Locksmiths in City Road offer a highly demanded service, which generally relates to maintaining and installing the various types of lock systems, from the standard key locks to the complex electronic or biometric locks. The most common types of locksmith professions consist of the emergency, industrial, commercial, and residential, which each of the specific fields requiring different skills and abilities.
Residential work is likely to be the most common of the services provided by a residential locksmith. A domestic property owner looks at personal security and safety as a key reason when it comes to making sure a home is fully secured against a would-be intruder. A locksmith has gained the experience and knowledge to suggest the most effective locks for a properties doors and windows. Beyond the ability to install new locking systems, the locksmith is also able to repair or replace the locks on the older styled properties. Extra services offered by a local locksmiths offer security advice, a key cutting service, installing locks on a garage or similar outbuilding, and installing at-home safes or vaults.
How Do I Choose A Residential Locksmith in City Road?
Jump to navigation Jump to search The parts of a pin tumbler lock key, sometimes referred to as a Yale-type key A key is a device that is used to operate a lock (such as to lock or unlock it). A typical key is a small piece of metal consisting of two parts: the bit or blade, which slides into the keyway of the lock and distinguishes between different keys, and the bow, which is left protruding so that torque can be applied by the user. A key is usually intended to operate one specific lock or a small number of locks that are keyed alike, so each lock requires a unique key. The key serves as a security token for access to the locked area; only persons having the correct key can open the lock and gain access. Common metals include brass, plated brass, nickel silver, and steel. Keys provide an inexpensive, though imperfect, method of access control for access to physical properties like buildings, vehicles and cupboards or cabinets. As such, keys are an essential feature of modern living, and are common around the world. It is common for people to carry the set of keys they need for their daily activities around with them, often linked by a keyring, which may be adorned by trinkets, usually known as a keychain. Anglo-Viking voided key (c. 900 AD) Medieval lock in Kathmandu The key on the back signifies the Royal authority of the Grand Marshall The earliest known lock and key device was discovered in the ruins of Nineveh, the capital of ancient Assyria.[1] Locks such as this were later developed into the Egyptian wooden pin lock, which consisted of a bolt, door fixture, and key. When the key was inserted, pins within the fixture were lifted out drilled holes within the bolt, allowing it to move. When the key was removed, the pins fell part-way into the bolt, preventing movement.[2] The warded lock was also present from antiquity and remains the most recognizable lock and key design in the Western world. The first all-metal locks appeared between the years 870 and 900, and are attributed to the English craftsmen.[3] It is also said that the key was invented by Theodore of Samos in the 6th century BC.[4] Affluent Romans often kept their valuables in secure boxes within their households, and wore the keys as rings on their fingers. The practice had two benefits: It kept the key handy at all times, while signaling that the wearer was wealthy and important enough to have money and jewelry worth securing.[5] Diagram of a Chubb detector lock Wooden key. Alpuente, second half of the XX century. Valencian Museum of Ethnology. With the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th century and the concomitant development of precision engineering and component standardisation, locks and keys were manufactured with increasing complexity and sophistication. The lever tumbler lock, which uses a set of levers to prevent the bolt from moving in the lock, was perfected by Robert Barron in 1778.[6] His double acting lever lock required the lever to be lifted to a certain height by having a slot cut in the lever, so lifting the lever too far was as bad as not lifting the lever far enough. This type of lock is still currently used today.[7] The lever tumbler lock was greatly improved by Jeremiah Chubb in 1818. A burglary in Portsmouth Dockyard prompted the British Government to announce a competition to produce a lock that could be opened only with its own key.[8] Chubb developed the Chubb detector lock, which incorporated an integral security feature that could frustrate unauthorised access attempts and would indicate to the lock's owner if it had been interfered with. Chubb was awarded £100 after a trained lock-picker failed to break the lock after 3 months.[9] In 1820, Jeremiah joined his brother Charles in starting their own lock company, Chubb. Chubb made various improvements to his lock; – his 1824 improved design didn't require a special regulator key to reset the lock, by 1847 his keys used six-levers rather than four and he later introduced a disc that allowed the key to pass but narrowed the field of view, hiding the levers from anybody attempting to pick the lock.[10] The Chubb brothers also received a patent for the first burglar-resisting safe and began production in 1835. The designs of Barron and Chubb were based on the use of movable levers, but Joseph Bramah, a prolific inventor, innovated an alternative method in 1784. His lock used a cylindrical key with precise notches along the surface; these moved the metal slides that restricted the turning of the bolt into an exact alignment, allowing the lock to open. The lock lay at the cutting edge of the precision machine tooling capabilities of the time and was deemed by its inventor as unbreakable. In the same year Bramah started the Bramah Locks company at 124 Piccadilly, and displayed the "Challenge Lock" in the window of his shop from 1790, challenging "...the artist who can make an instrument that will pick or open this lock" for the reward of £200. The challenge stood for over 67 years until, at the Great Exhibition of 1851, the American locksmith Alfred Charles Hobbs was able to open the lock and, following some argument about the circumstances under which he had opened it, was awarded the prize. Hobbs' attempt required some 51 hours, spread over 16 days. The earliest patent for a double-acting pin tumbler lock was granted to American physician Abraham O. Stansbury in England in 1805,[11] but the modern version, still in use today, was invented by American Linus Yale, Sr. in 1848.[12] This lock design used pins of varying lengths to prevent the lock from opening without the correct key. In 1861, Linus Yale, Jr. was inspired by the original 1840s pin-tumbler lock designed by his father, thus inventing and patenting a smaller flat key with serrated edges as well as pins of varying lengths within the lock itself, the same design of the pin-tumbler lock which still remains in use today.[13] The modern Yale lock is essentially a more developed version of the Egyptian lock. Despite some improvement in key design since, the majority of locks today are still variants of the designs invented by Bramah, Chubb and Yale. A standard pin tumbler lock key A pin tumbler lock key is commonly found on homes. When held upright, as if to open a door, a series of grooves on either side of the key (the key's blade) limits the type of lock the key can slide into. As the key slides into the lock, the grooves on the blade of the key align with the wards in the keyway allowing or denying entry to the cylinder. Then a series of pointed teeth and notches on the blade called bittings allow pins or wafers to move up and down until they align with the shear line of the inner and outer cylinder, allowing the cylinder or cam to rotate freely inside the lock, which opens the lock.[14] Main article: Lever tumbler lock The main parts of a lever-type lock keyA lever lock is made up of a set of 'levers' (typically between two and eight) which are raised to different heights by the key when it is turned. Once all the levers have been moved to the correct height, the locking bolt is free to slide across and secure the door. The teeth or bittings of the key have flat tops rather than being pointed. Lever lock keys tend to be bigger and less convenient for carrying, although lever locks are considered to be harder to pick and so are recommended by most insurance companies.[15] Lever locks are more commonly found in Argentina, the United Kingdom, and parts of Scandinavia. Main article: Tubular pin tumbler lock A tubular key A tubular key (sometimes referred to as an ace, radial or barrel key) is one that is designed to open a tubular pin tumbler lock. It has a hollow, cylindrical shaft that is usually much shorter and has a larger diameter than most conventional keys. Tubular keys are commonly found on vending machines, launderettes, bike locks, and laptop security cables. The modern version of this type of key is harder to duplicate as it is less common and requires a different machine from regular keys. These keys typically come in four and eight-pin models. Tubular keys were invented in 1934 by the Chicago Lock company in Chicago, IL under the ACE brand.[16] A Maison key system is a keying system that permits a lock to be opened with a number of unique, individual keys.[17] Maison key systems are often found in apartment building common areas, such as main entrance or a laundry room where individual residents can use their own apartment key to access these areas. Unlike a master key system, where each individual lock has one individual operating key and one common master key, Maison lock is designed to be operated by every key within the system. Because of the inherent lack of security in the Maison key system, some jurisdictions prohibit the use of Maison key systems in apartment and condominium complexes. In such locations, access is usually facilitated by either a high-security, key-controlled system or the use of electronic access control systems such as a card reader. See also: Power door locks Car key in ignition Car ignition and steering wheel lockA car key or an automobile key is a key used to open and/or start an automobile. Modern key designs are usually symmetrical, and some use grooves on both sides, rather than a cut edge, to actuate the lock. It has multiple uses for the automobile with which it was sold. A car key can open the doors, as well as start the ignition, open the glove compartment and also open the trunk (boot) of the car. Some cars come with an additional key known as a valet key that starts the ignition and opens the driver's side door, but prevents the valet from gaining access to valuables that are located in the trunk or the glove box. Some valet keys, particularly those to high-performance vehicles, go so far as to restrict the engine's power output to prevent joyriding.[18] Recently, features such as coded immobilizers have been implemented in newer vehicles. More sophisticated systems make ignition dependent on electronic devices, rather than the mechanical keyswitch. A number of these systems, such as KeeLoq and Megamos Crypto have been demonstrated to be weak and vulnerable to cryptanalytic attacks.[19] Ignition switches or locks are combined with security locking of the steering column (in many modern vehicles) or the gear lever (such as in Saab Automobile vehicles). In the latter, the switch is between the seats, preventing damage to the driver's knee in the event of a collision. Keyless entry systems, which use either a door-mounted keypad or a remote control in place of a car key, have become a standard feature on most new cars. Some of them are handsfree. Some high-tech automotive keys are billed as theft deterrents. Mercedes-Benz uses a key that, rather than have a cut metal piece to start the car, uses an encoded infrared beam that communicates with the car's computer. If the codes match, the car can be started. These keys can be expensive to replace if lost and can cost up to US $400. A switchblade key is basically the same as any other car key, except in appearance. The switchblade key is designed to fold away inside the fob when it is not being used. Switchblade keys have become very popular recently because of their smart compact look. These type of keys are also commonly referred as Flip Keys. Because switchblade keys are only developed for new car models, they are usually equipped with a programmed transponder chip. Automobiles had door keys earlier, but the first ignition keys that also operated the starter mechanism were introduced by Chrysler in 1949. Popular Mechanics, in April 1949, wrote: Among the innovations of primary interest to the driver is the combination ignition and starter switch which eliminates the starter button. The car starts by turning the ignition key slightly beyond the 'ignition on' position. When released, the key automatically returns to 'ignition on'. Aside from the convenience to the driver, this starter makes it impossible for children to move a car which has been left in gear by pushing the starter button.[20] In the 1950s, early versions of "flip keys" resembling jack knives were made by the Signa-Craft company out of New York with various period U.S. automaker's prototype "Dream Cars" like the Pontiac Strato-Streak and the Cadillac El Camino featured on them. These are now popular with collectors. Signa-Craft and other manufacturers like Curtis, Taylor Locks, and Mr. Key also produced keys for many 1950's-1970's makes and models known as "Crest Keys". These were automotive keys that featured an enameled rendition of the auto manufacturer's logo on the bow and were plated in 14k gold. During the early 1960s, these special keys became so popular that oil companies like Mobil, Texaco, and Union 76 began issuing their own logoed versions as promotional items for their customers. Today, these early automotive crest keys are highly sought after by collectors. Meanwhile, companies like Hurd and Briggs and Stratton were making OEM key blanks with automaker's logos on them. These became known as "Logo Blanks". These key blanks were the same as the original keys issued by the automaker and allowed an enthusiast to maintain the stock look of his or her keys. Picky car show judges will often score a vehicle down for not having a correct OEM set of keys with the original lock code stamped on them. Unfortunately, many of these original logo blanks are no longer manufactured and are only available from dwindling NOS supplies from internet places such as eBay.[21] Internal-cut key from a Volkswagen automobile An internal cut (also known as "sidewinder" or "laser cut") key has a rectangular blade with a wavy groove cut up the center of the face of the blade, at a constant depth. Typically the key has an identical wavy groove on the back of the blade, making it symmetrical so it works no matter which way it is inserted. These keys must be cut by special key cutting machines made for them.