Are you looking to buy a lock rod? Also known as bar locks, lock rods have become a popular alternative to traditional deadbolts. You can use a lock rod to secure a door — or to secure double doors — from the inside. They can be used in homes and commercial buildings. Placing a lock rod against the inner frame of a door and tightening it in place will prevent the door from being opened from the outside.
Number of Locking Points
When choosing a lock rod, you should consider how many locking points it has. All lock rods have at least one locking point. A locking point, of course, is an area that secures and locks the door in place. Some lock rods have a single locking point, whereas others have multiple locking points. Cam locks, for instance, typically feature two locking points.
Left- or Right-Hand Door
Not all lock rods feature a universal orientation. There are lock rods for left-hand doors, and there are lock rods for right-hand doors. If you’re going to buy a lock rod, you should choose the type that accommodates your door. With that said, cam locks are reversible. Unlike most other types of lock rods, you can switch a cam lock from a left-hand to a right-hand orientation and vise versa. This reversible design means you can use them for both left-hand and right-hand doors.
Material
Lock rods are available in different materials. You can find aluminum lock rods. Aluminum is lightweight yet also strong and durable. More importantly perhaps, it’s highly resistant to corrosion. You can use an aluminum lock rod without fear of it rusting away.
Some lock rods are made of steel. Stainless steel is a common material in which lock rods are made. Like aluminum, stainless steel is highly resistant to corrosion. Stainless steel lock rods, however, are typically stronger and heavier than their aluminum counterparts.
Finish
Something else to consider when choosing a lock rod is the finish. The finish refers to the outer coating. Most lock rods are designed with a finish. Zinc plating, for example, is a common type of finish found on lock rods. It involves coating the surface of a lock rod with a layer of zinc. The layer of zinc acts as a shell to further protect the lock rod fro corrosion and other forms of damage.