Five Most Important Door Opening Tools for Your Locksmith Business

Even beyond adequate training and experience, so much goes into starting a locksmith business. There are many tools to buy, and some of the most essential are those that open doors. After all, the ability to open a door is the most basic of locksmith services. Let’s look at five essential tools that you must have for this service that you offer. 

Lock-Picking Tool Set

Picking a lock is one of the most basic skills that locksmiths have. You’ll use a lock-picking toolset to open traditional doors, such as doors to a home, some businesses, and even some older vehicles. 

These sets come in a wide range, starting with an essential jackknife set like this one from KLOM or an inexpensive beginner’s set. You can also find a more professional multi-piece set such as this one from Pro-Lok.

Broken Key Extractor

Another very common call that locksmiths receive is to extract a broken key that’s become lodged inside a lock. To get it out, you’ll need a broken key extractor. You can buy a basic bundled set or a multi-size tool like this interchangeable set.  

Tubular Pick

This kind of lock pick opens a tubular lock or an Ace lock. These types of locks are higher security and thus sometimes preferred for businesses and safe rooms inside homes. The keys are usually circular and non-traditional, and therefore require a different kind of pick.

You can purchase an inexpensive tubular pick for around $25, but most are pre-set for a specific number of pins. While many tubular locks are seven pins, your standard tubular pick won’t work if you encounter a lock with a different number of pins. It’s probably more worth your money to buy an adjustable tubular pick.

Key Decoder

Key decoders are extremely handy and essential tools for locksmiths. Without one, locksmiths have to guess and manually figure out the key’s “code” or pattern. This can be extremely difficult, time-consuming, and sometimes even impossible. It’s much simpler with a key decoder.

For traditional keys, these are relatively simple and inexpensive decoders. You merely measure the key against the decoder to decipher its pattern. That being said, you’ll also need one that works with “smart” car keys. These decoders read and reprogram the electronic signal that digital keys send to unlock and start cars.

Scope and Flashlight

You should plan on going out on calls at all hours of the day and night, which means that sometimes it will be hard to see where you’re working. That’s why carrying a reliable scope and flashlight (with plenty of batteries) is an absolute must.

Trust the Experts at UHS Hardware