There has been a lot of argument as to which type of safe lock is the best to use. Some say mechanical dials are more secure. Some however, opt for digital safe locks as they are more technologically advanced and thus deemed much safer. These contrasting assumptions can be confusing to first time buyers. So which type of safe lock should consumers use for their safe box, the one with the mechanical dial or the electronic safe lock?

No safe box is secure without a good locking mechanism. Mechanical dial locks use a series of pins and wheels to engage a metal bolt that passes between the door and a slot in the body of the safe. This is what's keeping the door closed tight or allowing it to open. Electronic safe locks have a similar metal bolt for security. However, they use an electronic mechanism that is usually with a digital keypad rather than a numbered mechanical dial in order to engage and release the bolt.

Which Safe Box Lock Mechanism Offers Better Security?

Although both locks have their weaknesses, there are more methods to picking the lock on a mechanical dial lock than there are ways to disable a digital safe lock. Some electronic safe box locks have added security by using a magnetic key card instead of the usual numeric code. This not only prevents thieves from guessing the code but also makes the safe box easy to open if the card falls into the wrong hands.

Other electronic safe boxes use fingerprint analysis. This makes it impossible for anyone whose fingerprints are not preregistered in the digital memory of the lock from opening the safe box. Though this is more secure, it has the drawback of cost since mechanical dial safe boxes are typically less expensive than digital safe boxes. Moreover, mechanical dials do not fade over time unlike digital keypads.

Electronic safe locks operate on battery power. The batteries can lose charge over time which would make the safe impossible to open without a key. Safe box providers advise owners of safe boxes to replace the battery after a year to avoid these kinds of issues. Batteries may have a long shelf life but they are still finite when compared to mechanical dial locks.

Conclusion

Both locking mechanisms have their advantages and disadvantages. However in terms of security, the digital or electronic safe lock is more reliable. Mechanical dial safe boxes may not be susceptible to maintenance problems and are more affordable but then again, these are bested by the additional security features, convenience and ease of use of electric or digital safe boxes.

Even buying a tiny office supply such as pen is a tricky business. Gel ink, liquid ink, roller pen, ballpoint pen, fountain pen – with so many to choose from it is hardly surprising if someone just picks out a point black gel ink pen without exactly knowing what it is. Writing is both an art and skill, and only the right type of pen can carry out a clear written message.

Ballpoint pen – As its name suggests, the ballpoint pen has a ball on its tips, which gathers the thick, oil-based ink with alcohol solvent and imprints them on the paper. 

Advantages: Perhaps the best feature of this pen is that it dries quickly because of its alcohol property. This means that it does not likely leave smudges and the paper absorbs the ink quickly. The flow of ink is also regulated because of its thickness, which always leaves the writer with even marks on the paper.

Disadvantages: Using the ballpoint as an office pen compromises comfort in writing and a neat outcome on the paper. Since the ballpoint has thick ink, it needs to be pressed harder to make an imprint on the paper. This then results to markings on the papers below the file and hand strain. Not to mention, the ink easily clogs the tips when it dries. 

Rollerball pens – This type of office pen offers the features of fountain pen and ballpoint pen. It uses water-soluble dye ink which can offer varying colors. The ballpoint is great in regulating the flow of ink and the fountain pen with its smooth and easy flow of ink. 

Advantages:  The easy flow of ink creates a fluid writing experience. It also leaves writing that is more permanent on paper. In addition, it leaves thin fine marks.

Disadvantages: The easy flow of ink offers slow absorbency on paper, consequently causing smudges. 

Gel pen – This pen comes in both ballpoint and rollerpoint which for some makes it more confusing. A point black gel ink pen may come as a water-based gel which is not too thick like the oil-based in ballpoint and does not leave marks as fine as that of the roller point. 
 
Advantages: The combination of two features of pens makes this office product a balanced one. It dries quickly and does not blotch while at the same time the ink is flowing smoothly out of its tip. Instead of dye however, it uses pigments, which also allows creations of varying ink colors.

Disadvantages: Since it uses a roller ball, one of the problems writing with this pen is it does not coat the tip evenly leaving marks of varying thicknesses. Moreover, the ink tends to clog as soon as it dries. 

So which office pen is the right one to use? It actually comes down to the type of writing it will serve and on what paper. These types of point black gel ink pen come with refillable inks in many wholesale office supply stores.