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Overview of Locksmith Tools

Every trade has its own tools, language and ways of doing things and locksmithing is no different. It has a very specialized skillset, methodology and approach to problems. Key to solving those problems are the tools they use. The vast majority of the locksmiths work is getting people into their property when they’ve locked themselves out, mainly their homes or car.

To do this without damaging, or wrecking the door, lock or car, the locksmith has to have specific tools, and the skills to use them. We have all seen in the movies where someone pulls out a little wallet and uses a couple of picks to pick a lock in a couple of seconds. Most of that is artistic license as it usually takes a lot longer than a couple of seconds to pick all but the oldest locks. There are five main tools for the locksmith to be able to pick locks, the electric pick gun, plug spinner, tension wrenches, computerized picks and the key extractor.

The electric pick gun is a small electric drill that has various picking implements that can attach to it. This has been heralded as “the end of lock picking” as it makes defeating locks so easy. A scary thought if one of these got into the wrong hands. It uses a drill like motion to jiggle the pins in different ways in order to open the lock and can access almost every kind of key lock in the world.

The plug spinner needs more skill to use. It’s used to rotate and lift the lock plug in order for it to open. To make it work, the smith needs to know in which position each different type of lock will automatically unlock.

Tension wrenches are similar to those tools you see on TV. They are normally only in a set of three though, and work inside the lock to move the pins and hold them in place to they can all be freed to undo the lock.

Computerized picks are for more complicated locks and combination systems. It’s capable of working at blinding speed and calculating different pins and disc patterns.

Key extractors are used to remove broken keys and foreign objects from the keyhole. Broken keys are one of the most popular calls a locksmith gets, this tool allows them to quickly and easily remove the debris from the lock so they can then pick it open.

In the vast majority of cases, the locksmith should be able to pick your door open, whether its property or car. It’s only under exceptional circumstances that they would have to damage, drill or otherwise break a lock in order to gain access. If a locksmith advises he needs to break something in order to gain access without really trying to pick his way in, send him away. It’s only in very rare circumstances they ever have to do that.

Prevention is Better Than a Cure

It’s no surprise that in tough economic times crime rises as quickly as unemployment. While I’m certainly not going to advocate crime, people have to eat, and when jobs and finances hit the rails, people will go to extraordinary lengths to make ends meet.

It’s a known phenomenon that crimes, especially fraud and property crime increases during recessions and hard times. People who can’t make a living respectably resort to more unsavory activities in order to feed themselves or their families. There is no limit to the lengths some people will go to put food on the table. You would be surprised at the types of otherwise respectable people caught committing crimes because they had no other way to support themselves. Everyone from elderly people, family men who had not even a speeding ticket before losing their livelihood, mothers who have babies to feed and all sorts of other, normally productive members of society.

If you’re lucky enough to have a decent standard of living, to keep your job or to have somewhere nice to live, you’re more at risk than ever of losing it. Not due to economic reasons, but because someone is going to want what you have. Anything that moves and could be sold to a fence or a pawn shop is at risk. You need decent physical security if you’re going to protect what’s yours, which is where a locksmith comes in.

A locksmith isn’t just someone you call out when you’ve locked yourself out of your home or your car. They are also there to help secure your property and advise on the best ways of doing it. They can even supply and fit access control, and electronic locking systems as well as many types of burglar alarms. Locks have moved on a lot over the past twenty years, and there are many, very sophisticated forms of security that the locksmith can advise on.

Preparing your security is something you really need to do before someone tries to defeat it for you. The trouble is that the vast majority of us would only call one after something had happened, much like the police. They aren’t just there to help you clear up after something, they are also there to help you prevent it. Preventing crime is what the police actually prefer to do. There is much more satisfaction involved in thwarting the attempts of some criminal than trying to track him down and prove that he did the crime. It also helps society at large as we all appreciate low crime rates, safer neighborhoods and feeling safe in our homes.

So get the locksmith round before anything happens because prevention is far better than the cure. It’s so much better for your psychological and physical wellbeing to prevent something happening than attempt to cope with it after it’s happened. Think of it as an investment, not a cost. An investment in your wellbeing as well as the protection of your property. Call that locksmith now, before you have to call them to clean up that mess.

Being Careful when Calling in a Locksmith

Locksmithing is an ancient and honorable profession, one that has been popular in Europe since the middle ages, when locks first became prevalent in society. Ever since then, good locksmiths have helped people protect and access their property, right up to the present day.

The vast majority of locksmiths are genuine, honorable, qualified and legitimate operators. Like many professions than need trust, there are those few who make things difficult for the rest of us. The need for security is one of the basest needs we have. After that of warmth, food and shelter, to feel safe is one of our most basic requirements. However fast or far society advances, that won’t change any time soon and until it does, locksmiths will always be in demand.

