ARCHIVE 2003-2013 Introduce yourself HERE if you are new. :)

[Gringo]

Hi Folks,

I recently started a locksmithing apprenticeship in Mexico. It's a challenge because my Spanish is poor. I try to find supplementary information online, but figuring out the English translations and even finding literature on equipment common to Mexico is often tough. Because of the low cost of labor/valuation of time here, things are done in interesting ways. I'm having a blast.

[Altashot]

hello everyone!

New here, just joined.
I am a locksmith and have been for 16 years.
I pick locks for a living and I have met some pretty hard ones...
It is an art I practice everyday. However I don't do it as a hobby.

Stumbled upon this forum looking for master keying software...
i am quite surprised and somewhat delighted to find out people pick locks as a hobby.
some of your kits a impressive and some of you are very skilled.

I have picked all sorts in my career. from file cabinets to pianos, clocks and trailer hitch and Corbin
and Best, Assa, Mul-t-lock, medeco, pretty much every padlocks and so on...

I am sure I will learn new things from you guys and will enjoy
sharing for sure.

Max

[bergindustries]

Hey all, I'm new to lock picking. Mostly I just joined because there is a door that separates my college dorm from my friend's and we want to open the door but no key is available to unlock it. Unfortunately, from what I can tell, it's a Sargent with 6 pins and isn't really a beginner lock to start with. But I've got a lot of time and hopefully the patience to figure it out.

[MBI]

Hey all, I'm new to lock picking. Mostly I just joined because there is a door that separates my college dorm from my friend's and we want to open the door but no key is available to unlock it. Unfortunately, from what I can tell, it's a Sargent with 6 pins and isn't really a beginner lock to start with. But I've got a lot of time and hopefully the patience to figure it out.

Sorry, but that's not why we're here. Don't let the door hit you in the backside on the way out.

[keys861]

I'm new on this forum. I've recently retired from federal service as a locksmith. Now I'm thinking of starting up a locksmithing business in my local community. I feel like I have been in a rut, doing the same locks year after year. It's hard for me to consider myself a true locksmith because of the repetitive nature of my work for the government. I'm here to learn new stuff and maybe share some of my experiences.

[baker38]

My name is Ed Baker was full time locksmith for over 20 years and went to school for this also I am co inventor with the machinist engineer Mike Parillo who created and two patented Rotosmith Tool attachment. that uses the High Speed Dremel tool or other or even a battery powered model as a power source. Advancing the technology of duplicating keys that work and do not need all the bells and whistles. The Diamond faced cutter performs a smooth grinding action that does not fight the key( a chopping action of milling cutters) on the key being duplicated. The difference being that milling cutters, operate at approx 1,000 Rpm Vs 20,000 up Rpm with long lasting Diamond cutters. Its not known by many that there is a trend to remove the poison lead in key blanks and replace % of this poison alloy with a ferris iron alloy which is hard and dulls the milling cutters and could create high pitch sounds that may effect ones hearing after many years
I also in my business do sharpening , Hair clipper blades for human and animals and scissors is another part of the business that does not require investment of inventory.We will be coming out with a low priced motorized lapping wheel
I noticed one comment, why spend $170 make your own attachment why not make two.? another one stated, take two vises with some rod and you have a machine or a pile of junk? that should duplicate a keys time after time? that works When somebody states this, they should show their machine made exactly as stated that will cut a key that works? I wish it is as easy as it looks,so easy to talk but to make machines that are long lasting and are precision made that require machined set ups also is another question. I as a locksmith had to call in a professional machinist as a partner and we sweated it out it was an up hill battle with production problems. Easy for one to talk, make one or two?.Go to foundry, try to have casting made see what you go through through in tooling costs and more.You will lay out thousands of dollars not ending before you made any thing. USA is a service economy only We attempted to sell at a lower price but when every supplier got their pound of salt the price went up. enough said, to answer sincerely and honestly. To bring the price down die casting molds cost $35,00 or more each part we have two parts and one must order 10,000 or more the two castings. Now we are in process of making our own motors another adventure.

[robhwill]

Hi All! Got here while googling for answers; Locked my 2-drawer file cabinet with a Masterlock 131Q (131D?), and *lost* the key?? Added to my stupidity or difficulty is that I have a 'Multi-Lock' rectangular security bar on the doggone thing. (Wife is smiling.....always telling me I'm paranoid....etc.) In any event, I figured if I shouldn't drill it maybe I could pick it --- but that's a NOGO ! So, here I am looking at all this interesting info and realizing just how deep I'm in the pile.
1. Really, really can't chance damaging the file cabinet (toooo many important docs, DD214, etc.)
2. Really don't think I can become a 24-hour lock-picking wonder boy either
3. Any suggestions greatly appreciated
4. Old soldier (10th Spec. Forces / ABN--Ft. Devens, NA , 51st Inf LRRP--Germany) needs some help fast!!

