You've just moved into your apartment in Beit Shemesh, and everyone — the landlord, the neighbor, the guy in the WhatsApp group — tells you the same thing: "Change the cylinder. Get a Mul-T-Lock." You look it up and there are three of them: MTL400, MTL600 and MTL800. The price nearly doubles from one to the next, the numbers explain nothing, and every one of them says "patented". So what is the actual difference, and which one does your door really need?
We hear this question in the shop almost every day since we opened our Locks & Security department. After more than 25 years serving Beit Shemesh and the surrounding area with computers and repairs, we brought genuine Yale and Mul-T-Lock products into the store — together with the same approach: explain things plainly, and sell you what you need, not the most expensive thing on the shelf. This guide sorts out the three cylinders with a comparison table, Israeli prices, and a clear recommendation for every situation.
What all three cylinders have in common
- Made in Israel. All three are manufactured at the Mul-T-Lock plant in Yavne, built on the telescopic pin-in-pin technology that made the brand famous worldwide.
- The standard Israeli size. All three come in the 76 mm off-center size (33/43) that fits most Israeli steel doors ("pladelet"). Other sizes can be ordered.
- Thumb-turn option. Each can be ordered with a thumb-turn (knob) on the inside, so you lock and unlock from inside without a key — convenient every day and a fast exit in an emergency.
- Standards. All three meet the requirements of the Standards Institution of Israel and international standards (the MTL400 and MTL600 carry SI 950 and EN 1303).
The real difference lies in the protection layers built on top of the telescopic pins — and in a question that matters just as much: who is able to copy your key.
Comparison table: MTL400 vs MTL600 vs MTL800
| MTL400 | MTL600 | MTL800 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Locking technology | Telescopic pins + a shaped pin and socket in the key | Telescopic pins + a floating pin (moving element) in the key | Three systems: telescopic pins, a split track ("snake") system and a double Alpha spring, plus a locking bolt with 5 finger pins |
| Resistance to picking and bumping | Good | High | Highest in the range |
| Key duplication | Only at authorized Mul-T-Lock points, with the original key | Only with the magnetic owner card | Only with the magnetic owner card; key patented until 2039 |
| In the box | 5 keys | Keys + owner card | 3 keys + owner card |
| Master key / keyed alike | Available | Available | Supports large, complex master-key systems |
| Best for | Interior doors, storage rooms, rentals, a basic upgrade | The front door of most homes | Homes with valuables, businesses, insurance requirements, after a break-in |
| Our price (76 mm) | from ₪184 | from ₪227 | from ₪328 |
Prices include VAT and are correct for September 2026. Special sizes and thumb-turns carry a small surcharge.
1. MTL400 — Mul-T-Lock's reliable entry point
The MTL400 is the new generation of the veteran cylinder formerly known as ClassicPro, and chances are it is sitting in the door of someone you know. It has Mul-T-Lock's telescopic pins and a shaped pin built into the key that makes quiet, non-destructive break-in methods much harder, and it meets SI 950 and the European EN 1303 standard. It comes in a blister pack with five keys, and keys are copied only at authorized Mul-T-Lock points — not at the kiosk in the mall.
Who it's for: an interior door, a storage room or balcony door, a rental where you want a fresh cylinder cheaply and without drama, or anyone stepping up from a no-name cylinder to a real Mul-T-Lock at the lowest price.
What it lacks: there is no owner card. Anyone holding a key can have it copied at an authorized point. For an interior door that doesn't matter; for a front door, it is exactly what separates it from the MTL600.
➜ The MTL400 cylinder in our store
2. MTL600 — the choice for most homes
The MTL600 adds a moving element to the key — a floating pin — that the cylinder "feels" as the key turns. That is one more layer against picking and bumping, and especially against uncontrolled copying. But the upgrade people notice day to day is the owner card: a personal magnetic card without which no duplication point will cut you another key. Whoever holds the card controls how many keys exist for your door. The cleaner, the previous tenant, the renovation contractor — each of them gets a key only if you approved it.
Who it's for: the front door of an apartment or house, especially one that strangers have passed through; a small office; anyone who wants peace of mind without paying for a premium tier. On value for money, this is the cylinder we recommend most often.
➜ The MTL600 cylinder in our store
3. MTL800 — the premium: three security systems in one lock
The MTL800 is the most advanced cylinder in Mul-T-Lock's residential range. It combines three patented locking systems: the familiar telescopic pins, a split track system (the "snake" you can see on the back of the key) and a double Alpha spring — a moving element in the key that engages a unique pin deep inside the cylinder. On top of that sits a strong locking bolt with five finger pins. The key is patented until 2039, which means nobody will be making unofficial blanks for it in the coming years, and copying is done only with the owner card. In the box: three keys and the card.