So how do you choose a legitimate locksmith? By following a couple of really simple rules and preparing in advance. It stands to reason you’re going to need our services at one point, so it makes sense to research and prepare in advance. Check local businesses, Yellow Pages, industry websites, word of mouth and other sources to find a good tradesman.

A legitimate locksmith will have a registered business address if not a retail store. If you find one over the internet, check the address with your local Chamber of Commerce, or other entity that can verify the existence of a business. That way you have a trail that can be followed if necessary. Put the business name through a search engine and see what’s said about them. Look in particular for forums or other social sites where feedback can be left. They can often be a good source of positive or negative feedback about a tradesman.

Only choose a locksmith that is industry affiliated. That means a member of Associated Locksmiths of America and other state run bodies. A locksmith needs a license to operate, and those licenses are administrated somewhere, check there. If the chosen smith isn’t a member of any trade body, move on.

This might seem a lot of work, but it will only take 10 minutes in reality, and considering you’re trusting the security of your home, car and family to them, it isn’t time wasted. Doing this research now will prevent you panicking and phoning the first one you find. Once you have a “favorite” locksmith, keep his number handy in the home and in your purse or wallet. You might need their services while you’re out or locked out of your home.

A good locksmith will also quote you a price over the phone. It will be only an estimate as we never know what we’re going to find until we get there. If your locksmith of choice hedges or won’t give a quote over the phone, move on. Even if we can’t give you a definite figure we can certainly quote our call-out and dollar per hour as a guide.

Do yourself a favor, stop reading this and go find yourself a legitimate locksmith right now. You’ll be glad you did one day.

Using Access Control Systems

There is much more to being a locksmith than just getting people back into their houses or cars. It used to be that you had to learn each new lock that came onto the market, have the right picks and know how to defeat each one. There weren’t that many new products coming online so it was fairly easy to keep up.

Nowadays we have to almost be computer engineers as well as locksmiths. There are as many electronic locks and access control systems around that we’re expected to know now too. For the most part these are mainly restricted to commercial and business properties, but higher value residential homes are also embracing the electronic age.

Larger businesses have contracts with the security company to maintain their systems, but for smaller businesses or when these security companies prove unreliable, we get called. Not only do these devices protect the property, they also track and trace staff and allow managers to check attendance, timekeeping and movements around the building. There are different types of access control system a locksmith needs to know about, here are the different types.

Magstripe readers are used extensively in commercial properties, otherwise known as swipe card readers. Employees are given a card which corresponds to their names and access level, which permits or denies access to certain parts of the building as the management dictate. They are very efficient and easy to use, which is why they are so popular.

Control panels are mainly used for building access only. They generally consist of a keypad, into which an employee can enter a combination code to access the door. Fairly typical of many external entrances to commercial property.

Biometrics are becoming increasingly popular in access control. Either using retinal or fingerprint scanning to access buildings, or departments as the business sees fit. These are often restricted to high value businesses, laboratories and those with security concerns. They are quite expensive to fit and maintain.

Proximity readers are also quite popular as access controls. These used RFID or other radio medium to broadcast an identity to a proximity control. This then verifies and allows or disallows access to parts of a building. They are useful because they need no interaction from the user in order to work. They can be carried on the person and are picked up as they approach the reader. These are popular, partly thanks to the Disability Discrimination Act and the fact that non-able bodied people had difficulty with many forms of access control.

A locksmith is expected to know most of these systems. It’s impossible to know all of them, which is why we all specialize. There is simple too much on the market right now to know it all, and know it well. Our toolbox now has as much electronic gadgetry in it as traditional locksmithing equipment and we are having to learn computers as well as metalwork. It’s a brave new world in locksmithing.

Southwest Florida Locksmith: Naples, Bonita, Cape Coral, Lehigh, Fort Myers

Purchasing a high security lock or security system is an effective way of protecting your home or office.  Don’t leave it until the last minute, or after you have been burgled because by then it’s too late.

Do it when it occurs to you, or after reading this.  Being pro-active about security should be second nature to us, but it seems only parts of it are.  We are increasingly aware of personal security, about being safe in the dark or built up areas, we know about internet security and the importance of firewalls and the problems of identity theft.  Yet we seem woefully ignorant about the most prevalent form of security in the world.  The locks on our doors to keep the world at bay.

There needs to be much more thought put into this subject by all home and business owners out there.  It’s no good leaving it until you come home to find your front door open, or your office emptied.

A little research and awareness can save a whole lot of trouble down the road.  The internet is a great source of information, but you can’t beat a locksmith for up-to-date information and advice.  We spend our lives researching and learning the best in our industry just so we can assist people in your situation.  We would much rather help you prevent a crime than help you clear up after one.

