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 lock cylinder for a deadbolt today, and the cylinder tailpiece will not turn without the key inserted. Does that mean I bought the wrong type of cylinder and tailpiece or does installation make it so the tailpiece will turn via bolt?

Asked by Ria about 4 years ago

You should have just purchased a new deadbolt, it’s much easier for a homeowner rather than trying to replace the cylinder. It sounds like you purchased a rim cylinder. The tailpieces on rim cylinders only turn when the key is turned. Tubular deadbolts, such as residential, use what’s called a “lazy tailpiece”. It turns 180 degrees, or so, independently of the key. Depending on which brand and model your deadbolt is, chances are more than likely you can’t just replace the cylinder like you’re thinking anyway. I would highly recommend returning or discarding the cylinder, and just purchasing a replacement deadbolt instead.

Hey i have a vw golf mk4 , i got for it a new lock housing cylinder but before instaling it i tried to rotate it with my hand without a key so the lower part which look like a needle slightly turned and clicked so it didnt turn , so is it broken?

Asked by Sharbel over 4 years ago

I have no idea what you’re referring to, as I haven’t worked on cars in 12 years, but I would say if the key works and it turns, it’s probably fine. If it doesn’t work, it’s probably broken. It shouldn’t break that easily. ¯\_(?)_/¯

Have you ever called someone a moron in your head before because the situation was so stupid? What happened?

Asked by Jimmy over 4 years ago

Yes, one time a customer locked their keys in the car. My boss unlocked it. He got a block down the road, and they called him back, they did it again. He went back & unlocked the car again for free. Left, they called him AGAIN. He went back and charged them.

Any job to big or small for you to do?

Asked by Zara over 4 years ago

Nope, it’s all just proper management and mental hurdles.

I have a Sentry combination safe and the number is broke and not turning the things inside to open my safe. How can fix this ?

Asked by Angel over 4 years ago

Pry it open with some big pry bars, throw it in the trash & buy a better safe. They are not worth much more than that unfortunately. They’re plastic, pop metal, & sheet metal. The cost to have a locksmith professionally open it with expensive tools, & try to repair it would cost you more than buying a brand new safe.

I sent you a question about being unable to depress the detent on my door knob. It was a home hardware "home security" brand lock.

Asked by Shannon Balaski over 4 years ago

You could try putting it into the lock position, push the detent, and then put it into the unlock position and try the detent. That might do it. If it’s still not coming off, you may have to punch it with a flat head screwdriver and hammer. It’s quite possible it could break it, but it’s probably broken already. I highly recommend sticking with a name brand lock like Kwikset, Schlage, Dexter, Master, etc.

Where I work we recently installed Medeco X4 SFIC and have semi-frequent issues with pin chamber misalignment (key won't pull out of lock). I know the work around of holding the plug in place while extracting, but is there an actual fix for this?

Asked by Sabin over 4 years ago

Yes, there is a C clip on the back of the core. Pop that clip off, and SLIGHTLY twist it. Doing so will put retention on the plug. That should fix your issue.