Just a short post to wish you all a merry Christmas. :-)
For those working the Christmas period as emergency locksmiths dudley I'm sure you will have plenty of emergency calls to keep you busy with the usual drunks losing keys and the festive domestics.
I shall be taking a week off to relax and reflect on my plans for 2017, I have a lot of ideas and not enough time to implement it all hehe.
I would be interested in hearing your locksmithing new years resolutions, I think mine will be to brush up on the lock cylinder picking which has slipped over the last year, with the increase in higher security locks cylinders out there now it's going to be a useful skill to have honed in 2017.
Thanks for reading, sharing and liking our pages.
Cheers.
Showing posts with label door lock repairs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label door lock repairs. Show all posts
Sunday, 18 December 2016
Thursday, 7 July 2016
Featured Locksmiths | Locksmith Blog
I promised a few local locksmiths recently that I would give them a feature on the blog with their contact information should anyone be searching for a local locksmith. It can be difficult for the public to find a genuine local locksmith firm that they can trust so I am always willing to help improve their web presence even if it's just in a small blog post on the locksmith blog. Customers find our numbers in weird and mysterious ways sometimes and you gotta be in it to win it.
The first feature is of a local locksmith in Southampton, Tim Guille of Interlocks Ltd.
Tim covers the entire area of Hampshire on a 24 hour basis for all locksmith and upvc related work, commercial and domestic for homeowners and local Southampton businesses.
Arvco Locksmiths
http://www.locksmith-in-oldbury.co.uk
Interlock Locksmiths Ltd
74 Chapel Road
West End
Southampton
Hampshire
SO303GN
Tel: 07887512272
My second feature goes to a new kid on the block Paul Clarke, locksmith in Liverpool trading as Impact Locksmiths. I promised Paul a feature as Liverpool is a seriously competitive area to be advertising in and it can be difficult to be seen amongst all those national franchises and call centres that advertise in Liverpool. Paul is a genuine local locksmith in Liverpool so you know you'll be receiving the best service at the right price when using Impact Locksmiths Liverpool.
Impact Locksmiths
50 Riviera Drive
Croxteth
Liverpool
L114US
Tel: 07590208096
Thirdly, an established locksmith in the West Midlands based in Tamworth, Adrian Bryant aka Lockaid 24/7 has made the break away from that notorious nationwide locksmith franchise and gone solo, a good move in my opinion! If you're looking for a genuine local locksmith in Tamworth with plenty of hands on experience and a long list of satisfied customers across Staffordshire then it's really a no brainer, get Adrian on the phone right away!
Lockaid 24/7
59 Briar
Amington
Tamworth
Staffordshire
B774DY
Tel: 07909186487
Tuesday, 3 May 2016
High Security Door Locks & Handles | Locksmith Blog
I have been turning up to work at a lot of new build properties that seem to have gone, in my opinion, overboard with their door security. Normally to achieve a TS007 you are required to have either a two star handle combined with a one star cylinder or a standalone three star lock cylinder.
What I am actually seeing working as a locksmith in the West Midlands is a lot of homes with three star cylinders which are then combined with the PAS24 two star handles. This is great news when it comes to preventing a lock snapping attack on a upvc door, however from the locksmiths point of view such a setup can be viewed as a worst nightmare during a failed multipoint lock scenario. Luckily for me I have yet to encounter the worst case scenario working as a local locksmith in cannock
This raises the question: Who exactly are we trying to keep out?
I feel such massive improvements in door security are making the locksmiths life much harder than that of the career criminal who will still opt for a brick through a large pane of glass rather than messing around with door locks. Of course it will prevent many an attempted lock snapping burglary but I think that most one star cylinders or a security handle would manage this.
What are your thoughts? Have you encountered the all singing and dancing setup yet? It's only a matter of time and it's going to be a real stinker of a job...
