Earl Whitlock Door SecretsGET THE COMPLETE LIBRARY · $97

Door and lock books from a retired locksmith.

Not a $5,000 system. The right screw, the right lock, the right fix — in inches and dollars, in large print.

4 large-print PDF booksInstant download30-day money-back guarantee
VOLUME 1
The $8 Door cover

The $8 Door

The front door, fixed in a weekend.

$27
one-time · instant PDF download
GET THE $8 DOOR
  • Why the frame gives way, not the lock
  • The 3-inch screw fix for the strike plate and hinges
  • Glass doors, double doors and the garage-to-house door
★ BEST VALUE · RECOMMENDED
The Locksmith's Home Library cover

The Locksmith's Home Library

IThe $8 Door+IILocks I'd Never Buy+IIIThe 10-Second WindowONLY HERE+IVThe Renter's DoorONLY HERE
$97
Volumes 1 and 2 alone are $74 — The 10-Second Window and The Renter's Door are only in this library
GET ALL FOUR BOOKS
  • The $8 Door — the front door and its frame, fixed in a weekend
  • Locks I'd Never Buy — choosing, rekeying and installing the right lock
  • The 10-Second Window (only here) — windows and sliding doors, the $3 fixes
  • The Renter's Door (only here) — what a renter can do with no drilling
VOLUME 2
Locks I'd Never Buy cover

Locks I'd Never Buy

The right lock, bought once.

$47
one-time · instant PDF download
GET LOCKS I'D NEVER BUY
  • How to read a lock box before you pay
  • When a $20 rekey does the whole job
  • The spare key, and installing a deadbolt yourself
Earl Whitlock Door Secrets See the Library
Door and lock books from a retired locksmith

Can you still put a 3" screw into the jam?It isn't the lock. It's the three short screws behind it. These four books show you what to fix, with what, and where.

Not a $5,000 system. Not one more gadget. The front door and its frame, the right lock bought once, windows and sliding doors, and what a renter can do without drilling — measured in inches and dollars, in large print.

  • Written for homeowners and renters over 50
  • Large, easy-to-read type
  • A source for every fact
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
See the Library
Earl, the channel's presenter
Does this sound like you?

You know the fix is “longer screws”. You just don’t know if it works on your door.

These are things people write, word for word, under home-security videos. A video shows one trick. These books give you what the video leaves out: which part, which screw length, which door it fits, what it costs, and what to do when your door is different.

The first thing my father did when I moved into my current house was replace the small lock screws in the front door with super heavy duty long ones.

— a viewer, under a home-security video · 516 likes

Can you still put a 3" screw into the jam?

— a viewer with glass on both sides of the door · 3 likes

But my alarm never went off.

— a viewer, after a break-in while at work · 5 likes

They got in through the sliding back door

— a viewer, about her break-in · 27 likes
  • Why front doors give way with the lock still locked
  • The 3-inch screw fix for the strike plate and hinges, step by step
  • How to read a lock box, and the kinds of lock that fail
  • The spare key: what to do instead of hiding it
  • Windows and sliding doors: the $3 fixes, never blocking a way out
  • What a renter can do with no drilling, and the letter to the landlord
The books

The whole Library, or start with your front door

The Locksmith's Home Library is all four books, and the only place to get The 10-Second Window and The Renter's Door. Volumes 1 and 2 are also sold on their own. Open the contents of any book before you buy.

All four books

The Locksmith's Home Library

If a book isn't useful to you, email us within 30 days of buying and we'll refund you in full. No questions, no forms, and you don't need to explain.

  • The $8 Door: the front door and its frame, fixed in a weekend
  • Locks I'd Never Buy: choosing, rekeying and installing the right lock
  • The 10-Second Window: windows and sliding doors, the $3 fixes. Only here.
  • The Renter's Door: what a renter can do with no drilling. Only here.
$97 Volumes 1 and 2 on their own are $74. The Library adds The 10-Second Window and The Renter's Door, which are not sold anywhere else. Get all four On your card statement this shows as REDPEAK* PAYHIP
Cover of The $8 Door, Volume 1
Volume 1 · The Front Door

The $8 Door

Why front doors give way with the lock still locked, and the 20-minute fix.

  • Why the frame gives way, not the lock
  • The 3-inch screw fix for the strike plate and hinges
  • Glass doors, double doors and the garage-to-house door
Contents
  1. The Lock Held. The Door Didn’t.
  2. A Front Door in Plain Words
  3. The Ten-Minute Door Inspection
  4. The 3-Inch Screw Fix: The Strike Plate
  5. The 3-Inch Screw Fix: The Hinges
  6. When the Screws Won’t Behave: Stripped Holes, Gaps and a Door That Binds
  7. Strike Plates and Frame Kits: What $8, $25 and $60 Buy
  8. The Door Itself: Hollow, Solid, Steel, and the Wrap-Around Plate
  9. The Deadbolt Check: Throw, Gap and Turn
  10. Glass in the Door and Glass Beside It
  11. Double Doors
  12. The Door From the Garage
  13. Storm Doors, Screen Doors and Doors That Open Out
  14. Foil on the Doorknob: What It Does and What It Doesn’t
  15. Wedges, Bars and Door-Stop Alarms — and Your Way Out
  16. When the Jamb Is Rotten or Split
  17. When to Call a Professional
  18. One Weekend, Hour by Hour: A Worked Example
  19. Door Cards
  20. One-Page Checklist
  21. Glossary
  22. Notes & Sources

Plus a one-page checklist and a glossary, 44 source notes. 173 pages, large type.