[22] Main article: Transponder car key Transponder keys may also be called "chip keys". Transponder keys are automotive ignition keys with signal-emitting circuits built inside. When the key is turned in the ignition cylinder, the car's computer transmits a radio signal to the transponder circuit. The circuit has no battery; it is energized by the radio signal itself. The circuit typically has a computer chip that is programmed to respond by sending a coded signal back to the car's computer. If the circuit does not respond or if the code is incorrect, the engine will not start. Many cars immobilize if the wrong key is used by intruders. Chip Keys successfully protect cars from theft in two ways: forcing the ignition cylinder won't start the car, and the keys are difficult to duplicate. This is why chip keys are popular in modern cars and help decrease car theft. Many people who have transponder keys, such as those that are part of Ford Motor Company's SecuriLock system, are not aware of the fact because the circuit is hidden inside the plastic head of the key. On the other hand, General Motors produced what are known as VATS keys (Vehicle Anti-Theft System) during the 1990s, which are often erroneously believed to be transponders but actually use a simple resistor, which is visible in the blade of the key. If the electrical resistance of the resistor is wrong, or the key is a normal key without a resistor, the circuit of the car's electrical system will not allow the engine to get started. A double-sided key is very similar to a house or car key with the exception that it has two sets of teeth, an upper level standard set of teeth and a lower, less defined set of teeth beside it. This makes the double-sided key's profile and its corresponding lock look very similar to a standard key while making the attempt to pick the lock more difficult. A paracentric key is designed to open a paracentric lock. It is distinguishable by the contorted shape of its blade, which protrudes past the centre vertical line of the key barrel. Instead of the wards on the outer face of the lock simply protruding into the shape of the key along the spine, the wards protrude into the shape of the key along the entire width of the key, including along the length of the teeth.[23] Another way to describe a paracentric key is that the cylinders are not in a straight line, but can vary to the right or left, so that the key not only has to have the correct height of the pin for a cylinder, the pin is also extended to the left or right of the center of the key. An Abloy disc tumbler lock key Main article: Disc tumbler lock Abloy keys are cut from a metal half-cylinder. The cuts are made at different angles, so when the key is turned in the lock it rotates each disk a different amount. Nearly all the houses in Finland use Abloy keys, although they are also widely used in various locales worldwide. These locks are considered very secure and almost impossible to pick.[24][25][26] A dimple key has a rectangular blade with various cone-shaped dimples drilled into the face of the blade at various depths. Typically the lock has 2 rows of pins that match up with 2 rows of dimples. Typically the key has the same dimple pattern on the back of the blade, making it symmetrical so it works no matter which way it is inserted.[27][28] Kaba and Dom are manufactures of dimpled keys. These keys are relatively easy to not only pick, but also make impressions of.[29] A padlock skeleton key that can open any lock with this keyhole (right), compared to a normal key that can open only the lock for which it was made (left). Main article: Skeleton key A "skeleton key" (also known as a "passkey") is a type of master key in which the serrated edge has been filed down so that it can open numerous locks.[30] The term derives from the fact that the key has been reduced to its essential parts.[30] In a broader sense the term can be used synonymously with master key to refer to any key, keycard or other device capable of opening a variety of locks. In US English usage, "skeleton key" is also used to mean a standard lever lock key. SentrySafe four-sided key A Cruciform key has three sets of teeth at 90 degrees to each other with a flattened fourth side. Though this type of key is easy to duplicate, the extra sets of teeth deter lockpicking attempts. Main article: Magnetic keyed lock The Avocet ABS key has a magnet on each key which operates a magnetic pin in the lock[31] A magnetic keyed lock is a locking mechanism whereby the key utilizes magnets as part of the locking and unlocking mechanism. A magnetic key would use from one to many small magnets oriented so that the North and South poles would equate to a combination to push or pull the lock's internal tumblers thus releasing the lock. This is a totally passive system requiring no electricity or electronics to activate or deactivate the mechanism. Using several magnets at differing polarity / orientations and different strengths can allow thousands of different combinations per key.[32] Main article: Keycard lock A keycard is a flat, rectangular plastic card with identical dimensions to that of a credit card or driver's license that stores a physical or digital signature that the door mechanism accepts before disengaging the lock. There are several popular type of keycards in use including the mechanical holecard, bar code, magnetic stripe, Wiegand wire embedded cards, smart card (embedded with a read/write electronic microchip), and RFID proximity cards. Keycards are frequently used in hotels as an alternative to mechanical keys. New smart lock technologies are gradually integrating and bringing keycard technology to smartphones.[33] A smart key is an electronic access and authorization system which is commonly available as an option or standard in several cars. However, with the hastened development of mobile and smart technologies, house and office keys are increasingly integrated into smartphones, where they act as virtual keys and access rights for users.[34][35] With an individually keyed system, each cylinder can be opened by its unique key. This system allows for a number of cylinders to be operated by the same key. It is ideally suited to residential and commercial applications such as front and back doors. This system is widely used in apartments, office blocks and hotels. Each apartment (for example) has its own individual key which will not open the doors to any other apartments, but will open common entrance doors and communal service areas. It is often combined with a master-keyed system in which the key is kept by the landlord. For the shotgun of the same name, see Door breaching and KAC Masterkey. A tree diagram of a master key system in a hotel A master key operates a set of several locks. Usually, there is nothing special about the key itself, but rather the locks into which it will fit. These master-keyed locks are configured to operate with two, or more, different keys: one specific to each lock (the change key), which cannot operate any of the others in the set, and the master key, which operates all the locks in the set. Locks that have master keys have a second set of the mechanism used to operate them that is identical to all of the others in the set of locks. For example, master keyed pin tumbler locks often have two shear points at each pin position, one for the change key and one for the master key. A far more secure (and more expensive) system has two cylinders in each lock, one for the change key and one for the master key. A common misconception is that master keyed locks are more secure than single keyed locks, but that is not the case. The fact that some pin chambers have two shear points allows for more options when picking and it also allows for more keys to operate. For example, a standard 6 pin cylinder, which was designed to be operated by only one key, can be operated by up to 2^6=64 keys if there are two shear points in each chamber. Larger organizations, with more complex systems, may have several levels of master keys, where the top level key works in all of the locks in the system. To visualize this, it can be thought of as a hierarchical chart, or a tree. A practical attack exists to create a working master key for an entire system given only access to a single master-keyed lock, its associated change key, a supply of appropriate key blanks, and the ability to cut new keys. This is described in a 2002 paper by cryptographer Matt Blaze,[36] however for systems with many levels of master keys it may be necessary to collect information from locks in different "subsystems" in order to deduce the master key. Locksmiths may also determine cuts for a replacement master key, when given several different key examples from a given system. A control key is a special key used in removable core locking systems. The control key enables a user, who has very little skill, to remove from the core, with a specific combination, and replace it with a core that has a different combination. In Small Format Interchangeable Cores locks (SFIC), similar to those developed by Frank Best of the Best Lock Corporation, the key operates a separate shear line that is located above the operating key shear line. In Large Format Removable Cores (LFRC), the key may operate a separate shear line or the key may work like a master key along the operating shear line and also contact a separate locking pin that holds the core in the cylinder. SFIC's are transferable from one brand's housing to another, while LFRC's are not. Mechanical key duplicating machine invented in 1917 Play media Video showing the process of cutting a key Key cutting (after cutting, the metalworking term for "shaping by removing material") is the primary method of key duplication: a flat key is fitted into a vise in a machine, with a blank attached to a parallel vise, and the original key is moved along a guide, while the blank is moved against a wheel, which cuts it. After cutting, the new key is deburred: scrubbed with a metal brush to remove burrs, small pieces of metal remaining on the key, which, were they not removed, would be dangerously sharp and, further, foul locks. Different key cutting machines are more or less automated, using different milling or grinding equipment, and follow the design of early 20th century key duplicators. Key duplication is available in many retail hardware stores and as a service of the specialized locksmith, though the correct key blank may not be available. More recently, online services for duplicating keys have become available. Certain keys are designed to be difficult to copy, for key control, such as Medeco; while others are simply stamped Do Not Duplicate to advise that key control is requested, but in the US, this disclaimer has no legal weight. Rather than using a pattern grinder to remove metal, keys may also be duplicated with a punch machine. The key to be duplicated is measured for the depth of each notch with a gauge and then placed into a device with a numeric slider. The slider is adjusted to match the corresponding measured depth and a lever is depressed, which cuts the entire notch at once. As the lever is raised the key automatically advances to the next indexed position and the slider is adjusted appropriately to the next measured depth. This cycle is continued until the key is complete. Duplicating keys by this process is more labor intense and requires somewhat better trained personnel. However, keys made in this fashion have clean margins and the depth of the notches are not subject to wear induced changes encountered when heavily worn keys are duplicated using a pattern grinder. Keys may also be made in this fashion without an original as long as the depth of each notch and the type of key blank are known. This is particularly useful for institutions with a great number of locks for which they do not want to maintain a wide variety of archived copies. A machine permitting rapid duplication of flat metal keys, which contributed to the proliferation of their use during the 20th century, may have been first invented in the United States in 1917 (image to the left): The key to be duplicated is placed in one vise and the blank key to be cut in a corresponding vise under the cutting disk. The vise carriage is then into such position by means of a lateral-feed clutch that the shoulders of both the pattern and blank keys just touch the guide disk and cutter respectively. The lateral-feed clutch on the top of the machine is then thrown, and the vertical feed rod released into action and power applied through the combination hand-crank power wheel on the right of the machine, until the cutter has passed over the entire length at the blank. A duplicate of the pattern key is obtained in about one minute.— "Man And His Machines", The World's Work XXXIII:6 April 1917 In recent years, dual key cutting machines have come on to the market, enabling cutting of both mortice and cylinder keys on one machine. These machines are primarily manufactured in the Far East and save a key cutter a significant amount of money compared with using two separate dedicated machines. A keychain, a simple way to hold keys A "do not duplicate" key (or DND key, for short) is one that has been stamped "do not duplicate", "duplication prohibited" or similar by a locksmith or manufacturer as a passive deterrent to discourage a retail key cutting service from duplicating a key without authorization or without contacting the locksmith or manufacturer who originally cut the key. More importantly, this is a key control system for the owner of the key, such as a maintenance person or security guard, to identify keys that should not be freely distributed or used without authorization. Though it is intended to prevent unauthorized key duplication, copying DND keys remains a common security problem. There is no direct legal sanction in the US for someone who copies a key that is stamped do not duplicate (unless it is an owned key), but there are patent restrictions on some key designs (see "restricted keys"). The Associated Locksmiths of America, ALOA, calls DND keys "not effective security", and "deceptive because it provides a false sense of security." United States Code 18 USC Sec. 1704 deals with United States Post Office keys, and 18 USC Sec. 1386 deals with United States Department of Defense keys. A restricted keyblank has a keyway for which a manufacturer has set up a restricted level of sales and distribution. Restricted keys are often protected by patent, which prohibits other manufacturers from making unauthorized productions of the key blank. In many cases, customers must provide proof of ID before a locksmith will cut additional keys using restricted blanks. Some companies, such as Medeco High Security Locks, have keyways that are restricted to having keys cut in the factory only. This is done to ensure the highest amount of security. These days, many restricted keys have special in-laid features, such as magnets, different types of metal, or even small computer chips to prevent duplication. Another way to restrict keys is trademarking the profile of the key. For example, the profile of the key can read the name of the manufacturer. The advantage of a trademark is that the legal protection for a trademark can be longer than the legal protection for a patent. However, usually not all features of the profile are necessary to create a working key. By removing certain unnecessary features, a non restricted profile can be derived, allowing the production and distribution of non restricted key blanks. Coat of arms of the Holy See Regimental Insignia of the U.S. Military Intelligence Corps Keys appear in various symbols and coats of arms, the best-known being that of the Holy See – derived from the phrase in Matthew 16:19 which promises Saint Peter, in Roman Catholic tradition the first pope, the Keys of Heaven. But this is by no means the only case. Many examples are given on Commons. Among Palestinians, the key is widely used as a symbol of commemoration of the Nakba (the 1948 Palestine war in which Israel was created and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians became refugees). This usage is derived from the fact that many of the Palestinians who became refugees in 1948 had locked their homes when leaving, expecting to return soon, and took the keys with them. Such keys are preserved as family heirlooms in many Palestinian refugee families - even though the house to which the keys belong often does not exist anymore. In Palestinian posters and in signs carried in demonstrations, a key is used to denote the demand for the Palestinian Right of Return.
