Locksmith course uk

by **stewroper** » 16 Nov 2006 17:20

I have just enroled for a course at

www.justlocks.org for a 5 day course in locksmithing just wondering if any of u have heard of the course and what u think of the training thanks for your replies. :wink:

by **lockey1963** » 16 Nov 2006 19:07

No course will make you an expert, you will get from it what you put into it after training, and will or wont make it , dependent upon your own commitment and a bit of luck too, be realistic in your expectations, oh and hope you have deep pockets.

by **CJM** » 16 Nov 2006 20:37

Dear God! In the UK we have a real shortage of electricians, real heating enginneers, stonemasons and so on, but everyone is or thinks they are a locksmith. Mate learn a trade that pays

by **secondcity** » 17 Nov 2006 5:12

i've got to agree with CJM the notion that anyone can become a locksmith in 2-5 days has to be realized as a con and a marketing ploy. No matter how good your trainer you will waste Â£000s unless you look at the bigger picture and understand what your getting in to. Good Plumbers and heating engineers can virtually name their price in the uk, a bricklayer can demand Â£120-Â£200 all day long and these trades are those that have a real skill shortage. Were not trying to put you off but giving good advice and trying to save you time and money, look at all your options and certainly don't see becoming a locksmith as the easy option. If you ask any of the trainers here and on other sites what percentage of people they have trained have continued to become reasonably successful locksmiths and who have packed up after 6 months

by **Tyler Durden** » 17 Nov 2006 5:47

I did the same course when I decided to leave the army. The course in itself is not bad. You'll spend a day with Martin Newton learning the British Standard picks. However, like everyone else says time and time again. these courses alone will not make you a locksmith. They just teach you the basics of picking really. Its up to you to go away and practice what you've learn't.
I had six months to practice before I started trading properly. You'll also need to learn how to fit locks properly if you dont know already. If you m,ess up fitting a mortice lock and split the door its gonna cost you alot to piut it right.
Then there's upvc. You wont learn about this on the course, and theres a lot to learn.
Also, be under no illusion of how much its gonna cost to set up. Read the other posts on here about setting up & costs.
Like CJM & Seconcity say there are other trades that you can earn good money in. but if this is what you want to do and your a 100% commited then give it a go. Make sure you the best you can be. It wont be easy and you will strugle. Just dont fall by the wayside when your struggling and become a driller killer. we've got enough of them already!
Good Luck if you chose to go this way.
If you need help and advice dont be afraid to ask.
I know i'd rather you asked a load of stupid questions and got it right than mess it up and get everyone esle a bad name.

by **bowleya** » 18 Nov 2006 7:21

I did this course almost 4 years ago when Pinky and Ken were running the training. I don't think personally that you will find any better training but as the other guys said you will learn the basics and it will be up to you to take your picking to the next level. This alone will not guarantee an abundance of work and if you have missed your advertising slot with the Yellow Pages you will get very little if any work. The cost of this and the costs of say a CB pick, a safe ventures curtain pick and a Pick gun and other invaluable tools will set you back thousands. But all i can say is good luck you and welcome to the only trade where you get an adrenaline rush every time you a pick a lock. You have already made the right decision training with Ken as this is the perfect place to start, But as i was told when i completed my Apprenticeship "Now its time to learn". You will never stop learning especially reading the threads available on this site.

by **pcbear** » 18 Nov 2006 13:58

I'm a time served carpenter/joiner, i done a locksmith course in 2002 as another string to my bow, i've spent much more on gear than i've earned out the locks.
I earn good regular money as a chippy, if i relied on my lock work i'd be on the streets and starving, learn a trade is top advice.

by **bowleya** » 18 Nov 2006 16:55

I'm With PCBEAR on this one, I still work as an engineer during the day and i surprisingly miss very little work as most customer liketo be there when the work is being carried out. To be fair maybe only 20% of a locksmith work is actually opening locked doors. the majority is replacing defective locks or changing locks for landlords. I found picking quite difficult to start with but actually fitting a lock from fresh with my limited carpentry skills even more difficult. It's not all pick,pick pick in this business. Maybe i will start running a new thread on how many lockies have an alternative career.

by **lockey1963** » 18 Nov 2006 19:26

The only lockies that pick on a daily basis all day are the warrant lockies, these are the lucky ones, others with busy shops do locksmithing activity all day.
But i have to agree , if not lucky enough to be an in demand warrant lockie or be an established locksmith shop, very few work solely as a locksmith.
Tough Business to become lucky enough to trade full time doing what you enjoy the most.

by **quickpicker** » 19 Nov 2006 11:04

A great course.

Very thorough and a great stepping stone into the industry.

Will need a lot of hard work on your part after completion but if you keep at it you will make it.

Dont listen to this lot.

They dont want any competition and tend to be over protective of the trade

Which is suprising as most are established.

Second city took this route as well so he should get off his high horse.

by **UWSDWF** » 19 Nov 2006 11:09

correct ignore the opinion of 6 people inturn for one. this is the most accurate thing to do.

by **bonez** » 19 Nov 2006 11:17

quick picker

all the guys have done is answer the posters question
this topic has been disscussed many times before let
him do the course and then maybe he can tell us how
he feels about entering the trade.

j.

by **quickpicker** » 19 Nov 2006 11:35

Yes i know they have but the guy has already paid for the course.

I bet he feels disheartened now poor bloke.

I bet hes looking forward to it aswell.

It pisses me off with the negative attitute towards these courses.

Even at worse the guy could do a few nightlatches to recoup his money as a part-time job. This is 60 percent of lockouts and lets say 20 percent lock changes. The rest euros/ovals and mortice openings.

Then he can move into mortice and advance picking if he wants too.

Im sorry but i totally disagree with the attitudes. Not just in this post but in others too.
Another thing. If locksmithing is being over run with newbies how come i know most of you lot on this post and the others with pinky al and colin.

Come on guys get real here

by **bonez** » 19 Nov 2006 11:56

all i'm saying is let him do the course and see if
he gives any feed back!

i did the same course and it's done me proud,he should look
foward to it,it's a great crack you meet some great geezers!

he'll do the basics and decide from there if it's for him or not!

but lets not say it's all roses he may make a few quid of some
easy openings! but hows he gonna feel at 4am with a failed
5 point lock strip or a 3g114 that does'nt want to play!!

j.

by **quickpicker** » 19 Nov 2006 13:42

lol,

yes yes, well thats more like it.

lets be more positive about life.

its all great, too much negativeity in the world.

and i agree he could get stuck but its all part of the wonderful world of locks
sometimes it can be hard but you learn from it.

and he could always ring ken.

mind you i dont think he would get an answer at 4am in the morning lol

Locksmith course uk

Locksmith course uk

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