiet. All exposed screws are solid brass, nickle plated. I broke the first one I drove into the maple jamb, but only that one. Easier to drill out than a steel screw!My customer paid about $48 for each set as part of a larger buy for her one house, and she said Baldwin was about $8 more for a comparable leverset. They are nice locks, and I would consider them myself if I was in the market. Next year I'll probably do their entry in the same style, but she is leaning toward a passage set/deadbolt combination, since she does not like the formal handle styles. We shall see.Bill
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Are there any other brand of door knobs/locks, price and quality, between Baldwin and Kwikset/Schlage/Master?
I have tried doing a search in the net, looked around at the home center store, etc. For example, a regular passage door knob, no privacy lock, for a Baldwin is about $48 and $9 for the '5 year finish guaranteed' kwikset/schlage.
Is that it? Not too many choices between $9 and $48
Thanks, Eug
Check out Van Dykes Restorers. Lots of door hardware in many different styles.