Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Nov 7, 2010
Opening Vehicles Equipped With Side Impact Airbags Cars are always changing. The controversy of airbag use and their application in vehicles is a topic that is currently being hotly debated in automotive industry, the government, the press and in public opinion. Side impact airbags are a valid concern for locksmiths and should be understood before proceeding with any car opening. It is not an issue that will go away soon. SRS The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) began to appear in the steering wheels of domestic and foreign cars in the early 90’s.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Nov 7, 2010
Don’t get locked out! Follow these rules: Keep a spare key. If you are traveling with your spouse, get in the habit of both spouses having their key even though you are traveling together. This is a good habit that will ensure that one or both of you have a key to open and operate your vehicle no matter what happens during your trip. Especially with modern, transponder equipped keys, it is very important that you have at least one spare key.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Nov 7, 2010
This simply is not possible with modern computer and transponder equipped vehicles. Depending on the year, make and model of car you have, it can be quite costly to replace a key that operates your vehicle. Key replacement is not so simple as giving the VIN, or vehicle identification number to a locksmith, as many people seem to think it is. In years past, it may have been the easiest course of action for a locksmith that was making a first key for a vehicle, but it is no longer the case.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Wed, Jun 16, 2010
Never hide keys above the door header, or under the door mat. Never hide keys around the outside of your home. Keep your keys in your possession at all times. Be aware of bump keys and how easy it is for anyone to obtain them. Upgrade your locks or rekey them to render them bump resistant. Render bump keys useless by upgrading your most vulnerable doors to high security locks that include secondary locking designs that cannot be compromised by bump keys.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Fri, Apr 30, 2010
Safe Opening Safe Opening by Side Drilling or Top Drilling Safe opening by side drilling or top drilling safes can often be the most efficient of safe opening methods. Other than safe lock manipulation, front drilling is often the preffered method of safe opening. When a safe lock failure requires that the safe be drilled, it does not necessarily mean you must approach the safe opening from the front. Safe opening by side drilling or top drilling may be your best safe opening method, depending on the safe lock and the construction of the safe.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Fri, Apr 23, 2010
Class 6 GSA Red Label Container Safe Opening Safe Opening Techniques Is a Class 6 GSA Red Label Container safe opening difficult? It is not too difficult if you have performed a proper safe identification, use the right safe tools and use the proper safe opening techniques. You must first determine that you have a Class 6 GSA Red Label Container. Identify the external parts of the GSA container listed. Class 6 container drawer fronts will overlap the edges of the container body.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Fri, Apr 23, 2010
Identifying a Class 6 GSA Red Label Container First, let’s determine how would you identify a class 6 GSA Red Label Container. Safe identification can accomplished by identifying the external parts of the GSA container listed. Class 6 container drawer fronts will overlap the edge of the container body. If we look at the label on the control drawer, it will indicate to us wether we have a red label or black label container.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Mar 14, 2010
Master Locks Master Lock Products Master lock Company, a Unit of MasterBrand Industries, inc. is the world’s leading producer of padlocks. More than 1,500 employees are involved in the production of padlocks at an 800,000 sq. ft. facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Master Lock Company was founded in 1921 by a Wilwaukee locksmith, Hary Soref, who introduced the “Master laminated keyed padlock”. A warded padlock, operated by a stamped key, had a body assembled of steel plates.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Tue, Mar 2, 2010
Key Duplication Authorized Key Duplication Key duplication is something that all of us have had to do at one time or another, and in most cases, it is something that people want to do easily and without any complications. Many people enjoy the convenience of being able to duplicate keys that are readily available at home centers, hardware stores, wal-marts, dry cleaners, and neighborhood locksmith shops. The reason the keys are readily available is because the material used to cut the key with, the key blank, is readily available to the establishment cutting the keys.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Fri, Feb 19, 2010
Back Door Break in Prevention Back door break in prevention is often a difficult situation for store owners. Breaking in back doors, which constitute upwards of 80% of burglaries, has caused retailers, chain stores and restaurant owners to resort to many locking devices (barrier bars, slide bolts, padlocks, etc.) which are not connected to any panic hardware. Use of locking devices which disallow proper egress from a building without a key and without any prior knowledge of how to unlock the door from inside violates basic fire and life safety codes and puts building occupants at risk.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Fri, Feb 19, 2010