Sample pages
Sample page from The $8 DoorSample page from The $8 Door
$27one-time · PDF
Get The $8 Door
Cover of Locks I'd Never Buy, Volume 2
Volume 2 · Locks and Keys

Locks I'd Never Buy

An honest guide to deadbolts, smart locks and keys.

  • How to read a lock box before you pay
  • When a $20 rekey does the whole job
  • The spare key, and installing a deadbolt yourself
Contents
  1. What a Lock Is Really For
  2. Reading the Box, Part 1: Grades and What They Measure
  3. Reading the Box, Part 2: “Pick Resistant,” “Bump Resistant,” UL 437 and Other Words on the Package
  4. The Knob Lock With No Deadbolt, and the Bolt That Barely Leaves the Door
  5. Thin Housings, Loose Collars and Bargain Keypads
  6. The Double-Cylinder Deadbolt and the Way Out
  7. Smart Locks and Keypads, Part 1: Kinds, Batteries and the Backup Key
  8. Smart Locks and Keypads, Part 2: Codes, Apps, Wi-Fi and the Frame Behind Them
  9. Rekey or Replace: When $20 Does the Whole Job
  10. Who Has Copies of Your Keys
  11. “Do Not Duplicate,” Restricted Keys and Key Control
  12. The Spare Key: Why I Never Hide One
  13. What I Do Instead: Lockbox, Neighbor, Keypad
  14. Before You Buy: Measuring Your Door
  15. Putting a Deadbolt In Yourself, Step by Step
  16. The Five Mistakes, and How to Check for Them
  17. Interior Doors, the Bedroom Lock and Hands That Ache
  18. Shopping Lists by Budget: $20, $60 and $150
  19. One Weekend, Hour by Hour: A Worked Example
  20. Locksmith Cards
  21. One-Page Checklist
  22. Glossary
  23. Notes & Sources

Plus a one-page checklist and a glossary, 42 source notes. 176 pages, large type.

Sample pages
Sample page from Locks I'd Never BuySample page from Locks I'd Never Buy
$47one-time · PDF
Get Locks I'd Never Buy
Cover of The 10-Second Window, Volume 3
Volume 3 · Only in the Library

The 10-Second Window

Latches, sliding doors and basement windows, and the $3 fixes.

  • The window latch that isn't a lock
  • Sliding glass doors: the dowel and the lift-out
  • Never blocking a way out of a bedroom
Contents
  1. The 10-Second Window: What the Numbers Say About Ways In
  2. Read Your Windows Like a Locksmith
  3. The Half-Moon Latch Is Not a Lock
  4. Pins and Stops for Double-Hung Windows
  5. Sliding Windows: Track, Lift and Stop
  6. Casement, Awning and Hopper Windows
  7. The Sliding Glass Door: Why It Gives
  8. The Bar in the Track
  9. Anti-Lift Screws, Rollers, Pins and Foot Locks
  10. Basement Windows and Window Wells
  11. Ground-Floor and “Easy Upper” Windows
  12. The Window Air Conditioner
  13. Glass and Film: What They Do and What They Don’t
  14. Sensors and Cheap Window Alarms
  15. Under the Window: Shrubs, Gravel and Light
  16. Never Block a Way Out
  17. Habits That Close the Window
  18. The Window-by-Window Walk-Through
  19. One Weekend, Hour by Hour: A Worked Example
  20. Window Cards
  21. One-Page Checklist
  22. Glossary
  23. Notes & Sources

Plus a one-page checklist and a glossary, 42 source notes. 196 pages, large type.

Sample pages
Sample page from The 10-Second WindowSample page from The 10-Second Window
In the Librarynot sold on its own
Get it with the Library
Cover of The Renter's Door, Volume 4
Volume 4 · Only in the Library

The Renter's Door

Secure a rental with no drilling, and take it with you.