For securing a residential property, a combination of a cylinder security lock and a deadbolt on all external doors would be ideal.. The combination of locks serve as an excellent safeguard for even the most determined burglar.  The different technologies complement each other.  A cylinder may be breached by a skillful person, but the physical barrier of a good deadlock won’t be beaten except by a determined physical attack.  Most burglars won’t try this as it make too much noise and takes too much time.

To secure commercial properties, a range of solutions are available.  For the high value, larger company, an electronic security device coupled with a euro cylinder lock would be a good place to start.  If money is no object then a magnetic lock controlled by access cards and a PIN would also be a good deterrent.  Even if the card is lost, the PIN adds another layer of security to it.

If you use euro locks, ensure they are a certified 5 or 6 pin tumbler.  They should also come with concealed mountings for electrical locking.

Now do you see the kind of information a locksmith can provide?  Good, up to date, clear advice that won’t cost the earth and will make you and your property safer in the long term.

Cape Coral and Fort Myers Locksmith

Locks and keys only normally enter our mind when we leave the house, or when we go to our car.  Other than that we never think about them.  Well I do, but I’m a locksmith.  For such an important part of our lives, locks receive very little of our attention.  For the most part they just do their job day after day and we only consider them when they jam or go wrong, or of course when we lose them.

Locks are one of the most important aspects of our lives.  They protect us, our property and our wellbeing.  They keep criminals and fear at bay, and they make us feel safe, yet we often buy the cheapest ones we can and ignore them until we need to replace them.

If you live in any populated area, you need to think about the security of yourself and your property.  You can’t do much about increasing the security of your car unless you opt for an after-market alarm system, but your home or office can always be made more secure.

Locksmiths are like the police, we only get called when something has happened or when something is wrong.  We most often meet our clients when things aren’t going well or they aren’t at their best.  One of the unique occupational hazards of our trade, and one you need to be able to handle if you want to last any length of time.  The ability to deal with stressed or upset people is essential in our line of work, and is something you are either born with or have to learn.  You can’t take it personally, especially if the person has suffered a crime or lost property.

Unfortunately it is most often these times when people consider their physical security and look at their locks in a little more detail.  For the most part locks aren’t something you have to think about that often.  Every few years or so, of if there has been a spike of crime in your area.  Making sure you have the best lock for your situation doesn’t always mean having to buy the latest and greatest device, it can be as simple as having the tumbler replaced and new keys.

Your local locksmith can advise on what security measures will suit your situation best.  Consultation is part of the service we offer and it doesn’t cost much.  It’s much better to spend a little money now than having to pick up the pieces later.  It’s a saying common in medicine, but we use it too, “prevention is better than a cure.”

If you haven’t had your security checked out recently, then maybe you should.  Spending a few dollars and an hour of your time reviewing your property might just save you a lot of grief later on.

Starting your own locksmithing company

Starting your own locksmithing business can be a daunting prospect, as can starting any kind of business.  It is a profession that is always moving, evolving and you will have to keep up if you want to be successful.

If you can cope with the constant learning and development, then locksmithing is a rewarding career.  It is one of the few permanently “in demand” businesses.  Despite the economic gloom of the last couple of years, those of us in security have seen no drop in demand for our services.

If the economy is doing well, our services are in demand because criminals want all the nice fruits of people’s labor.  If the economy isn’t doing well, criminals are more desperate for money and burgle more.  For us, it’s a win-win situation.

A lot of the job is about allaying fear.  While the majority of people will never be burgled, they will be affected by the fear of being burgled.  Our job is to make them feel as secure as possible by providing the best advice, guidance and equipment to help them secure their property.

The vast majority of us are “one man bands”, sole operators who run our own business and work alone.  There are larger firms out there, but they are in the minority.  It’s often by choice that locksmiths stay small.  It keeps things simple and allows you to specialize in something.  Growing large complicates matters somewhat and you will invariably spend more time running the business side of things than helping people.

While it may sound morally wrong, we work on fear.  People are afraid of being burgled or attacked in their home, and we have to capitalize on that.  There is nothing wrong with demonstrating how easy it can be to break into a clients car or home to show them how vulnerable they are.  You have to keep it within limits though, and only do it to prove a point, not to scare them into buying stuff they don’t need.

To last any amount of time in this business you will need to join trade associations and any local locksmith guilds.  Not only will they add a bit of credibility to your operation, but they can also help with advice.  They helped me with business advice, financial as well as trade skills, training and holding seminars describing the new innovations in the industry.  While you may be a sole trader, no man is an island.  Engage your local locksmiths and keep in touch.  Don’t be afraid to share information and be nice.  There is enough business out there for us all.

Being a locksmith involves constantly working, developing and training.  Keeping on top of developments is almost a full-time job in itself.  As long as you are the type of person who can cope with constant change, and have a genuine desire to help people, this could be a trade for you.

