She told me some story about the keys, but I wasn't listening. Supposedly they come 1/2 cut from the lock manufacturer and only the lock shop that finishes them can recreate the key. I just assumed she was telling the truth and that I can't copy the key.

And as far as being friends with anyone in my building, I just moved in a few days ago and all of my neighbors are 40-50-something doctors and lawyers. I'm sure I will meet some of them eventually, but it hasn't happened yet.

Thanks for all of the great info everyone has posted so far

Just moved in and already lost a key and got hit with a $400 fine? Ouch.

Does not bode well.

Glad everything ended up working itself out. I agree with the previous poster that said your landlord tried to take you for a ride. $400 to replace a lock is absurd unless you have a two door system to get in the building (one exterior common door for everyone and your own apartment door).

The idea is that if the keys never leave my wrist, then I'll never lose them. I lose them fairly frequently however, because I take it off.

Exactly the situation.

And I didn't get fined since my keys turned up in the end.

LOL yeah...it also looks like to me that alcohol would severely compromise the level of security this method provides.

Never trust a plastic or alumnium carabiners...

I bought mine a few years ago from a surplus store. Been scraped on the ground when I got hit by a truck a few years ago, and still going strong.
And I dont tuck my keys in while I ride...

Good food good people good beer.

This keyclip is 26 years old... Clips to beltloop over back pocket, and keys tuck into back pocket.
In 26 years I have not lost my keys.



And because I just said that, I will probably drop this into a storm drain first thing ing the morning.

Just to add to the info already here:

A good, sturdy keyring is also really important in keeping your keys secure. I learned this the hard way when I lost a ring of keys NOT due to carabiner failure, but keyring failure while crossing a bridge on foot in Dominica. The keys were on a very flimsy little metal ring, about the strength of a twist tie like you'd use for a bag of bread (given to me this way, not hand-selected by yours truly). The ring stretched/bent and the keys came flying off into the water below. The harder it is to put your keys ON the keyring, the harder it will be for them to come off. I always use a very stiff keyring now, and I'm on my way now to REI to buy a locking carabiner.

Post your carabiner thread!

I have a decent sentimental attachment to my key ring carabiner. It's not locking, but it is a nice Petzl that still has enough snap in the gate after years to make me feel secure. The only issue I've ever had is if I put my keys in it a bit too fast and they sit right where the gate closes, preventing it from closing, and letting the keys jump out. But, this would be a problem with any carabiner; solution is just to check em.

There's scratches all over mine from a crash, the anno on the gate is mostly worn off, and all the edges are polished smooth. It holds my keys, I love it!

I had one of those once. I thought it sucked. I had to check it several times a day after it started slipping off my belt loop. I must have done it wrong.

sounds like the key ring my landlord gave me when i moved in. needless tosay 5 minutes later i was changing my my ring.

That was your first mistake.








fixed it for you..

I'm just so lost as to why this is here...

Join me in the forums over at rockclimbing.com

i suspect his carabiner looked more like this.

not for climbing use
or like this.

also not for climbing use.

It is fun to tie-in and break key chain biners to see how much they actually hold. It's not much BTW.

These don't work well for wide belt loops like those on Dickies and/or most other work pants. I use to use one of those, had to switch to a carabiner.

Black Diamond Neutrino Wiregate Carabiner. REI has them for $8 or something. Havent had one issue in 4 years. I think a locking one might be overkill. Get a wiregate one and you should be fine.

Well, I guess I am really awesome at clipping stuff to belt loops then.

I've been using a cheapo anodized aluminum one from a hardware store for about 7 years now. no problems whatsoever.

i replace my carabiners every ~2 years, usually just when they break or the spring stops working.

Weird, I spent the first three years of my clip's 11+ year run doing commercial construction where I'd only wear Dickies five days a week... I guess I too am really good at clipping stuff to belt loops.

I've never understood the janitorial appeal of the carabiner chainring. My pocket works great and I've never lost anything that way.