by Jacob Morgan » 16 Jan 2017 22:26
Locksmithing, Bill Phillips, Copyright 2010, ISBN 978-0-07-162275-2, 412 pages 7" X 9".
This is not The Complete Guide to Locks and Locksmithing and is not Master Locksmithing either. This book is basically a trimmed down version of The Complete Guide to Locks and Locksmithing, and, if anything, is more practical and useful than Master Locksmithing. This books starts off with the basics and delivers on occasion, where the Master Locksmithing book skipped the basics and skipped the advanced as well.
Contents:
1. Buisness of locksmithing
2. Types of locks and keys
3. Key blanks
4. Warded, lever tumbler, disc tumbler, and side bar wafer locks
5. Pin tumblers
6. Tools
7. Key-in-knob, deadbolt, and cylinder mortise locks
8. High security locks (CoreKey, DOM, Kaba Gemini, Medeco, and Schlage Primus)
9. Simplex Locks
10. Picking, impressioning, and bypassing
11. Masterkeying
12. Safe basics
13. Drilling safes
14. Key bumping
15. Key code machines (KD80, Exacta, Borkey 989, and Framon DC-300)
16. Automotive Locksmithing
17. CCTV
18. Access Control, Alarms, and Systems Integration
19. Working as a Locksmith
The book has some strengths and weaknesses. The strength is that it goes over the basics without as much cut-and-paste that some of of Phillip's other books suffer from. Some of the weaknesses are:
1. Masterkeying, safe basics, drilling safes, and key bumping are trimmed down versions of what was in the Master Locksmithing book. Too high level to really allow one to do anything other than to pick up some terminology.
2. It was an odd choice of key code machines/punches to go over. Maybe a Framon 2 or a HPC 1200 would stand a greater chance of being in front of an apprentice than a KD-80, a Borkey 989, or a Framon DC-300?
3. The automotive section seemed geared towards 1990's cars. The book was copyrighted 2010. VATS was the latest technology it goes over (nothing about transponder keys), and no mention of long-reach opening devices. Heaven help the would-be locksmith who reads this chapter then thinks they can advertise themselves as being able to service automobiles.
4. The CCTV section appears to have mostly been copied from Master Locksmithing, and is no better here than it was there. It still lists VHS tapes as how one records footage. At least it was not BetaMax.
5. Access control and alarms consists of essays various people wrote on topics related to access control and alarms. Personally, I find alarms and access control systems interesting, and this chapter lost my interest. It is neither a good solid introduction, nor does it have anything practical, rather it is just some disjointed essays on the topic.
For an introduction to Locksmithing, in my opinion this book is far superior to Master Locksmithing, but is inferior to both The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing and Locksmithing From Apprentice to Master by Joseph Rathjen. Given that most lock enthusiasts will likely have a copy of The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing, or if not, that Rathjen's book can be had for just a handful of dollars used on Amazon, this is a book to skip.
