day in the life of a locksmith

[billdeserthills]

I hear you there Jim, I actually use the old kwikset red jig, I don't do anything really challenging with it, but I did make an adaptor to allow easier & more precise drilling of lever flush bolts, using it. There is so little call for me to do any kind of fire door work that I rarely worry about spending money on a fancy new jig.


I have time, what I want to have is more money & in that regard I would suggest Key Sales and Supply's great sale--New Titan pin tumbler deadbolts
in #3 finish only $10.00, or new kwikset pin tumbler Delta leversets in the 405 entry function in an 11P finish for $12.00--I bought a big pile of both and
the prices are so low that simply doubling my profit on these just won't be an option!!

[Tyler J. Thomas]

I've got a crossbore jig but it's made by A-1. I eventually want to buy the Major crossbore jig but it's $1k. Comes with literally everything though, including strike mortise tools.

I use a thing called 'measure twice, cut once' that has never failed me, I have never been so busy that I couldn't take the time to measure twice and I don't want to be either

And when you're converting a door from a mortise to cylindrical prep? Changing the back set? Converting from the old Schlage 1 1/2" to 2 1/8"? Do you break out some plywood and clamp it on the door to have something to bite into? Yeah, I used to do that.

I used to hate jigs and swear they were only for lazy or inexperienced techs but I've been humbled and realized that they do have their place on the truck. Even master carpenters like Norm Abrams uses jigs.

[billdeserthills]

The times I have converted a door using a mortise lock to a conventional tubular lock I used my kwikset jig and it worked fine--
I don't need a lot of expensive jigs, instead I like to very carefully measure and then even more carefully drill. Before I bought a metal
lathe and a milling machine I thought I knew what precise was, but once you start working with metal, precision becomes another world.

Thing is I only work a couple of hours a day--If I had a lot more work I would wish to work faster and for that I might use a more elaborate jig to save time

[Tyler J. Thomas]

The times I have converted a door using a mortise lock to a conventional tubular lock I used my kwikset jig and it worked fine--
I don't need a lot of expensive jigs, instead I like to very carefully measure and then even more carefully drill. Before I bought a metal
lathe and a milling machine I thought I knew what precise was, but once you start working with metal, precision becomes another world.

Thing is I only work a couple of hours a day--If I had a lot more work I would wish to work faster and for that I might use a more elaborate jig to save time

I hear ya.

We're bidding on a job right now to replace Adams Rite MS1850S-050 (hook bolt) with an Adams Rite 4510 (latch) on about 9 pair of doors. Swapping out won't be a problem (we're bidding to include 4600 handles), but cutting the strike free hand is next to impossible. I'll be buying a few router jigs from Major if we get the job.

[shutterstuff]

Thing is I only work a couple of hours a day--If I had a lot more work I would wish to work faster and for that I might use a more elaborate jig to save time

When I grow up, I want to be like Bill!!! And I turned 55 today...

[billdeserthills]

The times I have converted a door using a mortise lock to a conventional tubular lock I used my kwikset jig and it worked fine--
I don't need a lot of expensive jigs, instead I like to very carefully measure and then even more carefully drill. Before I bought a metal
lathe and a milling machine I thought I knew what precise was, but once you start working with metal, precision becomes another world.

Thing is I only work a couple of hours a day--If I had a lot more work I would wish to work faster and for that I might use a more elaborate jig to save time

I hear ya.

We're bidding on a job right now to replace Adams Rite MS1850S-050 (hook bolt) with an Adams Rite 4510 (latch) on about 9 pair of doors. Swapping out won't be a problem (we're bidding to include 4600 handles), but cutting the strike free hand is next to impossible. I'll be buying a few router jigs from Major if we get the job.

Last adams/rite hookbolt I installed I cut out with my die grinder after I drilled a hole in each corner, it wasn't too tough, but I was sweating like crazy, worried that I might flinch and screw it all up. If I had to do a bunch I would definitely want a jig.

[billdeserthills]

Thing is I only work a couple of hours a day--If I had a lot more work I would wish to work faster and for that I might use a more elaborate jig to save time

When I grow up, I want to be like Bill!!! And I turned 55 today...

First step is to become self-employed

[shutterstuff]

First step is to become self-employed

Did that about 2 years ago. Again...

[cledry]

The times I have converted a door using a mortise lock to a conventional tubular lock I used my kwikset jig and it worked fine--
I don't need a lot of expensive jigs, instead I like to very carefully measure and then even more carefully drill. Before I bought a metal
lathe and a milling machine I thought I knew what precise was, but once you start working with metal, precision becomes another world.

Thing is I only work a couple of hours a day--If I had a lot more work I would wish to work faster and for that I might use a more elaborate jig to save time

I hear ya.

We're bidding on a job right now to replace Adams Rite MS1850S-050 (hook bolt) with an Adams Rite 4510 (latch) on about 9 pair of doors. Swapping out won't be a problem (we're bidding to include 4600 handles), but cutting the strike free hand is next to impossible. I'll be buying a few router jigs from Major if we get the job.

Check out the jigs from Security Lock, we prefer them and do a lot of Adams Rite work.

[Tyler J. Thomas]

The times I have converted a door using a mortise lock to a conventional tubular lock I used my kwikset jig and it worked fine--
I don't need a lot of expensive jigs, instead I like to very carefully measure and then even more carefully drill. Before I bought a metal
lathe and a milling machine I thought I knew what precise was, but once you start working with metal, precision becomes another world.

Thing is I only work a couple of hours a day--If I had a lot more work I would wish to work faster and for that I might use a more elaborate jig to save time

I hear ya.

We're bidding on a job right now to replace Adams Rite MS1850S-050 (hook bolt) with an Adams Rite 4510 (latch) on about 9 pair of doors. Swapping out won't be a problem (we're bidding to include 4600 handles), but cutting the strike free hand is next to impossible. I'll be buying a few router jigs from Major if we get the job.

Check out the jigs from Security Lock, we prefer them and do a lot of Adams Rite work.

I guess they're different from Major's ?

[Tyler J. Thomas]

Have a job next week to install an E-Plex on a store front door. Customer wanted the ability to unlock the door from the secretaries desk. Decided to put together a push button release that can either be mounted to the wall or her desk. Did a write up about it on my blog: http://asecured.life/push-button-releas ... ld-box-12/

[Pahaseta]

A little different night the other day. Cops called to open a truck. Man had been missing for two days, his company couldn't reach him. The assumption was right the man had died in his truck, probably a bout of illness.

[cledry]

Have a job next week to install an E-Plex on a store front door. Customer wanted the ability to unlock the door from the secretaries desk. Decided to put together a push button release that can either be mounted to the wall or her desk. Did a write up about it on my blog: http://asecured.life/push-button-releas ... ld-box-12/

Meh, I prefer the screws to be lined up vertically.

[ltdbjd]

Hey, glad to see I'm not the only one suffering from OCD. Just put new switches and receptacles in my house last weekend. Vertical is the only way to go.

[kwoswalt99-]

So this would bother you?