Fitness of locksmiths

[prag]

This might just be a silly topic but here goes.

The other day I did a job of installing patio door locks. These are the one that is installed on the bottom of the door with a bolt that goes into the ground. It is normally used as an added security to the wingbolt lock.

I had five to install and was on my knees and bum almost all the time.
The next day was a rude awakening. OUch does not come close to it!!!
Parts I had not known existed hurt like hell.

Lesson learnt----------- NEED TO GET INTO SHAPE for those contorsionist positions for lockpicking.

[freakparade3]

A good set of knee pads helps also.

[Jaakko]

And remember to stretch your arms and legs after the job for a couple of minutes and before you go to bed. Helps heaps.

[Eyes_Only]

You know I've been realizing this too. A lot of locksmiths out there seem to be overweight or just completely out of shape in one way or another.

[bumber]

You know I've been realizing this too. A lot of locksmiths out there seem to be overweight or just completely out of shape in one way or another.

Thats because now everyone knows they can do their own plumbing repairs

[linty]

i worked on a mazda (mpv maybe) with a seized latch a few weeks back. The latch had seized so that it was as if somebody were always pulling on the inner handle, so it was essentially impossible to unlock the door, and to make matters worse it used cables instead of rods. I had told the customer I'd do what I could (no promises) to get his door open without doing any damage, which is always a challenge.

I'm about 6 feet tall and 135 pounds so a bit on the skinny side. I can almost guarantee that had I been overweight I would not have been able to do this job because I had to put most of my arm into the door through the hole where the controls for power windows and such normally go so I could push on the seized part with a screwdriver.

Needless to say the customer was happy since he'd been quoted on about 400 dollars to replace a door panel that absolutely HAD to be destroyed before they could even quote him on fixing his latch problem.

On the other hand, my size is disadvantageous when it comes to pushing heavy things around. I know we live in an era when people really shouldn't be required to perform feats of strength in their workplace, sometimes it happens. Especially when you sell safes and mailboxes.

[le.nutzman]

It amazes me the amount of extra work it takes to perform a job these days. The hauling of tools in and out of your work vehicle, the constant getting up and getting down. You'd think for the nature of the work lockies do, they wouldn't have to do alot of that. But more and more these days, even the easiest jobs are requiring work performances that are tantamount to the very nature or ease of the original job.

Did you know as a Network Admin I have to stretch daily because on top of sitting at my desk monitoring a secured network, I have to lift, move and otherwise relocate hardware all the time. Odd how that use to be the PC mechanic's job.

[prag]

These are some of the pic I took of the job that caused me so much pain. Pun intended because the client still needs to pay!!!!!

In the open postion.



Closed postion



Installed with the lock in open postion



In the locked postion with the bolt down and it can locked by key to thus locking the bolt.



But it was allot of fun and the pain is all gone.
PS. Please let me know if these picture sizes are fine.
Chow

[Kaotik]

Photo sizes are fine.

I see know that being crammed and hunched down in the corner would be painful after while. Ouch!

Does the turning of the cylinder raise the bolt on those or does it need to be raised manually with that knob on top?

[NickBristol]

The bolt is raised manually - the key just deadlocks the bolt in the closed position. It's a Chubb 8K116 or a rip-off of it.

[selim]

Is there som kind of plate on the floor? If not that bolt will kill the wood on the floor.

i

[NickBristol]

There should be a keep plate fitted or it makes the chance of the door being pulled open much higher where the bolt might only have a few mm of wood protecting it.

[rewt]

You definately do some crazy stuff while installing/removing locks!

[Mutzy]

I had to install 20 of these locker locks yesterday:



Each lock is held on by 2 pop rivets. I was thankful after i finished that I didn't grab the hardened rivets. I woulda broken my hand (and riveter) if i'd used them.

I did 12+ patio bolts a while back too.

I know exactly how you feel.

[prag]

NickBristol Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 5:23 am Post subject:

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There should be a keep plate fitted or it makes the chance of the door being pulled open much higher where the bolt might only have a few mm of wood protecting it.

Not with this particular door lock. I am busy with another job for the client for fancy brass bolts that does have a keep plate. This particular lock (that is pictured) goes into part wood and part concrete and is about 2 cm into the ground. Its pretty secured when bolted down.