Essential Tools For Today’s Locksmith

Kwikset knoblock cylinder removal tool – This simple tool (Kwikset Part number 80152) is almost impossible to live without if you have to work on Kwikset locks. I know that this may seem silly to some of you, but I have spoken to more than one newbie who was utterly baffled trying to remove the cylinder from a Kwikset knoblock. These tools are just too essential to live without, and they are so cheap you can afford to have one on every workbench and in every toolbox. If you don’t have one get one!

Mortise Cylinder Tap & Die Set – This is another very basic tool that many beginners fail to appreciate until they need one. With a cylinder tap and die set, you can clean up damaged threads on lock cylinders and on door locks. This kind of damage happens when would-be thieves use a brute force attack, or a “Mr. Fixit” type gets carried away trying to save money by not using your services. These sets are not cheap, but there is simply nothing else out there that will do the job.

X-Out Damaged Screw Removal Sets – These tools allow you to remove damaged screws quickly and easily with a cordless drill. They are great for breaking loose damaged Philips head screws without damaging whatever the screw is securing. They also work well on many of the so called “tamper-proof” screws that we run into all the time. They are available from Sears and the “Big box” stores as well as many locksmith distributors.

LAB Cylinder Cap Removal Tool – This is another essential tool that I hope you already have. This tool is used to remove the cylinder end caps from Schlage, Weiser, and many imported locks. It is a hollow double-ended tool that can slip over the tail-shaft of most deadbolt locks to remove the end cap while simultaneously depressing the locking pin that holds it in place. This is another tool that is just too useful and too inexpensive to live without.

Wedgeco 3000 Broken Key Extractor Set – This simple set of broken key extraction tools contains all that you need to deal with the most stubborn broken keys. The kit includes several spiral key extractors that can be inserted into the keyway and wormed into place so that you can pull the broken piece of key out. But, the really clever part of this set is the special spreader pliers that are designed to hold the wafers out of the way on double-sided locks. These pliers are spring-loaded into the open position and have very narrow tips that will slide deep into most keyways. Understand though that the pliers are designed more to spread the tumblers apart that to pull the key out. If you put too much force on the narrow tips you will damage a very useful tool.

SAFES AND VAULTS

The Spikemaster II– This tool allows you to unlock a variety of electronic safe locks with little or no drilling. My locksmith friends who work on electronic safelocks all agree that one of the most useful tools you can have for electronic locks that have been attacked, or have failed, is the Spikemaster II from Mike Yarberry and Lockmasters, Inc. This tool set works through the spindle hole, so drilling is usually eliminated. The kit includes probes for the most common locks, as well as a well made DVD that shows you how to use each component of the kit. And as new locks are introduced, or new methods developed, the kit is updated.

Safe Deposit Nose / Door Puller kit – These are available from a variety of sources including HPC and Lockmasters, Inc. You can buy them one component at a time or as complete kits that do everything. You absolutely cannot do serious safe deposit work without the ability to pull noses and / or doors. In my opinion, smaller is better for both nose pullers and door pullers. You will have a lot of trouble using the larger units on small doors or on doors that are on the edge of the nest. Door pullers also need to have an effective way to spread out the force that is used, either to several doors or preferably the frame of the nest. You never want to hear that gut-wrenching crunch as an adjacent door is crushed while the door you were trying to pull hasn’t budged. I did a series of Safe Deposit DVDs a while back and Lockmasters, Inc. offers their “Neutralization Kit either with or without these DVDs. If you are new to safe deposit work, or plan to train new employees, I strongly recommend these DVDs.