Locksmith Learning

Locksmithing is best learned through apprenticeship. It is one of those trades that you could sit through HOURS and HOURS of lectures on locksmith topics and not really be able to go out and earn a living at it. Most locksmiths are graduates of the school of hard knocks, they learned by doing...and the learning never stops.

There are some wonderful prepatory classes that you can take to get a grasp of the fundamentals. Many people are familiar with the famous Foley-Belsaw home study correspondence course, it even came with training aids and key machine. There are some fine in-house courses from Lockmasters (LSI), North BennetSchool, Cothrons Safe and Lock to name a few. The Associated Locksmiths of America has a 5 and 6 day, Basic Locksmith Course course that presents a very good overview and includes a good bit of hands-on learning during the course. Red Deer College in Alberta has one of the finest courses available anywhere in the world.

It is VERY wise to participate in one of these type of 'Intro' courses if you are getting into the industry, but once you hit the streets...the REAL learning begins. The funny thing is...it never ends. Security is a dynamic concept, it is always changing, the dog is always chasing its tail.

If you are one of the lucky ones who is 'brought in' to the profession by a seasoned locksmith you have lots of advantages over 'going it alone'. In locksmithing there is a true apprentice-master relationship, the dependency is usually glaringly obvious especially over the first year or so. In modern society with mobile phones on all our hips, 'help' is often only a phone call away, I have often pondered how tough it must have been just 20 years ago. An experienced locksmith can save you possibly hours of work, with just a few words to help you get past 'The sticking point'.

The sticking point: A particular aspect of a task that can result in a long process of trial and error, unless some specific secret or trick is known that can quickly resolve the problem.

The terms 'secret' isn't really what many might think, like "The secret opening method or technique'. Sometimes the secret can be a preventative action that helps keep a problem from happening. An example would be the master knowing that a particular safe has a glass relocker, that once shattered will cause the opening to become VERY time consuming. Another simpler example is the use of adhesives or tape to hold a template in place insead of trying to use three hands to do a job.

Key Blank identification is another area that sometimes defies study. A novice locksmith may have to due an inordinate amount of trial and error looking on a keyboard or in a key blank catalog for a match, versus a master that can visually recall not only the exact blank by looking at the bow of the key and the milling but immediately find it on the wall.

Even a relatively short difference in time say a 5 minute task for the apprentice versus a 1 minute task for the master can make a tremendous difference in what the two can accomplish in a day...those 5 minutes of 'flubbing' can really add up.

In addition to the convienience of the cell phone, another powerful tool has become available to the locksmith in the field...other locksmiths. Particularly other locksmiths who have access to the internet througout the day. This inter-locksmith communication started very early on with usergroups and has evolved into massive communities of locksmiths that have embraced the idea of making each others lives just a little bit easier by sharing what they know.

www.clearstar.com was an early front runner in the forums. Each site has it's own distinct personality as well as some pretty distinct personalities from the members. Clearstar is particularly recognized as a hub for Safe and Vault technicians but all fields, specialties and experience levels are represented. Clearstar is one of the few sites that I don't see people scolded for asking the same question even if it has already been answered in previous post. Other industries have forums that will quickly chastise 'newbies' for asking old questions. I've noticed that within Clearstar this is far more tolerated and as a result probably goes a long way to making new members feel 'welcome' and not 'stupid' for not knowing how to effectively search.

www.keypro.com was developed by Jim 'Jameson's' Hetchler and caters to Automotive Specialist but has a good mix of skillsets. Because of some technological featues of the site, questions are often answered VERY quickly. Without a doubt some of the most knowledgeable people on the subject of automotive security congregate there.

www.locksmithcommunity.com is an evolution from the original site www.internetlocksmith.com. It covers a huge variety of subjects on every area of locksmithing. Known for it's now famous (infamous?) Dog Pound, a sort of 'time out' area for members when discussion get a little to heated. Many members use a signature avatar pose with their hands behind their heads. As a member the excellent search feature allows you to instantly search through YEARS of detailed questions, answers and explinations...and probably a few expletives as well. Probably the most colorful of the forums as well as home to some of the most finely tuned expertise in the world of locksmithing.

In addition to the forums, the internet has opened up a world of information through the doors of the lock manufacturers and tool manufactuers homepages. www.kaba-ilco.com has countless scores of technical reference materials on keys, machines locks and tools. What once would have taken rows and rows of shelves in the form of catalogs, manuals and books can now be accessed in a matter of seconds through the internet and ebooks.

However, with all of the technology and all of the helps and assist, sometimes it just comes down to a locksmith, his tool bag and his common sense. Thus far reality has not come up with a substitute for any of those three...oh, and On-star(r) doesn't count either because it doesn't work under a shade tree :)