Restricted Key-Way Lockout

Lockout services are the most common when it comes to the work an average locksmith does throughout his years in the field. Most are fairly simple, no hassle type of lockouts, but there are few exceptions. Out of residential, automotive, or commercial lockout services, commercial would be the hardest even for the above average experience locksmith technician. Most businesses are equipped with high security commercial grade lock or other types of unique security lock system which may be nearly impossible to hack without damaging it such as restricted key-way lock system. Restricted key-way lock will incorporate a unique combination inside it joined with a unique key that will not be possible to duplicate by any other professional except the certified locksmith who installed it. Most of the time, this type of lock system will even be pick proof depending on the type of cylinder being used.

Few years ago I remember getting a call from a local store where the customer claimed he has lost the key. He didn't give too much information on the phone, but from what I could tell, the store was probably equipped with a Mortise type lock. I took the customer's information and I was on my way to his store. Once I got to the customer's location, I did a quick inspection of the lock and saw it was a Mortise type lock as I suspected. I grabbed my pick tool set from the van and quickly started to work on unlocking the door. For some reason, I was not able to get ahead much with picking, so I decided to go with an alternative and just drill the plug.

Unfortunately, as I examined the lock a little closer, I suspected it was a restricted key-way plug which meant it would have taken a few weeks for a new plug to arrive which wasn't an option at that point. I decided to call a fellow Reno locksmith technician which I knew had more experience than I did working with commercial type locks. Once I got him on the phone and explained the situation, he said there might be a way to avoid drilling and damaging the restricted key-way plug.

The process started by inserting an uncut key blank into the key-way and drilling a small hole just above the plug which will drill through all six pins. Next, I had to remove the blank and use one of the pick from my set to push the bottom pins which allowed me to turn the plug and unlock the door. All I had to do after the door opened was to replace the cylinder shell I drilled with a nother one and re-key the plug.    

Automotive Broken Key Extraction Service

See full list on Listly

Buick Trunk Key

Originating an automotive key level of difficulty may vary from model to model. Some models uses the same key for the door, trunk and ignition while others have two separate set of keys one for the ignition and the other for the rest of the vehicle. Sometimes, if a vehicle is equipped with a "master-key" it does not mean necessarily that the combination is exactly the same for all the locks in the vehicle. It can be that the glove box(if equipped), door lock and ignition cylinder will have the same cuts, but not the same amount. This fact sometimes will make it harder on a locksmith technician to originate a key. However, most experienced locksmith technicians with many years of experience in the field still have few tricks underneath their sleeves.

Few years ago, I remember getting a call from a customer who needed a key to the door and trunk of his 1988 Buick LaSabre. I did a lot of older GM models during my time and I knew I would not be able to get the codes to make that key neither from the dealer or the automotive key database I was subscribed to. The only way I could have generated the key was using the door lock. Since I knew it won't be such a big deal getting the door lock out to make the key, I decided to accept the job.

Once I got to the customer's home where the car was parked, I grabbed my tools and started working on removing the door panel, so I can the door lock out  in order to get the stamped code. As I started taking the bolts and trims holding the door panel to the door, I ran into couple of bolts that simply did not want to budge. After working on them for several minutes, I decided to stop wasting any time and started thinking of another solution.

At that point, the only solution I could think of was getting the 4 cuts out of the glove box lock and progress the other 2 to make the key. However, back then I did not have much experience progressing, so I had to call a more experienced Reno locksmith friend of mine for help. Once I got him on the phone and told him the story, he mentioned that progressing the extra 2 cuts won't be necessary since the glove box lock actually built with all 6 wafers. I did not believed him and wen to check for myself. Imagine my surprised as I finished taking apart the lock from the glove box and saw for myself it was a 6 cut lock just as the other locks in the vehicle. I then immediately moved on to decode the wafers, made a new key for the customer and assembled the glove box lock back together.  

