Tool to unlock interior doors?

[Faddy Daddy]

I haven't been on this site for ages, so pardon me for that but I had a curious thought.
Does anyone know of a good tool for unlocking interior doors? Around our house we often put the "keys" above the door jam but they invariable get lost or someone uses it and doesn't put it back. So, when the little tike locks themselves in a room I scramble around the house looking for a key or the tiniest of screwdrivers that might fit.
I'm talking about the interior doors that often have a tiny key hole to insert the tool and thus are able to unlock the door.
I just thought this would be a handy tool to have on a SAK, and maybe there is one but I can't seem to recall. I notice the Rambler has a relatively small (2.5 mm) screwdriver but I don't know if it's small enough or long enough for that matter.

[zrxoa1]

Toothpick??


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[IMR4198]

Have you tried the tweezers?  Best wishes.  G
 

[nate j]

The best SAK tool for this is the pen from the 91 mm plus scales.

In my experience, the toothpick is not sufficiently rigid.

Also note that the inserts in most refillable ball point pens will work for this.  I’ve unlocked multiple doors this way with the ink cartridge from my Fisher Bullet.

[LoopCutter]

An AWL?

[PitCarver]

I just use my thumbnail to open mine when the granddaughter locks the door.  My wife uses a dime.

[nate j]

An AWL?

Too wide.

I just use my thumbnail to open mine when the granddaughter locks the door.  My wife uses a dime.

That’s a different style privacy lock, and significantly easier to deal with.

[AzteCypher]

Faddy, is for that exact reason that I carry this on my key organizer.  This one came from one of those types of locks that require a small flat head to unlock it.  I took the provided key/tool, flattened the back end (that was already a loop) and then attached it to my key organizer.



Did something similar for another friend of mine using a thin flat head.  We cut it off to the length that he wanted.  Flattened it a bit so we could drill a small hole into it.  Then he put a small key ring on it.  Similar to what's on a 58mm Vic.  The thickness of the flat head is about 1/16". 

The SAK small fine screwdriver back tool is too wide to fit into the opening.  You'd have to reduce the width so much that you'd lose the nail nick.

I also looked at the micro-screwdriver from the Wenger Pocket Tool Chest but you would have to reduce the width so much that you'd lose the majority of the nail nick.

I have thought about trying something with the fish scaler but I feel it would be difficult too difficult to maintain a nail nick or grab point on it for deployment.

[marlowe221]

I've done it with a paperclip in a pinch (I pounded the end of the paperclip flat) but it wasn't easy. Also, paperclips come in various sizes - I used one of the larger ones.

[hsherzfeld]

Faddy Daddy, are you talking about the locks that have an interior button that you push to unlock? I spent my childhood picking those locks to gain access to confections or other treats in the pantry. I  remember that my parents used a “key” that was just a piece of hardened steel wire with a loop at one end. I think I usually used a straightened paper clip or coat hanger.

[Fireman]

My favorite lockpick is a 12# sledgehammer.  It never fails. 

For the type of door locks you're talking about, a serrated steak knife can be used.  Slip it between the door and jamb, catch the bolt with the serrated teeth, then slide the bolt toward the door side until it clears the latch plate.  Once you get the hang of  it, it should take you no more than three seconds.   

[dmak]

For my doors, the little screw driver that fits in the corkscrew works great.

[hsherzfeld]

My favorite lockpick is a 12# sledgehammer.  It never fails. 

For the type of door locks you're talking about, a serrated steak knife can be used.  Slip it between the door and jamb, catch the bolt with the serrated teeth, then slide the bolt toward the door side until it clears the latch plate.  Once you get the hang of  it, it should take you no more than three seconds.   

A credit card (or similar plastic card) can be used in a similar way.