What Does a Locksmith Do?

A locksmith is a professional who works with all manner of locking mechanisms and who can help you with problems involving a home lockout.

There are several kinds of locksmiths:

Commercial locksmiths usually work out of a storefront and they focus on providing you with new locks, fixing old locks, and other types of commercial needs.

Mobile locksmiths work primarily from a vehicle, and are often focused on emergencies. For example, a mobile locksmith can help with a home lockout, if you accidentally lock yourself out of your home, as it qualifies as an emergency, on-site situation that would need to be solved with some immediacy. Mobile locksmiths can travel directly to your home and provide expertise for getting you back into your home without damaging any part of it. Mobile locksmiths also come help you when you’ve accidentally locked yourself out of your car. This can be an especially important task if your car is still running at the time, or if you really need to get somewhere and are pressed for time. Mobile locksmiths can come to wherever you are and gain access to your car so that you can drive it again. You can hardly do this any other way, since getting to a stationary locksmith often requires the use of a vehicle.

Investigational locksmiths are also called forensic locksmiths, and they specialize in determining what part locks might play in a particular crime. You can also have subdivision specialties in locksmiths depending on what type of lock. For example, locksmiths can specialize in automobiles, homes, or other types of locks attached to specialty areas.

What Materials and Tools Does a Locksmith Use?

There are several lock-picking tools that are essential to the locksmith trade. These include items such as a “tension wrench,” for actually turning the lock, and various picks for depressing the pins inside of the lock mechanism.

In the case of unlocking cars, a “slim Jim” might be used. This is a long, bent metal bar that’s used for sliding in between the window and the door in your car, to easily open the lock from the outside. This makes it so that locksmiths can easily open a car for someone who has locked their keys inside, and they can do it in just a few seconds with one easy motion.

Locksmith Information:

The art of gaining access to a lock without damaging it is called “lock picking.” Inside of a lock there are a number of different pins. The lock will not turn until each pin has been depressed in order. Thus a key is typically used to depress these pins when inserted into a lock, and is always cut ‘teeth’ that match the order of pins within the lock so that it serves this purpose.

While picking a lock, instead of using a key, you use a pick to individually depress each pin. The more pins a lock has, the more difficult it is to pick. This is partly because it takes more time, but also because the more pins a lock has, the deeper it is. It can be hard to see the pins all the way at the back of a deep lock, that need to be depressed without setting off any other depressed pins.

Locksmith Qualifications:

There are a number of locksmith certifications available out there. Some of these certifications can be achieved online, though the higher qualities ones are often in-person programs that provide a hands-on experience.

Considering a Re-key or Master System Key

A locksmith operates a business to install, open, modify or repair locks or provides keys for locks and typically becomes skilled by working with a qualified locksmith. Trained for the job, the person doing the work makes it look fast and easy. A busy life and the convenience of having someone else do the job definitely account for many of the service calls placed to locksmiths. Rekeying door locks or conversion to a master key lock system setup in a home, apartment or even storage utility building area is an inexpensive way of changing locks and giving emergency access to the owner or manager of the building.  

Re-keying a door lock is a task that results in changing the lock cylinder tumblers with tumblers of different sizes. File the mental visions of the key drawer at Grandma’s house, which often yielded keys that would work with other locks, under history.  Dispose of old keys afterwards, as they can no longer open the old lock, as the tumblers have changed, and likely will open no other lock you encounter. The tumblers you buy will have corresponding keys.

Tools of the Re-Keying and Master System Key Trade

Locksmiths use a number of different tools and because many of them are small or in compact sets, it can look like the amount is insignificant. Mini picks and files are examples that show the intricate work locksmiths face, much like jewelers designing a delicate ring. Other tools of the trade specifically ideal for anyone needing to rekey a door lock include a wire tool, which is usually part of a replacement kit, tweezers and narrow-tipped pliers. The tweezers and pliers help keep the pins and spring in place while removing and repairing the cylinder plug.

Bending, stooping and contorting the body to get into tight areas is part of this job, so have kneepads and a portable stool available to use.

Precautionary Measures

Use a cordless drill to remove the screws holding the doorknob to the door. Take the doorknob from the door and push out the cylinder plug. The instruction sheet will give a detailed guide for this process. Those who have had the springs and pins slip out of place understand why keeping the pins and springs in place often is mentioned more than once.

Benefits of a Re-key or Master Key Lock System

Economics support the idea of re-keying, also referred to as re-pinning, a lock because it is less expensive than replacing the entire system. A master key lock system allows each door to have its own unique key specifically for the user, while providing one key that works in all the locks.

Licensing Requirements

The State of California requires a locksmith company to have a license through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services and each employee must register through the same Bureau. Submitted fees, applications and fingerprint cards provide for a criminal history background check through the DOJ (Department of Justice) and the FBI. Fingerprints and other security measures are mandatory. A contractor’s license is required if work is performed at a single site for a cost exceeding $500, according to Sections C28, C61 and D16.

Emergency lockout/ opening

It is quite upsetting to reach for your keys and discover they are not in your purse or pocket, or suddenly recall you left them on the counter when you stopped to get your lunch. Fortunately, there is another way to get into the house or room even if you have no spare key, have no idea how to trip the lock, and do not want to resort to breaking a window.

