I have a journal that I would like to have a special lock put on and a
key made for. I have a key I would like to use but I am willing to
look at other lock and key sets. Who would I consult with about having
a small lock and key or just a small lock made/ordered (perhaps
personalized)? (What kind of a person? Welder, jeweler, locksmith,
ect.) If they could also provide information/ideas about how to have
it put onto a small journal that would be spectacular.

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Clarification of Question by pepper_puff-ga on 09 Jan 2005 20:30 PST

The journal is a collection of memories between my boyfriend and I. I
had an idea that for valentine's day I would give him a key and call
it "the key to my heart" and later on our anniversary I would give him
the journal and he would have to use the key to unlock it. I thought
perhaps 2 small holes could be drilled on the outside edge of each
cover and I could get some kind of chain or ring to put through it and
then have the lock connect each chain/ring and lock the covers
together (if that makes any sense) So maybe what I am really looking
for is just a place to buy a very small lock with a key that is, if
possible, romantic looking.

I have seen journals with a small lock but you want to modify the one
you have. Having a key doesn?t really help much -- it?s a bit like
asking for a shirt to be sewn onto a button.

Any reasonably skilled DIY person could fit a hasp and small padlock
though finding a hasp of exactly the correct dimensions will be
difficult. Check out hardware shops for ideas. Likely a bought item
would need to me re-bent to size. Best way to fix it to the covers is
by flush rivets. Hasps incorporating a lock are unlikely to be
available for one-off purchase.

Ideally the whole hasp would be custom-made but a jeweller or
locksmith would have to charge for several hours work. Is it worth it?
Best material would be stainless steel but brass is much more
practical and could be lacquered to avoid tarnishing. Also of course,
the contents of the journal could be read by the maker.

I don?t know your age or position so can?t guess on your personal
contacts, but you might approach a high school technical dept if you
have children at school. I got ?awarded? a few projects of similar
skill requirement when I was at school (pre-Cambrian). Great fun.

If you are in school yourself, even easier. But failing school or any
other technical contacts, you have more chance of finding someone in
rural areas where people are more adept at ?making do?. Your
suggestions of jeweller and locksmith are probably the best but
clockmakers are up there too, especially old chaps.

This global village is great but unfortunately kinda ?virtual?. Your
spelling is American, mine isn?t. I would be pleased to do it for you
(reasonable fee) and even build a lock for your special key, but I?m
far away from *everywhere*.

Best

Ah young love. Sigh.

It *would* be really fine to get a couple of scrolled, inscribed
plates made up -- like old bibles. But what you suggest seems
practical. Won?t look terrific with just a couple of holes but the
sentiment will be super. A long-shackle padlock like the picture ....

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/endecaSearch/partDetail.jsp?SKU=SR02487&N=401

.... would work. You could pretty it up by painting on a message. The
key too. Or if you want to get a little more ambitious you could use
small files and shape the key into a heart. If the key is brass, this
will be quite easy, especially if you can clamp it in a vice. Pad it
though so you don?t mark the surface. If you want to paint the parts
(pink?) thoroughly degrease first. Hot water and detergent.

The other way which I was thinking of is a hasp like :-

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/endecaSearch/partDetail.jsp?SKU=SR04190&N=401

... and a padlock, but a bit more difficult.

I did a long search for ?book hasp? and variations on the theme but
came up with nothing suitable. Unless you live in Outer Mongolia
though you should be able to find something suitable in hardware or
DIY stores.

Have a good one.

Best

Just had another thought -- a heart shaped key ring. Do a search for
?heart shaped key?. This is one of many :-

http://www.giftsforprofessionals.com/92535530-ft-3770.html

Best

If you want to make a nice job of this, the type of person you need to
speak to is a bookbinder. The US has a huge number of professional,
semi professional and amateurs - Just do a search for "bookbinders"
and your location.

They will almost certainly be able to add an appropriate clasp (not
hasp, when referring to a book by the way) with a built in lock or to
take a miniature padlock - the sort of thing you see on 5 year
diaries/journals.

If you want to get carried away, they will probably be able to rebind
what you have with a nice leather cover too.

What a great idea ?lostpos?. And you thanks for wising me up with
?clasp? not ?hasp?. Lots of ?hits? for that and even sites which can
supply, such as :-

http://www.bookclasp.com/about.htm

Best

you can use your own key but that will involve a locksmith unless you
know a thing or two about the trade. essentially as long as your key
is smaller than a house key you should be fine. a lock is just a
housing with tumblers in it which are pushed up when the key is
inserted to make what is called the shear line so that the mechanism
can turn. making your key work is simply a matter of finding the lock
you want and changing the tumblers on your lock,( unless our key has a
indention toward the bottom then only certain locks will accept it).
if you want to use your key just find a lock that looks like the size
for your key and take it to a locksmith and tell him you want tumblers
to fit your key. for a better explaination of the lock and key take a
look at this site http://home.howstuffworks.com/lock-picking3.htm  and
im sure youll understand what i mean.