Have A Healthy, Prosperous Day!!

----rob

[MBI]

Hi All! Got here while googling for answers; Locked my 2-drawer file cabinet with a Masterlock 131Q (131D?), and *lost* the <censored> key?? Added to my stupidity or difficulty is that I have a 'Multi-Lock' rectangular security bar on the doggone thing. (Wife is smiling.....always telling me I'm paranoid....etc.) In any event, I figured if I shouldn't drill it maybe I could pick it --- but that's a NOGO ! So, here I am looking at all this interesting info and realizing just how deep I'm in the pile.
1. Really, really can't chance damaging the file cabinet (toooo many important docs, DD214, etc.)
2. Really don't think I can become a 24-hour lock-picking wonder boy either
3. Any suggestions greatly appreciated
4. Old soldier (10th Spec. Forces / ABN--Ft. Devens, NA , 51st Inf LRRP--Germany) needs some help fast!!
----rob

Honestly, if time is of the essence call a locksmith.

[Ntelligent-Donkey]

Hello everyone,
My interest in locks started when I was a kid and my parents picked up a safe at an auction. It was a big safe, probably about three and a half feet square. I think it had seven letter in its combination and was as smooth as silk, except for one bit just before the second to last stop where you had to tap the dial lightly to get it to break free. I remember playing like I was James Bond "safe cracking".
From there I moved on to trying to pick wafer desk locks with the tweezers of a Swiss army knife, I didn't have much success. I wondered about the mysteries of tumbler locks. When I was in college I took one apart and had springs and tumblers go everywhere, but I was able to see how the key raised the pins to the shear line. Using a piece of rolled up thin cardboard I was able put it back together.
A short time later when the Internet came along I was able find out why master keys worked, how tension should bind one pin at a time and other bits of knowledge.
Then making a living took up my time and money. I was recently reminded how interested in locks I had been and ordered the five pick Southern Ordinence set (with instruction book) and I hope to remember where I put the original house door locks before the picks arrive.

[Thursday]

Thanks for the site. I live in a small town on an island, so outside the internet my resources for practical applications are limited.

On the other hand, my shop has only been open for a few of weeks and I'm getting the strange stuff people forgot about in their attics coming in, so it's been interesting! A jukebox, a couple clocks, a pool table, an old mortise that needed repairs, and a few old campers (Boler and Trilliums so far...)

Opening a shop has been hectic, but the response has been excellent - I've been in town a few years, and people are walking in saying they had no idea there was a local locksmith!

[Synumbra]

Thanks, brand new, hoping to learn something about how to open all the antique locks I've got lying around without breaking them.

[robhwill]

[quote="robhwill"]Hi All! Got here while googling for answers; Locked my 2-drawer file cabinet with a Masterlock 131Q (131D?), and *lost* the <censored> key?? Added to my stupidity or difficulty is that I have a 'Multi-Lock' rectangular security bar on the doggone thing. (Wife is smiling.....always telling me I'm paranoid....etc.) In any event, I figured if I shouldn't drill it maybe I could pick it --- but that's a NOGO ! So, here I am looking at all this interesting info and realizing just how deep I'm in the pile.
1. Really, really can't chance damaging the file cabinet (toooo many important docs, DD214, etc.)
2. Really don't think I can become a 24-hour lock-picking wonder boy either
3. Any suggestions greatly appreciated
4. Old soldier (10th Spec. Forces / ABN--Ft. Devens, NA , 51st Inf LRRP--Germany) needs some help fast!!

Have A Healthy, Prosperous Day!!

----rob[/quote]
Thanks, anyway.....will just have to drill it for now. Was hoping for quick/cheap fix. Locksmith is nogo for now due to $$$ ($45 just to come look at it; no guarantee of opening; whew!!) Retirement is great...but fixed $$$, well not always! In any event, I'll be back after I settle a few house related issues. Meantime, maybe some of the interested folks here would like to look into a fellow named MATT BLAZE. This guy really has some interesting papers, lectures, etc. putout about locks, etc. As always, take care. Have A Healthy, Prosperous Day!!
----rob

[_abc]

hey everyone,

been picking for about a year now and just discovered this forum! Looks awesome and can't wait to learn all i can from you guys!

[Andrew28lewis]

Hello I am new to both lock picking and the site I get interested by something and jump in until it becomes too easy but after reading the site that can't happen there's always a new lock to try so I got a Goso lock set (as it had a lot of pick and seemed very reasonable pice) and a lock off eBay, 7 HOURS TO PIC IT 7 HOURS I GOT NO SLEEP, so now I have a lock I can take apart and can learn step by step pin by pin

Anyway sorry to ramble on

Kind regards
Andrew

[phillymac1]

Hi, I'm Phillymac1, a roadside technician residing in Houston, TX and a newbie to the forum