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

What are some types of questions you wished people would stop asking

Asked by Question to all almost 5 years ago

Model-specific automotive questions because I haven’t done automotive work in 12 years. My answer will usually be the same. Call a local locksmith or go to the dealer. There’s not much people can do on their own when it comes to car locks. It’s complicated and requires a lot of specialty tools and information.

I just purchased a condo that has a Mortise lock. I am trying to convert to a smart lock but all Mortise ones use smaller Locksets. Any Suggestions? Face is 1-1/16x7-5/8 on mine

Asked by Massimo C over 3 years ago

It sounds like an older mortise lock. Most modern mortise locks are 8” x 1-1/4”. You’re not going to find something that easily retrofits into the door prep you have. You could have a locksmith fresh install a deadbolt above your mortise lock if your condo will allow it. Otherwise, there just aren’t very many options for the residential mortise lock platform. Look up Yale Nextouch. They make a smart locks with a mortise prep, but it won’t fit in your door as is. You’ll have to have it modified. Also check with your bldg Mgmt before you do anything, I have seen some of them have strict rules what they will let tenants do to maintain uniformity.

If I paid the taxes on a building and have paperwork to prove it can a locksmith come unlock the doors

Asked by Ebonii about 4 years ago

I’m not a lawyer, and locksmiths don’t request tax forms when they unlock doors. They usually have you sign a waiver of some kind stating that you have the legal right to have them perform that service, and they collect a drivers license. At that point it’s between you and whoever else may legally have the right to be there. However, I know there are laws pertaining to when a property OWNER can and can not enter a rental unit, and the law is usually on the renters side, not the owners side due to privacy concerns.

I use the same key for my apartment entry door and for the entry to the building. Doesn’t that mean that everyone with a building key can get in my apartment? My landlord says no because the building is “keyed.” Is that possible?

Asked by Annvb53 almost 4 years ago

Your landlord Is correct. Every apartment’s locks are keyed different, but the building entry doors are master keyed to allow multiple keys to access them. It’s basic master keying.

How to block a Kwikset deadbolt keyhole? He is ruining it by inserting various objects into it to break the tumblers and jam the keyhole so I am locked out and have to pay locksmith everytime I leave my apartment.

Asked by Brenda almost 5 years ago

If you’re in an apartment, shouldn’t the management company be responsible for fixing your locks if someone is vandalizing it? Usually apartment buildings have strict rules for what they will let you do with your locks. If they will let you, you can get an electronic keypad deadbolt without a key hole. They’re made by Schlage, model # BE375.

Corbin E Door Knob Bank Lock It Has Square Handle s To The Door And And It Takes A Type Of Key Its From The (1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s) How Do You Rekey That Type Of Lock / What Type Of Key Gos To It.

Asked by Daryl Smith almost 4 years ago

I’m not familiar with an E-series Corbin lock, especially one with square knobs. Here is a list of Corbin’s discontinued products, maybe you can narrow it down. There are product catalogs, installation guides, etc. https://www.corbinrusswin.com/en/library/discontinued-literature/As for the keyway, it’s impossible to say. There isn’t usually 1 keyway per lock series. Commercial locks can be ordered with various keyways.

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.