Modern Electric and Electronic Egress Options Electric and electronic locks have been separately controlled by card readers, push buttons and other devices for years, but have been limited in their use until solenoid bolt locks, shear locks and surface mount electromagnetic locks became popular. When much of the electric locking industry began to concentrate on the top of the door and frame, the electric or electronic egress mechanisms became distinctly separate from mechanical lock installations, resulting in two or three security components installed on the door instead of one.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Feb 14, 2010
Opening Malfunctioning Atrium Locks This is a common problem which will require the attention of a locksmith, and is your opportunity to rise to the challenge. First, don’t forget to rule out the possibility of opening the lock from the other side. Rule out all other doors as a means of entry and verify that access cannot be gained by using the other side of the door. What often causes the inoperability of these locks is poor alignment between latch bolt and/or dead bolt and strike, so take a moment to ask your customer if they remember having to push or pull on the door from the side you are standing.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sat, Feb 6, 2010
Amsec KPL 2000 electronic digital safe combination lock Changing from mechanical safe lock to electronic keypad safe lock The digital or electronic combination lock has often replaced the mechanical combination lock in new safes as standard equipment. The digital combination lock eliminates the need to rotate the dial to align the wheels of a mechanical safe combination lock and removes any need to remember which direction to turn a dial type safe combination lock.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sat, Feb 6, 2010
Safe Identification Safe Identification and Estimates for Safe Opening Safe Identification does bring to light that a picture truly is worth a thousand words. An expectation of many safe technicians to have an image of your safe in order to properly identify your safe and provide an estimate for a safe opening is not unreasonable. For safe identification purposes, it is helpful to be able to send an image of your safe in an email.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sat, Feb 6, 2010
Safe Deposit Locks - Key Changeable Key Changeable Safe Deposit Locks Safe deposit locks have been manufactured for many years but very few safe deposit locks have been more confusing than the Sargent and Greenleaf, Precision Products, and ILCO Unican key changeable safe deposit locks. The 4540 was the first key changeable safe deposit lock with a movable fence manufactured by Sargent & Greenleaf. Precision Products started to make their own version of the double key changeable safe deposit lock called the 5400 series.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Mon, Feb 1, 2010
MacLock 1500 Blade Locking System Residential High Security Locks without a Deadbolt The commercial and residential door locking hardware industry has produced some significant product improvements over the years. Interchangeable cores, cylindrical locksets, patented key systems and lifetime finishes have all provided increased value to end users over the years. Improvements in mechanical locking mechanisms have included improvements with regard to unauthorized key duplication, or key control. Key control is often not a primary concern of homeowners, whereas resistance to brute force attacks often is.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Jan 31, 2010
Power Assisted Door Closers The advent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 created many changes in the door and hardware industry. Power assisted door closers are one of the commercial door hardware products that evolved as a result of this legislation. The Americans with Disabilities Act placed broad emphasis on accessibility. The most sweeping change in door hardware came in the form of a lever handle, which provides increased access over the knob.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Jan 31, 2010
About SafeAndLock.com SafeAndLock.com is an online locksmith resource which allows access to both a public forum and restricted forum. Anyone is welcome to contribute an article or submit contributions to an article in order to better serve the public need for relevant locksmith information. The moderators of SafeAndLock.com are licensed locksmiths with at least 10 years in the field experience dealing with various different makes and models of commercial locking hardware, residential locking hardware, automotive locks, safes, and loss prevention in general.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Jan 31, 2010
Commercial Door Selection and Installation Selecting the correct door for any building is not an open and shut case. All aspects of the door must be considered, including its usage, frequency of use, size, finish, desired durability and required safety features, including fire ratings. When choosing the appropriate door, questions must be answered regarding its construction. Should it be aluminum, glass, steel, wood or composite? Should it be fire-rated or not?
