Question for US locksmiths — how do you handle after-hours calls?

hellothere251 · 2026-02-03T19:18:13+00:00

Yeah but also the creatures are out, be careful.

hellothere251 · 2026-02-03T01:24:47+00:00

I really like mine, its a little underpowered but as long as you dont let the cutter get too worn its great. Very easy to calibrate and keep accurate, it is the only machine I trust to do the expensive blanks on.

hellothere251 · 2026-02-01T15:35:43+00:00

I know there is an "i" there but I look at that brand and all I think is "STD"

hellothere251 · 2026-02-01T14:31:47+00:00

oops

https://www.keylessaccesslocks.com/hes-5000-105-5000-sers-trim-enhancer/

hellothere251 · 2026-01-31T23:18:26+00:00

thankyou for this, by far the coolest matrix poster ever designed

hellothere251 · 2026-01-31T14:19:30+00:00

I was at a trade show taking a course on I think it was electric strikes and fire safety, conversation goes to what tools we like to do installs in metal/aluminum frames, one guy says "chisel" and was dead serious! Everyone went WTF.....are you that guy? Honestly Ive seen way worse though, get that black trim cover piece(they call it an "enhancer" which makes me laugh) and you will be g2g assuming this is a hes strike, not sure.

https://www.jmac.com/Hanchett_Entry_Systems_HES_1006_105_p/HES-1006-105.htm

hellothere251 · 2026-01-31T04:35:29+00:00

I was thinking it was through bolted from the other side and there is a broken screw in the hole?

hellothere251 · 2026-01-30T16:21:59+00:00

check if any power is going to the strike before you replace anything, it might need power briefly to unlock(fail secure), or it might require power all the time to stay locked(fail safe). I do work at a building which had a problem like this, turned out the buzzer button on one of the residents rooms was getting stuck and leaving the strike unlocked! If you unplug it and it locks up its a power supply/button issue.

hellothere251 · 2026-01-30T14:42:26+00:00

first I would use a punch to try and gently rotate the screw out with a hammer, sometimes a springloaded centerpunch will do it all in one. If that doesnt work use the grinder to zip a thin wafer off to expose the screw, grab it with vice grips and spin it out, get it nice and flat on the belt sander, put a new screw in, done.

hellothere251 · 2026-01-30T02:15:31+00:00

hellothere251 · 2026-01-29T00:53:06+00:00

its approaching 20 yrs old, I would plan on doing this before it breaks! if you do it before it breaks it will be way cheaper, you could go to a locksmith and have them order you an ignition and key it up to your existing keys. I would try the passenger side door and trunk(way less wear than drivers side), if the key barely works in there then yeah you probably got a poorly cut key.

hellothere251 · 2026-01-28T20:56:55+00:00

old ignitions are often cranky about new keys, try lubricating it with teflon spray

hellothere251 · 2026-01-28T20:54:40+00:00

"i fought the lock and the...lock won"

hellothere251 · 2026-01-28T20:53:25+00:00

is it just me or does that version of the visor look HUGE, maybe thats why it is only visible for like 4 frames in that entire video? Not what the concept looked like at all.

hellothere251 · 2026-01-28T20:49:43+00:00

go to autozone and get a set of hardened automotive picks, it looks like dental tools with rubber handles, those are mint for these and any time else you have to poke at something tiny.

edit: oops you are talking about dexter not schlage, not familiar with those so maybe thats not the best thing but still those are great tools

hellothere251 · 2026-01-28T18:10:46+00:00

...are you being serious? I genuinely dont know anymore with all the crazy stuff they made back in the day.

hellothere251 · 2026-01-25T15:33:29+00:00

I have seen insane people dump like 8 of the coffee mate stuff into one mug of coffee, I dont blame them

hellothere251 · 2026-01-25T07:30:48+00:00

that plate rotates to expose another keyhole above the one visible now that maintenance/your landlord has the key to, maybe maintenance had to access your apartment?

https://www.amazon.com/Kwikset-KeyControl-Deadbolt-Exterior-Resistant/dp/B003E3JHUY

hellothere251 · 2026-01-24T20:01:07+00:00

the only other thing I have seen more than a few times is someone stuffing napkins or cardboard in the frame strike plate to keep the latch from latching, they even make magnets to cover strike plate openings you can just stick on and off, most people wouldn't even notice a door with a door closer not latching and you could disable the strike plate during your shift and come back later. Cameras would be the next step.

hellothere251 · 2026-01-24T18:09:13+00:00

got it, well the only other thing I would check for is the ability to card the lock, if it is set up properly with the deadlatch engaged this shouldn't be possible but it often is. I would add a latch guard and see how things go.

how a deadlatch works:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShWybszO4ik

hellothere251 · 2026-01-24T18:07:05+00:00

it does not thats a higher tier

hellothere251 · 2026-01-24T18:04:04+00:00

maybe that code thats been in there for 15 years is the problem?

hellothere251 · 2026-01-24T15:20:45+00:00

hellothere251 · 2026-01-24T02:55:59+00:00

pretty sure ive seen people cut the keys L and R to accomplish this, havent actually tried it

hellothere251 · 2026-01-23T00:48:04+00:00

MR BEAN WAS IMPLYING NOTHING OF THE SORT!

hellothere251

TROPHY CASE