I'm buying some new tools

[Houdini Locksmiths]

Hi Guys, I'm going to buy some new tools on the weekend. I've put a list below of the items I'm going to purchase:-

I'll be buying them from www.locksmith-tools.co.uk

Sanp Gun £44.95
TFG Door latch slider £39.99
Emergency Door opener £29.99
Sessamee Decoder tool £14.99

What do you guys think?

Cheers

Harry

[CaptHook]

Do you have a set of manual picks? If not, I would buy those first. The sessame decoder is a waste of cash unless you REALLY need one. And the snap gun can probably wait too. Invest in some good picks and practice locks, I think your money would be better spent that way.
Chuck

[Kung]

the sesemee decoder is trash unless you have a lot of sesemee brand combo locks they dont work on master. you might as well buy a feeler guage and make picks out of it and use the .002 one to decode master locks

[HeadHunterCEO]

are you getting into smithing?

don't need any of that crap

get yourself a decent lockout kit and a decent set of picks.

hand tools big LAB pinning kit and a set of dentist picks

key machine
key copier

a decent blank assortment
box of kw1
sc1
ru46
y1

a dent cordless power drill

a van

and you will be able to do 90% of what you need to do

if you looked in my van you would be shocked by its very spartan appearance

[maldotcom2]

Emergency Door opener £29.99

emergency!!...that much
if its an emergency you'll just go with a crowbar!

[Romstar]

Hey Houdini,

Even if you are getting into the trade, only one of those tools is really going to pay for itself anytime soon. That would be the pick gun.

Headhunter had a good list. Some of that stuff is expensive, but well worth the money if you're going pro.

If you aren't doing the pro thing, check your manual picks, maybe get some things that you want to check out. Like if you have SothOrds, maybe pick up some Petersons or HPC, or Rytans.

I'd have to say that for the price, everyone should at least try using a gun, and have one on hand just in case.

Again if you aren't going pro, get a plug follower set, and a small pinning kit, and practice, practice, practice! If you are going pro, get some more gear, and practice, practice, practice......Oh I said that already didn't I?

Take care,
Romstar

[Houdini Locksmiths]

Thanks for replying guys.

I was under the impression that the more kit/ tools I have the more employable it would make me.

This is the Kit I own already:-

60 picks various
warded Skeleton keys
Jigglers (both types)
Slim Jim x 2
Door wedge (Air Fighter)
metal Punch
18v Cord drill
Head tourch
8" Level

Thanks

Harry

[Houdini Locksmiths]

Sorry, Also I've been looking on www.ebay.co.uk and found some Key cutting machines. The going price seems to be on average about £150. There are a couple of others but they're a bit to expensive.

Would a second hand machine do?

Thanks

Harry

[Luke]

YEP

[toomush2drink]

What you need to do is write to the suppliers on your letterhead and see what is on offer for the uk market. A letterbox tool is a must as are a few other things like mica( i wont discuss what this is on an open forum before anyone asks ).
Try sks on 01442291400 they can do starter packs of locks but you will have to prove you are a locksmith to get access to the tools.

[HeadHunterCEO]

lockpicking and breakins isn't even 30% of your workload when you are a smith.

you got a nice co9llection of break in stuff but you need tools.

rekeying locks ,installing db and knobs

door closers

doors

and door frames are also a ig part of a smiths workload.

you will need an inverter for your van to convert to ac unless you get a dc key machine.

a cell phone is a must have item.

you are worrying about being employlable?

In my experience a good smith is always on time and does not gouge the customers

has a good attitude when dealing with peers and customers alike

does not steal calls or pocket cash from his/her employers

You can make a decent living in this business if you do the right thing and the work isn't really that harrd

[Romstar]

mush, what's the deal with mica? It's available from at least two on-line suppliers that I know of. With and without handle. Multipick has it prominetly on their web page. Along with a load of other similar tools.

Anyway, do look for a good second hand key machine, that will be more than adequate for now. Get a good pin kit, and plug follower set.
If you are serious about car lockout, get a good through car kit.

See if you have a good local hardware supplier at the very least so that you can purchase locksets and assortted hardware at wholesale as required.

I agree with the letterbox kit if you are in the UK and maybe even the doorspy tool. Even if you have to drill a new hole, it gives you the chance to sell a doorspy.

Pay careful attention to the tools that will make you faster, and better at your job. Also tools and equipment that you may not have such as the pinning kit. A rekey is often better than a replacement lockset. If you plan on doing lots of installs, check out a drilling boring rig. Templates only get you so far.

I know that Varjeal made an excellent FAQ on tools a while back, and I think you should go looking for that. Make changes as required due to your location in the UK.

Good luck,
Romstar

[toomush2drink]

There is a big difference between countries as regards what is the normal line of work, over here i dont hear too much about repinning or replacing cores as our locks are mainly cylinders,euros and mortice locks.If they have lost the keys to a cylinder its quicker and easier to drill the lock and replace it.
In this country mica is restricted to locksmiths only so hence i wont talk about in a public forum,and we do have codes of conduct to adhere to so i would appreciate it if you could respect that.Multi pick is way too expensive anyway mica is only £5 +vat here for 5 pieces.
A mortice jig is good if you arent as confident on your wood work but again locksmiths only.Think about the extra security for upvc products like sash jammers and the like. Are upvc doors (double glazing) a big thing in america ? Look to get a drill template kit for the mortices not cheap at about £178 +vat but worth it.

[Romstar]

There is a big difference between countries as regards what is the normal line of work, over here i dont hear too much about repinning or replacing cores as our locks are mainly cylinders,euros and mortice locks.If they have lost the keys to a cylinder its quicker and easier to drill the lock and replace it.

I'll give you that about the pinning work. Given that there are a load more lever locks than pin tumblers in the UK.

In this country mica is restricted to locksmiths only so hence i wont talk about in a public forum,and we do have codes of conduct to adhere to so i would appreciate it if you could respect that

What sort of law restricts that material to locksmiths? Here in Canada that stuff is available at craft and fabric stores. At least an almot identical product.

.Multi pick is way too expensive anyway mica is only £5 +vat here for 5 pieces.

Darn, that is pretty good. I'll admit Multi pick is expensive, but I was trying to illustrate the availablilty of not just the knowledge, but the product itself.

A mortice jig is good if you arent as confident on your wood work but again locksmiths only.

Locksmiths only? You are kidding right? We are talking about the same thing? The installation jig for hole boring? Not the broken lock, drilling jig?

Think about the extra security for upvc products like sash jammers and the like. Are upvc doors (double glazing) a big thing in america ? Look to get a drill template kit for the mortices not cheap at about £178 +vat but worth it.

I've seen a lot of doors like this, but that is in Canada. The template kits are a good idea.

Romstar

P.S. Pardon if there are errors in this post, my video card messed up while I was typing, and I am pretty much typing blind. I hope I made sense.

Romstar

[mbell]

Given that there are a load more lever locks than pin tumblers in the UK.

Are there? I'm not a locksmith but in my area would say that its around 50/50. I did make a quick survey of about 100 locks around my home. Many have both a nightlatch (pin tumbler) and a mortice lever lock.