Many people think that hairpins or old credit cards can be used to open a lock door. The truth is that you might just be basing what you know with what you actually see in movies. While you have tried using these tools to unlock your rooms when your keys are nowhere to be found, these will not guarantee a safe way of breaking in to your own room. It can damage the locks and the knobs. Hiring a locksmith will then be necessary.
Locksmiths are professionals and with that description, it is pretty much safe to assume that they know their jobs very well. These trained individuals understand the basics of repairing locks and with those in mind, they know their tools very well. They have specialised sets of equipment that will help them handle the repair job with the professionalism expected of them. Here are the tools that they commonly use:
Plug spinners
This is one of the tools used by locksmiths and is a perfect fit if you have reverting locks. The tool is named as such because it actually helps the locksmith return the plug to its usual or default position. Plug spinners will then be used to rotate, lift and move that plug accordingly so that it goes back to the unlocked position. It is also great to use for jammed locks. Locksmiths should be familiar with accurate positioning in different lock components for them to be able to use the plug spinner accordingly.
Computerised picks
Plug spinners are great for simple locking systems. If you have a complicated lock, however, what you will need are computerised picks. These tools are very much of help to the locksmith in that these help open more complicated and more secure lock system designs. One type of lock design that this tool will be of great use for is the combination lock system. Computerised picks are more technologically advanced than plug spinners. As proof to that, it has high-tech features that can configure up to 6 disc patterns and pins.
Key extractors
Key extractors are considered one of the handy tools any locksmith can make use of. These extractors are of great help if your keys have snapped into two thus making key parts stuck and wedge into the keyhole. Locksmiths can then depend on key extractors in removing any foreign material or broken key parts that may have stuck up the cylinders on your door locks.
Tension wrenches
The tension wrench is yet another tool that a locksmith can depend on. This is available in three different types that are used depending on the amount of pressure the locksmith needs to exert on the lock repair job. These categories range from light to medium to rigid. Locksmiths usually have all three and make use of these wrenches to apply turning pressure in order to access the shear line in the locked door. Tension wrenches are used with much caution; the locksmith handles it in controlled amounts of pressure.
Electric pick guns
Classified as an advanced tool, the electric pick gun is similar to the regular electric drills. Locksmiths used this electrically-powered small drill for hard-to-open locks. The drill size is flexible that it can be adjusted in different pick sizes. Adjustments can be made depending on the complexity of the lock repair job.
LAB locksmith lubes
The lube is a lubricant that is made out of DuPont Teflon Powder. The good thing about this lubricant is that it does not mould up at all. With that feature, it makes picking the lock easier. In fact, the locksmith will take the job comfortably since he no longer needs to deal with friction during the repair job.
Locksmith car light
The car light is especially helpful on the part of the locksmith if he has to deal with automotive locks. This guides the locksmith as he identifies the sensitive components in the door lock and sees how these components link to the rod guard plates. This can help minimise possibilities of wire tangles or panel damages.
Other special tools used by locksmiths
Apart from the tools mentioned above, there are yet other specialised forms of equipment that locksmiths make use of in performing their repair jobs. Amongst these special tools are the keycheck, locksmith tweezers and turners, prybars, key decoders, pinning blocks, lock and safe scopes, key machines, key blanks and gas cap key. Magnetic hammers and common nail hammers are also popular tools on their list. Other tools are those used for cylinder cap removal and in dealing with window crank.
The tools mentioned above are those that only professional locksmiths know how to handle. They are guaranteed to help locksmiths with their repair jobs while at the same time ensuring you, as customers, that your needs will be met after the repair has been done. Now that you know these basic and advanced tools, there is no reason to fear that your locksmith is not doing the right thing.