by ElAbogado » 3 Nov 2009 18:56
On my last visit to Colombia (Jan 09) I had the privilege to visit about 15 different lockshops (cerrajerias) in Ibague, Colombia. I had no idea what to expect. Here are some of my observations:
1. No locksmith had a pin kit, period. They all had a box of some sore that had loose pins in it. A rekey consists of changing one or two pins, usually making the cuts deeper and using the existing keys.
2. The old key machines were amazing. Stuff from WWII and many Chinese machines. Any American made machine is valuable and preferred over any Chinese machine.
3. Service calls are performed on a motorcycle with a tool box attached to the back. Not one shop had a real vehicle. Rain or shine, the cerrejero arrives on a motorcycle.
4. Cost of a rekey for two cylinders was about $6.00 USD, including service and materials.
5. Key blanks cost about the same down there as they do here.
6. One shop had a Medeco duplicator. He services all the banks, but cannot cut by code. He told me he pays $54.00 USD for two Medeco keys, pins, and springs to rekey one lock. Obviously a Medeco rekey is big bucks down there. Abloy classic blanks cost $5.00 USD, Medeco BiAxial blanks $4.00 USD.
7. High security cylinders are typically Multi-Lock and Abloy. Medeco is rare in Ibague, but more common in Bogota.
8. No one does any transponder auto work, as cars there don't use them unless they are imported, then the dealer services them.
9. One small shop I entered was run by a young man who kept it absolutely immaculate. He had glass display cases, good stock, neat work area, and a Bravo Pro Key machine (like the Bravo III). His cost to duplicate a single sided house key was 1.200 pesos, or about 60 cents US. The blank cost him 40 cents so he worked on a 20 cent profit margin.
10. Tubular deadbolts are not very popular. People prefer interlocking surface mounted locks that are double cylinder. Instead of attaching the locks to the doors with screws, most are spot welded to steel doors. To rekey the lock, the locksmith breaks the weld with a chisel and rekeys the lock. Some put screws back in. Others carry a very small 110VAC welder in their tool box. (incredibly small units).
11. I asked one guy who had a very small shop in downtown how much money he made in key duplications each day, he said about $5.00 USD. If he did one rekey, that was another $6.00 USD and he could live very well for that kind of money.
All in all, I would not want to be a locksmith down there. Lack of equipment, lack of training, and poor wages would make for a very meager existence.
