Business Questions? Ask a Locksmith.

[Lockpick Dan]

sounds cool, and thanx for the help. I bike just about everywhere so i can relate. I don't have much other choice as my dad is in the hospital seeing patients and my mom is at work almost all the time, and my school is about 10 miles from my house. I can't drive yet cause i'm only 15 too.

[timshortman]

hi there im new but i have a very distinct perpose i have a little electroinic safe but it has recently run out of batterys and i have locked the keys in ther the lock looks round like a D lock type but im not to sure how to approch it could i drill it? or pick it ? and how hard is it to do ?
any help would be great as its driving me mad !!
thanks tim

[Lockpick Dan]

I don't think this is the right thread for this question. I think if u reposted it in the "Got Questions" section you'd get more answers, unless of course someone knows what he's talking about and feels like answering however it's still probobly a better idea to post this in "Got Questions".

[Varjeal]

Definitely try a more appropriate forum.

[Lockpick Dan]

Do u guys know of any good suppliers who don't require you to be in buisiness to order from them? At this point i'm saving money so i can buy what i need when i graduate from high school, and then i can go straight into locksmithing. I'm thinking about getting a Framon key machine like maybe a No. 2, but The Locksmith Store, which is the place that has the ad for it in The National Locksmith needs a business name to open an account.

[maverick003]

Hi Varjeal,
i have a quick question. how does a person get into the professional locksmithing buisness? Is there a training school? and what are the requirements to be able to be in the buisiness?

[Lockpick Dan]

From what I can tell (correct me if I'm wrong, and i probobly am) there isn't any formal certification needed in most places. However you will probobly want some training either self done or through a course, and you'll probobly want to get quite a few tools. I've taken the Foley-Belsaw course. It's pretty basic, but it is a first step. I hope that i'm right though, cause I plan to do a lot of reading, buy some tools, maybe an apprenticeship and then go into business. hope that helps

[maverick003]

yea thx for the input..........have you completed the foley-belsaw program? i went to the website and i was looking for the cost of the program but i didnt find it, how much is it?

[Buggs41]

viewtopic.php?t=1073

[Lockpick Dan]

Yes, i have completed it, I think it's about $750 if you pay it at once right away. I think you can get it down to about $600 if u wait a while though. I think the specifics are in the link though.

[maverick003]

how long did it take you to complete it?

[Varjeal]

Training courses of various kinds and qualities are available in most states, provinces, and countries...unfortunately most courses provide you with a certificate or diploma that quite frankly doesn't mean a whole lot other than as a sign you completed the course.

Since you're located in the U.S. if your interested in apprenticeship, you should contact your local chapter of the ALOA (the countries recognized locksmith association) and ask about courses and places of training available in your particular area.

[maverick003]

Thx for the help, ill try what you said

[Varjeal]

No problem. I will warn you that they MAY be a little less than forthcoming with info to help you (hopefully your particular local chapter isn't like that) so when you talk to them you may need to show a bit of dogged determination to get information. You can also check out lockmasters.com for courses as well.

[WhiteHat]

what sort of software do people use to keep track of keys and or prepare master key systems?

hung82000 mentioned that he uses a spreadsheet for key control.

what about master keying - do people do it by hand, or use comercial software or is there free software out there that does the trick?