Who it's for: anyone who wants the maximum from the front door — a home with valuables, a business or stockroom, a policy holder whose insurance company requires High Security locking, and anyone who has been through a break-in and does not intend to go through another. The MTL800 also supports large master-key systems: one key for the building or business owner, and a separate key for every door.
And the price: ₪328 — an introductory price for our new department, and one of the lowest you will find in Israel for a genuine MTL800. We checked.
➜ The MTL800 cylinder in our store
There is also the MTL700 — a step between the 600 and the 800, with magnetic elements in the key. Ask us if you want one more layer without going all the way to premium.
So which one? Four questions that decide it
- Who had a key to this door before you? A rental, a house you just bought, a renovation that just ended — if the honest answer is "no idea", you need at least an MTL600, so the owner card resets the count and you know exactly how many keys exist.
- What is behind the door? A storage room or interior room — the MTL400 is plenty. The front door of your home — MTL600. Valuables, a business, professional equipment — MTL800.
- Does your insurance company have a requirement? Many home and business policies in Israel require a High Security cylinder. Check the policy; the MTL800 satisfies even the strict ones.
- How many keys do you need? Big family? Keep in mind the MTL400 comes with five keys and the MTL800 with three, and plan the extra copies in advance.
Before you buy: check the size
Most steel doors in Israel take a 76 mm off-center cylinder — 33 mm on the outside, 43 mm on the inside — and that is the default for all three models. To check: loosen the cylinder screw on the edge of the door, slide the old cylinder out and measure from the screw hole to each end. If your door is unusually thick, has a raised escutcheon (rosette), or opens outward, send us a photo on WhatsApp before ordering and we'll match the right size. Want a thumb-turn on the inside? Mention it in the order.
Replacing it: ten minutes and one screw
Swapping a cylinder in a steel door is one of the simplest jobs in the house: one screw on the edge of the door at cylinder height, insert the key, turn it slightly to release the gear, and pull the cylinder out. The new one goes in the same way, then tighten the screw. Prefer a locksmith to do it? The cylinder arrives sealed from the manufacturer, and any locksmith will fit it for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is the MTL400 enough for a front door?
For a good basic level of security — yes, and it is still a big jump from a generic cylinder. But for the front door of your home we recommend the MTL600 and up, mainly because of the owner card and the control it gives you over key copies.
What is the owner card, and what if I lose it?
A personal magnetic card supplied with the MTL600 and MTL800. Without it, no duplication point will cut another key for your cylinder. Keep it somewhere safe — not on the key ring. If it is lost, contact an authorized Mul-T-Lock point to check your options.
Can I copy a Mul-T-Lock key at any key-cutting stand?
No. Mul-T-Lock keys are cut only at the company's authorized points, and for the MTL600 and MTL800 only on presentation of the owner card. That is precisely the advantage: nobody copies your key behind your back.
What's the difference between a "gear" cylinder and a "cam" cylinder?
A gear cylinder drives a toothed wheel, and that is the type fitted in most multi-point steel doors in Israel. A cam cylinder is the regular European cylinder for wooden and aluminium doors and simple cylinder locks. Not sure which you have? One photo on WhatsApp and we'll tell you.
Will it fit my Rav-Bariach door?
Yes. The 76 mm (33/43) size fits most steel doors in Israel, including Rav-Bariach. For special doors, doors that open outward, or non-standard sizes, check with us before ordering.
Is there a warranty?
Yes. Every cylinder we sell is genuine and comes with the manufacturer's warranty from Mul-T-Lock Israel.
The bottom line
MTL400 for secondary doors and a low-cost upgrade, MTL600 for the front door of most homes, MTL800 for anyone who wants the maximum — and at our introductory price, the gap between the 600 and the 800 has never been smaller. Whichever you choose, you get a genuine Mul-T-Lock, sealed from the manufacturer, with honest advice before you buy.
Still not sure? Send us a photo of your current cylinder on WhatsApp and we'll tell you within minutes what fits your door. You can also call 02-9910450, or drop into the shop at 19 Yitzhak Rabin Road, Beit Shemesh. Straight advice, genuine products, and 25 years of serving Beit Shemesh.
Shop online: MTL400 | MTL600 | MTL800 | the whole Locks & Security department
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