Any embarassed locksmiths?

by **Kodack** » 21 Oct 2004 18:17

I'm an engineer by trade and despite being able to work on very complex technical issues, once in a blue moon I get stumped by something simple.

I was wondering, how many of you trade locksmiths out there have run into a masterlock padlock, or a kwikset deadbolt, or something that you could usually pick one handed, and got NOWHERE fast.

It must happen even to the best of you. Share your stories, it will be good for a laugh.

Romstar, I'm sure it get's you once in a blue moon too.

by **quickpicks** » 21 Oct 2004 19:48

I'm not a locksmith but I have had a couple of very embarassing moments. One of them, I was trying to pick open a master 5UP
And it wouldent open. My friend who was new to picking wanted to give it a go and in literally five seconds it was open. Of course that type of moment would make any picker embarassed.

by **toomush2drink** » 22 Oct 2004 5:11

I certainly have had this "easy lock defeats me syndrome" the worst one was when somebody asked to see how i pick a lock and i produced a wren bird (terrible locks) and said about how crapp they are and just fall open. Well as you have guessed it wouldnt open at all, i couldnt believe it these normally take seconds to open :oops:

Now for all of you who know these locks and roflao be honest and get those stories out in the open.
I feels like therapy getting that one of my chest :shock:

by **Rockford** » 22 Oct 2004 6:43

I did a call last weekend (Sunday morning), for a guy who'd lost his keys at a disco the previous night. He had spare keys inside the house, so was keen to not have to replace any. I had a quick scout around the house - UPVC everywhere, and MILA locks on the front, side and rear patio doors. I assured him that I'd get him him without damaging the locks, as MILA are usually picked easily with the electric pick gun.

But, I ended up draining my pick gun battery and couldn't open any of the 3 sets of locks. I also spent half an hour picking by hand - but no joy. The guy was very pleasant, but I felt a complete fool having made the comment about how easy these particular locks were to open.

I ended up snapping one of the locks on the Patio door (fitted very badly, with about 2cm showing), and replacing the lock at no cost.

What have I learnt - not to comment on a lock until its open, and it's always a difficult lock. Oh, and I'm looking to buy another pick gun as a backup (anyone know if HPC do a car charger adapter for the gun ?).

Rockford.....

by **locksmistress** » 22 Oct 2004 10:46

Yup. Last Monday. Weiser Deadbolt. Really big pin in the front.

I can't get in it for the life of me. Going back Saturday with intent to find another way in. Fortunately it's not terribly urgent.

Oh, and a couple months before that. I was catsitting for some friends and forgot to bring the key to their house. Brand new Kwikset - I was in a rush so I gave up after about 10 minutes of trying to pick it and headed over to the neighbors to get a key. My boyfriend - who has expressed interest and is mechanically inclined in the usual guy ways, but who had never even tried to pick a lock - had it open before I had walked 50 feet up the block.

Sigh. It will probably happen again and next time will probably be worse. But I've learned that the more wary I am of my mechanical adversaries, the more likely I am to conquer them. Confidence does not seem to do me any favors in this business.

by **Cameron Flint** » 22 Oct 2004 13:36

I once had to open a door that I had picked for practice a million times...
we went for a trip and came back at like midnight and everbody's keys were inside. Somebody had locked the wrong lock and dissapeared. So I found a saftey pin and clothespin spring and went to it.
It was really embaressing because the lock was SO easy to pick without pressure from 4 people... :oops:

18 cuss words or so (in every language I could think of) and some muttered threats and fears concerning my social status later and I got it open. RRRR! Anyway, everybody was too happy to have their keys back to notice too much. :cry:

by **toomush2drink** » 22 Oct 2004 16:19

Rockford you could use a power inverter to charge your gun in the car/van take a look on ebay there are stacks available.

by **Rockford** » 22 Oct 2004 16:36

Thanks TooMush - knew there had to be a cheaper option than buying another pick gun.

Rockford.....

by **pinky** » 22 Oct 2004 18:50

or just buy the ciggy lighter charger for the pick gun from wholesalers, a cheaper option again, though i carry 2 pick guns, both carrying different thicknesses of blade.

but hey they do call me gadget man, if its in the catalogue i gotta have 1 or sometimes 2, or if curtain picks 11 of them, god how sad is that.

by **Kodack** » 22 Oct 2004 23:03

Why not use a mechanical pick gun? They never run out of power and operate the same don't they?

by **Rockford** » 23 Oct 2004 2:15

I've not got on with the snap gun - varied success.

Rockford.....

by **pinky** » 23 Oct 2004 16:51

they struggle big time on euro profiles, handles interfere, nope hpc pick gun or hand picks for me.

by **HeadHunterCEO** » 23 Oct 2004 17:03

a fling cabinet lock

could not pick it 2 weeks ago

by **oldlock** » 26 Oct 2004 6:30

1 st job of the day, serious lock out on a HUGE Wormald cash safe in a bank, combo was changed at close of business the day before and they mucked it up & then locked the safe ...

Anyway - it took a couple of hours of serious concentration to think my way around the problem and work out what they had done, very glad not to have to resort to drilling it it would have been a bugger.

Next job standard domestic lock-out, very cheap and nasty cylinder. Would not pick for love or money, tried hand picks and the pick gun, nope not a chance. Customer refused to let me drill and replace it (at no extra charge) so walk away .....

Paul

by **Kodack** » 26 Oct 2004 10:00

When you say "drill" what do you mean?

I'm guessing your talking about drilling the pins of the shear line? Or do you put a hole in the lock and then reach in with a pick and bypass?

Any embarassed locksmiths?

Any embarassed locksmiths?

Embarassed? Oh no, never.

Daft or what

Who is online