  • What usually needs the landlord's yes, and what never does
  • A ready-written letter for a rekey
  • No-drill locks, bars and alarms that move out with you
Contents
  1. Somebody Else’s Door
  2. Locks and Rentals: What the Rules Usually Say
  3. How to Check Your Own State
  4. Reading Your Lease Like a Locksmith
  5. The Short Letter to the Landlord
  6. Who Has a Key?
  7. Moving In: The First-Week Walk-Through
  8. No-Drill Security I: Portable Locks
  9. No-Drill Security II: Wedges and Wedge Alarms
  10. No-Drill Security III: Door Bars
  11. Contact Alarms and Stick-On Sensors
  12. The Apartment Door: Hallway, Peephole, Chain or Swing Bar
  13. The Mailbox
  14. Sliders and Windows in a Rental, Without Tools
  15. Shared Garages, Storage Units and Building Doors
  16. When It Can’t Wait: Urgent Lock Changes
  17. Renters Insurance and Your Inventory
  18. Moving Out: Put It Back, Keep the Deposit
  19. The Renter’s List Under $50
  20. A Weekend, Hour by Hour: A Worked Example
  21. Renter’s Cards
  22. One-Page Checklist
  23. Glossary
  24. Notes & Sources

Plus a one-page checklist and a glossary, 47 source notes. 195 pages, large type.

Sample pages
Sample page from The Renter's DoorSample page from The Renter's Door
In the Librarynot sold on its own
Get it with the Library
At a glance

What's inside each book

CountThe $8 DoorLocks I'd Never BuyThe 10-Second WindowThe Renter's Door
Pages173176196195
Chapters22232324
Source notes44424247
Price$27$47Library onlyLibrary only

Page counts include the cover, contents, glossary and the notes listing every source. US Letter pages, large type. Read them on a phone, a tablet or a computer. Until a book is finished, the table shows its minimum length.

Before you buy

Is this for you?

Probably yes, if…

  • You own or rent your home and you’re over fifty.
  • You’d rather fix the door once than pay a monthly bill.
  • You’ve heard “use longer screws” and never knew which ones.
  • You live alone, or the person who used to do these jobs isn’t here.
  • You rent and can’t drill a hole without asking.

Probably not, if…

  • You want a house nobody can ever get into. No door is impossible to open; these books are about time, noise and not being the easy one.
  • You want weapons or self-defense moves. There are none here.
  • You want legal advice. Rental rules vary by state; the books show you where to check.
  • You want video lessons. These are PDF books. (The videos are on the channel.)
Want company along the way?

Earl's Door Secrets Club

One small door, lock or window job every week, with a large-print page to keep on your phone.

Opening soon — leave your email and we'll tell you the day it opens. Nothing is charged for joining the list.

Join the waiting list
How you get it

Read it on your phone, tablet or computer

  1. Pay securely. By card or PayPal on the checkout page. On your card statement the purchase shows as REDPEAK* PAYHIP, our shop's name and not the channel's.
  2. Download right away. Your download page opens as soon as you pay, and the link also arrives by email.
  3. Start with one door. Read Chapter 1 tonight, open your front door and look at the strike plate, and save the screw-length card as a screenshot on your phone.

30-day money-back guarantee

If a book isn't useful to you, email us within 30 days of buying and we'll refund you in full. No forms, and you don't need to explain. The same goes if you can't download it or it won't open: write first and we'll fix it or refund you.

Write to hiddensecretsmedialabs@gmail.com

Questions

Common questions

Are these the same as the videos?

No. A video shows one fix. The books put it in order: the door, the frame, the lock, the key, the windows and the rental, with the measurements, the prices and a published source for every fact.

My door has glass on the sides, or it isn’t wood. Is this for me?

Yes. Volume 1 has a chapter on glass doors, sidelights, double doors and the garage-to-house door, and says plainly when a job is for a professional.

I rent. Can I do any of this?

Volume 4 is written for you: what usually needs the landlord’s yes, what never leaves a mark, a ready-written letter, and how to put it all back when you move. Rules vary by state; the book shows where to check yours.

Why are The 10-Second Window and The Renter's Door only in the Library?

They go with the other two: the windows and the rental chapters point back to the door and lock chapters. That is why they are sold only as part of The Locksmith's Home Library.

What is Earl's Door Secrets Club?

A weekly letter, separate from the books: one fix or one drill a week for a body over sixty, with a large-print page for the course. $9.90 a month, cancel anytime. See the Club.

What format are the books?

PDF, US Letter size, with large type. They open in any PDF reader on a phone, tablet or computer. Nothing to fill in, nothing to print.

Will my card statement show a strange name?

The charge comes from our checkout provider, not from the channel, so the name on your statement is the shop's and not Earl Whitlock Door Secrets. It shows as REDPEAK* PAYHIP. Worth remembering, because a charge you don't recognise a month later is unsettling. If you ever see a charge you can't place, email hiddensecretsmedialabs@gmail.com before you call your bank. We will find the order the same day, and if it is ours and you don't want it, we refund it on the spot.

What if I can't download it, or it won't open?

Write to hiddensecretsmedialabs@gmail.com and we will get the file to you, by a second link or as an attachment. If we can't, we refund you. Nobody has to fight with a download to get what they paid for.

How do refunds work?

Email hiddensecretsmedialabs@gmail.com within 30 days of purchase. We refund in full to the original payment method.