Lock and Key (novel)
Locksmiths are tradesmen who are licensed to make, assess, repair and install keys and locks. Locksmiths earn these licenses after graduating from a trade school that offers certificates in this trade. When locksmiths become certified to work in this field, they join an elite group of people who share an interesting history. Here is a brief history that describes how locksmithing started and how it has evolved into a key component in today's security industry.The locksmith has an interesting history that dates back to ancient Egypt. The first locks and keys were made out of wood using a template that required painstaking accuracy to use correctly. As a result, the first locksmiths were really artisans who had great dexterity and a patient demeanor.Today's modern locksmith can trace its origins to medieval times. During this time, blacksmiths made locks, keys, battle items and other things from iron. As the importance of keys and locks grew in medieval times, so did the need for an expert who made nothing but keys and locks. By the end of the middle ages, today's trade that we know as locksmithing gradually developed as blacksmiths gradually took the lead in producing these items.By the 17th and 18th centuries, the locksmithing trade became an established field in Europe and the American Colonies. During this time, locksmiths became more skilled in designing and producing more elaborate key and lock systems that provided more security. These systems included the first deadbolt locking system and the first combination locks.By the 19th and 20th centuries, locksmiths were able to open up their own shops because the demand for keys and locks grew quickly as cities and towns grew. During this time, new innovations in locking systems were developed to meet the demands for a more secure society. Most of the innovations are still used today.Nowadays, locksmiths learn more than just producing locks and keys. Today, locksmiths must also learn how to assess locking systems to see how well they can withstand stress. This has made the locksmith an important part of the security industry because our society has become a more violent place to live. As a result, locksmiths will be around as long as there is a need for security in an insecure world.
Locksmiths in St Kilda offer a highly demanded service, which generally relates to maintaining and installing the various types of lock systems, from the standard key locks to the complex electronic or biometric locks. The most common types of locksmith professions consist of the emergency, industrial, commercial, and residential, which each of the specific fields requiring different skills and abilities.
Residential work is likely to be the most common of the services provided by a residential locksmith. A domestic property owner looks at personal security and safety as a key reason when it comes to making sure a home is fully secured against a would-be intruder. A locksmith has gained the experience and knowledge to suggest the most effective locks for a properties doors and windows. Beyond the ability to install new locking systems, the locksmith is also able to repair or replace the locks on the older styled properties. Extra services offered by a local locksmiths offer security advice, a key cutting service, installing locks on a garage or similar outbuilding, and installing at-home safes or vaults.
How Do I Choose A Residential Locksmith in St Kilda?
Are you thinking about becoming a locksmith? Many people ask me about my profession when I arrive at a job site. The idea of working with the public, working with hand tools, making a quick buck on lock-out calls, and of course the power and ability to unlock doors, cars and safes is quite intoxicating for some people. I don't place help wanted ads, but nevertheless I average one unsolicited résumé a month via e-mail. Usually it arrives from an eager teenager looking to do an apprenticeship. O.J.T. (on-the-job training) is a fine way to go if you can get the gig. That's precisely how I started. That and reading every trade magazine I could get my hands on, endless hours doing research on the web, taking classes, attending trade expos, and talking with any locksmith who would take the time to chat with me (and many would, so long as I wasn't one of their competitors). But that's how it is for most lock jocks. Once you begin work as a locksmith it gets under your skin. It consumes you and becomes an obsession. That's not exactly a bad thing after all; to be (God willing) financially successful at what you enjoy is a great way to pay the bills. There is, however, a price to pay that does not fit with most people's lifestyle, and thus -- the purpose of this article.The Good: Helping the public and making a few bucks while doing it. First off, I rarely charge to unlock a car or house when there is a child locked inside. When I get the call, usually from a panicked parent declaring his or her child is locked inside a car, I rush to the scene. There are few better moments for me as a locksmith than seeing the relief in a mother's eyes when I unlock the door and she pulls her child from a sweltering car on a warm summer day. "You're my HERO," she says as she holds her child close with tears in her eyes. "No charge ma'am. We don't charge for children locked in cars. If you like, for a small fee, I can make you a copy of your car's door key so it's less likely to happen again." They almost always say yes, and the payment for the key usually accompanies a tip. The "up sale" is simply to cover my gas going out on the call, and the tip, if any, buys me lunch.The rest of my jobs are typically for-profit jobs. Still, over half of what I charge goes right back into the company in the form of gas, insurance, advertising, trade organization dues, license fees, vehicle maintenance, tools, supplies, and other expenses.As a locksmith you will never get rich, but if you play your cards right you could retire well. The plan, as I read in a popular trade magazine, is to sell a well-established shop with a long list of customer accounts, while owning and collecting rent on the property the shop sits on. It's even better if you own an entire complex and collect rent from your shop's neighbors, too. I personally know a retired locksmith who did exactly this and I understand he is doing quite well for himself.Many locksmiths make and sell tools and/or reference books, or teach classes (as I do) to supplement their income.The Bad: Being on call 24/7. After-hours and weekend service can account for a large part, if not most when first starting out, of your income. Then there are the late night calls. 2am, half drunk and he can't find his car keys: "I'm sorry sir -- I can't help you drive your car tonight, but if you call me in the morning I will be happy to assist you."The locksmith industry is a highly regulated (but necessarily so) security industry. The licenses, insurances, and bonds you have to carry can cost a small fortune. I have a city business license, a state locksmith license, a State Contractor's License for lock and security work, two insurance policies (general liability and commercial vehicle insurance), two different bonds, and I am a member of two major national trade organizations. In California, you need to be fingerprinted and pass State and Federal background tests. I am also a member of some local organizations including the Chico Chamber of Commerce and the North Valley Property Owner's Association.The cost of running a business like this can be overwhelming and there is always another tool you need to buy, another software update, or replacement parts/tools that need to be ordered. I am currently saving up for a high security key machine that retails for $5,800.Let's not forget the paperwork. You will need to keep legal forms for customers to fill out and detailed records of who, what, where and when. The last thing you want to do is make keys to a car or house for someone who does not have authority to hold a key to that property.Lastly, buy a nice shirt and tie because there is a good chance you will find yourself in a court of law before long for, among other things, domestic disputes.The Ugly: Evictions, repossessions (R.E.O.'s), and re-keys after a domestic dispute. There are few things as humbling in this profession as writing a bill for after-hours service and handing the new keys over to someone wearing a fresh black eye. I vividly remember one woman who was standing next to a hole in the drywall where her head was forcibly inserted only a few hours earlier. The local sheriffs know me because it's not uncommon to perform the re-key and security checks while they are still there, filling out their report.Can you say fleas? Yep, now I keep flea powder in the van because you never know what condition a recently foreclosed house will be in.Angry former tenants who have been kicked out can also present a challenge. Sometimes the locks are disabled or destroyed, and I keep latex gloves in the van in case I ever have to pick open another lock that has been urinated on.The bottom line: I am quite happy being a locksmith, most of the time. The pay, the freedom of the job (I can leave my schedule open if my kids have a school event), and the satisfaction of helping people while making a profit for myself keeps me going.My advice to you:1. Do your research before entering the market as a locksmith. My town has too many locksmiths per capita. There is barely enough work to go around much of the time.2. Get on with another locksmith and be willing to relocate, as you may be required to sign a "no compete" contract saying you will not leave to be your boss's competitor. Locksmith schools are okay, but a seasoned locksmith can show you some tricks of the trade that can help you make higher profits or perform jobs better and quicker than the basic skills taught in most schools.3. Be willing to pay your dues. It will take many years to build up a customer base, and a name for yourself. A wise locksmith once told me it takes at least three years before they (the customers) know you're there, and seven before they notice you are gone.4. When you start out on your own, get an easy to recognize logo and put it on everything: your van, invoices, pens to hand out, and every other piece of advertising (see our logo below).5. C.Y.A. Document everything and have pre-printed, professionally prepared, legal forms for your customers to fill out.6. Don't get too carried away. If you have other obligations, like a spouse and/or kids, make sure to make time for them. It's hard to turn the phone off, or turn down calls because you're turning away money, but you can't get back the days you miss.A former employer of mine occasionally tells the story of how he made $2,000 in one weekend dispatching calls to his on-call locksmith, while he was on a boat on Lake Shasta with his wife. It was a rare weekend vacation for them and he spent a good part of the day on the phone. She died of cancer two short years later, and he later told me he would give just about anything to have that day back. I know this story personally as I was the on-call employee that weekend.To quote Uncle Ben (from Spider-Man, the movie): "With great power comes great responsibility." The ability to unlock doors, bypass alarm systems, unlock safes, and the inside knowledge of customers' security systems has been the downfall of unscrupulous locksmiths. In short, if you can't handle the temptation, don't pursue the profession.Finally: Never take advantage of someone. Like Grandpa always said, it can take a lifetime to build up a good reputation but only a moment to ruin it.Good luck in whatever you decide -- unless, of course, you are planning to open a lock shop in my service area.
Locksmiths: How to Find One
Are you thinking about becoming a locksmith? Many people ask me about my profession when I arrive at a job site. The idea of working with the public, working with hand tools, making a quick buck on lock-out calls, and of course the power and ability to unlock doors, cars and safes is quite intoxicating for some people. I don't place help wanted ads, but nevertheless I average one unsolicited résumé a month via e-mail. Usually it arrives from an eager teenager looking to do an apprenticeship. O.J.T. (on-the-job training) is a fine way to go if you can get the gig. That's precisely how I started. That and reading every trade magazine I could get my hands on, endless hours doing research on the web, taking classes, attending trade expos, and talking with any locksmith who would take the time to chat with me (and many would, so long as I wasn't one of their competitors). But that's how it is for most lock jocks. Once you begin work as a locksmith it gets under your skin. It consumes you and becomes an obsession. That's not exactly a bad thing after all; to be (God willing) financially successful at what you enjoy is a great way to pay the bills. There is, however, a price to pay that does not fit with most people's lifestyle, and thus -- the purpose of this article.The Good: Helping the public and making a few bucks while doing it. First off, I rarely charge to unlock a car or house when there is a child locked inside. When I get the call, usually from a panicked parent declaring his or her child is locked inside a car, I rush to the scene. There are few better moments for me as a locksmith than seeing the relief in a mother's eyes when I unlock the door and she pulls her child from a sweltering car on a warm summer day. "You're my HERO," she says as she holds her child close with tears in her eyes. "No charge ma'am. We don't charge for children locked in cars. If you like, for a small fee, I can make you a copy of your car's door key so it's less likely to happen again." They almost always say yes, and the payment for the key usually accompanies a tip. The "up sale" is simply to cover my gas going out on the call, and the tip, if any, buys me lunch.The rest of my jobs are typically for-profit jobs. Still, over half of what I charge goes right back into the company in the form of gas, insurance, advertising, trade organization dues, license fees, vehicle maintenance, tools, supplies, and other expenses.As a locksmith you will never get rich, but if you play your cards right you could retire well. The plan, as I read in a popular trade magazine, is to sell a well-established shop with a long list of customer accounts, while owning and collecting rent on the property the shop sits on. It's even better if you own an entire complex and collect rent from your shop's neighbors, too. I personally know a retired locksmith who did exactly this and I understand he is doing quite well for himself.Many locksmiths make and sell tools and/or reference books, or teach classes (as I do) to supplement their income.The Bad: Being on call 24/7. After-hours and weekend service can account for a large part, if not most when first starting out, of your income. Then there are the late night calls. 2am, half drunk and he can't find his car keys: "I'm sorry sir -- I can't help you drive your car tonight, but if you call me in the morning I will be happy to assist you."The locksmith industry is a highly regulated (but necessarily so) security industry. The licenses, insurances, and bonds you have to carry can cost a small fortune. I have a city business license, a state locksmith license, a State Contractor's License for lock and security work, two insurance policies (general liability and commercial vehicle insurance), two different bonds, and I am a member of two major national trade organizations. In California, you need to be fingerprinted and pass State and Federal background tests. I am also a member of some local organizations including the Chico Chamber of Commerce and the North Valley Property Owner's Association.The cost of running a business like this can be overwhelming and there is always another tool you need to buy, another software update, or replacement parts/tools that need to be ordered. I am currently saving up for a high security key machine that retails for $5,800.Let's not forget the paperwork. You will need to keep legal forms for customers to fill out and detailed records of who, what, where and when. The last thing you want to do is make keys to a car or house for someone who does not have authority to hold a key to that property.Lastly, buy a nice shirt and tie because there is a good chance you will find yourself in a court of law before long for, among other things, domestic disputes.The Ugly: Evictions, repossessions (R.E.O.'s), and re-keys after a domestic dispute. There are few things as humbling in this profession as writing a bill for after-hours service and handing the new keys over to someone wearing a fresh black eye. I vividly remember one woman who was standing next to a hole in the drywall where her head was forcibly inserted only a few hours earlier. The local sheriffs know me because it's not uncommon to perform the re-key and security checks while they are still there, filling out their report.Can you say fleas? Yep, now I keep flea powder in the van because you never know what condition a recently foreclosed house will be in.Angry former tenants who have been kicked out can also present a challenge. Sometimes the locks are disabled or destroyed, and I keep latex gloves in the van in case I ever have to pick open another lock that has been urinated on.The bottom line: I am quite happy being a locksmith, most of the time. The pay, the freedom of the job (I can leave my schedule open if my kids have a school event), and the satisfaction of helping people while making a profit for myself keeps me going.My advice to you:1. Do your research before entering the market as a locksmith. My town has too many locksmiths per capita. There is barely enough work to go around much of the time.2. Get on with another locksmith and be willing to relocate, as you may be required to sign a "no compete" contract saying you will not leave to be your boss's competitor. Locksmith schools are okay, but a seasoned locksmith can show you some tricks of the trade that can help you make higher profits or perform jobs better and quicker than the basic skills taught in most schools.3. Be willing to pay your dues. It will take many years to build up a customer base, and a name for yourself. A wise locksmith once told me it takes at least three years before they (the customers) know you're there, and seven before they notice you are gone.4. When you start out on your own, get an easy to recognize logo and put it on everything: your van, invoices, pens to hand out, and every other piece of advertising (see our logo below).5. C.Y.A. Document everything and have pre-printed, professionally prepared, legal forms for your customers to fill out.6. Don't get too carried away. If you have other obligations, like a spouse and/or kids, make sure to make time for them. It's hard to turn the phone off, or turn down calls because you're turning away money, but you can't get back the days you miss.A former employer of mine occasionally tells the story of how he made $2,000 in one weekend dispatching calls to his on-call locksmith, while he was on a boat on Lake Shasta with his wife. It was a rare weekend vacation for them and he spent a good part of the day on the phone. She died of cancer two short years later, and he later told me he would give just about anything to have that day back. I know this story personally as I was the on-call employee that weekend.To quote Uncle Ben (from Spider-Man, the movie): "With great power comes great responsibility." The ability to unlock doors, bypass alarm systems, unlock safes, and the inside knowledge of customers' security systems has been the downfall of unscrupulous locksmiths. In short, if you can't handle the temptation, don't pursue the profession.Finally: Never take advantage of someone. Like Grandpa always said, it can take a lifetime to build up a good reputation but only a moment to ruin it.Good luck in whatever you decide -- unless, of course, you are planning to open a lock shop in my service area.
