day in the life of a locksmith

[billdeserthills]

I'm in El Paso. I have heard many contractors griping that this is one of the few cities where almost EVERY outside door frame is filled completely with mortar or concrete. They don't see it in other places. I always thought it was the 'norm.' It makes the frames very resistant to movement and tampering. They are always more difficult to put a deadbolt strike into. I seem to use up a lot more 1/8" drill bits on strike plate screws. We just use a 1/4 carbide to clean out a hole. I hate it, but it is just something to accept and get over. We can charge more for the work by just going hourly.

The town next to mine uses concrete filled frames on their commercial buildings.
I like to use a bi metal 1" hole saw to cut the frame and a 3/4" masonry bit to clean out the concrete
a hammer drill is a help too, then if you did it right that drive-in strike cup will actually line up with the deadbolt latch
I have noticed the concrete filled frames seem much stronger

[Tyler J. Thomas]

I've discovered a photo collage app that really simplifies things for me. Here's two from recent jobs:



Removed an existing hook bolt from this door, filled, cut in a new prep above it to meet ADA requirements, and installed an EPlex.



Nothing real technical about this one. I was just happy that I was able to pull power to this frame for an electric strike without cutting any holes in the drywall or running any wiremold or conduit.

[billdeserthills]

I had some of a client call me today,
He told me that there was a water leak on the second floor in his building, I got there before he did and
rang the doorbell a couple of times and knocked also, before I noticed the + on the schlage deadbolt. I figured
if the deadbolt was locked I would need to pick the 'F' series leverset under the deadbolt and make a first key
to it, which should also (maybe) unlock the deadbolt, so I sprayed the lever cylinder and before opening my
pickset, I went ahead and tried the handle just for fun--It started turning and someone inside, who had been
ignoring my knocking and ringing of the doorbell called out "You aren't coming in here?!" and "Who is outside
my door?"
I suddenly realized that this client was just the kinda guy who gets folks like me shot & that
instantly pissed me off. I grabbed my tools and headed for my van, Mr had just arrived and wondered
why I was leaving? I yelled at him for a few seconds, (no cuss words, surprisingly enough) got into my van and
drove off. I also added his phone number to my BS list, that's where all my annoying phone callers wind up

[Silverado]

I had some of a client call me today,<BR abp="913">He told me that there was a water leak on the second floor in his building, I got there before he did and <BR abp="914">rang the doorbell a couple of times and knocked also, before I noticed the + on the schlage deadbolt. I figured<BR abp="915">if the deadbolt was locked I would need to pick the 'F' series leverset under the deadbolt and make a first key<BR abp="916">to it, which should also (maybe) unlock the deadbolt, so I sprayed the lever cylinder and before opening my<BR abp="917">pickset, I went ahead and tried the handle just for fun--It started turning and someone inside, who had been<BR abp="918">ignoring my knocking and ringing of the doorbell called out "You aren't coming in here?!" and "Who is outside<BR abp="919">my door?"<BR abp="920">I suddenly realized that this client was just the kinda guy who gets folks like me shot & that<BR abp="921">instantly pissed me off. I grabbed my tools and headed for my van, Mr had just arrived and wondered<BR abp="922">why I was leaving? I yelled at him for a few seconds, (no cuss words, surprisingly enough) got into my van and<BR abp="923">drove off. I also added his phone number to my BS list, that's where all my annoying phone callers wind up

Holy crap! That sounds like a really uncomfortable situation. I'd have gone off on Mr. too!

[billdeserthills]

Had a funny funny guy call me today, said his Sentry safe battery went dead and he needed me to unlock it.
I drove over to take a look, turned out funny guy lived with his parents in a big mansion and his 'Sentry safe'
was actually a pistol lockbox that someone had already vandalized the lock on--I wasn't gonna open it up and
provide said vandal with a gun, and this kid looked to be that vandal--I told him I wasn't interested and left
No Charge, cause I never charge if I don't do any work & there was no way I wanted this job

[billdeserthills]

Just had a late call, somebody went out the door to the roof of their house, and forgot to unlock
the economy grade schlage knob & got stuck on the roof. When I arrived the garage was open, but
the schlage deadbolt wouldn't pick for me, so I went to the front door, which also wouldn't pick--
I gave my shrum tool (a hook pick) a try on the deadbolt latch & I was easily able to pull it back far
enough to open the door! (My other option was gonna be make a key to fit to the knob on the garage
door, which was already unlocked.)

The last time this happened, the lady was practically naked,
but also very old

[shutterstuff]

My fun job was yesterday. Got a call from an older lady locked out of her house. When I got there she was not actually locked out, but the mortise lock had failed and would not let the door open. She had the key. Someone actually designed a house with only one door that has an external lock! The other 3 doors were all french doors (multi point locks) with no cylinders outside!!!

I found a small window partly open about an inch. This had a hand crank. I was able to get the screen pushed in with a slim jim and then used the long reach tool to turn the crank a little. All of a sudden the crank goes flying off and onto the floor. But I had the window open a bit more. I stuck my arm in and with a bit of pain got a vise grip on the spindle and eventually got the window open. Did I mention the window was small? It was a small struggle climbing in and over the stuff on the other side. I am getting too for this!

