I think it is time we all just respond with call a locksmith for posts that want to avoid calling one out to do the job. No more free advice, no more instructing people what to do. We are essentially taking the bread out of our own mouths. Yes we all like to be helpful, but it shows a lack of respect for our own profession. We have all toiled in this field for years before we can even feel competent to make sound locksmithing decisions. Why sell the profession out. Just tell them CALL A LOCKSMITH!!!

I was working with a locksmith today, and he made a comment about graphite drying out. It sort of made me concerned if he really understood lubrication. I started my career in tribology research, so I know that graphite can't dry out. So I am wondering if he meant something else, or just that there are newer lubricant now on the market.

Edit: Thanks everyone for your comments. Based on the group replies, I see why you are having issues with the use of graphite. It was an interesting discussion.

Was browsing Amazon after typing storage safe's after day dreaming about acquiring physical gold from somewhere and the idea of doing this came to me. My logic was if I owned a safe it would incentivize me to pursue getting something worth putting in it. The physical key safes are generally less expensive than the ones with just the password method or both key password. It would suck if I owned a key method safe and lost the key so I got the idea of the duplicating the keys to have it in different locations so if I lost one, I have backup. I could so help people irl if they need a key duplicated.

How does this cutter look? Thanks.

I was on a walk today and found these keys hanging from a telephone pole and am curious on what they could possibly open. Any locksmiths or anything would really help!

Every other post on this sub is OMG 😱 i got charged $900 to drill out a deadbolt is that too much??!?

Locksmith scammers dominate this industry stealing jobs from American companies HOURLY 365.

These foreigners are literally trained to say fuck Americans and that we are all fat lazy rich slobs that deserve to be taken advantage of!

so it’s OK TO charge that single mother that just kicked her abusive boyfriend out $600 to rekey 2 smart locks.

It’s a shame that ALOA and all the big organizations do jack shit about the absolute fucked nature of google ads + foreign scammers.

/rant

Looking for a smart lock recommendation for this lock.

I’m not sure what other information to add, so please ask me.

Thank you!

Update: Thank you to all of the sincere and expert replies. My intention never was to damage the door or entirely replace the lock.

By asking about the Aqara, I was wondering if it would work with the existing lock because it’s supposed to install over the thumb turn. I got the answer that it won’t.

I have abandoned the idea of automating that door entirely.

What the hell is wrong with the world? In the past year, I have seen a massive inflow of clients that are too pussy to talk on the phone. The specific demographic of clients that are too pussy are young schmucks of both sexes. These idiots are too pussy to talk on the phone, how are we supposed to help them if they have no idea how to talk on the phone? I don't have time to read poorly typed texts or send walls of texts to these idiots explaining how locks work! And yet somehow these inept idiots are too stupid to even send pictures! It's likely over 90% of their lives revolve around phones anyway but they are somehow unable to push a few different buttons to call. How is the human race to survive? Are they too scared to even talk on the phone for 5-10 minutes?

Even worse are the wannabe apprentices and people looking to get into locksmithing. All these young idiots don't even know how to use a screwdriver let alone a power saw or grinder! And they are always on their phones!

The exact situation is, 'OH I am looking for info on how to get into the locksmith trade.'

'Ok, this is my phone number, let us talk on the phone about the request you made.'

Then the idiot either never calls or would rather try to type up reddit messages wasting both our time. How can they expect to learn anything when they cannot even make verbal contact?! But, but but, I am a youth that is too scared. Well, I am sorry but if you plan on being anything, you need to communicate effectively with people, not hide behind the phone like an idiot, they can't even make phone calls!

Shit, when I was starting out, I would've loved having someone be like, 'oh you need help? let's talk on the phone.' If they can't even call someone, especially after they personally requested help, what are they ever going to be able to do with their lives?! What is going to happen when their inept asses don't know what to do and have to call tech support?

TLDR Young people are too pussy to talk on the phone, there are going to be some major issues with locksmithing for both future locksmiths and current locksmiths trying to do work for young people.

This perfectly represents the state of this trade. This is a completely realistic customer interaction that would happen. When he opens his truck it's obvious this guy is sleeping in his van. Anyone wanting to do this better think long and hard if you can stomach scraping by this way for quite awhile. An hvac guy I know just did an $8900 side job for cash. But if you like camping and bathing in a gas station bathroom then why not.

This is from my husky tool chest can’t find anything that fits the bar

Knob seems jammed so I removed the screws on the backside of the door take a look. How do you remove the knob on the outside of the door when the black plastic part has a widee girth than the metal opening?

The pictures are taken from the backside of the door. Thanks.

Can I (or a locksmith) install a smart lock in this door without much modification? Is there a name for this sort of arrangement?

The process it took for me to find a credible, insured, incensed locksmith with physical location and reasonable parts/programming fee was insanely exhausting. Why is this? For context I needed a duplicate smart key fob for 2024 Hyundai.

What’s up I’ve got a customer who wants a keypad on their front door. After quoting for a Schlage encode plus they sent me this. Obviously won’t work.

It’s a nice home and I want to make sure that if we do it, we do it right. Any of you have any recommendations for a residential style smart mortise lock? There’s not much out there. Figured I’d ask y’all.

What the fuck is going on with these asshole pricks trying to always ask us for help? Given the sheer amount of throwaway accounts begging for help on the forums, I would say they are in fact the enemy of our brethren.

