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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330 Questions

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Last Answer on June 11, 2024

Best Rated

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 about 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.

Can you help me identify my lock to find a replacement?
Face plate code: R12921 CUS LISTED 24x3 F
(Series A maybe?) Mortise Door Lock - locked from outside by key and by thumbturn recessed from the inside. Color: polished Chrome.

Asked by Nadia Moussouni about 5 years ago

Sorry that really doesn’t give me the info I would need. Those sound like internal codes. If you’re able to send me photos on twitter, I could probably help you. @ATXJoshL

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 almost 4 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 about 5 years ago

Never

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 almost 4 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.

Will you do this until you retire?

Asked by Don about 5 years ago

I wonder the same thing all the time. I have moved into project management, and our company now covers a lot more than just locks. We do commercial doors & frames, glass, aluminum storefronts now too, so I help manage a lot of those big projects now. It’s almost like a career change.

Has someone ever called you to help them and you figured out they had criminal intent?

Asked by Seth over 4 years ago

Thankfully no not me; however my previous boss had a situation where a customer called him out to open a business and after he left they robbed it. We are required to collect driver license, customer information, etc, so cops had no problem catching them. Dumb criminals.