Locksmiths in Fitzroy North offer a highly demanded service, which generally relates to maintaining and installing the various types of lock systems, from the standard key locks to the complex electronic or biometric locks. The most common types of locksmith professions consist of the emergency, industrial, commercial, and residential, which each of the specific fields requiring different skills and abilities.
Residential work is likely to be the most common of the services provided by a residential locksmith. A domestic property owner looks at personal security and safety as a key reason when it comes to making sure a home is fully secured against a would-be intruder. A locksmith has gained the experience and knowledge to suggest the most effective locks for a properties doors and windows. Beyond the ability to install new locking systems, the locksmith is also able to repair or replace the locks on the older styled properties. Extra services offered by a local locksmiths offer security advice, a key cutting service, installing locks on a garage or similar outbuilding, and installing at-home safes or vaults.
How Do I Choose A Residential Locksmith in Fitzroy North?
Jump to navigation Jump to search Lock may refer to:
Van Storage Ideas to Start a Mobile Locksmith Business
When thinking of a locksmith, most people tend to think of a person whose job is to just make and repair locks. This is because in becoming a locksmith requires no formal education. But with the introduction of technology and gadgets, comes a wide array of locks, which has also lead to a widened scope of work for the locksmiths. This article looks into the various types of locksmiths and the services that they provide.Residential LocksmithThis is the most common form of locksmith that is reachable within the neighborhood. They efficiently provide services that deal with cases where the homeowner forgets his keys at home or somehow loses it. Usual clients of this type are often those residing in apartments, private homes, or condos. Their task usually consists of modifying the locking system of the main door of the house and a new set of keys to go with it. These locksmiths can also provide assistance in recommending home security locking systems to customers.Commercial LocksmithIn business, office or school situations, the commercial locksmith is the one for the job. They help the company in establishing the security of the premises and in providing their employees with authorized access. One good example is the biometrics currently used in most offices these days.Institutional LocksmithThough this may be similar to the commercial locksmith, they are not the same. Commercial locksmiths are often hired to do contractual based work or may also be hired on an hourly rate. On the other hand, institutional locksmiths are hired to become part of the employee network. Most institutions that require this are colleges, universities, hospitals and government facilities. Not only ate they given the typical job of a locksmith but they are also expected to perform other duties and responsibilities as an employee.Forensic LocksmithThis is the most exciting and challenging field for a locksmith. It combines the persona of an investigator and the skill of a locksmith. Forensic locksmiths help in criminal investigations by using a special set of tools. These tools help them in determining how a lock, security system or key system was hacked. They possess the ability of providing evidences of a crime scene, as well as facts that may be gathered which may help in identifying suspects.Auto LocksmithThe auto locksmith or also known as a car locksmith, are the lifesavers of those who forget their keys inside their car. In situations like this, auto locksmiths efficiently open the vehicle without having to compromise the car door's lock or even its windows. They also use a set of specialized tools in order to perform these services.Emergency LocksmithLocksmiths of this type are available 24/7, and may be called upon in situations where an intruder has broken into the house. Regardless of the time and place they are always ready to provide assistance. Emergency locksmiths are skilled at repairing the lock system that is likely destroyed by burglars. They are also called mobile locksmiths.
Locksmiths in Melbourne offer a highly demanded service, which generally relates to maintaining and installing the various types of lock systems, from the standard key locks to the complex electronic or biometric locks. The most common types of locksmith professions consist of the emergency, industrial, commercial, and residential, which each of the specific fields requiring different skills and abilities.
Residential work is likely to be the most common of the services provided by a residential locksmith. A domestic property owner looks at personal security and safety as a key reason when it comes to making sure a home is fully secured against a would-be intruder. A locksmith has gained the experience and knowledge to suggest the most effective locks for a properties doors and windows. Beyond the ability to install new locking systems, the locksmith is also able to repair or replace the locks on the older styled properties. Extra services offered by a local locksmiths offer security advice, a key cutting service, installing locks on a garage or similar outbuilding, and installing at-home safes or vaults.
How Do I Choose A Residential Locksmith in Melbourne ?
Jump to navigation Jump to search "Blacksmiths" redirects here. For the suburb in New South Wales, see Blacksmiths, New South Wales. A blacksmith is a metalsmith who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal, using tools to hammer, bend, and cut (cf. whitesmith). Blacksmiths produce objects such as gates, grilles, railings, light fixtures, furniture, sculpture, tools, agricultural implements, decorative and religious items, cooking utensils and weapons. While there are many people who work with metal such as farriers, wheelwrights, and armorers, the blacksmith had a general knowledge of how to make and repair many things, from the most complex of weapons and armor to simple things like nails or lengths of chain. The "black" in "blacksmith" refers to the black fire scale, a layer of oxides that forms on the surface of the metal during heating. The origin of "smith" is debated, it may come from the old English word "smythe" meaning "to strike"[citation needed] or it may have originated from the Proto-German "smithaz" meaning "skilled worker."[1] Smithing process in Mediterranean environment, Valencian Museum of Ethnology Blacksmiths work by heating pieces of wrought iron or steel until the metal becomes soft enough for shaping with hand tools, such as a hammer, anvil and chisel. Heating generally takes place in a forge fueled by propane, natural gas, coal, charcoal, coke or oil. Some modern blacksmiths may also employ an oxyacetylene or similar blowtorch for more localized heating. Induction heating methods are gaining popularity among modern blacksmiths. Color is important for indicating the temperature and workability of the metal. As iron heats to higher temperatures, it first glows red, then orange, yellow, and finally white. The ideal heat for most forging is the bright yellow-orange color that indicates forging heat. Because they must be able to see the glowing color of the metal, some blacksmiths work in dim, low-light conditions, but most work in well-lit conditions. The key is to have consistent lighting, but not too bright. Direct sunlight obscures the colors. The techniques of smithing can be roughly divided into forging (sometimes called "sculpting"), welding, heat-treating, and finishing. Forging—the process smiths use to shape metal by hammering—differs from machining in that forging does not remove material. Instead, the smith hammers the iron into shape. Even punching and cutting operations (except when trimming waste) by smiths usually re-arrange metal around the hole, rather than drilling it out as swarf. Forging uses seven basic operations or techniques: These operations generally require at least a hammer and anvil, but smiths also use other tools and techniques to accommodate odd-sized or repetitive jobs. Traditional blacksmith next to his forge of stone and brick Drawing lengthens the metal by reducing one or both of the other two dimensions. As the depth is reduced, or the width narrowed, the piece is lengthened or "drawn out." As an example of drawing, a smith making a chisel might flatten a square bar of steel, lengthening the metal, reducing its depth but keeping its width consistent. Drawing does not have to be uniform. A taper can result as in making a wedge or a woodworking chisel blade. If tapered in two dimensions, a point results. Drawing can be accomplished with a variety of tools and methods. Two typical methods using only hammer and anvil would be hammering on the anvil horn, and hammering on the anvil face using the cross peen of a hammer. Another method for drawing is to use a tool called a fuller, or the peen of the hammer, to hasten the drawing out of a thick piece of metal. (The technique is called fullering from the tool.) Fullering consists of hammering a series of indentations with corresponding ridges, perpendicular to the long section of the piece being drawn. The resulting effect looks somewhat like waves along the top of the piece. Then the smith turns the hammer over to use the flat face to hammer the tops of the ridges down level with the bottoms of the indentations. This forces the metal to grow in length (and width if left unchecked) much faster than just hammering with the flat face of the hammer. Canadian blacksmith in the 1970s Heating iron to a "forging heat" allows bending as if it were a soft, ductile metal, like copper or silver. Bending can be done with the hammer over the horn or edge of the anvil or by inserting a bending fork into the hardy hole (the square hole in the top of the anvil), placing the work piece between the tines of the fork, and bending the material to the desired angle. Bends can be dressed and tightened, or widened, by hammering them over the appropriately shaped part of the anvil. Some metals are "hot short", meaning they lose their tensile strength when heated. They become like Plasticine: although they may still be manipulated by squeezing, an attempt to stretch them, even by bending or twisting, is likely to have them crack and break apart. This is a problem for some blade-making steels, which must be worked carefully to avoid developing hidden cracks that would cause failure in the future. Though rarely hand-worked, titanium is notably hot short. Even such common smithing processes as decoratively twisting a bar are impossible with it. Upsetting is the process of making metal thicker in one dimension through shortening in the other. One form is to heat the end of a rod and then hammer on it as one would drive a nail: the rod gets shorter, and the hot part widens. An alternative to hammering on the hot end is to place the hot end on the anvil and hammer on the cold end. Punching may be done to create a decorative pattern, or to make a hole. For example, in preparation for making a hammerhead, a smith would punch a hole in a heavy bar or rod for the hammer handle. Punching is not limited to depressions and holes. It also includes cutting, slitting, and drifting—all done with a chisel. The five basic forging processes are often combined to produce and refine the shapes necessary for finished products. For example, to fashion a cross-peen hammer head, a smith would start with a bar roughly the diameter of the hammer face: the handle hole would be punched and drifted (widened by inserting or passing a larger tool through it), the head would be cut (punched, but with a wedge), the peen would be drawn to a wedge, and the face would be dressed by upsetting. As with making a chisel, since it is lengthened by drawing it would also tend to spread in width. A smith would therefore frequently turn the chisel-to-be on its side and hammer it back down—upsetting it—to check the spread and keep the metal at the correct width. Or, if a smith needed to put a 90-degree bend in a bar and wanted a sharp corner on the outside of the bend, they would begin by hammering an unsupported end to make the curved bend. Then, to "fatten up" the outside radius of the bend, one or both arms of the bend would need to be pushed back to fill the outer radius of the curve. So they would hammer the ends of the stock down into the bend, 'upsetting' it at the point of the bend. They would then dress the bend by drawing the sides of the bend to keep the correct thickness. The hammering would continue—upsetting and then drawing—until the curve had been properly shaped. In the primary operation was the bend, but the drawing and upsetting are done to refine the shape. Welding is the joining of the same or similar kind of metal. Blacksmith, 1606 A modern blacksmith has a range of options and tools to accomplish this. The basic types of welding commonly employed in a modern workshop include traditional forge welding as well as modern methods, including oxyacetylene and arc welding. In forge welding, the pieces to join are heated to what is generally referred to as welding heat. For mild steel most smiths judge this temperature by color: the metal glows an intense yellow or white. At this temperature the steel is near molten. Any foreign material in the weld, such as the oxides or "scale" that typically form in the fire, can weaken it and cause it to fail. Thus the mating surfaces to be joined must be kept clean. To this end a smith makes sure the fire is a reducing fire: a fire where, at the heart, there is a great deal of heat and very little oxygen. The smith also carefully shapes mating faces so that as they come together foreign material squeezes out as the metal is joined. To clean the faces, protect them from oxidation, and provide a medium to carry foreign material out of the weld, the smith sometimes uses flux—typically powdered borax, silica sand, or both. The smith first cleans parts to be joined with a wire brush, then puts them in the fire to heat. With a mix of drawing and upsetting the smith shapes the faces so that when finally brought together, the center of the weld connects first and the connection spreads outward under the hammer