day in the life of a locksmith

[cledry]

Cledry, do you have any experience with the ADAEZ Pro? I was given some literature on them last year, I think, but I was waiting for feedback from end users before I tried to put one on a door.

No, I was waiting for feedback from others too.

[jeffmoss26]

[Tyler J. Thomas]

Get a big account with IC? Equipping the trucks?

[jeffmoss26]

Most of what we do is IC...gearing up for some big projects over the summer.

[dll932]

I'm not saying I think Baldwin makes good hardware, not since they sourced All their manufacturing to china, anyways. At one time they were the last hand-forged lock hardware maker in the US and back then I thought they made a fine product, one with a 50 year warranty. The factory helped me out many times, by repairing the mortise sets I sent them and sending me lots of parts for repairing and upgrading their lock hardware. However on that particular job, rather than replace Baldwin hardware with kwikset junk, I explained to the home owner that the baldwin hardware they already had likely cost many hundreds of $$$ and this helped them to see that the $51 I was charging, per lock, to adapt them to a kwikset key, was not over the top, which I think it did. All I know is I made about $400 in a couple of hours, which I could not have done selling them crummy kwikset hardware.

I do know what you mean, about baldwin and their lesser quality. Simply take a look at any new baldwin product, you will see right off that it is not the same as the all-brass working parts inside an old Baldwin mortise set. Their economy handlesets are made as cheaply as Black & Decker can make them, in fact the new baldwin offerings come with a crappy smart-key lock! Unfortunately Black & Decker have now added Baldwin & Weiser to their list of once fine corporations, who have been downgraded and minimalized.

DII932, you do know the unsoken rule, by now, I'm sure--Last one to touch it, or work on it, in any way--Owns it for life
You were the last one to touch it--And that is how it works
Which is why in that situation, I would simply replace the broken latch and not charge for it, if it was within my warranty period--Because sometimes if you don't give out some free stuff you no longer have that client

One thing I never really liked about Baldwin mortise locks is how little mechanical advantage the bolt throwing apparatus had. If you didn't keep it greased, good luck.

I know what you're saying, but that's like blaming a mechanic for a wheel falling off when all he did was a tune up. We didn't even stock that model or parts for it. Can't make everyone happy. We DID give her an avenue to pursue.

[Tyler J. Thomas]

Most of what we do is IC...gearing up for some big projects over the summer.

Nice. I presume you're staying busy?

[Raymond]

The main defect I have always disliked about Baldwin (and I hope they read this) is that the screw, reverse threaded, that holds the mortise cylinders from turning always gets stripped. I usually change the design and put one in that wont get stripped.

[cledry]

Had an aggravating job for my last one of the day. A NSP shipped a new SDC keypad to us to install at an Apple store to replace a "defective" keypad. I used quotes because we were never called to troubleshoot the problem.

When I arrived I tried a code in the existing keypad and there was a weird double click on the relay and all the power dies momentarily on the keypad, the Schlage mortise lock didn't open.

So I carefully removed 1 wire from the old keypad and put it onto the corresponding terminal on the new keypad, continuing through all the wires. Typically there is 24VAC pair coming in, then one leg is jumped over to the common leg of the main relay, then the NO leg is sent to the lock along with the other side of the 24 VAC. Entering a correct code energizes the relay which then sends power to the solenoid to open the lock.

So once all that is done I program some parameters, new MK, then which relay will fire, how long for etc. Then I program 3 user codes provided by the customer. OK now to test them. All the codes act exactly as they did on the old "defective" keypad.

I call the NSP and explain that it isn't the keypad, so they ask me to troubleshoot the lock. After getting an increase on the NTE I go out to my truck, about 1/2 mile walk because we are not permitted to park near the mall, to get more tools. The first trip in I carried just a few basic tools I would need because I am nursing some cracked ribs. Back inside and the inside rose on the mortise lock won't budge, I break the end off of two spanner wrenches. So I wrap it in tape and take some Vise Grips to it, now it turns but it isn't getting any looser! Next step is to test at the armored loop, but the door is so busy I can't safely work on it, so I call for another tech to prevent me getting knocked off of the ladder. Meanwhile I pull the keypad and notice a wire on the NC terminal, pull that off and lose all power to the keypad. Very odd, so I take that wire into the red side of the 24VAC and we are powered up again. Now the keypad works properly!

Someone must have been fiddling with the wires on the old unit!

View full size. It is amazing the detail a cell phone can get on closeup photos!

[cledry]

Here's the larger image which is actually half the size produced by my rather old phone.

[Squelchtone]

The first trip in I carried just a few basic tools I would need because I am nursing some cracked ribs.

dude, are you ok? your boss owes you some time off and a bottle of scotch for busting your tail on a job while nursing a major injury.

get better soon!
Squelchtone

PS. solid troubleshooting the wiring on that keypad!

[billdeserthills]

The main defect I have always disliked about Baldwin (and I hope they read this) is that the screw, reverse threaded, that holds the mortise cylinders from turning always gets stripped. I usually change the design and put one in that wont get stripped.

That's because some ape is always trying to make those cylinder retention screws too tight--They don't need to be torqued down


Far as greasing Baldwin mortise locks, I call it easy money and the Super Lube teflon grease I use lasts for many years

[cledry]

The first trip in I carried just a few basic tools I would need because I am nursing some cracked ribs.

dude, are you ok? your boss owes you some time off and a bottle of scotch for busting your tail on a job while nursing a major injury.

get better soon!
Squelchtone

PS. solid troubleshooting the wiring on that keypad!

I did take one day off when the pain was so bad I thought I was going to throw up. Life goes on and it was entirely my stupid fault. Treadmill and beer don't go together, at least not 3 beers that were 11 % alcohol. It would also help if I didn't have a South Bend Heavy 0 sitting behind the treadmill. I'm going to put one of those Breathalyzer switches on the thing!

[Tyler J. Thomas]

You mean you don't enjoy troubleshooting someone else's cluster? I can't think of a better way to spend a few hours. Chasing wires, inspecting every single connection, trying to make sense of someone else's work, etc.

[jeffmoss26]

Most of what we do is IC...gearing up for some big projects over the summer.

Nice. I presume you're staying busy?

I am one of the IT guys...I am always busy! lol

[MatrixBlackRock]

You mean you don't enjoy troubleshooting someone else's cluster? I can't think of a better way to spend a few hours. Chasing wires, inspecting every single connection, trying to make sense of someone else's work, etc.

What a crap install.

Wayne