Locksmiths have a wide range of potential skills, and lock picking is a skill they have in theory, but in practice, it varies greatly depending on the type of work they do. In practice, locksmiths that need to know how to pick locks likely will know how.
The Legality of Lock Picking
The reality is that in most states, as long as you're not trying to illegally enter someone's home with your lock pick set, you can legally own, carry, and use lock picking tools.
The average cost to hire a locksmith is $157. You can expect to pay between $98 and $217, depending on the type of service. For example, to change locks for your home, the cost can run anywhere from $50 to $200, depending on how many locks you have, the level of security, and the kind of lock you want.
With the right tools and the proper training, a locksmith can have your door opened in no time. Locksmiths have the tools needed to get into your home no matter the situation. Unfortunately, this also means that almost anyone can pick your lock if they know what they're doing.
A bump key can open any lock that it fits into. It's helpful to have in your pocket if you ever lose your keys, because it can open your door lock and your deadbolt, even if they normally require seperate keys.
Unfortunately, you can not unlock a deadbolt with a credit card. Credit cards will only work with slanted-latch-style locks. Furthermore, the slant of the latch must be facing you so that you may press it in using your card.
Locksmiths are expensive because they have the technical training and expertise to do jobs that most other people can't do. They're also available 24/7 which means they can charge extra if it's outside of normal business hours.
To do this, unfold the large edge of your paperclip twice until a straight portion juts out. You will be inserting the straight part into the lock to use as a pick. Some locksmiths also put a tiny upward bend into the tip of the pick. This is to depress the pins inside the lock but is not strictly necessary.
Rekeying your lock is almost always cheaper than replacing a lock. This is because of the cheaper price of the key pins inside the locks, whereas when you replace a lock, you are paying for all brand-new parts.
Basic Lock Picking Tools
You'll need two tools: a lock pick and a torque wrench. The purpose of the lock pick is to push the pins to the shear line. There are of course a ton of different styles of picks that can be used and each of them utilizes their own technique.
When you rekey a lock by yourself, you will need to purchase a rekey kit that is specific to your brand of doorknob, lever, or deadbolt. You will receive several keys (often between three and six keys), all identically cut.
You can rekey all of your locks to match an existing key when the locks all have the same keyway. You can test if the locks use the same keyway by taking the existing key you want to use and seeing if it slides into the keyholes of the locks you want to match that key.
Rekeying a lock does not hurt the security of the lock, nor does it make it more secure. One of the factors that makes a lock secure is how many pins are inside of it. As long as the locksmith swaps the old 5 pins with 5 new ones, the lock will remain just as secure as it was before.
The bobby pins will serve as a pick and a lever so you can successfully open the door. In choosing the bobby pins, make that they are sturdy so that they won't break once you start picking the lock. The size of the bobby pins will also depend on the size of your lock.
Locksmiths on average earn around £30,000 per annum; this number of course varies widely on the number of hours or jobs you choose to work. A number of our Locksmiths work longer than usual hours during the week and take home much more than that a year.
To unlock a privacy lock you'll need a flathead screwdriver that is small enough to fit into the hole on the doorknob. Insert your screwdriver into the hole and push forward. If your doorknob is using a push-button type privacy lock, then you should hear a loud click and the door will open.
Home Depot will rekey locks such as Schlage, Kwikset, doorknobs, deadbolts, single and double cylinders for $5 to $15 per lock. If your local store does not offer the service, you may purchase a rekey kit or visit Lowe's or Ace Hardware. Home Depot does not rekey car locks as they often require specialized technology.
If you have a traditional pin and tumbler lock, rekeying isn't as difficult as it sounds. First, you'll need to purchase a rekey kit for the brand of lock you have. The kit should contain various tools to aid in the lock's removal and a set of different sized pins.
How long does it take? As you imagine, lock rekeying might not be easy, but within 10 to 20 minutes, a locksmith with a great experience of dealing with all kinds of locks will be able to rekey a single lock.