blows, pushing out the flux (if used) and foreign material. An artist blacksmith and a striker working as one The dressed metal goes back in the fire, is brought near to welding heat, removed from the fire, and brushed. Flux is sometimes applied, which prevents oxygen from reaching and burning the metal during forging, and it is returned to the fire. The smith now watches carefully to avoid overheating the metal. There is some challenge to this because, to see the color of the metal, the smith must remove it from the fire—exposing it to air, which can rapidly oxidize it. So the smith might probe into the fire with a bit of steel wire, prodding lightly at the mating faces. When the end of the wire sticks on to the metal, it is at the right temperature (a small weld forms where the wire touches the mating face, so it sticks). The smith commonly places the metal in the fire so he can see it without letting surrounding air contact the surface. (Note that smiths don't always use flux, especially in the UK.) Now the smith moves with rapid purpose, quickly taking the metal from the fire to the anvil and bringing the mating faces together. A few light hammer taps bring the mating faces into complete contact and squeeze out the flux—and finally, the smith returns the work to the fire. The weld begins with the taps, but often the joint is weak and incomplete, so the smith reheats the joint to welding temperature and works the weld with light blows to "set" the weld and finally to dress it to the shape. A blacksmith at work Depending on the intended use of the piece, a blacksmith may finish it in a number of ways: A range of treatments and finishes can inhibit oxidation and enhance or change the appearance of the piece. An experienced smith selects the finish based on the metal and on the intended use of the item. Finishes include (among others): paint, varnish, bluing, browning, oil, and wax. Striker A blacksmith's striker is an assistant (frequently an apprentice), whose job it is to swing a large sledgehammer in heavy forging operations, as directed by the blacksmith. In practice, the blacksmith holds the hot iron at the anvil (with tongs) in one hand, and indicates where to strike the iron by tapping it with a small hammer in the other hand. The striker then delivers a heavy blow to the indicated spot with a sledgehammer. During the 20th century and into the 21st century, this role has become increasingly unnecessary and automated through the use of trip hammers or reciprocating power hammers. When iron ore is smelted into usable metal, a certain amount of carbon is usually alloyed with the iron. (Charcoal is almost pure carbon.) The amount of carbon significantly affects the properties of the metal. If the carbon content is over 2%, the metal is called cast iron, because it has a relatively low melting point and is easily cast. It is quite brittle, however, and cannot be forged so therefore not used for blacksmithing. If the carbon content is between 0.25% and 2%, the resulting metal is tool grade steel, which can be heat treated as discussed above. When the carbon content is below 0.25%, the metal is either "wrought iron (wrought iron is not smelted and cannot come from this process) " or "mild steel." The terms are never interchangeable. In preindustrial times, the material of choice for blacksmiths was wrought iron. This iron had a very low carbon content, and also included up to 5% of glassy iron silicate slag in the form of numerous very fine stringers. This slag content made the iron very tough, gave it considerable resistance to rusting, and allowed it to be more easily "forge welded," a process in which the blacksmith permanently joins two pieces of iron, or a piece of iron and a piece of steel, by heating them nearly to a white heat and hammering them together. Forge welding is more difficult with modern mild steel, because it welds in a narrower temperature band. The fibrous nature of wrought iron required knowledge and skill to properly form any tool which would be subject to stress. Modern steel is produced using either the blast furnace or arc furnaces. Wrought iron was produced by a labor-intensive process called puddling, so this material is now a difficult-to-find specialty product. Modern blacksmiths generally substitute mild steel for making objects traditionally of wrought iron. Sometimes they use electrolytic-process pure iron. Many blacksmiths also incorporate materials such as bronze, copper, or brass in artistic products. Aluminum and titanium may also be forged by the blacksmith's process. Each material responds differently under the hammer and must be separately studied by the blacksmith. Hot metal work from a blacksmith Steel with less than 0.6% Carbon content cannot be hardened enough by simple heat-treatment to make useful hardened-steel tools. Hence, in what follows, wrought-iron, low-carbon-steel, and other soft unhardenable iron varieties are referred to indiscriminately as just iron. Wayland's smithy in the centre, Níðuð's daughter Böðvildr to the left, and Níðuð's dead sons hidden to the right of the smithy. Between the girl and the smithy, Wayland can be seen in an eagle fetch flying away. From the Ardre image stone VIII on Gotland In Hindu mythology, Tvastar also known as Vishvakarma is the blacksmith of the devas. The earliest references of Tvastar can be found in the Rigveda. Hephaestus (Latin: Vulcan) was the blacksmith of the gods in Greek and Roman mythology. A supremely skilled artisan whose forge was a volcano, he constructed most of the weapons of the gods, as well as beautiful assistants for his smithy and a metal fishing-net of astonishing intricacy. He was the god of metalworking, fire, and craftsmen. In Celtic mythology, the role of Smith is held by eponymous (their names do mean 'smith') characters : Goibhniu (Irish myths of the Tuatha Dé Danann cycle) or Gofannon (Welsh myths/ the Mabinogion ) The artist William Blake used the blacksmith as a motif in his own extensive mythology. Here, Los, a protagonist in several of Blake's poems, is tormented at his smithy by the figure Spectre in an illustration Blake's poem Jerusalem. This image comes from Copy E. of that work, printed in 1821 and in the collection of the Yale Center for British Art[3][4] The Anglo-Saxon Wayland Smith, known in Old Norse as Völundr, is a heroic blacksmith in Germanic mythology. The Poetic Edda states that he forged beautiful gold rings with wonderful gems. He was captured by king Níðuðr, who cruelly hamstringed him and imprisoned him on an island. Völundr eventually had his revenge by killing Níðuðr's sons and forging objects to the king from their skulls, teeth and eyes. He then seduced the king's daughter and escaped laughing on wings he himself had forged. Seppo Ilmarinen, the Eternal Hammerer, blacksmith and inventor in the Kalevala, is an archetypal artificer from Finnish mythology.[5] Tubal-Cain is mentioned in the book of Genesis of the Torah as the original smith. Ogun, the god of iron, is one of the pantheon of "orisa" traditionally worshipped by the Yoruba of Nigeria. Gold, silver, and copper all occur in nature in their native states, as reasonably pure metals - humans probably worked these metals first. These metals are all quite malleable, and humans' initial development of hammering techniques was undoubtedly applied to these metals. During the Chalcolithic era and the Bronze Age, humans in the Mideast learned how to smelt, melt, cast, rivet, and (to a limited extent) forge copper and bronze. Bronze is an alloy of copper and approximately 10% to 20% Tin. Bronze is superior to just copper, by being harder, being more resistant to corrosion, and by having a lower melting point (thereby requiring less fuel to melt and cast). Much of the copper used by the Mediterranean World came from the island of Cyprus. Most of the tin came from the Cornwall region of the island of Great Britain, transported by sea-borne Phoenician and Greek traders. Copper and bronze cannot be hardened by heat-treatment, they can only be hardened by work-hardening. To accomplish this, a piece of bronze is lightly hammered for a long period of time. The localized stress-cycling causes the necessary crystalline changes. The hardened bronze can then be ground to sharpen it to make edged tools. Clocksmiths as recently as the 19th century used work hardening techniques to harden the teeth of brass gears and ratchets. Tapping on just the teeth produced harder teeth, with superior wear-resistance. By contrast, the rest of the gear was left in a softer and tougher state, more capable of resisting cracking. Bronze is sufficiently corrosion-resistant that artifacts of bronze may last thousands of years relatively unscathed. Accordingly, museums frequently preserve more examples of Bronze Age metal-work than examples of artifacts from the much younger Iron Age. Buried iron artifacts may completely rust away in less than 100 years. Examples of ancient iron work still extant are very much the exception to the norm. Concurrent with the advent of alphabetic characters in the Iron Age, humans became aware of the metal iron. In earlier ages, iron's qualities, in contrast to those of bronze, were not generally understood though. Iron artifacts, composed of meteoric iron, have the chemical composition containing up to 40% nickel. As this source of this iron is extremely rare and fortuitous, little development of smithing skills peculiar to iron can be assumed to have occurred. That we still possess any such artifacts of meteoric iron may be ascribed to the vagaries of climate, and the increased corrosion-resistance conferred on iron by the presence of nickel. During the (north) Polar Exploration of the early 20th century, Inughuit, northern Greenlandic Inuit, were found to be making iron knives from two particularly large nickel-iron meteors.[6] One of these meteors was taken to Washington, D.C., where it was remitted to the custody of the Smithsonian Institution. The Hittites of Anatolia first discovered or developed the smelting of iron ores around 1500 BC. They seem to have maintained a near monopoly on the knowledge of iron production for several hundred years, but when their empire collapsed during the Eastern Mediterranean upheavals around 1200 BC, the knowledge seems to have escaped in all directions. In the Iliad of Homer (describing the Trojan War and Bronze Age Greek and Trojan warriors), most of the armor and weapons (swords and spears) are stated to have been of bronze. Iron is not unknown, however, as arrowheads are described as iron, and a "ball of iron" is listed as a prize awarded for winning a competition. The events described probably occurred around 1200 BC, but Homer is thought to have composed this epic poem around 700 BC; so exactitude must remain suspect. A blacksmith shop in the harbor of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada in the late 19th century When historical records resume after the 1200 BC upheavals and the ensuing Greek Dark Age, iron work (and presumably blacksmiths) seem to have sprung like Athena, fully-grown from the head of Zeus. Very few artifacts remain, due to loss from corrosion, and re-use of iron as a valuable commodity. What information exists indicates that all of the basic operations of blacksmithing were in use as soon as the Iron Age reached a particular locality. The scarcity of records and artifacts, and the rapidity of the switch from Bronze Age to Iron Age, is a reason to use evidence of bronze smithing to infer about the early development of blacksmithing. It is uncertain when Iron weapons replaced Bronze weapons because the earliest Iron swords did not significantly improve on the qualities of existing bronze artifacts. Unalloyed iron is soft, does not hold an edge as well as a properly constructed bronze blade and needs more maintenance. Iron ores are more widely available than the necessary materials to create bronze however, which made iron weapons more economical than comparable bronze weapons. Small amounts of steel are often formed during several of the earliest refining practices, and when the properties of this alloy were discovered and exploited, steel edged weapons greatly outclassed bronze. Iron is different from most other materials (including bronze), in that it does not immediately go from a solid to a liquid at its melting point. H2O is a solid (ice) at -1 C (31 F), and a liquid (water) at +1 C (33 F). Iron, by contrast, is definitely a solid at 800 °F (427 °C), but over the next 1,500 °F (820 °C) it becomes increasingly plastic and more "taffy-like" as its temperature increases. This extreme temperature range of variable solidity is the fundamental material property upon which blacksmithing practice depends. Another major difference between bronze and iron fabrication techniques is that bronze can be melted. The melting point of iron is much higher than that of bronze. In the western (Europe & the Mideast) tradition, the technology to make fires hot enough to melt iron did not arise until the 16th century, when smelting operations grew large enough to require overly large bellows. These produced blast-furnace temperatures high enough to melt partially refined ores, resulting in cast iron. Thus cast iron frying pans and cookware did not become possible in Europe until 3000 years after the introduction of iron smelting. China, in a separate developmental tradition, was producing cast iron at least 1000 years before this. Although iron is quite abundant, good quality steel remained rare and expensive until the industrial developments of Bessemer process et al. in the 1850s. Close examination of blacksmith-made antique tools clearly shows where small pieces of steel were forge-welded into iron to provide the hardened steel cutting edges of tools (notably in axes, adzes, chisels, etc.). The re-use of quality steel is another reason for the lack of artifacts. The Romans (who ensured that their own weapons were made with good steel) noted (in the 4th century BC) that the Celts of the Po River Valley had iron, but not good steel. The Romans record that during battle, their Celtic opponents could only swing their swords two or three times before having to step on their swords to straighten them. On the Indian subcontinent, Wootz steel was, and continues to be, produced in small quantities. In southern Asia and western Africa, blacksmiths form endogenous castes that sometimes speak distinct languages. A blacksmith monk, from a medieval French manuscript In the medieval period, blacksmithing was considered part of the set of seven mechanical arts. Prior to the industrial revolution, a "village smithy" was a staple of every town. Factories and mass-production reduced the demand for blacksmith-made tools and hardware. The original fuel for forge fires was charcoal. Coal did not begin to replace charcoal until the forests of first Britain (during the AD 17th century), and then the eastern United States of America (during the 19th century) were largely depleted. Coal can be an inferior fuel for blacksmithing, because much of the world's coal is contaminated with sulfur. Sulfur contamination of iron and steel make them "red short", so that at red heat they become "crumbly" instead of "plastic". Coal sold and purchased for blacksmithing should be largely free of sulfur. European blacksmiths before and through the medieval era spent a great deal of time heating and hammering iron before forging it into finished articles. Although they were unaware of the chemical basis, they were aware that the quality of the iron was thus improved. From a scientific point of view, the reducing atmosphere of the forge was both removing oxygen (rust), and soaking more carbon into the iron, thereby developing increasingly higher grades of steel as the process was continued. During the eighteenth century, agents for the Sheffield cutlery industry scoured the British country-side, offering new carriage springs for old. Springs must be made of hardened steel. At this time, the processes for making steel produced an extremely variable product—quality was not ensured at the initial point of sale. Springs that had survived cracking through hard use over the rough roads of the time, had proven to be of a better quality steel. Much of the fame of Sheffield cutlery (knives, shears, etc.) was due to the extreme lengths the companies took to ensure they used high-grade steel.