A locksmith’s business is to install, modify or repair locks, provide keys for locks, and open closed locks when the keys are missing. Locksmiths have an incredible variety of specialty fields, all of which require experience and book learning. Most locksmiths learn under an official or unofficial apprenticeship or through a class with the military or a local trade school. Residential locksmiths perform services such as installing or rekeying locks, making keys, drilling out locks, and providing emergency lockout services. There are even some services that have a 24 hour emergency locksmith.

Tools used for Emergency Lockout and Opening

There is an incredible assortment of tools to help with an emergency lockout and opening, such as spinners, tension tools which are used to apply pressure, and plug followers. This is in addition to more common tools like the hole saw, flathead and Phillips screwdrivers of all sizes and a reversible electric drill.

Precautionary Measures

Bits of splintered wood or dust might fly into your face or irritate your skin, so wear gloves and safety glasses. Use hammers and other tools designed to add pressure carefully. Have the name and phone number of a locksmith you respect and trust with you at all times, in the event it is necessary to call for assistance. If you reach the point where you think something is in danger of being damaged if you continue trying to pop the lock, make the call.

Benefits of Using Emergency Lockout and Opening

The first benefit of using emergency lockout and opening services when the need arises is the assurance that a trained emergency locksmith professional is on the way to take care of the situation. There are 24 hour emergency locksmiths available to help you access your home.

There is no such thing as a good time to be locked out of your house. Most people sensibly seldom leave a window open while gone, exempting that option of entry. Likewise, the access door from the house to the garage is kept locked when no one is home. If you have the keys or remote to open the garage door from the front, you will have access to your tools. If no tools will work to unlock your sophisticated locks, there is a benefit in knowing qualified help is on the way.

Licensing Requirements

California locksmiths and their employees are under the jurisdiction of local requirements, in addition to the state’s Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. A license is required for the locksmith company, while each employee or member of the company must apply for registration. Besides the application and fees, a criminal history background check is required through the DOJ (Department of Justice) and the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation). Fingerprint cards and other security measures are mandatory. The California State Contractors Board requires a contractor’s license under Sections C28, C61 and/or D16 if a single site has work exceeding $500.

One of the best things about residential and office lock replacement and installation in newer buildings is that most locks are easy to remove. Putting in a new replacement lock is often a matter of taking the doorknob to the hardware store and matching it up with a new set. Installation and replacement locks gets more complicated with other types of locks, such as deadlocks, digital codes for a safe or combination type settings and that is generally when someone calls a locksmith.

The person at the home improvement store duplicating the key you provide is not a locksmith, as a locksmith’s business is to install, open, modify or repair locks or provide keys for locks, rather than a copy from the key you provide.

Locksmiths have an incredible variety of specialty fields, including specializing in safes and lockout projects. All of the fields require experience and book learning, requiring self-motivation and apprenticeships. A commercial locksmith does specialized work for businesses, such as installing store locks, installation of security gates, and creating master key systems. Residential locksmiths perform services such as installing or rekeying locks, making keys and drilling out locks.

Tools Used in Lock Replacement and Installation

Some of the most common tools used in lock replacement and installation include a hole saw, flathead and Phillips screwdriver, electric drill, and a tape measure. The very basic doorknobs are fairly simple to replace, in addition to several other types of ordinary locks. Quite a few manuals showing how to replace the lock are available online if you are unable to find the original instructions.

Precautionary Measures

Avoid forcing tools and implements into locks, since that usually results in destruction. Consider a door lock replacement for each one if all the locks are quite old rather than going through a replacement lock process over the next few months. If someone gets locked inside a room because of a faulty lock, it can lead to panic and even an attempt to escape. A hole in the door or broken frame might be the result, leading to additional expense.   

Benefits of Lock Replacement and Installation

When replacing the lock or installing new ones, get the same key for each replacement. That avoids the additional space and weight added to the key ring. It also makes it easier to access the front, back and garage side door, if one key fits all. Another option is to have separate locks with their own key, with one person holding the master system key that works in each lock.  

Licensing Requirements

California locksmiths and their employees are under the jurisdiction of local requirements, in addition to the state’s Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. A license is required for the locksmith company, while each employee or member of the company must apply for registration. Besides the application and fees, a criminal history background check is required through the DOJ (Department of Justice) and the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation). Fingerprint cards and other security measures are mandatory. The California State Contractors Board requires a contractor’s license under Sections C28, C61 and/or D16 if a single site has work exceeding $500.

Lock-picking tools are often pretty important in the locksmith trade. These include a “tension wrench” for actually turning the lock, and various picks for depressing the pins inside of the lock mechanism.
In the case of cars, a “slim Jim” might be used. This is a long bent metal bar that’s used for sliding in between the window and the door in your car, to easily open the lock from the outside. This makes it so that locksmiths can easily open the car of someone who’s locked their keys inside, and they can do it in just a few seconds with one easy motion.

Mobile locksmiths work from a vehicle, and are often focused on emergencies. For example, they can help with home lockout, if you accidentally lock yourself out of your home; you hardly want that state to continue for very long. Mobile locksmiths can travel directly to your home and provide expertise for getting you back into your home without damaging any part of it.

Mobile locksmiths also come help you when you’ve accidentally locked yourself out of your car. This can be especially important if your car is still running at the time, or if you really need to get somewhere important. Mobile locksmiths can come to wherever you are and gain access to your car so that you can drive it again. You can hardly do this any other way, since getting to a stationary locksmith often requires the use of a vehicle.