What I am actually seeing working as a locksmith in the West Midlands is a lot of homes with three star cylinders which are then combined with the PAS24 two star handles. This is great news when it comes to preventing a lock snapping attack on a upvc door, however from the locksmiths point of view such a setup can be viewed as a worst nightmare during a failed multipoint lock scenario. Luckily for me I have yet to encounter the worst case scenario working as a local locksmith in cannockThis raises the question: Who exactly are we trying to keep out?
I feel such massive improvements in door security are making the locksmiths life much harder than that of the career criminal who will still opt for a brick through a large pane of glass rather than messing around with door locks. Of course it will prevent many an attempted lock snapping burglary but I think that most one star cylinders or a security handle would manage this.
What are your thoughts? Have you encountered the all singing and dancing setup yet? It's only a matter of time and it's going to be a real stinker of a job...
Sunday, 13 April 2014
Why Are Locksmiths So Expensive? | Locksmith Blog
Q:
Why are locksmiths so expensive?
A:
It really depends on who you are calling.
A national locksmith franchise or call center type operation often appear to be local businesses since they tend to use redirect local landlines to their call center and also display fake locations in their adverts.
National locksmith companies have enormous advertising costs due to the fierce nature of their advertising campaigns, taking up the majority of space in physical telephone directories and the expensive top listing positions in Google Adwords. This has to be made back somewhere and a large portion of the customers bill is made up of this advertising cost.
You will find that these companies sub contract work to the nearest locksmith on their books which could be anywhere up to 50 miles away, these traveling costs bump up your bill enormously. It could also mean you are waiting a ridiculous length of time for your locksmith to arrive.
Solution:
Use local tradesmen!
As a result of the nationals invading the country locksmiths have been labelled expensive emergency services when in fact the majority of real local locksmith business are reasonably priced and offer a fantastic service.
Using a local locksmith business ensures you are getting a quick response and a reliable, trustworthy tradesman who works hard to uphold his good reputation. National locksmith chains are far less likely to honor part guarantees and fix future problems since it is often difficult to send the same 'engineer' out again.
Spotting a genuine local business can be difficult with the misleading adverts put out by national locksmith companies.
If you go straight through to a receptionist wanting to know all your details before issuing a quotation you are more than likely speaking to a call center. A real local locksmith will be more than familiar with the area you tell them.
Always shop around, get a few quotations! The real local ones will be far cheaper than the nationals so never go for the first quote, no matter how desperate you are to get in.
About Turn Locks, Surrey
Why are locksmiths so expensive?
A:
It really depends on who you are calling.
A national locksmith franchise or call center type operation often appear to be local businesses since they tend to use redirect local landlines to their call center and also display fake locations in their adverts.
National locksmith companies have enormous advertising costs due to the fierce nature of their advertising campaigns, taking up the majority of space in physical telephone directories and the expensive top listing positions in Google Adwords. This has to be made back somewhere and a large portion of the customers bill is made up of this advertising cost.
You will find that these companies sub contract work to the nearest locksmith on their books which could be anywhere up to 50 miles away, these traveling costs bump up your bill enormously. It could also mean you are waiting a ridiculous length of time for your locksmith to arrive.
Solution:
Use local tradesmen!
As a result of the nationals invading the country locksmiths have been labelled expensive emergency services when in fact the majority of real local locksmith business are reasonably priced and offer a fantastic service.
Using a local locksmith business ensures you are getting a quick response and a reliable, trustworthy tradesman who works hard to uphold his good reputation. National locksmith chains are far less likely to honor part guarantees and fix future problems since it is often difficult to send the same 'engineer' out again.
Spotting a genuine local business can be difficult with the misleading adverts put out by national locksmith companies.
If you go straight through to a receptionist wanting to know all your details before issuing a quotation you are more than likely speaking to a call center. A real local locksmith will be more than familiar with the area you tell them.
Always shop around, get a few quotations! The real local ones will be far cheaper than the nationals so never go for the first quote, no matter how desperate you are to get in.