[citation needed] Blacksmiths at the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway shops in Topeka, Kansas, 1943 During the first half of the nineteenth century, the US government included in their treaties with many Native American tribes, that the US would employ blacksmiths and strikers at Army forts, with the expressed purpose of providing Native Americans with iron tools and repair services.[citation needed] During the early to mid-nineteenth century, both European armies[7] as well as both the U.S. Federal and Confederate armies employed blacksmiths to shoe horses and repair equipment such as wagons, horse tack, and artillery equipment. These smiths primarily worked at a traveling forge that when combined with a limber, comprised wagons specifically designed and constructed as blacksmith shops on wheels to carry the essential equipment necessary for their work.[8][9][10] High school blacksmith class, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1915 Play media Uyghur blacksmiths at work, Yengisar, Xinjiang, western China Lathes, patterned largely on their woodturning counterparts, had been used by some blacksmiths[11][citation needed] since the middle-ages. During the 1790s Henry Maudslay created the first screw-cutting lathe, a watershed event that signaled the start of blacksmiths being replaced by machinists in factories for the hardware needs of the populace. Samuel Colt neither invented nor perfected interchangeable parts, but his insistence (and other industrialists at this time) that his firearms be manufactured with this property, was another step towards the obsolescence of metal-working artisans and blacksmiths. (See also Eli Whitney). As demand for their products declined, many more blacksmiths augmented their incomes by taking in work shoeing horses. A shoer-of-horses was historically known as a farrier in English. With the introduction of automobiles, the number of blacksmiths continued to decrease, many former blacksmiths becoming the initial generation of automobile Mechanics. The nadir of blacksmithing in the United States was reached during the 1960s, when most of the former blacksmiths had left the trade, and few if any new people were entering the trade. By this time, most of the working blacksmiths were those performing farrier work, so the term blacksmith was effectively co-opted by the farrier trade. During the 20th century various gases (natural gas, acetylene, etc.) have also come to be used as fuels for blacksmithing. While these are fine for blacksmithing iron, special care must be taken when using them to blacksmith steel. Each time a piece of steel is heated, there is a tendency for the carbon content to leave the steel (decarburization). This can leave a piece of steel with an effective layer of unhardenable iron on its surface. In a traditional charcoal or coal forge, the fuel is really just carbon. In a properly regulated charcoal/coal fire, the air in and immediately around the fire should be a reducing atmosphere. In this case, and at elevated temperatures, there is a tendency for vaporized carbon to soak into steel and iron, counteracting or negating the decarburizing tendency. This is similar to the process by which a case of steel is developed on a piece of iron in preparation for case hardening. An Artist Blacksmith working with a power hammer in Bodom, Finland, 2011 A renewed interest in blacksmithing occurred as part of the trend in "do-it-yourself" and "self-sufficiency" that occurred during the 1970s. Currently there are many books, organizations and individuals working to help educate the public about blacksmithing, including local groups of smiths who have formed clubs, with some of those smiths demonstrating at historical sites and living history events. Some modern blacksmiths who produce decorative metalwork refer to themselves as artist-blacksmiths. In 1973 the Artists Blacksmiths’ Association of North America was formed with 27 members. By 2013 it had almost 4000 members. Likewise the British Artist Blacksmiths Association was created in 1978, with 30 charter members and had about 600 members in 2013[12] and publish for members a quarterly magazine. While developed nations saw a decline and re-awakening of interest in blacksmithing, in many developing nations blacksmiths continued doing what blacksmiths have been doing for 3500 years: making and repairing iron and steel tools and hardware for people in their local area. Jesse Hoover blacksmith shop, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site Painting by Joseph Morewood Staniforth, 1892 Find more aboutBlacksmithat Wikipedia's sister projects
Locksmiths: How to Find One
Locksmithing is a profession that has been there since man learnt the importance of security and privacy. It is a profession that mainly deals with the working of keys and locks. In older days it was hard to find a qualified locksmith but with the change in time and technology this has become a desired profession for many. There are locksmiths who are company based and others choose the option of becoming a freelancer. Though some people are just naturally talented, training is still required so as to have the qualified skills. Since keys are prone to get lost and locks do malfunction sometimes, professionals are always available to help you sort out the problem. Finding a reputable individual or company is usually tough mainly due to the issue of trust. Before hiring a specific professional you should consider several factors and take several steps so as to find one that suites you.Steps to take in hiring a locksmithThere are several steps involved but I am going to highlight the important steps. These steps are necessary for non-emergency situations. The steps are; Determine the nature of the problem; some are direct like the loss of a key but others require vigilance for example lock malfunctioning. It can also be that you simply want to duplicate the key. Get referrals from friends and family; once you determine the type of service that you require from the locksmith it becomes easier to search for one. It is more advisable that you choose one that has already worked for your friends and family since a level of trust has already been built. It can also be easier to look for one on the internet. Compare different locksmiths' according to charges and the services offered; try and find one that is cheap but still efficient in the work that he does. Those closer to your own location will absolutely charge less than one who doesn't. Check his or her identifications; every locksmith should be licensed so make a point of checking his license and identification number. He should also ask for some proof from you to prove that the house or car is yours. Sign an agreement; in this agreement both parties should sign and the key things that it should involve is the charges and an ultimatum in the case that he fails to fix the problem. Be on guard; unless you hired somebody from a reputable company, always be there as he works because you will never be too sure on the intentions of the stranger you just called in the middle of an emergency.
Locksmiths in Ripponlea offer a highly demanded service, which generally relates to maintaining and installing the various types of lock systems, from the standard key locks to the complex electronic or biometric locks. The most common types of locksmith professions consist of the emergency, industrial, commercial, and residential, which each of the specific fields requiring different skills and abilities.
Residential work is likely to be the most common of the services provided by a residential locksmith. A domestic property owner looks at personal security and safety as a key reason when it comes to making sure a home is fully secured against a would-be intruder. A locksmith has gained the experience and knowledge to suggest the most effective locks for a properties doors and windows. Beyond the ability to install new locking systems, the locksmith is also able to repair or replace the locks on the older styled properties. Extra services offered by a local locksmiths offer security advice, a key cutting service, installing locks on a garage or similar outbuilding, and installing at-home safes or vaults.
How Do I Choose A Residential Locksmith in Ripponlea?
Rockville Emergency Locksmith! When You Need One
How many times have you said, "Where are my car keys?" or been late to an appointment because you had to run around the house for fifteen minutes trying to figure out where you put them? Even worse, have you ever found yourself unable to open your car doors only to peer into the window and see all the locks secured and your keys dangling from the ignition or lying on the driver's seat? Either of these situations can be make a terrible impact on your day, especially if it is dark, cold, rainy, or a particularly pressing engagement. If this happens to you, stay calm and call a car locksmith.Replacing your lost car keys, or getting into your locked car, is a simple task for a professional locksmith. These workers are skilled at the creating and getting past locks. They understand the complicated series of moving parts that make up a lock, whether it be for a house, a shed, a business, or a car. Because each type of lock poses different parts, a locksmith needs to know how each works, how it is made, and how they will be able to breach it should someone need to open a lock for which they have lost the key. When it comes to houses, locksmiths are not just able to open a lock, but can completely change them. This can mean actually changing the entire mechanism or just "re-keying". Re-keying refers to modifying the lock so that previous keys will not work and a new one will be necessary. This is a good idea if you lose your house keys or a person whom you do not want to be is in possession of a set.Cars are a little different for locksmiths. Getting in to a locked car is sometimes called "popping" the lock because it requires manipulation of the lock mechanism that results in the manual lock "popping" up. This service will enable you to get in your car if you have locked yourself out or in an emergency when you absolutely need to get inside but cannot find your keys.Locksmiths are also skilled at cutting keys. Taking advantage of this and getting extra copies of your car keys, both door and ignition, is a good idea even if you have never lost your keys or gotten locked out of your car. Some locksmiths recommend keeping an extra set of keys in a magnetic lock box under your car, or keeping a spare door key outside and a spare ignition key inside. Keeping an extra ignition key inside the car will enable you to actually use the car should you lose your keys and need a locksmith to let you inside.Finding a locksmith is as simple as going online and looking at one of the numerous review-based websites available. These sites enable you to look through honest, unbiased reviews of local locksmiths and choose one that seems to fit your situation. Leaving these hard-working locksmiths positive feedback after service ensures that others will be able to find them should they ever need a lock opened, or a new key.
Locksmiths in Collingwood offer a highly demanded service, which generally relates to maintaining and installing the various types of lock systems, from the standard key locks to the complex electronic or biometric locks. The most common types of locksmith professions consist of the emergency, industrial, commercial, and residential, which each of the specific fields requiring different skills and abilities.
Residential work is likely to be the most common of the services provided by a residential locksmith. A domestic property owner looks at personal security and safety as a key reason when it comes to making sure a home is fully secured against a would-be intruder. A locksmith has gained the experience and knowledge to suggest the most effective locks for a properties doors and windows. Beyond the ability to install new locking systems, the locksmith is also able to repair or replace the locks on the older styled properties. Extra services offered by a local locksmiths offer security advice, a key cutting service, installing locks on a garage or similar outbuilding, and installing at-home safes or vaults.
How Do I Choose A Residential Locksmith in Collingwood?
