I had two primary motivations for becoming a locksmith. The first was to have good quality keys that worked well in smoothly operating locks and the second was to eliminate most of the keys on the huge key ring that was filling my pocket. The typical person carries the keys to their front doorknob and […]
“Are bump keys as easy to use as they show on the internet?” That’s probably the single most asked question I get. I’m sure by now most of you have seen the videos on the web or maybe an actual news report on T.V. expounding how we’re just not safe any more because anybody can […]
Cheap Locks vs Good Locks & Kwikset Keys in a Schlage Lock Question: “What’s the difference between a cheap lock and an expensive lock The two primary differences are: 1) How long the lock will last under normal wear & tear, and 2) How much of a beating the lock can withstand before failing. Cheap […]
Security: a Double Edged Sword! They say “Locks only keep honest people out”. Well‚ that’s true‚ but Hi-Security locks are intended to keep dishonest people out. There are two primary reasons to use Hi-Security locks. One is key control‚ and the other is a really tough‚ pick resistant‚ drill resistant lock. First‚ let’s look at […]
It was in the late 1800s that cast iron began to be used to create thick walled metal boxes. What had originally been known as a strong box had been transformed into a safe. Currently, safes are rated to protect against two basic types of hazards; fire and theft. Safes vary in style, size and […]
The Truth about Knobs & Levers! There’s a lot of confusion about what’s allowed and not allowed with door knobs and levers. In your own home, you can do almost anything you want door knob wise, but in a building open to the public, it’s a different story. Part of the confusion is that there […]
Schlage’s SecureKey & Kwikset’s SmartKey; Fact vs Hype! First of all, it’s not the key that’s different; it’s the lock. They both use standard keys for daily operation. The Schlage SecureKey lock is identified by the + symbol and the KwikSet SmartKey lock by the sideways — slot for its “Learning Tool”. The second important […]