About Turn Locks, Surrey
Wednesday, 12 March 2014
uPVC Lock Repair Problems | Locksmith Blog
For an experienced locksmith, uPVC door lock repairs are usually a straightforward swap of a centre case or fitting a replacement mechanism. Every so often there a small complications that can make this job a little trickier and have you scratching your head and puzzled.
I thought I would share a few scenarios with my fellow locksmiths to see if you have had a similar experience. If not you will sure know what to look for when you do encounter it.
Lockmaster/Paddocks Centre Case Replacements
Have you ever swapped the centre case on a Mila-master/Lockmaster/Paddocks mechanism and found that upon lifting the handle the top hook and bolt will only protrude 95% of the way? This makes it impossible to throw the lock by turning the key.
After much head scratching I solved this mystery which has led me to order a complete locking strip in the past.
The followers on these strips connect to the centre case via a 90 degree bend which drops into a slot inside the gearbox. Continual forcing can cause this 90 degree bend to stretch which in turn throws the top hook slightly out of sync.
To repair clamp behind the bend and tap back into a 90 degree angle and refit the centre case.
Fuhr Lockcases Working But Not Opening
So you installed a new Fuhr mechanism and check it all works, however the door is not opening despite the key unlocking and the handles working as normal.
Sometimes the pins in the lock bolt have not been sealed properly and upon throwing the bolt they can slide out of the end, effectively extending the bolt length.
Resist forcing the door open and using a spreader, shuffle them back inside the lock bolt.
Peen over the ends and/or glue the pins in place to make good.
About Turn Locks Epsom
Unjamming Mechs Without Working Handles
When the spindle gear is broken or missing from a upvc door lock you can effectively unlock it with the key but have no real way to retract the bolts and hooks.
If you have access internally you can remove the handles and retract the bolts with an L shaped wire in the hole the gear sits.
When faced with a lock out situation I have found the best method to retract the hooks is to locate the position of the bottom most locking point using a mica card and then spread the door slightly at that point.
Using a bent screwdriver/wire, manually force the bolts or hooks back inside the lock case.
Since it is all connected all of the bolts will retract with it except for the latch piece which is easily popped with mica or a flat steel prising bar.
I thought I would share a few scenarios with my fellow locksmiths to see if you have had a similar experience. If not you will sure know what to look for when you do encounter it.
Lockmaster/Paddocks Centre Case Replacements
Have you ever swapped the centre case on a Mila-master/Lockmaster/Paddocks mechanism and found that upon lifting the handle the top hook and bolt will only protrude 95% of the way? This makes it impossible to throw the lock by turning the key.
After much head scratching I solved this mystery which has led me to order a complete locking strip in the past.
The followers on these strips connect to the centre case via a 90 degree bend which drops into a slot inside the gearbox. Continual forcing can cause this 90 degree bend to stretch which in turn throws the top hook slightly out of sync.
To repair clamp behind the bend and tap back into a 90 degree angle and refit the centre case.
Fuhr Lockcases Working But Not Opening
So you installed a new Fuhr mechanism and check it all works, however the door is not opening despite the key unlocking and the handles working as normal.
Sometimes the pins in the lock bolt have not been sealed properly and upon throwing the bolt they can slide out of the end, effectively extending the bolt length.
Resist forcing the door open and using a spreader, shuffle them back inside the lock bolt.
Peen over the ends and/or glue the pins in place to make good.
About Turn Locks Epsom
Unjamming Mechs Without Working Handles
When the spindle gear is broken or missing from a upvc door lock you can effectively unlock it with the key but have no real way to retract the bolts and hooks.
If you have access internally you can remove the handles and retract the bolts with an L shaped wire in the hole the gear sits.
When faced with a lock out situation I have found the best method to retract the hooks is to locate the position of the bottom most locking point using a mica card and then spread the door slightly at that point.
Using a bent screwdriver/wire, manually force the bolts or hooks back inside the lock case.
Since it is all connected all of the bolts will retract with it except for the latch piece which is easily popped with mica or a flat steel prising bar.
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