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Jan 31, 2010
Electronic Access Controls Do you always need a door contact? In most applications, the low cost door contact is the only supervisory element that protects the investment made to control access to a door. The door lock and card reader (or keypad) provide security and prevent unauthorized entry only when the door is closed and locked. By means of a simple door contact, it is possible to monitor several door conditions such as: door forced open, door remains open, or left open too long after a valid access, door relocked by a schedule while still open, or a user was granted access but never actually entered (important for anti-passback applications).
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Jan 31, 2010
Electronic Access Controls Exit Detector or Exit Button ? Exit Detector The purpose of the exit detector is to detect an individual’s legitimate exit through a supervised door. The detector must capture the individual’s hand movement towards the door handle or panic bar, and prior to the actual opening of the door, warn the system of a pending exit. When the door opens, the system is able to discriminate between a valid exit and a forced entry.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Jan 31, 2010
Detex ECL 600 Exit Device Detex Corporation has introduced the ECL 600, a surface mounted, fire rated, latch bolt and dead bolt locking device that deters unauthorized entrance while allowing emergency egress. The Detex 600 has an automatic re-latching mechanism enabling the door to relatch upon closing. This Warnock Hersey Listed Grade 2 Fire Exit Hardware meets or exceeds ANSI/ BHMA A 156.3 standard for Exit Devices.The ECL 600 is code compliant with NFPA 101 Life Safety Codes.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Jan 31, 2010
Factory set combination for Kaba Ilco Unican Simplex series 1000 or 2000 model Pushbutton Combination Locks - Original combination for Simplex Locks out of box or New in Box The factory set combination for the Kaba Ilco Unican Simplex series 1000 or 2000 pushbutton locks is to press buttons 2 and 4 together, then press button 3. This is widely known and is the reason why you need to immediately change the out of box original combination for the Kaba Ilco Unican Simplex series 1000 and 2000 pushbutton locks.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Jan 31, 2010
Electronic Access Controls Card Readers, Keypads and Proximity Devices Should you use a card reader, keypad or both? The selection of reader and keypad combination affects the level of security at an entry point. Use of proximity devices may increase convenience, but have drawbacks in security as well. Keypad Only Generally, a keypad only installation is considered less secure than a reader only installation. The reason being that users may illegitimately lend their codes to another person but cannot prevent further use (in comparison to getting a card back) unless the code is changed.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Jan 31, 2010
Changing The Combination for Kaba Ilco Unican Simplex series 1000 or 2000 push button locks. The factory set combination for the Kaba Ilco Unican Simplex series 1000 or 2000 push button locks is to press buttons 2 and 4 together, then press button 3. This is widely known and is the reason why you need to immediately change the out of box combination for the Kaba Ilco Unican Simplex series 1000 and 2000 push button locks.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Jan 31, 2010
INSTRUCTIONS FOR RESETTING UNKNOWN COMBINATIONS FOR KABA ILCO UNICAN SIMPLEX 1000 AND 2000 PUSH BUTTON COMBINATION LOCKS These locks used to be known simply as “Simplex” Locks, sometimes referred to as “cypher locks”, or Unican series 1000 or series 2000 push button combination locks. Simplex locks then became Ilco Unican locks, therefore these locks could also be identified as Ilco Unican series 1000 or series 2000 push button combo locks. Ilco Unican is now Kaba, therefore these locks could also be identified as Kaba series 1000 or series 2000 pushbutton combo locks.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Jan 31, 2010
Kaba Ilco Unican Simplex 1000 or 2000 Push Button Lock Operation Testing the operation of the push button lock with factory set combination 1) Enter the factory-set combination: Depress buttons 2 and 4 at the same time, release both buttons. You should feel a slight click as each button is depressed. Now press button 3 only and release. 2) Turn the outside lever or knob until it stops and hold it there.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Jan 31, 2010
Bump Keys Bump keys are a very real security threat because they work How Bump Keys Work Bump keys are a very real threat, and are easily obtained on the internet. A bump key, when used effectively, will create a separation between the bottom pins and drivers in a pin tumbler lock, allowing the cylinder plug to turn. How bump keys work is the key is cut to all 9’s, or the deepest cuts called for in that particular manufacturer’s specifications.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Jan 31, 2010
