Window Sliding Locks: 1″ vs 3″ vs 4″ and How to Weld Them On

A window sliding lock is a small weld-on bolt: a body fixed to the window sash and a bolt that slides into a keeper on the frame. Push the thumb-grip one way to lock, the other way to open. They are on almost every steel window in Kenya, and we stock them in 1″, 3″ and 4″.

Which size where

Where to position the lock

• On opening sashes, fit the lock on the side opposite the hinges, where the sash meets the frame.
• Tall sashes may need two locks, top and bottom, to pull the sash tight along its whole length.
• Fit at a height that is easy to reach but not from outside through the grill.

How to weld them on

1. Close the sash and hold the lock in position with the bolt pushed into the keeper. This guarantees alignment.
2. Tack the body to the sash and the keeper to the frame.
3. Open and close several times to check the bolt slides freely.
4. Weld fully on the body and keeper, never on the sliding bolt. Shield the slide from spatter.
5. Paint carefully, keeping paint off the bolt; a drop of oil afterwards keeps it smooth.

How many locks per window?

Sliding locks and security

A sliding lock keeps a window shut against wind and casual opening, but it is operated from the inside. On grill doors and gates, use it with a real lock: a padlock through a hasp or a mortice lock, so the door cannot be opened from outside.

Common mistakes

• Welding the lock with the sash open, so the bolt misses the keeper when closed.
• Fitting the lock where it can be reached through the grill from outside.
• Weld spatter or paint in the slide.

Pair them with window side-arms for top-hung windows. Ask for a price on the window sliding locks page.