Wannabe locksmith - now what?

[mhole]

Re: Hanging doors, repairing UPVC etc. You may not plan to do this, and your customer may not plan to call you in to do this, but many times the 'lock problem' you're called to address is nothing to do with the lock. At that point, you either walk away, or learn to diagnose the real problem and fix it. Common jobs are adjusting UPVC strikes and hinges, trimming swollen doors, shimming hinges, etc. You'll also get called to electric release locks or strikes connected to entry systems, so a basic abiltiy to troubleshoot an entry system is helpful.

IMO, you can't do the job well (or even competently) without a good working knowledge of UPVC hinges and strike/bolt work adjustmen, the ability to hang a door from scratch, and some basic electrics problem solving, plus a generous helping of simple mechanical common sense. The ability to confidently address a problem you've never seen before whilst bluffing that you know what your doing is also very handy!

[EmCee]

Thanks mhole...good info.

I do understand that what the customer thinks is a 'lock' problem might not be, or might not be the only problem. I have reasonable technical and electrical knowledge and carpentry skills.

I would need to have a look at how to adjust uPVC doors - which I would not think would be difficult to do.

I do plan to get some training on electric/electronic systems. However, in the UK there are all sorts of regs covering electrical work nowadays - would electric entry systems come under these regs and would you need a qualification allowing you to certify the installation or work carried out on an existing installation?

I have no problem with trimming a swollen timber door or reseating hinges etc. I can hang a door from scratch...but when I hang a door it gets installed 'properly'...ie, it opens and closes without binding, the actual (and sometimes more important..visual) gap is straight and equal all four sides and the door is flush against the door stops top, left, and right - even if the frame is not straight. In other words, it ends up a lot better than most 'professionally' hung doors in most houses. But it would not be a five minute job for me to do that. If the door needs trimming top/bottom (as it invariably will) then those surfaces will need to be restained/painted/treated while the door is off. I would like to know how long locksmiths here would take to fit an exterior timber front door assuming it needs to be trimmed several mm all sides. Piece of string question, I know, but at a locksmith's hourly rate, it's likely the cost of installation would be more than the cost of the door. As opposed to 'handyman with a van' who would do it much cheaper.

Cheers..

[Legion303]

Alright, enough with the flames. If we can't give constructive criticism here then we shouldn't hit the "Submit" button. This seems easy enough. If you really feel the need to be insulting, I suggest the tattered remnants of alt.flame on usenet, but I've already been through there and salted the ground so the pickings are slim.

-steve

[Rickthepick]

Your prices do not have to be set in stone.

Hanging a door takes a completely different set of skills and if you can do it well it will be of great advantage but you dont want to be charging over the odds as its less likely to be an emergency callout.

Id expect to pay £100 upwards for a well hung exterior door supplied by the customer without the locks being fitted.

Its a skilled job and joe blogs can probably do it for £25 but he'l prob make a pigs ear of it.

Its another feather in the cap