DECORATIVE RESIDENTIAL HARDWARE Residential hardware can be much more than deadbolts and lock sets. In recent years, residential hardware has come along from the extremes of the lower-priced hardware used by tract builders to the higher-priced custom residential hardware used by speculation builders. Today, there are medium priced, good grades of hardware worth adding to your inventory of goods. Many homeowners would like to have a dead bolt installed or a lockset rekeyed.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Jan 31, 2010
SLIDING PATIO DOOR LOCKS Means of entering through sliding patio doors and opening sliding patio door locks The four most common means of entering through sliding patio doors or opening sliding patio door locks are use of key or inside latch, prying between the door and frame, lifting of the door from the track, and breaking of the glass. There are some sliding patio door locks, secure installation techniques for sliding patio doors, and considerations for sliding patio doors that make such means of entry harder.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Jan 31, 2010
TNT, nitroglycerin, safe crackers, MYTHBUSTERS… Safe work is very challenging for those of us who earn our livelihoods working on safes. For many folks, safes are a mystery and exciting for people to fantasize about what is required to open a safe that is locked. While I prefer not to use the term “crack” when speaking about safes, there will always be someone out there who jokingly refers to a safe technician as a safe cracker, so I hope this article will help you open your safe.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Jan 31, 2010
Safe Opening - Meilink Safe Cam Punching Method Essential skills that an experienced safe technician should have: Knowing how to dial open a lock when manipulation is possible and is likely to be the most efficient method of entry. Knowing how to properly diagnose a malfunctioning lock. Knowing how to pull dials and when to pull dials on locks that allow pulling of the dial without damage to the lock. Knowing how to drill for drop in of the fence.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Jan 31, 2010
Electronic Access Control System Door Survey Download pdf: Electronic Access Control System Door Survey The site survey is perhaps the most important activity you engage in as security professional.You didn’t arrive at the location by accident, and you or your company most likely had to spend a considerable amount of money to create the opportunity that a site survey provides for you to offer your services. Although electronic communication has changed radically the way we do business, it amazes me how effective personal meetings are to make things move.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Sun, Jan 31, 2010
EXIT DEVICES - What you need to know Some confusion will always exist over where and when exit devices are required as a means of egress. Whether installing surface mounted, motion activated, interconnected, or mortise lock and latch type hardware, Life Safety codes need to be understood and complied with in order to ensure the safety of a building’s occupants. The confusion surrounding proper installation of exit devices is generally felt by persons whose job boundaries overlap many jurisdictions, allowing several building codes to come into play.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Wed, Jan 27, 2010
Replacing Concealed Vertical Rod Exit Devices on Narrow Stile Glass Doors by Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS I once was shown a narrow stile glass door with a concealed vertical rod exit device that had been a maintenance and security problem for the company ever since they took occupancy. Employees were using the door to exit the building, sometimes with company property, often to smoke, or to take an anauthorized break, or to use it as a short cut to the parking lot.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Tue, Jan 12, 2010
Weiser Powerbolt Electronic Lock The Weiser Lock Powerbolt is an electronic deadbolt which offers both keyed, and keyless entry. The unit will fit the same size hole as a standard cylindrical lock requiring a 2- 3 /8 or 2- ¾ backset for the bolt. The deadbolt is adjustable for either a 2-¾ backset.The bolt is easily adjusted by holding the front of the bolt and turning the back of the bolt.
Harold Fink, Locksmith, CRL CPS
Tue, Jan 12, 2010
CCTV, Electronic Access Controls, Delayed Egress, these are all terms familiar to locksmith security professionals. It is very convenient to have a security system that is designed to provide audit trail and allow staff to move about freely on your premises. Workers need to focus on the work they have to do and usually do not want to be inconvenienced by locks that require keys or locking systems that do not recognize their badge or other token being used as a “key”.