Letters

Sticking Deadbolts To the Editor: I read with interest Byron Papa's article, "Fine-Tuning Entry Door Locksets" (7/96); in particular, his advice to use a brass wood screw to prevent a deadbolt's complete extension as a solution to a sticky bolt. This will defeat the "dead locking" feature of that type of lock and would make jimmying the lock with a pen knife possible. With the bolt fully extended, the bolt is "dogged" in place and would be very difficult to retract without the key. Steve Timms Montomery, Alabama Byron Papa replies: You are right: If a deadbolt plunger isn't extended all the way out, its locking mechanism won't engage and the bolt can be pushed back in. I used the technique