Island Locks - Locksmith Courses - Lock Picking - Lock Opening - Locksmith Tools

i am obviously a sad locksmith who eats and sleeps locksmithing. the forum has been really quiet lately. the first think i do when i come in is turn the forum on and read, no matter how busy i am i always make time to learn new things and ask questions. i learnt a great deal of the trade from the web. must be that i am a spotter. september is a funny month people getting over the hols and getting ready for xmas.

It's one of those 'lull' months where summers almost over, the dark mornings and evenings are here, and it's generally going to only get more miserable from here

I am always checking the forum and try to answer as much as I can, but also sometimes taking a sideline approach to allow the forum to take it's own course. I do often think "where is everyone"? and put a topic up to get some posts going.

Quite a few of the members are silent members as well who don't post on the forums, which of course is their choice.  

The forum doesn't have all the bells and whistles like other forums, but it's easy to use and navigate, so I wonder if that's the problem?

I'd like to think most people are snowed under with work!

not in sept it is a quiet month. everyone is getting over the holidays

Ah. I was wondering if it was just me that had been quiet. It picked up nicely the week before last with some nice key extractions and lockouts, but this last week has gone quiet again. Not moaning, as it's given me time to work on the MK3 version of my current tool. I always like to keep busy in one way or another.

Quiet is true, only 2 calls last week, Yale latch and a Euro lock, both to open, sad times, may pick up now in the run up to Christmas.

Is it like this nation wide at the mo.

I thought i would take a look around a car boot sale today, find a few old locks to play with.

Strewth these boot sellers want more than the suppliers want for new ones.

Two Bird rim cylinders, £10, one Yale rim cylinder £7. Ended up buying a generator for the van instead.

I have some oak doors to fit and a house full of windows over the next couple of weeks, nothing lockie for this week.

I did have 3 calls last week for simple pvc door repairs. Oh and about half a dozen from sales people.

Dont panick guys, it's the same every year at this time.

I am like you Stu in that I always look at the forum daily, either to ask for/offer help and learn. If you ever get bored doing what you do, it is time to give up, so I would have to say you are not sad. After all, you could just buy a shed load of drill bits and drill every lock you come into contact with. (hope that is not too topical at the moment) Regards Phil 

Nice to read other lockies views and ideas!

Just back from our holidays, with catching up with orders placed before we went away

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Can be a slow time, but how much do others plan incomming work?? Interested to hear other lockies time sales.

I try and plan in about a 3 days - a week in advance if possible, some work has to be done same day, locks outs etc... 

Regards

Andy

Yep must admit I do log-in several times a day if I can,but nothing wrong with that maybe I will stick a few more topics on 

I log in several times a day too..

@ Andy, I rarely have bookings more than 2 days ahead. I've learnt it's best to strike while the iron's hot. If the Client wants a lock fitting, and it's convenient for them, then do it that day if you can. When I used to tell them I can do it later in the week, they would normally say that they will contact you to arrange it in a day or two, and never do.

Surprised it's quiet with 500+ members

Jay   maybe a lot of topics are a bit too advanced for the likes of me and newbies that come on??? as some of the stuff goes straight over my head and have to look up what you are refering to! to understand what you are on about, maybe a visit to a members meeting would help me so fingers crossed i can make one soon

thats the idea, meet up and talk always ask if u are unsure we will help u out,..

i cant say anything coz the klom knocked my teef out

Why is it when you are waiting for work, you get calls for work you don't do.  I had 3 calls today asking if I could cut car keys.  Great if you do, but I don't. 

Hmm things are picking up LOL. Next-door-but-one, from me, broke the flag of her mortice key in the lock.

I did get one late this afternoon, a Bakers, the back door key would not work.

Turned out to be a Chubb 5 lever curtain singing and dancing thingy.

Took me about 15 minutes to open with the key that didn't work.

Fitted a new one, the Baker told me he has been using cooking oil to lubricate it because that is all he had, he has had a problem with it for about a month now.

The old lock is in the van, i will open it up tomorrow to see what is inside, cant wait.

If it looks good i will post a picture of it, cooking oil, indeed.

jim at September 27, 2010 at 4:40 PM

i cant say anything coz the klom knocked my teef out

 

@Jim there are health and safety advantages for using the manual pickgun.

ps hows the budgie doing.