You know that saying, “Superheroes are cool, but they’re no locksmiths”?
No?
Well, much like a superhero, a Locksmith appears in your hour of need to save you from a sticky situation. However, their arsenal of tools look a little different. Instead of shields and weapons, Locksmiths have their own gadgets to help them get the job done; whether that’s picking, installing, repairing, or replacing locks.
We know we’ve covered this once before with a previous post, but we’re always on the lookout to keep our readers up-to-date with the latest and greatest tools in the industry. If we’ve mentioned something twice, it’s because that’s just how important that particular tool is.
Here’s your guide to a few of the most common- and most useful- tools in a Locksmith’s toolkit:
1. Handheld scopes
A closer look allows for more precision and efficiency on the job, and as a large portion of a locksmith’s job takes place on a microscopic level, scopes are integral in their tool bag. Utilising a scope allows the locksmith to view what is typically obscured from view; enabling them to read wafer locks and see inside of locking mechanisms.
For wafer readings, most scopes used are variations of an ‘Otoscope’ or ‘Ophthalmoscope’, which are the types of devices doctors use to look inside your ears and eyes respectively. For safe openings, however, more locksmiths use a ‘Borescope’. These tools use a probe, which the locksmith will insert through a small hole in the safe, and use the lens and light to see the source of the problem.
2. Lock picks
As lockouts are some of the most common jobs they encounter, lock picks sets are vital instruments in the Locksmith’s tool bag. A lock pick set will consist of a variety of items, such as rakes, diamonds, hooks, ball picks and tension tools. With a well compiled set, and a lot of skill and experience, a locksmith is armed to tackle any lock they encounter.
3. Pick guns
Pick guns are an increasingly popular tool among locksmiths to assist them in opening locks. As opposed to traditional hand picks, pick guns can quickly level the lock pins to the shear line with a pull of the trigger. Although they aren’t necessarily a ‘quick fix solution’, and plenty of skill is still required to operate them, pick guns can offer a faster and more efficient approach to picking locks.
4. Plug spinners
Due to the fact locks can be picked in either direction, locksmiths often find that they have picked a lock in the opposite direction than intended. In cases like these, a locksmith can employ the use of a plug spinner to rotate the interior of the lock without having to re-pick it. Sometimes, this is also used strategically for locks that are easier to pick in the wrong direction. The locksmith will purposefully pick the lock in the opposite direction, then use a plug spinner to shift to the correct direction and open the lock.
5. Broken key extractors
Although it happens less frequently than a lockout, it is not uncommon for keys to break off inside the lock, particularly after years of wear and tear. In situations like these, an extractor is used to withdraw the broken key from the keyway, utilising a series of fine blades. Each blade is equipped with a small hook on the end to fish the broken key fragments out from within the lock.
With the rising popularity of ‘smart’ digital locks, however, it seems more and more of locksmiths’ jobs revolve around installing these smart locks. In these cases, they seem to find themselves reaching for their more traditional tools, like drills, chisels, and hammers. And while electronic locks eliminate the problem of your key breaking off inside, locksmiths are still often called upon to fix digital locks when they are jammed, or with faulty deadbolts.
Our locksmiths use only the finest quality tools in order to deliver the finest quality work, while keeping up to date on the newest in locksmith technology. Contact Hashtag Locksmiths today for workmanship you can trust.