What are Restricted Key Products? Factory restricted key products may include keys, key blanks, lock cylinders and/or interchangeable cores. The process of ordering factory restricted key products is slightly different for every manufacturer, but there are certain common elements. The driving principal behind all restricted key products is to limit the ability to get keys and locks to authorized individuals. Toward this goal, authorized individuals are either issued a credential (such as an identification card) or their signatures are kept on record at the factory. Restricted key systems that use an identification card are more common to residential customers but are also widely used in commercial applications. Restricted key systems that use an identification card may require that the identification card be brought to an authorized dealer who may use the information on the card as permission to buy the restricted products on the customer’s behalf if the system is factory controlled; or the dealer may stock the restricted products and be able to sell them over the counter when the appropriate credential is presented. Geographically Controlled Restricted Key Products Manufacturers designate specific restricted key products for the exclusive use of a specific dealer in a certain geographical area. Often there will be a “buy-in” involved for the dealer – that is, the dealer must by a certain dollar amount worth of product in order to be eligible for exclusive rights to a given set of products within their territory. That means the dealer must, at least initially, have the products in stock. Dealers often use these geographically restricted key products to guarantee customer loyalty, since the customer cannot get these products anywhere else except from that dealer. This ability to control the customer is a powerful incentive to the dealer to protect the restriction of the product. The customer’s security is enhanced because the dealer is economically motivated. Life is unpredictable, however, and more than one restricted key system client has been left high and dry, unable to get parts or keys for their system because their dealer left the business for one reason or another. If the restricted key system is for an individual person there is not really much of a choice because factories do not sell to individuals except through a dealer; however if the key system belongs to a business or institution it may be controlled at the factory level. To order products for a factory controlled restricted key system, a customer can go to any dealer who is willing to handle the order. Ordering Factory Controlled Restricted Key ProductsSome manufacturers have specific order forms for restricted key products but others require an end user Letter Of Authorization (LOA). Factories require their LOA’s to contain specific information and they provide examples to help the end user assemble all the necessary information. Delays in order fulfillment occur when the end user leaves out important information because the letter must pass through a few hands before the factory even sees it. Below is a simple flow chart of the chain of communication involved in a typical factory restricted key order: As shown in the flow chart above, the factory typically does not communicate directly with the end user, but only with the authorized dealer (in this case the local locksmith, Joe). Often the end user will call the locksmith with incomplete information, for example, “Can you help us get five copies of our key number EA56N4?” This number, EA45N4, may mean something to the factory that created the key but it does not even tell Joe the Locksmith what factory to call. Joe asks questions and finds out the name of the manufacturer (in this case, “Big Lock Company;” we’ll call it “Big Lock” for short) and calls Big Lock’s Key Systems Department and asks how to order key number EA45N4. The Big Lock Key Systems representative replies that he needs an LOA on the end user’s letterhead requesting key number EA45N4; giving permission to Joe the Locksmith to order the key on their behalf; indicating to what address Big Lock should ship the key; and signed by the person of record whose signature is on file at Big Lock’s Key Systems Department. In the illustration above right is shown an Everest D Family restricted key. The number circled in red is the facility code number. Notice that the keyway also appears on the key, stamped on the shoulder of the key blank (just under the bow, at the beginning of the blade). The keyway is D145. How Restricted Key Product Orders Are Delayed In the example above Big Lock has specified five essential parameters for the LOA. If the end user complies with only four out of the five, Big Lock will reject it. This is where delays often occur. For example, Joe the Locksmith relays the parameters to the end user. In three days the end user writes the letter and faxes it to Joe the Locksmith on Friday. Joe scans it and emails it to Big Lock the same day, but because it’s Friday it sits idle at Big Lock until Monday. On Monday it enters the queue of key orders. With luck the Key Systems Department reviews it on Wednesday, however they find the letterhead given does not name or address that Big Lock has on file for this key system. The Key Systems Department notifies Big Lock Customer Service, but it is late in the day and Customer Service does not email Joe the Locksmith until Thursday. Joe does not see the email until Friday morning. He calls the end user, but the person at the end user took Friday off and does not get the message until Monday. The first week has come and gone and the second week is already underway. Since this is not the only restricted key order being processed by Big Lock, the customer must wait their turn. Big Lock is not responsible for delays caused by incomplete information provided by the end user or dealer and will not rush an order because of it. In the end it might be six or seven weeks before what should have been a simple order for a key is finally shipped from the Big Lock factory. How To Prevent Delays in the Restricted Key Product Order Process Preventing your restricted key product order from unnecessary delays is actually easy. Research: find out what documentation is required by the manufacturer. Have your dealer verify what documentation is required with the manufacturer. Provide complete documentation. Don’t leave anything out. Do not submit the order until you have all the information requested by the manufacturer. Send the information to your dealer in the manner required by the manufacturer. For example, some manufacturers require a "live signature". That means a signature in ink - not a fax or a scanned copy. In that case the LOA must be sent via courier - Postal Service, Fedex, UPS, etc.; if it is sent by fax or email it will be rejected by the factory. Verify that your dealer received the information and ask for a ship date. If your dealer does not provide a ship date, call back daily until you get one. This will force your dealer to call the factory, thereby verifying that the factory in fact has your order. Making the effort to follow these four simple steps exactly will prevent unnecessary delays in processing your restricted key product order.
Associated Locksmiths of America
Getting locked out of your vehicle is never a fun thing. It always seems to happen at the most inopportune time. You start your car, step out to take a flyer off your windshield and the door shuts and locks behind you. Better yet, you pull to the side of the highway to check a tire that feels low, and discover you are locked out. These can be dangerous circumstances, especially if you are on the side of the highway. They can be even worse if you have the car running or a small child inside.Your best bet is to call a car locksmith. Many companies offer technicians that specialize in automobiles. An auto locksmith is someone who has trained in the various types of locks and doors on car today. Unlike household locks, cars have thousands of different styles. A car locksmith would also know how to get your door open without doing damage to your paint or vehicle. This is not always an easy job when it comes to shove a piece of metal between glass, a painted car, and a rubber gasket, and then managing to pop the lock. A reliable locksmith should offer insurance as well, if an accident occurs.Most companies now offer 24 hour locksmiths. Unfortunately, doors do not only lock during the day. These companies will usually charge a higher price for late night service. However, when you consider having your car towed or paying a locksmith, the solution is probably pretty simple. Some companies even offer a guaranteed arrival time, such as service in thirty minutes. This can be very helpful if you are in a hurry. You should always consider the locksmith credentials before you do choose. Make sure they are with a reliable company and that they can provide identification before you allow them access to your running car.You should always provide all the information about your situation when calling an auto locksmith. For example if you are in an unsafe situation or under hazardous conditions, a locksmith may recommend you to the authorities. If you have a small child in the car during extreme heat, it may be better to have the police come to your assistance. They may have an officer in your vicinity that can provide quick relief. However, unless you have an actual emergency, most officers cannot help. Most of police departments will not take on the liability.
Locksmiths in Cremorne offer a highly demanded service, which generally relates to maintaining and installing the various types of lock systems, from the standard key locks to the complex electronic or biometric locks. The most common types of locksmith professions consist of the emergency, industrial, commercial, and residential, which each of the specific fields requiring different skills and abilities.
Residential work is likely to be the most common of the services provided by a residential locksmith. A domestic property owner looks at personal security and safety as a key reason when it comes to making sure a home is fully secured against a would-be intruder. A locksmith has gained the experience and knowledge to suggest the most effective locks for a properties doors and windows. Beyond the ability to install new locking systems, the locksmith is also able to repair or replace the locks on the older styled properties. Extra services offered by a local locksmiths offer security advice, a key cutting service, installing locks on a garage or similar outbuilding, and installing at-home safes or vaults.
How Do I Choose A Residential Locksmith in Cremorne ?
Getting locked out of your vehicle is never a fun thing. It always seems to happen at the most inopportune time. You start your car, step out to take a flyer off your windshield and the door shuts and locks behind you. Better yet, you pull to the side of the highway to check a tire that feels low, and discover you are locked out. These can be dangerous circumstances, especially if you are on the side of the highway. They can be even worse if you have the car running or a small child inside.Your best bet is to call a car locksmith. Many companies offer technicians that specialize in automobiles. An auto locksmith is someone who has trained in the various types of locks and doors on car today. Unlike household locks, cars have thousands of different styles. A car locksmith would also know how to get your door open without doing damage to your paint or vehicle. This is not always an easy job when it comes to shove a piece of metal between glass, a painted car, and a rubber gasket, and then managing to pop the lock. A reliable locksmith should offer insurance as well, if an accident occurs.Most companies now offer 24 hour locksmiths. Unfortunately, doors do not only lock during the day. These companies will usually charge a higher price for late night service. However, when you consider having your car towed or paying a locksmith, the solution is probably pretty simple. Some companies even offer a guaranteed arrival time, such as service in thirty minutes. This can be very helpful if you are in a hurry. You should always consider the locksmith credentials before you do choose. Make sure they are with a reliable company and that they can provide identification before you allow them access to your running car.You should always provide all the information about your situation when calling an auto locksmith. For example if you are in an unsafe situation or under hazardous conditions, a locksmith may recommend you to the authorities. If you have a small child in the car during extreme heat, it may be better to have the police come to your assistance. They may have an officer in your vicinity that can provide quick relief. However, unless you have an actual emergency, most officers cannot help. Most of police departments will not take on the liability.
Locksmiths Tools of the Trade - In the Field - Safes
Getting locked out of your vehicle is never a fun thing. It always seems to happen at the most inopportune time. You start your car, step out to take a flyer off your windshield and the door shuts and locks behind you. Better yet, you pull to the side of the highway to check a tire that feels low, and discover you are locked out. These can be dangerous circumstances, especially if you are on the side of the highway. They can be even worse if you have the car running or a small child inside.Your best bet is to call a car locksmith. Many companies offer technicians that specialize in automobiles. An auto locksmith is someone who has trained in the various types of locks and doors on car today. Unlike household locks, cars have thousands of different styles. A car locksmith would also know how to get your door open without doing damage to your paint or vehicle. This is not always an easy job when it comes to shove a piece of metal between glass, a painted car, and a rubber gasket, and then managing to pop the lock. A reliable locksmith should offer insurance as well, if an accident occurs.Most companies now offer 24 hour locksmiths. Unfortunately, doors do not only lock during the day. These companies will usually charge a higher price for late night service. However, when you consider having your car towed or paying a locksmith, the solution is probably pretty simple. Some companies even offer a guaranteed arrival time, such as service in thirty minutes. This can be very helpful if you are in a hurry. You should always consider the locksmith credentials before you do choose. Make sure they are with a reliable company and that they can provide identification before you allow them access to your running car.You should always provide all the information about your situation when calling an auto locksmith. For example if you are in an unsafe situation or under hazardous conditions, a locksmith may recommend you to the authorities. If you have a small child in the car during extreme heat, it may be better to have the police come to your assistance. They may have an officer in your vicinity that can provide quick relief. However, unless you have an actual emergency, most officers cannot help. Most of police departments will not take on the liability.
Locksmiths in Docklands offer a highly demanded service, which generally relates to maintaining and installing the various types of lock systems, from the standard key locks to the complex electronic or biometric locks. The most common types of locksmith professions consist of the emergency, industrial, commercial, and residential, which each of the specific fields requiring different skills and abilities.
Residential work is likely to be the most common of the services provided by a residential locksmith. A domestic property owner looks at personal security and safety as a key reason when it comes to making sure a home is fully secured against a would-be intruder. A locksmith has gained the experience and knowledge to suggest the most effective locks for a properties doors and windows. Beyond the ability to install new locking systems, the locksmith is also able to repair or replace the locks on the older styled properties. Extra services offered by a local locksmiths offer security advice, a key cutting service, installing locks on a garage or similar outbuilding, and installing at-home safes or vaults.
How Do I Choose A Residential Locksmith in Docklands?
These days the locksmith is not only relegated to the ever present, but various lock and its parts, automobile lock outs, home lock outs or merely thought of for residential use. The locksmith has, in fact, become quite a force to be reckoned within the commercial and residential field when it comes to knowledge, service, repair, sales and installation of safes.We all know that various retail locations and companies specialize in safes and sales, but so does the locksmith and his or her personal, professional and dependable service are just a small number of the benefits one receives when utilizing a locksmith for all of their safe and security needs.When working with safes a Seattle locksmith and his tools are always the precise and required instruments to keep them ready and able to complete most, if not every type of circumstance that might present itself in regards of installation, service or repair.Pulling up to the worksite location the locksmith is certain to have his or her borescope. The borescope is an optical device consisting of a rigid or flexible tube with an eye piece on one end and an objective lens on the other linked together relay optical system in between. In most cases the optical system is surrounded by optical fibers used for illuminated. This allows for the remote object to be illuminated forming the image in the objective lens which is relayed to the viewer's eye. This helps to inspect areas that would otherwise be inaccessible to view by any other means.A drill rig is an instrument that holds a drill in place while a safe is being drilled and carbide drill bits are used for this type of work. Also known as a "rotary or roto hammer", the hammer drill is a rotary drill with a hammering action and the tool provides a function similar to that of a jackhammer. While hammer drills are well suited for work on stone and masonry, they are also used with safe work.Additionally a door puller and a nose puller are typically made accessible on site with the locksmith and ready to be used for different types of service, entry or repair and if needed the sledgehammer can certainly come in quite handy.Resembling a sort of Swiss army pocket knife the assorted safe change keys are mandatory when needing to change the combinations of different types and brands of safes.One who not only works with safes, but those who own them as well know that it is of the utmost importance to have proper safe moving equipment available. While sometimes relatively small in appearance safes are typically not always the lightest of items. Proper safe moving equipment may become necessary and the locksmith is certain to bring all of the components for a successful move when servicing safes in the home or business alike.When servicing safes, or any other closely related forms of security such as safe deposit boxes, file cabinets and vaults, the correct use and application of a locksmiths tools are essential.