Double Cylinder Deadbolt

See full list on Listly

Dodge Caravan Key Make

As a locksmith technician sometimes you learn the hard way how to do things. Originating a key for a vehicle can be a simple process or complicated depending on the year make and model of the vehicle. Most vehicles have a code stamped on the door lock cylinder or ignition. However, taking apart a door lock or and ignition cylinder is not always a good option, especially if the customer does not have a key at all which on some models is required in order to pull the ignition out.

I remember few years ago I got a call from a customer to make a key for his 1996 Dodge Caravan. Back then I didn't do many of these types of vans, but I did have some experience working with the Chrysler version which is very similar. I knew it might take me some time to do the job, but since I didn't have another job on me at that day, I decided to take it anyway.

When I got to the customer's home where the vehicle was parked, I carefully reviewed my options and tried to figure out what would be the best way to tackle it in order to get the job done as quick as possible without damaging anything. I knew that the only way I could have made a key for this vehicle was to get the stamped code from either the door lock or the ignition. My other option was impressioning, but as far as I remembered, the tumblers inside the lock in these models are so delicate that they can actually get damaged in the process.

Since the ignition switch on this type of vehicle required a key in order to pull it out, I had to go with my other option getting the code from the door lock. As I started taking the door panel off I ran into some stubborn studs that did not want to come out of place. I struggled with it for about 10 minutes before giving up and started looking for another way.

In the process of finding a different way, I called another Reno locksmith friend of mine for advice. He mentioned something about using an EEZ-Reader tool. I was not familiar with that particular tool at that time, so he actually offered to come and help me. Once my locksmith technician friend got to the customer's home, it took him exactly 5 minutes to get the proper cuts to make a new key with the EEZ-Reader tool and all of that without leaving any damage to the lock.

File cabinet Lockout

See full list on Listly

Capri Key Origination

As a locksmith technician, I find that making a key to a vehicle can be a really easy task or hassle sometimes. Nowadays, for most make and model automobiles, in order to make a key from scratch, all that is needed is getting a code from the locksmith database software system using the VIN number. However, in the "old days" and even for some models pre 2000, there were two options that are still in use today for originating a key. The first one is impressioning which can be somewhat of a headache as this method works on 50% guessing the cuts that needed to make the key. The second one is by code as well except that the code will need to be retrieved from the cylinder itself. This mean taking apart the steering column for ignitions or door panels and mechanism for the door lock. Even though it may sound time consuming, it will still be much easier and more accurate than impressioning.

I got a call the other day from a customer who wanted a new key mad for his 93 Mercury Capri. He claimed that he can't find the key he had anywhere in his house, so he would need a new key originated from scratch. I didn't have much experience working with these types of models before, but I did make a key for a similar Ford model before, so I decided to accept the job. As far as I remember, making a key to the Ford model did not involve any type of issue, and I recall making a new key successfully.

When I arrived to the customer's address, I ran a quick review of my locksmith key origination book to get some information on the key blank that I needed and the series number that was required in addition to the code in order to make the new key. Since it was mentioned in the book that the same key supposedly will operate all the locks in the vehicle including the ignition, I figured I could take apart only the lock on the door to read most of the cuts and then use the series information to complete the cuts to operate the ignition.

After I finished taking apart the door panel and all the necessary components that were on the way of accessing the lock to read the code, I was able to retrieve it and started to make the new key. Once I finished making the key, I started testing it around the vehicle starting from the door locks, trunk and finally the ignition. When I got to the ignition, I noticed that I couldn't get the key inside it properly to turn it. After few minutes playing with it, I realized its not going to work and I called a fellow Reno locksmith of mine for advice.

When I got my technician friend on the phone, he mentioned that he had encounter this type of issue with these older Capri models. He then said that the issue is in the key blank. Apparently, the part that was closest to the head was not narrow like on the original key and needed to be file a bit in order for the key to fit properly in the ignition. And so I did. I filed the part closest to the head from both sides and surprisingly I was able to insert the key successfully to the ignition and start the vehicle. It seem as this issue is only related to these Mercury models as I haven't had any problems using the same blank on other manufacture models such as Ford or Mazda.