Locksmith

Locksmith

Josh-the-Locksmith

25 Years Experience

Austin, TX

Male, 46

I've been a locksmith since 1998. I did automotive residential & commercial work from 1998 to 2008. From 2008 to 2018, I did some residential, but mostly commercial work. I have been project managing & estimating since 2018. I used to locksmith in the Chicago area, now the Austin area.

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329 Questions

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Last Answer on June 11, 2024

Best Rated

I bought a new entryway knob and dead bolt set. I installed it but the doorknob only turns 1 way. I am now trying to remove it to see what the problem might be but I cannot depress the detent to remove the knob.

Asked by Shannon Balaski over 4 years ago

I wish I knew what brand it was. You probably put it together wrong. Could be why you can’t get it apart too.

I purchased a Brinks Padlock after a break in at my storage unit. A month later the key fit but the key will not turn. Could it be a different lock? How can I get it open?

Asked by Mona about 4 years ago

Yea it’s possible it’s a different lock. Management might know something about it, or it’s always possible you have the wrong key, or someone open & replaced it with another padlock. Lots of possibilities really. Mgmt might have a way to cut the padlocks off, or you can hire a locksmith to pick the lock or cut/drill it off.

Which deadlock comes closest to offering all the same various burglarproof features that the ASSA 7000 has? I particularly would like one with ball bearings in the bolt. I bought the ASSA 7000 but it's too big for the door, so I'd like the next best.

Asked by Gary Ogan over 3 years ago

You say it’s too big for the door. How so? Is your door too thin? If so, you need adapter plates. That’s going to be the case for any equivalent. If your door has a different backset, say 2-3/8” instead of 2-3/4”, you either need to adjust the deadbolt latch, or purchase the correct backset. Depends on brand. If the hole in your door is 1-1/2” in cross bore, you need to get it drilled out to a 2-1/8”. Those high security deadbolts have some flexibility, but not a ton. They are pretty particular as to how they fit, and they’re all pretty similar.

Have you ever asked someone a question on here? If so do you mind saying what it was?

Asked by QUESTION TO ALL over 4 years ago

Never

I had a quick question on how I purchase a key blank that has do not duplicate And have my key matched to it?

Asked by Nate over 4 years ago

“Do not duplicate” is nothing more than an honor system. It’s can be a normal every day house key with the words “do not duplicate” stamped on it. Some go as far as to have different key heads, or “bows”. At that point it’s up to the person working at the store on whether they want to duplicate the key or not. True key control is done through a patented key system such as Medeco M3, Schlage Primus, or Mul-T-Lock. Some require special machines to cut the keys, some don’t.

I have a locked box with the code on the lock HHL on one side and 551 on the other. Can you tell me anything about this code, so I can maybe get a replacent key. It's a nice box and i hate to throw it in the recycle bin.

Asked by Jondo over 3 years ago

I’m sorry, that is not enough information to go off of. HHL isn’t a brand I’m familiar with. If you want to see if you can salvage it, take it to a walk-in lock shop, they might be able to make a key to it. I would ask them for a price first, it might not be worth your money depending on what the worth is of the box. I would guess if they can do it, the cost would be around $30.

Can you tell me if I can program an aftermarket key fob myself for a remote start car?

Asked by Dreya over 3 years ago

Unfortunately don’t know anything about remote starts. Locksmiths don’t work on those very often.