Starting a Mobile Locksmith Business
Locksmithing is a profession that has been there since man learnt the importance of security and privacy. It is a profession that mainly deals with the working of keys and locks. In older days it was hard to find a qualified locksmith but with the change in time and technology this has become a desired profession for many. There are locksmiths who are company based and others choose the option of becoming a freelancer. Though some people are just naturally talented, training is still required so as to have the qualified skills. Since keys are prone to get lost and locks do malfunction sometimes, professionals are always available to help you sort out the problem. Finding a reputable individual or company is usually tough mainly due to the issue of trust. Before hiring a specific professional you should consider several factors and take several steps so as to find one that suites you.Steps to take in hiring a locksmithThere are several steps involved but I am going to highlight the important steps. These steps are necessary for non-emergency situations. The steps are; Determine the nature of the problem; some are direct like the loss of a key but others require vigilance for example lock malfunctioning. It can also be that you simply want to duplicate the key. Get referrals from friends and family; once you determine the type of service that you require from the locksmith it becomes easier to search for one. It is more advisable that you choose one that has already worked for your friends and family since a level of trust has already been built. It can also be easier to look for one on the internet. Compare different locksmiths' according to charges and the services offered; try and find one that is cheap but still efficient in the work that he does. Those closer to your own location will absolutely charge less than one who doesn't. Check his or her identifications; every locksmith should be licensed so make a point of checking his license and identification number. He should also ask for some proof from you to prove that the house or car is yours. Sign an agreement; in this agreement both parties should sign and the key things that it should involve is the charges and an ultimatum in the case that he fails to fix the problem. Be on guard; unless you hired somebody from a reputable company, always be there as he works because you will never be too sure on the intentions of the stranger you just called in the middle of an emergency.
Locksmiths in Abbotsford offer a highly demanded service, which generally relates to maintaining and installing the various types of lock systems, from the standard key locks to the complex electronic or biometric locks. The most common types of locksmith professions consist of the emergency, industrial, commercial, and residential, which each of the specific fields requiring different skills and abilities.
Residential work is likely to be the most common of the services provided by a residential locksmith. A domestic property owner looks at personal security and safety as a key reason when it comes to making sure a home is fully secured against a would-be intruder. A locksmith has gained the experience and knowledge to suggest the most effective locks for a properties doors and windows. Beyond the ability to install new locking systems, the locksmith is also able to repair or replace the locks on the older styled properties. Extra services offered by a local locksmiths offer security advice, a key cutting service, installing locks on a garage or similar outbuilding, and installing at-home safes or vaults.
How Do I Choose A Residential Locksmith in Abbotsford ?
When you lose your house's keys or lock yourself in somewhere, you can be saved only by a locksmith. Best local locksmith services are available across various cities. One can even find details of local locksmiths online or in the yellow pages or from trusted references. Local-locksmith services include upgrading old locks, changing them, installing special locks.This emergency locksmith service helps you out in getting your lock and key problems fixed in no time.Here are some of the things regarding locksmiths and their services:• To tackle problems with complicated modern as well as traditional locks, trained and certified locksmiths can be availed. • Locksmiths save us from burglars and thefts. During emergency situations like broken locks or key losses, locks must be replaced or mended at the earliest. In such cases, an emergency locksmith is the only person who can restore security.• Our services are diverse. Installations of new locks and changing or repairing of locks are other works for which locksmiths are employed.• Further, locksmiths are also skilled key-makers. Other locksmith services include upgrading old locks, changing them, installing special locks, security and alarm systems, security cameras and installing vehicle locks.• Commercial local locksmith services mostly in demand are installation of access control systems, alarm systems, file cabinet locks, making of copy key, master re-keying, install of high security locks and other security equipments.• Locksmiths are skilled workmen. Locksmiths, who are certified, licensed and experienced, possess the know-how to tackle problems with all sorts of locks available today.• We are relied upon for timely advice on lock and key security problems, such as, how a jammed key can be taken out from a particular lock or how a faulty lock can be mended easily. • Locksmiths can also give genuine suggestions on the kind of security systems which should be installed. • We are easy to find in the country. Popular local locksmith services are available across various cities. One can even find details of local locksmiths online or in the yellow pages or from trusted references.For a person, the safety of his family, property, belongings and business are serious concerns. To ensure that everything is in place and all is secure, one cannot do without the services of a skilful locksmith. By professionalism locksmith services are available 24x7 today. Be it day or night, wherever you are, you can easily find and appoint local locksmiths, skilled locksmiths to safely solve your lock and security problems.Car Locksmiths
Jump to navigation Jump to search For the 2010 Cruel Hand album, see Lock & Key (album). Lock and Key is a novel written by author Sarah Dessen. It is her eighth published novel. It was published by Viking's Children's Books in 2008. Lock and Key Author Sarah Dessen Country United States Language English Genre Young adult Publisher Viking Publication date April 22, 2008 Media type Print (hardback and paperback) Pages 422pp ISBN 978-0-670-01088-2 OCLC 159919383 LC Class PZ7.D455 Lo 2008 After her drug and alcohol addicted mother abandons her, child services forces 17-year-old Ruby Cooper to move in with her sister, Cora, who had left for college when Ruby was young. Ruby is upset about this arrangement and continues to wear the key to her old home on a chain around her neck. After learning she will be transferring to a new high school, Ruby attempts to run away but is found out. Nate Cross, Jamie and Cora's next-door neighbor, covers for her. Over the span of the story, Ruby slowly becomes closer to Nate. As Ruby adjusts to her new life, she learns Cora had not been avoiding her; in fact, Cora had been trying to rescue Ruby from their mother but had always been stopped. Ruby feels overwhelmed with all this, so she skips school to take alcohol and drugs, and later finds herself in Nate's car when he picks her up. Ruby comes home to a furious Jamie, who accuses her for being ungrateful to him and her sister. Having seen resemblances between herself and her mother that night, Ruby becomes determined to change her ways. One of Nate's clients, a high-strung woman named Harriet, offers Ruby a job at her jewelry store in the mall. Harriet's business booms after a line of key-shaped pendants, inspired by Ruby's necklace, becomes an instant hit. Harriet struggles with a conflict of her own: Because of her independence, she is reluctant to form a relationship with Reggie, who owns the kiosk next to her. Throughout the story Ruby becomes suspicious about Nate's father, and eventually learns that he abuses Nate. Nate is defensive about this, and that leads to them fighting and breaking up. One day, Cora and Jamie inform Ruby that the police had found her mother unconscious in a hotel room and was sent to a rehabilitation center. Later, Ruby finds out that Nate has run away, but finds him in an apartment room that she and Nate had visited while she was tagging along with him on his job. Ruby drives Nate to the airport when he decides to leave his father to live with his mother. After a sudden realization, she takes the key to the yellow house off its chain, replaces it with the key to Cora and Jamie's house, and hands the necklace to Nate. At the end of the school year, Ruby gives her English report on the meaning of family. For evidence, she shows two pictures, both of family. The first was of Jamie's huge family, while the second was taken at Ruby's eighteenth birthday party. After trying for months, Cora learns she is finally pregnant, and Ruby is accepted to the same university as Nate. She wants to write a letter to her mother, but not knowing what to say, simply mails a copy of her acceptance letter. At the end of the novel, she stands in the backyard, and as Cora and Jamie are calling for her to leave for her graduation, she takes out the old key to the yellow house from the pocket of her robe and drops it into the koi pond. Sarah Dessen conducted an interview with the blog The Sarah Dessen Diarist.[1] RUBY chose abuse and neglect as a key theme as she "...was really interested in taking on a different type of narrator. Most of my girls are from upper middle class families, living in pretty solid environments. I was intrigued by taking a girl who WASN'T like that at all and dropping her into this whole new world. I liked the idea that you'd think it would solve all her problems—having a roof over her head, money, a family—but that it actually brought up a whole other set to deal with. Also, I liked the idea of my narrator having to sort of "save" someone else in order to save herself." Another key theme was family. It started out with Ruby not knowing the true meaning of family, only thinking that it meant people related by blood or marriage. So in Ruby's mind, the only family she had was her mother and her sister. But by the end of the book, Ruby realized that family is not only relatives, it's everyone who takes care of you, anyone who you trust, anyone who loves you. The concept of the English project sprung from her want to "...focus on the idea of family, and I thought it would be an interesting way to get Ruby thinking about it without it seeming too forced. Plus I really liked the idea of how everyone would have different definitions for the word, and in giving them, they'd be sort of defining themselves, as well." The song, Angel of Montgomery, allowed Dessen to "...get down the character of Ruby's mom. There's a certain sadness, and tiredness, in that song, and the woman speaking in it, and it really reminded me of what I was trying to/444455 to with Ruby's mom. I often will have a song that brings to mind a character, or helps fill them out a bit." The interview went into further detail with questions regarding character choices and inspirations for themes.
Locksmiths in South Melbourne offer a highly demanded service, which generally relates to maintaining and installing the various types of lock systems, from the standard key locks to the complex electronic or biometric locks. The most common types of locksmith professions consist of the emergency, industrial, commercial, and residential, which each of the specific fields requiring different skills and abilities.
Residential work is likely to be the most common of the services provided by a residential locksmith. A domestic property owner looks at personal security and safety as a key reason when it comes to making sure a home is fully secured against a would-be intruder. A locksmith has gained the experience and knowledge to suggest the most effective locks for a properties doors and windows. Beyond the ability to install new locking systems, the locksmith is also able to repair or replace the locks on the older styled properties. Extra services offered by a local locksmiths offer security advice, a key cutting service, installing locks on a garage or similar outbuilding, and installing at-home safes or vaults.
How Do I Choose A Residential Locksmith in South Melbourne?
Changing LocksMany enquiries that locksmiths receive, are about the cost to change locks.Often, clients are meaning to inquire as to just changing the combinations of their existing locks, so they can maintain the same hardware on their doors.Or when the keys to their house, office or automobile have been misplaced, stolen or even copied unknowingly (suspected), they experience the need to re-code their locks. Also many new home buyers or new tenants want to make sure that previous residents of their property can no longer gain entry.Locksmiths across the country vary greatly in their fees. There are accepted industry averages published in locksmith publications like The National Locksmith magazine and the Locksmith Ledger magazine annually, but the going rate can vary from around $5.00 per keyhole to as much as $20.00 per keyhole for residential or commercial door locks and from $10.00 to $35.00 for automobile locks. Often this does not include labor for the removal and refitting of locks.Master-keying is another charge that most locksmiths charge slightly higher fees for. Often, specialist products like Medeco or Multlock or Primus or Best or Assa or Abloy or Bilock products can incur significantly increased fees due to the higher cost for the pin or disc tumblers.Altering the lock combinations on your doors is very important to maintaining your peace of mind, the security and privacy of your family members, fellow workers etc.There are multiple brands that offer key control to further protect from unauthorised duplication of your keys. Contacting your local locksmith is the best option to determine the most suitable and cost effective approach.Car Locksmiths
Locksmithing is a profession that has been there since man learnt the importance of security and privacy. It is a profession that mainly deals with the working of keys and locks. In older days it was hard to find a qualified locksmith but with the change in time and technology this has become a desired profession for many. There are locksmiths who are company based and others choose the option of becoming a freelancer. Though some people are just naturally talented, training is still required so as to have the qualified skills. Since keys are prone to get lost and locks do malfunction sometimes, professionals are always available to help you sort out the problem. Finding a reputable individual or company is usually tough mainly due to the issue of trust. Before hiring a specific professional you should consider several factors and take several steps so as to find one that suites you.Steps to take in hiring a locksmithThere are several steps involved but I am going to highlight the important steps. These steps are necessary for non-emergency situations. The steps are; Determine the nature of the problem; some are direct like the loss of a key but others require vigilance for example lock malfunctioning. It can also be that you simply want to duplicate the key. Get referrals from friends and family; once you determine the type of service that you require from the locksmith it becomes easier to search for one. It is more advisable that you choose one that has already worked for your friends and family since a level of trust has already been built. It can also be easier to look for one on the internet. Compare different locksmiths' according to charges and the services offered; try and find one that is cheap but still efficient in the work that he does. Those closer to your own location will absolutely charge less than one who doesn't. Check his or her identifications; every locksmith should be licensed so make a point of checking his license and identification number. He should also ask for some proof from you to prove that the house or car is yours. Sign an agreement; in this agreement both parties should sign and the key things that it should involve is the charges and an ultimatum in the case that he fails to fix the problem. Be on guard; unless you hired somebody from a reputable company, always be there as he works because you will never be too sure on the intentions of the stranger you just called in the middle of an emergency.