Being a Locksmith; How Do You Like It?

[KJVSoulWinner]

I am strongly considering getting into the business. It appears a practical set of skills to have, nice areas to branch out, a neat way to meet new people, and possibly a good occupation with which to sustain a family in the future.

I would like your opinion on the matter.

___ ☆☆☆ ___

How long have you been in the business?

How and/ or why did you get in?

Do you recommend being a locksmith? (Why / or why not?)

Do you enjoy your job? (Why / or why not?)

Feel free to add any additional information or stories.

[cledry]

35 years.

No other job available.

Yes, it is a secure job but not really highly paid, plus there are possible health issues from the materials.

[Squelchtone]

As we are mainly a hobby lockpicking forum with a special area for locksmiths, I will move this thread for you from the hobby picking General Chatter over to the Locksmith - Running A Business sub forum where you may get more responses.

Squelchtone
Forum Admin

[KJVSoulWinner]

35 years.

No other job available.

Yes, it is a secure job but not really highly paid, plus there are possible health issues from the materials.

What sort of materials would pose the health issues?

Thank you for your time.

[KJVSoulWinner]

As we are mainly a hobby lockpicking forum with a special area for locksmiths, I will move this thread for you from the hobby picking General Chatter over to the Locksmith - Running A Business sub forum where you may get more responses.

Squelchtone
Forum Admin

Thank you! :3

[GWiens2001]

35 years.

No other job available.

Yes, it is a secure job but not really highly paid, plus there are possible health issues from the materials.

What sort of materials would pose the health issues?

Thank you for your time.

Brass contains lead (a component known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects, horrmonal inbalances, global warming, increases in the gender inequality among the seven-toed red breasted grasshopper and frequency of volcanic eruptions along the Rng of Fire).

There are also various solvents and lubricants used. There are some other issues along those lines, as well as physical risks such as carelessly being cut by a key machine cutter, debris in the eyes or in the skin from drills, key machines, wire wheels and so forth.

Gordon

[billdeserthills]

My Dad is a locksmith, so I grew up in this industry since 1970
I got tired of making $8.50/hr cooking and decided I would try the family biz
I think locksmithing is a great way to earn a living, if you can save your money
being self-employed is really nice, I can take a job or leave it and lastly,
I love my work, it's the people who make my job annoying

[KJVSoulWinner]

There are also various solvents and lubricants used. There are some other issues along those lines, as well as physical risks such as carelessly being cut by a key machine cutter, debris in the eyes or in the skin from drills, key machines, wire wheels and so forth.

So long as you wear protective gear and wash up, won't you be all right? I've never seem a deformed locksmith.

Thank you for the great reply, and the funny WARNING.

[KJVSoulWinner]

I think locksmithing is a great way to earn a living, if you can save your money
being self-employed is really nice, I can take a job or leave it and lastly,
I love my work, it's the people who make my job annoying

Do you think that locksmithing is a good way to provide for a large family (wife and a few kids)?

[cledry]

So long as you wear protective gear and wash up, won't you be all right? I've never seem a deformed locksmith.

Thank you for the great reply, and the funny WARNING.

You've not seen me.

[KJVSoulWinner]

You've not seen me.

Are you deformed or harmed in any way?

[billdeserthills]

I think locksmithing is a great way to earn a living, if you can save your money
being self-employed is really nice, I can take a job or leave it and lastly,
I love my work, it's the people who make my job annoying

Do you think that locksmithing is a good way to provide for a large family (wife and a few kids)?

Not in my area, I usually work 1-3 jobs per day--not enough to support a fam on
I've had no trouble supporting myself and a gf, but I wouldn't want to throw any kids in there.

Thing is if I wanted to work more I suppose I could. One more SEO bill to pay every month & most likely
I could steal the work from several other locksmiths in this area. If I truly wanted to be busy I would get
the equipment to make transponder keys. Thing is I don't really like making keys to cars. I do tolerate the
vintage cars but new cars I just don't care for

[billdeserthills]

So long as you wear protective gear and wash up, won't you be all right? I've never seem a deformed locksmith.

Thank you for the great reply, and the funny WARNING.

You've not seen me.

--Before cledry, I always thought those California cancer warnings were pure BS--
now I'm not so sure

[Squelchtone]

I think locksmithing is a great way to earn a living, if you can save your money
being self-employed is really nice, I can take a job or leave it and lastly,
I love my work, it's the people who make my job annoying

Do you think that locksmithing is a good way to provide for a large family (wife and a few kids)?

It might be a good way to provide for a family if you own a shop for a few years and have a couple guys in the field and 1 guy working counter and you just do office stuff, but just starting out, based on locksmith friends I have since I am not a working locksmith myself, prepare not to see much of your wife and kids while you are out on call 24/7 with customer calls. Probably wont make profit in the first year either. You may do well enough to keep going though.

Also based on past posts I have read here, prepare to initially spend around $50K in specialized parts and tools plus a van in order to just have the needed stuff to get jobs done, but that doesnt include knowledge or experience, those will come with time. I suspect one could probably start with less invested but may quickly be turning away jobs because of lack of inventory, or specialized job specific locksmith gear (door mortiser jig, key machine that can cut by code, key code software to decode keys, car key chip reader/programmer, safe drilling gear, endoscopes, etc) Don't forget insurance.

If you already have a job that supports your current situation, dont quit and try to be a locksmith overnight. I've toyed around with this idea, and it seems like a better bet to keep day job and start the locksmith thing as an evenings and weekends endeavor. Do jobs for friends and friends who own small businesses around town. Sometimes you will get paid, sometimes the payment may be a useful barter that saves you or your family money you would have spent anyway. If that all goes well and you make some money, your confidence will grow and you can start to get bigger and do jobs for strangers or referrals based on word of mouth from your friends who own businesses.

This is based on my own experiences thus far. Your mileage may vary. Hope this helps, corrections from working locksmiths welcome.

Squelchtone

[billdeserthills]

I disagree about the initial outlay, most of the residential and light commercial lockwork that needs to be done can likely be completed with a visit to a home store for new hardware. Of course once you see how the prices you pay for hardware can be doubled on resale, you will want to begin buying inventory. I am constantly watching out for new or different hardware options to stock my shop/van with, along with the regular knobs, levers, deadbolts & safe locks and lock parts I have been stocking since 1990, when I started working with my Dad full time.

I think if you are serious you should get a website & start advertising. I recall when my Dad was first starting out, he couldn't leave his regular job to do his lockwork, so the calls he could do after hours, he took & the rest he would let go. Eventually he found there was enough lock work to keep him busy. Most of the locks I see in my area are basically the same Schlage & Kwikset type stuff that has been around for decades. If you get a job you are unable to do, for example I ran into a safe I couldn't open. I worked on the thing for 5 days and I wasn't getting anywhere. I called a guy I know, he opened it for me and I paid him, then billed my client. I didn't make much--enough to pay for all the broken drill bits & other tools, but I got the job done without having to walk off with my tail between my legs.