Learning the Trade

Learning locksmithing can begin at a very young age. A good indicator is when a child has an interest in how things fit together and how they come apart.  This aptitude can be capitalized on and can lead to a future with locks and locksmithing.

The locksmith trade can be learned by self-study courses, apprenticeships or from a family member in the business. It takes a combination of these things to advance to the professional status.  I would definitely suggest an apprenticeship if you can get one, it is by far the best way to learn.

Should you desire to become an apprentice from an established locksmith, it is best to determine that this person is certified. Know also that there are many aspects of the business to learn and you may need more training than an apprenticeship from a single person. If that person specializes in automotive locksmithing and you want to learn commercial locksmithing, you’ll have a start in the right direction but will need more information and experience.  Stands to reason really, to apprentice yourself to someone in your chosen area of expertise. 

If you’ve considered becoming certified through a school or distance course, make sure that the school is certified and that the place where you purchase your distance course is legitimate and accredited. More so than with other courses, if the school is a fraud, even though you may learn everything you need to know, it may make your certificate a fraud as well. Your investment should be placed in respectable schools.  Legitimacy is very important in this trade.

Learning which area of locksmithing you’d be happiest choosing may require some research and/or experimentation. Even if you choose an area and later decide to change your focus, the knowledge you’ve acquired could still come in handy in your career.

The beginning of your career will usually involve books, hardware, and a key making machine. There are many helpful forums on the internet to point you in the right direction and provide helpful hints as well. Knowing which equipment to start with is a must. If you have a limited budget to begin with, you’ll want to get the most from your money. You can’t put all your money into the books and not the equipment as you will need both.

Locksmiths service many types of businesses. Unlocking cars is not the only way to make money . Many small towns don’t even have locksmith services. If you can afford to run the business out of your home, you could be extremely helpful to people in rural communities. Building a name for yourself through word-of-mouth in small areas can lead to loyal customers who are happy to spread the word and advertise for you. This in turn leads to contracts with bigger businesses. Learning the locksmith craft involves people skills as well as study!

Tools of the Trade

Locksmiths use a wide variety of tools depending on the job and locks that require working.  They also have numerous tools for making keys, locks, electronic locks, and security systems. These tools range from the simple metal lock picks to a wide assortment of different electronics that can be used to aid in their job.  Some of the most common and frequently used tools are;

The Lock Aid Tool.  You see them in the movies sometimes, it looks a bit like a pistol and with a trigger to fit the pins.  It was designed for law enforcement agencies to quickly pick pin tumbler locks. It is one of the types of tools you may see a locksmith use on occasion. It’s mostly an automatic style lock picker that will get the lock open using one of the methods that the model supports. 

Formed End Tweezers are fairly small tools with curved ends for grip. They are commonly made of stainless steel to prevent wear and tear.

The Window Crank allows the locksmith to slip behind window the crank and remove the spring clip to allow access. This is a less used simple tool, but still used when the door proves impossible to get through.

The “Small Pin & Peanut” is used for most small pin tumbler rekeying jobs. Its ease of use and simple design make it quite the popular choice among locksmiths the world over.

Another common tool is the “Clip Zip Door Panel Tool” as some stores call it. It helps you remove car door panels and makes the job a lot easier for the locksmith.  This saves a lot of time, and broken pins on an auto lock job.

The AM700 is for American padlocks. The American 700 series round body lock is one of the most widely used padlocks for industrial and commercial security. This tool is used to pick and open many of those types of locks due to its design. This is argued to be one of the more popular tools used by locksmiths in the USA today.

History of Locksmithing

The history of the locksmith is a long and dignified one.  Starting as an offshoot of blacksmithing it soon became a trade of its own once locks became popular.  As long as there have been keys, people have been losing them!

Although it is one of the oldest engineering trades in the world, it is still one of the fastest moving ones.  There are constant improvements and innovations design to protect people and property, and the locksmith is ‘key’ to most of them. 

The shape and types of locks remained fairly constant from the middle ages until the nineteenth century.  As populations and crime grew, better security was needed to protect property.  In the 1930’s, the biggest innovation for ages took place with the invention of the mortise lock.  This new design made it much more difficult for someone to pick and was the real beginning of the specialization of locksmithing.

Between that time and the 1970’s there wasn’t much innovation in security.  Now there are as many types of lock as there are locksmiths.  Each new version becoming more and more sophisticated.  A modern locksmith is almost half electronics expert now! 

Traditionally an apprenticed trade, handed down from father to son, it is now something anyone with a technical aptitude can study.  There are even degrees and certification courses you can take.

As well as handling the technical aspect of locksmithing, there is a fair amount of customer service and people skills involved.  Generally locksmiths are like the police, in that people only want them when something is wrong.  This will mean people in awkward and sometimes very stressful situations.  You need to know how to handle and defuse these kinds of things as well as take care of the job you were called to do.