Kudos....

[The Wanderer]

I'm presently reading The Complete Handbook of Locks and Locksmithing by C.A Roper. First edition-Fifth printing-1977. I never realized how much there is to the locksmithing business till now (and this book is old). It's amazing to me how much you "Lockies" need to learn and continue to learn throughout your working lives.
I, in my ignorance had thought that if you knew how to drill a couple of holes in a door, and could turn a screw driver ,and owned a key cutting machine, you could be a locksmith. I couldn't have been more wrong.
It's amazing to me how much information you need to know to do your jobs well. It appears to be an easy job to do poorly, and requires a great deal of skill and constant learning to do well. Kudos goes out to those of you who do your jobs well.

[Romstar]

Heh, thank you.

If you think thats bad, just look at automotive locksmithing. Every company has something different, and 90% of vehicles today are equipted with transponder keys.

Not only is the equipment expensive, but the proceedures are different for most of them. Some companies use multiple types of transponders, so you have to know which is the proper one. It's can be very rewarding, but it is also often quite frustrating.

Going back to premisis locks, if you consider that more and more of them are electric in some way it gets even more complicated.

It's a great career, and one I recomend. The only thing that I never liked is exactly what you said. Sometimes all we have to do is drill a few holes, and turn a screwdriver. When that is all people see, it's all they think.
Watching an electrician, or a plumber often confuses some people, but a locksmith is different. People see the small jobs, and that's all they think we are.

Oh well, life goes on. I hope you are enjoying the book, and I do hope you continue to learn.

Thanks for the compliments.
Romstar

[Buggs41]

Watching an electrician, or a plumber often confuses some people, but a locksmith is different. People see the small jobs, and that's all they think we are.

Romstar: I totally agree with you on that. I am a Journeyman Electrician for my day-job. Casual observers seem bewildered by the magic I perform in those duties. On the Locksmithing side of the house, they never get a chance to see the 'behind the scenes' work it takes to accomplish the task they have just watched.

Whenever I am working in a high voltage panel, all bystanders are at least twenty feet away from me. While picking a KIK cylinder, I can't get enough light due to all the peering eyes over my shoulder.

[quicklocks]

also why does it take twice as long to pick when someone is watching

[DrDetroit]

I'll second the kudos to any folks in the locksmithing business. After spending too much time trying to pick some "easy" locks, I can safely (heh) say that it's as much art as it is skill. It's just like watching Fred Astaire dance; looks so simple until you try it.

As an aside, I just found "The Complete Book of Locks & Locksmithing, 2nd Ed." by C.A. Roper at a little used book store around the corner from where I live. I'm looking forward to reading it. Now if only that same store would have LSS there for ten bucks or so, my day would be complete.

[begginerlockpicker]

When I pick in front of this one friend he keeps asking "Got It Yet??" which is very annoying...Everyone thinks locks takes seconds to open.

Have you ever noticed that a lock is a heck of alot harder to pick when its on something?

[kuefler]

that is so weird... I have that exact same book... isn't the diagram on the front just perfect?

So full of info, i haven't even been able to read through the entire thing yet.

[omelet]

Have you ever noticed that a lock is a heck of alot harder to pick when its on something?

Makes sense doesn't it? You can not only control the movement of the pick better if you are holding it, but can also get better feedback from the lock in the hand that holds it.

[I Pik U]

Have you ever noticed that a lock is a heck of alot harder to pick when its on something?

I find it's the bending over that's awkward, or the screen door that gets in the way, the steps, rain, etc.

[Kaotik]

When others are peering over your shoulder in curiousity, just find your happy place and everyone seems to go away.

But for real, just find your zone and everything will work out. Works for me.

[lockedin]

also why does it take twice as long to pick when someone is watching

Because the time required to pick a lock is directly proportional to the number of people watching.

[Kaotik]

[Mutzy]

also why does it take twice as long to pick when someone is watching

Because the time required to pick a lock is directly proportional to the number of people watching.

Try squeezing $75-90 out of a customer for turning up, and opening the door with one click of a pickgun...

[ufd538]

you don't have it picked yet....? Aren't you a professional?

I guess I have it easy, I look older, I am 27, but my cousin whom I work with looks younger, he is 26, people are always doubting him. But aren't we all doubted alot?

Hell, I wish I could get 80 bucks for opening a door(I am sure I could, but we try to be on the lower end of the price range for our area), try getting $65 for making a car key in 5 minutes...sometimes making a key is easier than opening a car.

Some people get mad, and don't want to pay if you do not do the job quick enough, some people get mad and don't want to pay if you do the job too quick.

Just remember,"A thief would already be in my house."

[lunchb0x]

i hate it when i go to open a car or a house and the customer sees me get my tool out and asks "dont you have a master key for that?"
or they think that all we can do is cut keys.
but also locksmiths are having to do more because of how the technology is changing