Locksmith – FAQ

Locksmiths install, service, maintain, and repair mechanical and electronic security products – keys, locks, safes, and associated hardware. Locksmiths are highly skilled and are required to be trade qualified and licensed to work as a locksmith.

To physically secure your home, offices, premises, assets and valuables from unauthorised access, intruders, theft, etc and to satisfy insurance requirements. To change the locks if you lose a key or move into a dwelling or premises which has been previously occupied. If you are locked out of your home/premises, car, or safe – a locksmith can gain access for you with minimum damage and cost. In short, anything to do with keys, locks, and safes.

A qualified licensed trades person – this should ensure competence and lack of a criminal record. Also look for a locksmith business that is well established and has a proven track record for reliable professional service – and takes responsibility for the results – and provides a warranty for their products and workmanship.

Yes – to become a locksmith you need to complete a 4 year apprenticeship and a Certificate III in Engineering- Mechanical Trade (Locksmith). To work as a locksmith you are also required to pass police security checks and to hold a Security Licence.

Ask to see their State Government issued Security Employee Licence. In the ACT it should have the subclasses of 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E listed on it. Also most reputable companies will list their Master Security Licence numbers on advertisements, websites, etc.

A qualified licensed experienced locksmith is more efficient, will do the job quicker, provide quality workmanship, provide a warranty for products and workmanship, provide quality security solutions with better protection. This means peace of mind and saves you money in the long run. Only a locksmith has the necessary skills, experience, qualifications and authority to perform your security work to a high standard to protect you, your family and your possessions. There are three types of service: GOOD – CHEAP – FAST You can choose any two. GOOD service CHEAP won’t be FAST GOOD service FAST won’t be CHEAP FAST service CHEAP won’t be GOOD

Yes we can, we have an emergency 24/7 service – 365 days a year.

We have an extremely large range of keys; they range for keys that are of quite an old design to the most modern transponder type keys.

In most cases yes; the basic principle is if one key fits in to all the locks then we can change the pins so that the key turns. If you have locks of different profiles (shape of the key) we may have to replace some of the locks.

You have several options. We can come out and fit keys or rekey your house, you can bring the locks into our workshop to be rekeyed or have keys fitted or you could replace the cylinders.

Yes we have padlocks from 20mm to 80mm that we can get keyed alike or key alike to your existing key.

Yes in the vast majority of situations we can. We may need some additional information depending on what the key is for. Such as; make, model and year if it’s a car key or type of cabinet, photo or brand if it’s for a filing cabinet. Feel free to call for us to check for you.

Yes in most cases we can, if we don’t have the blank key we’ll try our utmost to get it.

Yes we stock, supply and fit both mechanical and “stand alone” electronic digital locks.

Absolutely we stock, sell, supply and fit several different types and brands of deadlocks.

When you are locked out of your property, car, or safe – because the keys are locked inside – or the keys are lost – or the combination is lost or forgotten – or the lock has failed. A locksmith can gain entry or access with a minimum of disruption, damage, and cost.

When keys are made to fit and operate the existing combination of a lock.

Also called “changing the locks”. A locksmith can reconfigure the pins or wafers inside the lock(s) and cut new keys. The re-keyed lock(s) will only work with the new key(s). This prevents previous keys being able to open the re-keyed lock(s).

A “chip” embedded in the plastic head of car keys that communicate to the car via a reader ring around the face of the ignition to perform immobilisation as part of the vehicles security system. This technology started to surface in Australia from 1996.

Often confused with transponder because they often are in close proximity (in the key head) to each other. Keyless entry is the remote that unlocks your car doors. On manufacturer fitted security systems that is usually its only task. However with aftermarket alarm, immobiliser and central locking systems, the one remote may control all three aspects of the system.

These keys started surfacing in the late 70’s early 80’s in higher end European designed cars. Over the years their design has grown in complexity and is now usually compared with transponder and keyless entry systems.

A Master Key System comprises a hierarchy of keys and a number of cylinders / locks that allow different groups or individual key holders to gain access to all or specifically designated areas of a building or buildings. Put simply, a master keyed lock is a lock that is designed to be opened by a specific individual key or keys, and can also be opened by using a master key. Master Key Systems play a critical role in the area of physical security and are used to control access to facilities such as perimeters, entire buildings, and specified spaces within a building. Usually fitted across one or more sites they range in size from a few doors to multiple buildings or assets across the city, country or indeed the globe. More often than not they are built up on a restricted key system to allow for key control. Their design can be from a very simple master key and user key design to complex keying structure.

Restricted key systems are designed to give the system owner the highest level of protection against unauthorised key duplication. This is achieved by manufacturers using patents and design registrations to stop unlawful production of the key blanks as well as ensuring that their dealers (Locksmiths) adhere to strict authorisation procedures in the cutting of these keys. When a restricted key system is designed and installed a signatory form is given to the owner of the key system. This form requires the customer to complete the contact details and sample signatures of the people that will be registered as the “Authorised Signatories” for specific keys. Only appropriate authorised signatories are able to request copies of the keys. Detailed records are kept by the locksmith of all key requests and changes to authorisations. Often these restricted keys are of a high security and pick resistant nature.