Newbie with a budget to to learn

by **justinthomas** » 9 May 2007 8:31

Hi,

I am a COMPLETE newbie to locksmithing. Never picked a lock in my life!
I've been on here the past couple days reading thread after thread and feel slightly unnerved.

I have Â£9000 to my disposal and need some advise.

I think I need to start small, with a small pick set, a few practise locks and see where I get.

Is it best to get a wide variety of locks, chubbs, yales, padlocks etc? If so, what picks do I need?

I'm also in the mind to do a couple courses too to get the basics..
Can anyone recommend a trainer in London?

Any help would be greatly appreciated..

Regards

Justin

by **UWSDWF** » 9 May 2007 8:35

paypal it to : trevor.trottier(at)sympatico.ca

by **JackNco** » 9 May 2007 8:40

I can only assume you want to be a locksmith?

That or you have WAY to much money.....

Â£9K should start you on your way. but there is more than just picking locks to locksmithing.

by **zeke79** » 9 May 2007 8:47

9k is a decent start if you are going to go into the trade but do not be mislead, depending on what you do it will only get you a small start if you are going into auto transponder etc.

If you are not going into the trade, buy a decent small set of picks and save that wod of cash for a rainy day.

If you can tell us more specifics about what you intend to do we can help point you in the right direction.

by **justinthomas** » 9 May 2007 9:02

Sorry,

I want to be a locksmith, with the sigh to be a specialist in something, like digial locks maybe.

I want a good honest trade under my belt, I want to learn to fit new locks, upgrade old ones, repair broken ones etc.. Aswell as non-destructive entry.

The Â£9k, I've basically been approved for a loan so want to invest it in my career path..

I just want some pointers as to the basic tools I'll need to get me on my way. I have a list of practise locks from a previous thread.. And I've read the threads on courses.. Are they a waste of time or beneficial? (Obviously depending on the course content.)

Cheers

Justin

by **JackNco** » 9 May 2007 9:20

well first off im no locksmith but i will offer what advice i can.

If its a loan you will have to bear in mind that it takes time to make money starting a new business. and there are lots of locksmiths in most parts of the country.

Chances are you will be paying back your loan before you are making any real money.

As for specializing, thats great but look in to something thats common in your area. remember most businesses will have a setup with a local locksmith so you wont be getting call outs about digi locks.

All the best

John

by **justinthomas** » 9 May 2007 9:23

Yeah I hear you, I'll be working full time while I'm learning to pay off the loan and live etc..

I'm still in the research process, finding out how much work is available, other locksmiths in the area etc..

But thanks for the advice I appreciate it!!

Justin

by **JackNco** » 9 May 2007 9:33

what do you do at the moment then?

by **NickBristol** » 9 May 2007 11:02

First off it's a good sign that you're on here asking for advice and not down B&Q buying the biggest drill you can find, so welcome to the site!

Have you read through the lists of kit you will need in this section? It's a long and expensive list!

Even a second-hand basic small van can easily eat up a third or more of your budget.

Add on the cost of advertising, flyers, business cards, etc etc and another third (at least) is gone.

Which leaves you with a lot less that you thought to train yourself, equip yourself and maintain the business.

As for course, the ideal is to choose one of the accredited ICL trainers - they will tailor a course specific to you and your needs but it does sound as if you would need a basic course that involves dismantling locks of several different types, lock fitting with general carpentry skills, repairs and simple opening techniques to get you going before moving on to the meat of NDE.

by **justinthomas** » 9 May 2007 14:13

I work for a foreign exchange company JackNco.. BORING! Stuck in an office all day long...

Nickbristol:
I printed off the list of tools required, I'm not sure out of the exhausted list what I'd need straight off.. With regards to advertising, I am also a graphic/web designer so can do my own flyers/leaflets/website so that will cut down costs a heap! I will look into the ICL trainers.. My dad's a carpenter so I can get help from him with basic skills required for fitting locks.. So that will hopefully change the fee for the course..

Thank you for all your replies..
I'm thinking of callinf a few lockie's to see if they can give me some starter pointers, what you reckon?

by **JackNco** » 9 May 2007 14:27

U also live in england, office is better than rain.

As for websites, thats handy but the problem with a lot of the work is that people cant get to a computer when they are locked out.

by **justinthomas** » 9 May 2007 14:48

LOL haha I never thought of that DUH, however people (geeks) like me have the net on their phones, but yes, pointless none the less!!! Hahahaha
(sometimes it's the simple things that slip your mind!)

Believe me mate, I'd give anything to work outdoors... I hate being cooped up all day...

by **JackNco** » 9 May 2007 15:02

No you should have a website. after all people will often ring kids/friends and ask them to Google a locksmith. and a lot of your work will be lock swaps and fittings. but its something to bear in mind. yellow pages/118 numbers/local advertising would be more what i would edge towards. but as I say, im no locksmith. and of course word of mouth. as with any trade, if you do a good job people will recommend you. Im sure u must have done the same when you are happy with a job and a few months later a friend tells you they are thinking of having some work done.

Buy bear in mind. if you are intending on being a good locksmith/lock pick and not a driller killer it takes a LOT of practice to get any good at it. and pin tumblers aside the tools are pretty expensive.

All the best

John

by **Shrub** » 10 May 2007 5:51

You need to look in this section on setting up before you do anything,

Im gogin to be the voice of doom and gloom here for a short while or esle you will fall into a false sence of security and fail,

Â£9k is a start but only a start, in the uk you will spend probably around 6 times more on tooling than someone in the us,

For a start read this site, do nothing more and nothing less, read the entire site it will take you around 3 months reading every day for an hour or so depending on your reading speed,

DO NOT SPEND ANY MONEY UNTIL 100% POSITIVE YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR SPENDING IT ON,

You are gogin to struggle doing it part time and even more so full time as london is saturated by fly by night lockies,

The investment you will end up likely spending to be succesful will be neared an end total of Â£30k and thats start up cost,

I dod not reccomend you take a loan out to do this as your chances of failure are very very high in this country,

Training is covered elsewhere but give Ken at Justlocks a try or alternitively the icl but i dont know if they only train lockies or anyone,

I have to be as straight and to the point as i can here as i want to shock you into thinking again as you will sgtruggle and certainly not make anymoney for the first 2 or 3 years certainly if gogin down the part time route,

The worst thing you can do right now is to buy anything regarding training from ebay,

Ill let the other uk lockies add to this as i cant get my point accross properly i dont think, im not being nasty nor trying to put you off the business because im in it im merely trying to save you a lot of pain in the future,

by **justinthomas** » 10 May 2007 10:15

Wow are things really that harsh for entry into locksmithing?
Is the Â£50k outlay standard or is it because you specialise in something?

Newbie with a budget to to learn

Newbie with a budget to to learn

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