Tools for Locksmithing

[Lostreb]

This is a great list. I have been wondering how much "STUFF" I would have to pile into my '98 Explorer to have enough to properly do a job. Now I have a starting point. Thanks.

[malo]

Hi All,

My first post so hope i'm in the right place.
I've been training and praticing for last 9 months and feel i'm ready to
gently start part time trading.I've got most tools and key cutter all installed in a van
but having spent best part of 8 grand so far i still need to buy some bs decoders.

My question is, Which decoders would i most likely use in my area.I want to trade non destructive

but no wish to spend on kit i am not going to use.

Area is south coast england uk.

Thanks Malo

[mhole]

You are in the best position to know what you'll need in your area - it's just a question of getting out there and seeing what you come across. Whilst the non-destructive route is an admirable idea, you will find you have to drop a lot of cash on dedicated decoder systems, so you could consider delaying those purchases until you've got the local knowledge to buy the right ones.

Opening mortices is such a small component of the job that you could easily get by without investing in the specialised tools right away. You can always turn away mortice work if the idea of drilling the odd mortice now and then bothers you.

Frankly, unless you're doing warrant work you may well find that a 100% NDE approach to mortice locks is prohibitively expensive.

[Rickthepick]

looking at the lists im thinking you dont need a lot of that.

starting up? then concentrate on the bare essentials and build up your tools gradually.
obviously get together a good selection of screwdrivers, chisels, files, small spanners

A few woodwork tools will be more valuable than a 3g114 decoder. I guarantee youl fit more locks than youl open 3g114's (which arent that difficult to pick anyway)

1/
Leave the expensive NDE tools for later on, a lot of locksmiths wont admit it but a good drill and some hardplate bits are far more valuable and will get you into a lot more doors than they care to disclose. Locksmiths dont like to lose face and put up a purely NDE front, but its all tripe we all use the drill.

2/
Get yourself a euro-snapper: Quick easy access, why pick a lock if your customer has no keys. £4-10 for a new lock with keys. A lot less hassle

3/
Mica will earn you a fortune for next to no cost.

4/
Cheap or homemade curtain picks are just as good as the expensive stuff from my experience. The most important part of curtain picking is a range of wires for different locks which you can experiment and make yourself. 5 and 7 guage required, 7 guage is sufficient to pick the 6 guage locks which are less frequently found

5/
Letterbox tool
Not really essential but nice to have as backup, bent piece of metal, make one out of some bent tubing.... for pennies

6/
bolt croppers
dont pick a padlock that has no keys, why waste time cleaning/picking the customer wants in asap....

7/
Car tools - Initially you only want to be prepared for keys locked in car, ist cheap and easy: Airbag, fishing tool (can be home made with brake pipe), lemon-pop tool for pulling up buttons

once you have a bit of income then begin to purchase the more expensive bits.

This is written purely from a business point of view, not a hobbiests. Im an accomplished picker but find its used a lot less out there in the locksmith trade.

enjoy... awaits reprisals

[malo]

Thanks for the replies, I understand what you say but in my last trade (mechanic)
Not having the right tools means giving customers to another guy plus looking unprofessional.
Intresting you mentioned that decoder,Its my first choice.After usings them it seems quicker than drilling.

If i go ahead wheres the best place to buy them?

Thanks again it great to be able to ask questions afer a year of trying to get imformation
in a very closed shop.Quite different to the garage trade.

Malo

[jabraham]

Has anyone had experience with the Chinese diagnostic tools? They sell for a small fraction of the Western ones and seem to be identical. I can give one bit of advice, if you want recourse if the item doesn't show up at your door as expected, or isn't as described, buy through E Bay Motors. It has a guarantee in the US at least.

[mr2nice]

some great info here update please how did you get on

[beardyweirdy]

Jeez Chip - are those prices in pounds?
whats up with the british economy?

Ask Gordon Brown.

[nhoj_yelbom]

great info

[Rami_11]

hey that was really nice list for all the tools..i think some of them are very much usable and too good we can definitely say that its a good stuff to buy and use.

[akmw44]

Hi all,
The advice on what tools are required is an excellent colation of info BUT an important part of any buisness is the advertising ,has anyone got advice on this .
Ive heard of UK locksmiths spending in excess of £5000 a year,now that figure may lessen as time and your profile progress but can any one give approx amounts they spend on getting work.

[79commando]

Sadly admirable though it is to want to be a locksmith I'm afraid in todays market you will have to diversify and also cover UPVC repairs, boarding up, lock fitting and general security upgrades. The UK market has died over the last few years with part time locksmiths on every street corner and other trades diversifying into the lock world. Take the advice and save the money you would have spent on decoders and buy somer good woodworking tools and business courses.

[79commando]

Sadly admirable though it is to want to be a locksmith I'm afraid in todays market you will have to diversify and also cover UPVC repairs, boarding up, lock fitting and general security upgrades. The UK market has died over the last few years with part time locksmiths on every street corner and other trades diversifying into the lock world. Take the advice and save the money you would have spent on decoders and buy some good woodworking tools and business courses.

[Engineer]

Another thing that might suprise people in other countries about locksmithing in the UK, is that we do not generally have key cutters in our version of places like "Lowes", but we DO have many shops that are combined cobblers and key cutters. One is even a national franchise in a lot og high streets.

A lot of the smaller hardware shops will also cut keys as well. So sadly diversification is an absolute must. I like the idea of offering a "complete security solution" to smaller shops. That is you can install CCTV systems and time-lapse video/DVD recorders for them for security, as well as the physical security of locks. Usually they have an old system already - So you point out the problems with it and try to get a contract for the yearly maintenance of it all. You only need the odd one to want it updated to make it worthwile.

[Alan5510301]

alot of tools...