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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.

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.

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.