At I&S Lock Service, we’re often called out to deal with all sorts of lock-related issues—but this recent job in Ayr was a particularly interesting one.

A customer had discovered an old safe hidden away in their property. Like many older safes, the locks had seized up over time and, unsurprisingly, there were no keys to be found. This is a common problem with older safes—years of disuse, rust, and wear can leave the mechanisms jammed and the locks completely unusable.

Rather than replace the safe entirely, the customer was keen to restore it and put it back to good use. We were happy to help.

We carefully refurbished both locks, restoring them to working condition, and then hand-cut brand new keys to match. With the locks now fully operational and a fresh set of keys, the safe is once again secure and functional—ready to be used for years to come.

Whether it’s a vintage safe, a faulty lock, or something more urgent, we’re here to help across Ayrshire and beyond.

If you’ve come across an old safe or are having trouble with any type of lock, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Final Tips for Keeping Your Safe in Good Working Order

To avoid future issues, it’s a good idea to keep a spare key stored in a secure but separate location—somewhere you won’t forget, but that’s not obvious to others.

If your safe hasn’t been used in a while, give the lock a gentle turn now and then to keep the mechanism moving freely. A light application of specialist lubricant (never WD-40) can also help prevent the lock from seizing up over time. And if you notice any stiffness or wear, it’s always best to get it checked sooner rather than later to avoid being locked out altogether. Unsure, give Iain a call for a check and service.