3 Reasons Why the Schlage B60 is the Best Residential Deadbolt

I recently read an online article that boldly declared the Schlage B60 deadbolt was the best deadbolt on the market. As a professional Vancouver downtown locksmith, I do not agree that it’s the best deadbolt for everyone. Especially considering the writer used a Weiser SmartKey deadbolt for comparison.

However, I do agree it’s a great deadbolt for the entry-level market and offers great value. So let’s go over a few features of the Schlage B60 that make it a great residential deadbolt. At the end, I’ll go over why I think the Schlage B560 is the better choice for most clients.

Reason #1: It’s hard to pick open

Compared to most other Residential Grade 3 deadbolts you can buy at a DIY store like Home Depot, the Schlage B60 Deadbolt is much harder to pick using lockpicking tools. This is because most newer versions have at least 4 security top pins or T-pins that create false positives.

When a locksmith or a burglar applies tension to the lock cylinder, these false “sets” will get in the way. So the more security top pins you have, the greater the chance of achieving a false set which will force the lockpicker to reset the cylinder and try again.

Now are there ways of defeating security pins? Of course there are. However, most beginner to intermediate lockpickers will have a hard time manually defeating security pins which is why it’s a great feature of the Schlage B60.

Reason #2: It’s hard to drill

The Schlage B60 used to be a joke for anyone with a power drill and a decently sharp drill bit. It was so easy to drill open that it was not worth spending the time to pick it open.

Then Schlage got smart and integrated a hardened steel plate that covers the cylinder shear line and the side bolts. I do not know what this thin plate is made of but it causes even the best drill bits I have to skip and dance over its surface.

After the redesign, I have to defeat the anti-drill plate before I can drill out the lock. Otherwise, I can basically give up on trying to drill open Schlage B60 Deadbolts. It was a smart move by Schlage to introduce the ant-drill plate and the security pins in their redesign. These are security features I have not found in other deadbolts in the Residential Grade Deadbolt category.

Reason #3: It’s easy to install

There is a good reason why the Schlage B60 is most often found at a DIY store like Home Depot. It’s fairly easy for even a layperson to install. All you will need is a Philips #2 screwdriver and some elbow grease.

There are situations why it may not fit easily into your door which I will discuss in the Cons section. However, it was designed to be plug-and-play on  most standard doors.

It has two large screws that connect the exterior lock cylinder to the interior thumb turn. The instructions are straightforward and the construction is simplistic by design. If you need help, you can always consult YouTube or call/text me a 604-363-2760. If further assistance is required, you can send pictures to alex@locksmithvancouver.com, and I would be happy to assist.

Now, let’s go over why the Schlage B60 may not be the best residential deadbolt for you.

Con #1: Standard Door Prep Required

The Schlage B60 cannot accommodate anything other than a Standard Door Prep. While it can handle a backset of 2-⅜” or 2-¾”, if your door hole is not the standard 2-⅛” diameter, it will not work on your door. You will need to call a Vancouver downtown locksmith to prep your door to the correct specifications or modify the lock slightly.

For most people living in homes that have been built in the past 20 years, this should not be a problem. However, the older the building is, the greater the chance that your door hole may be the older 1-½” standard. In this situation, you will need to drill the door or upgrade to the Schlage B560 which can accommodate such oddities.

Con #2: Cheap Metals Alloys Used

I am not sure if the Schlage B60 always used such cheap and soft metals, however, as long as I have been a Vancouver downtown Locksmith they have used the cheapest metal alloys they can get away with. There’s not a hint of brass anywhere. It’s all aluminum and other soft metals – with the exception of the anti-drill plate. 

Higher quality locks use brass because it provides better performance and longevity, excellent corrosion resistance, non-magnetic properties, and can be milled to a tighter tolerance. So overall, this residential grade lock will not last as long and the ease of use will decrease faster over time compared to the Schlage B560.

Con #3: Lack of Upgradeability

Unlike its higher-grade cousins, the Schlage B560 and B660, the Residential Garde Schlage B60 cannot be upgraded any further. What you see is what you get forever. You cannot add a high-security cylinder, a 6 cylinder, an ice pick guard, etc. Plus what would be the point in investing more funds into one of the cheaper locks you can buy?

Perhaps a better choice

While the Schlage B60 Residential Grade Deadbolt is a solid choice for most entry-level customers, I personally recommend the Schlage B560 Grade 2 Deadbolt over the Grade 3 B60. Here are a few reasons why I prefer the B560 vs B60:

• The difference in cost is quite small for a higher-quality lock.
• The B560 comes default with a 6-pin brass lock cylinder with anti-drill pins.
• The B560 has thicker side bolts and front armor plating.
• The B560 has an integrated ice pickguard.
• The B560 can accommodate the older 1-½” door holes.

The only downside is that the B560 comes in a limited selection of finishes. So if you are looking for a matte black or other specialty colors, you will need to stick to the B60 which is considered Architectural Hardware. In layman’s terms, Architectural Hardware is non-commercial Grade parts that look great and come in a wide variety of finishes but are less hardy.

If you have any questions or simply want us to upgrade your deadbolt, please call/text me at 604-363-2760 or email me at alex@locksmithvancouver.com. It would be my pleasure to serve you!