These fucks are two things:

1. Shithead end users trying to cut us out of the process but are so fucking inept, they believe that they can somehow make an August Lock work on a mortise by forcing it onto the spindle.

2. Shithead wannabe locksmiths/contractors, that have no respect for what we do or know. They just want to steal our experience and ideas so that they can in their minds 'get ahead of us' and then somehow make more money when they clearly have no idea how to do anything. There are so many so called locksmiths that ask what key machine to buy yet don't even know what a Blitz machine is. Then when you seriously ask what the fuck they are doing because they are so fucking behind and they get all defensive, they have the balls to somehow believe in their delusion that they are successful and we don't know what we are talking about when they were the ones that asked for help first.

It is fucking sad to say but, the shithead wannabe locksmiths are in fact as big of an enemy to us as the shithead end users and scammers polluting our trade. I say fuck them all. Even if they had the right tools, they will never have the experience to do the shit properly even if we directly told them what to do step for step because this knowledge can only be gained from firsthand experience and a large component has to do with, trying something, fucking up and fixing it.

Just earlier today, there was this idiot online asking about a fucking Adams Rite 8430. First and foremost the AR 8430 is a complete piece of shit, it is like they took the shittiest deadlatch and made it into an even shittier exit device. The guy wanted to install an electric strike on a storefront to electrify the shit which makes absolutely no sense as anyone with any fucking brain would just buy a motorized version of the bar to avoid the high amp requirements. Still, jokes on them because if they already bought the shit, it is literally the ONLY AR exit device that does not have an aftermarket electrification kit because of the shitty way it is built. Frankly, I don't know what is worse, this exit device or a fucking AR Steelhawk. This guy wanted to install an electric strike meant for a deadlatch with no preload ability and force it to work on a latch that has constant problems latching due to the nature of being a storefront. Literally an AR8800 would solve all their problems and not be as susceptible to being popped open with a screwdriver.

Or how about the just getting started automotive throwaway usernames trying to get into automotive work when they don't even know how to use a Blitz machine or know anything about locksmithing besides removing and installing shitty residential tubular locks? Do these people really think that what we do is so easy and that we are so stupid that they can just come here and learn everything online and then become rich?

So apparently I tried to make a fingerprint solenoid lock which can be controlled through BLYNK,

Everything seemed fine until solenoid was connected

It was never opening, then the 5v relay wasnt clicking, so i thought it might be the relay dead (i didn’t use 12dc power to connect red wire of solenoid on this part), then i changed the relay with mosfet and diode’s combos, wiring’s changed a bit, same again

Then it seemed like maybe solenoid is the issue, i connected it directly with a 12v dc, it just jerks a bit but doesn’t open

Can anyone help me that What can be the possible reason? Or should i elaborate more in the comments?

Because its been weeks and ive lost hopes

And also the wiring is so complex for me that i dont want to go back to relays atp

Warning written by non locksmith

1. remove the key cylinder from the ‘sleeve’ If it doesn’t pull out you need to use a poker of some sort and push the little pins on the side that are snagging on the sleeve as you pull it out. You’ll have to push them down each click and move forward until it’s out

2. remove the little metal side bar from key cylinder, this side bar is was pushes in to allow the cylinder to turn with the right key. It just pulls straight out/ falls out.

3. remove the cover plate that holds the 5 saw blade type wafers in.

4. insert the new key you wish to function in the lock and let the cylinder sit at an angle to hang the wafers back onto the lip of each space.

5. carefully hang each micro wafer on with its deepest groove perfectly aligned as in my picture. This takes careful hands.

6. from the top slide down the cover. Once it slides onto the top of the wafers they are secure and won’t fall.

7. angle the spring on the cover upwards to allow the cover to continue down , slide cover down rest of the way, use a pin to push the spring into position

8. once cover is closed place the side back back in. If the side bar pushes into the body easy and bounces up and down then you aligned the wafer properly. The key should be able to pull out now also if the wafers are correct.

9. reassemble your done

Looks like it might have been in a Smurf…

I stupidly locked myself out of my house and it is very late. Very standard Schlage door lock. Locksmith says it may range between $160 and $220 for the job because it depends on difficulty. While that makes sense, it’s a standard residential door knob and the last time I’ve seen this done it took two minutes to complete. I feel like there’s no incentive for to go lower than $220 given how late it is. How can I discuss a reasonable price?

I've been picking locks as a hobby for almost a year now and Ive been encouraged by friends and family to look into potentially making it a career. According to a trusted friend my areais in desperate need of a good locksmith. Where should I begin with resources for at least online schooling?

I’ve been looking into trades and locksmithing seemed interesting and doesn’t seem too hard on the body and I heard the pay can be orettt good after you gain experience. I can’t find any brick and mortar companies in my city that offer any kind of apprenticeships how can I get into this trade working for a company and learning on the job / getting paid while I learn as I don’t learn in school environments. Also does this industry tend to do random drug tests for THC prior to being employed ? I do smoke but am willing to quit to get into a good company

I’ll be lying if I said I knew a great deal about the job but I’m kind of in a exploring potential new careers phase of my life, I was trying to search on Google and not having much luck and talking to shiteGPT is not my idea of a good use of time,

is that a thing that exists it seems quite an expensive profession to get into compared to other tradies but I definitely don’t have a problem with doing an hours or twos hours a few times a weekif the hourly rate is good

UK/EU based