The Difference Between a Schlage F50 & F51

Appearance

• Schlage has marketed its F-series sets through the years in a variety of handle styles and finishes. The FB50, for example, is packaged as "Flair," meaning its handle has a curved lever with a rounded finish. The F51, on the other hand, is a straight bar lever with a short extension included at the end in a right angle to the rest of the handle. Outward appearance of the various FB and F sets are the only deviations in the product, as the internal mechanics are the same.

Installation

• Schlage lock sets are installed in the same manner, regardless of series or product type. Holes must be drilled on centerlines for both the handle and deadbolt. The set is assembled with the latch in the middle, with the chassis fit through the holes in the door on each side. The cylinders are installed inside the chassis, and the levers or locks and escutcheon plates cover the mechanical parts.

Keying

• Schlage offers keying kits to product owners needing to adapt the internal workings. Special tools in these kits allow the disassembly of the inner parts for the repinning of the cylinder. This function gives owners the ability to change the types of keys used to access areas of a home or building without taking on the expense of replacing entire lock sets. Schlage FB and F series locks are rekeyed in the same manner.

Availability and Warranty

• Ingersoll Rand manufactures Schlage locks in the United States, New Zealand and Mexico, as of the date of publication. Home-improvement warehouses and hardware stores carry the brand, as do online retailers. All residential Schlage products, including the F-series, are covered by a limited lifetime warranty on the parts and finish.