The front door opened just fine from the inside and found a part broken inside the mortise box. I ordered her a new one with instructions she get a key pad for the garage door installed. I have 2 bruises on my arm today.

She also wants me to service her safe and change the combo when I come back to replace the mortise cassette. I love it!

[Tyler J. Thomas]

My fun job was yesterday. Got a call from an older lady locked out of her house. When I got there she was not actually locked out, but the mortise lock had failed and would not let the door open. She had the key. Someone actually designed a house with only one door that has an external lock! The other 3 doors were all french doors (multi point locks) with no cylinders outside!!!

I'm sure it can be a logistic nightmare but that's actually not too bad of an idea, security wise. I've had a few drinks this evening so I'm not able to fully wrap my head around the engineering side of it but hey, less access points, less worries.....I think.

[shutterstuff]

My fun job was yesterday. Got a call from an older lady locked out of her house. When I got there she was not actually locked out, but the mortise lock had failed and would not let the door open. She had the key. Someone actually designed a house with only one door that has an external lock! The other 3 doors were all french doors (multi point locks) with no cylinders outside!!!

I'm sure it can be a logistic nightmare but that's actually not too bad of an idea, security wise. I've had a few drinks this evening so I'm not able to fully wrap my head around the engineering side of it but hey, less access points, less worries.....I think.

The issue being lock failure. The cylinder turned but only pulled the bolt (Ashley Norton designer stuff with a mortise cassette). The thumb lever was still locked and we could not get it to open. Custom made solid wood door (very, very expensive), so I was not about to shove my shim tool in and try and work the latch or the buttons on the side of the lock. If her small window was not partially open, I would have had to break something expensive to get in. If there had been a second door, her key would have got her in.

[demux]

My fun job was yesterday. Got a call from an older lady locked out of her house. When I got there she was not actually locked out, but the mortise lock had failed and would not let the door open. She had the key. Someone actually designed a house with only one door that has an external lock! The other 3 doors were all french doors (multi point locks) with no cylinders outside!!!

I'm sure it can be a logistic nightmare but that's actually not too bad of an idea, security wise. I've had a few drinks this evening so I'm not able to fully wrap my head around the engineering side of it but hey, less access points, less worries.....I think.

Well, maybe. If you have a similar level of security on all your keyed ingress points (good quality locks and cylinders, appropriate lighting, cameras if applicable, etc), it shouldn't really matter how many of them you have, as it should be more or less the same difficulty to get through any of them. Also, note that the OP said only one keyed ingress point. It's not strictly necessary that a door have a cylinder on it in order for a bad guy to enter that way.

[billdeserthills]

My fun job was yesterday. Got a call from an older lady locked out of her house. When I got there she was not actually locked out, but the mortise lock had failed and would not let the door open. She had the key. Someone actually designed a house with only one door that has an external lock! The other 3 doors were all french doors (multi point locks) with no cylinders outside!!!

I'm sure it can be a logistic nightmare but that's actually not too bad of an idea, security wise. I've had a few drinks this evening so I'm not able to fully wrap my head around the engineering side of it but hey, less access points, less worries.....I think.

The issue being lock failure. The cylinder turned but only pulled the bolt (Ashley Norton designer stuff with a mortise cassette). The thumb lever was still locked and we could not get it to open. Custom made solid wood door (very, very expensive), so I was not about to shove my shim tool in and try and work the latch or the buttons on the side of the lock. If her small window was not partially open, I would have had to break something expensive to get in. If there had been a second door, her key would have got her in.

I have made some room between doors many times with my air wedge
it hasn't damaged anything yet either

[shutterstuff]

I have made some room between doors many times with my air wedge
it hasn't damaged anything yet either

I have done this too, but this door was not going to give. Like I said, it was custom made and the jamb/stop was thicker than usual made from the same hardwood the door was. It was exotic hardwood I cannot remember what.

If it was not for that small window, I was going to work on the garage door next (no exterior man door on the garage). But I would have had to make the 1 hour round trip back to town to get the tools for that.

[Ralph_Goodman]

I bought one of those 'tools', then waited almost a year to need it-- the sad pos broke on my first attempt,
when the saw-blade on the end snapped off--Very disappointing to have your client first think
you are a genius & then an idiot, all in the space of one minute

Was yours made by Sparrows? They usually make pretty solid products. It would surprise me if something they manufactured broke the first time out.

[billdeserthills]

I bought one of those 'tools', then waited almost a year to need it-- the sad pos broke on my first attempt,
when the saw-blade on the end snapped off--Very disappointing to have your client first think
you are a genius & then an idiot, all in the space of one minute

Was yours made by Sparrows? They usually make pretty solid products. It would surprise me if something they manufactured broke the first time out.

I got mine from Lockmasters, it came all rolled up in a little tin can
I kinda think all these tools are made in the same place

[MBI]

I'm enjoying the continual flow of fresh stories in this thread.

Lets try to keep depictions of bypass methods and tools generalized enough that they aren't of use to a crook, and save the details for the advanced forum please.

That's just a quick reminder though, because the last thing I want to do it put a wet blanket on anyone or on this thread. I know how much time and thought it can take to write out a good story and I appreciate everyone who has made that effort. This thread has been fun so far and I hope it keeps going strong.