D & E lock and key

Did a couple lock installs this week. I used armor plates because I was retrofitting cylinderical locks in place of mortise deadbolts.

This is my hobby. Making custom wood signs. Very therapeutic. Let me know if I can make you want one. Range from $35-$45

It is always a sad thing to get a call from a customer saying that they got broken into. In the 15 years they have been operating, this has never happened. They tried to get into one door, damaged the door, but couldn't, so they got in through the other door. You can't stop someone from forcing there way into a place if they are determined but there are steps you can take to deter them from doing it. Business owners and home owners take extra precaution to secure your place. Every time they say they never thought it would happen to them.

Emmett, my son, loves playing with locks and keys.

Collaboration gate install with Mike Elam construction.

This is the inside of an old Lockwood mortise lock. As you can see there are a lot of parts inside this lock. Amazing how they all work together.

Here is another lock in my collection. This is an old treasure chest lock. As you can see it was all hand made and usually by a blacksmith back in the late 1700's to early 1800's. Still works, I wouldn't suggest using this on anything valuable.

New antique lock in my collection. I looked up the history of this lock, apparently it was used during alcohol prohibition times. US B.I.A stands for: United States Bureau of Industrial Alcohol. In the far right photo they would insert a piece of paper before locking up the cargo (alcohol) then close it and it would show if anyone tampered with the lock during transportation.

Door replacement from a gypsum core door to a hollow metal door. The left photo shows how bowed the veneer became over time.

Take the time to find a reliable, local locksmith before you need one in an emergency. 1. Look for a truly "local" locksmith The best way to know whether a locksmith is trustworthy is to research them in advance. Call them, ask them detailed questions and check their reviews.... If you're in a hurry, be wary of locksmith companies that answer calls with generic phrases like locksmith services, rather than a specific name. If a locksmith cannot or will not provide the business’ legal name, find another locksmith. If you find a locksmith with a "local" address, search for that specific address online and see whether any other businesses use the same address. Ask the company when you call to confirm its location. Also, use extra scrutiny if a locksmith company uses an 800 number instead of a local phone number. It's often a sign you're dealing with an out-of-state call center.

I have often been asked what is a good residential solution to go keyless? I have found Schlage to be a great company with exceptional products to meet your security hardware needs. The Schlage Touch Keyless Touchscreen Deadbolt with Century trim is a economical solution to input a code instead of using keys. This lock is very user friendly and can store up to 19 codes at a time. Codes can be added and deleted very simply. It takes one 9 volt battery to operate and indicates when the battery is low. This is a good solution if you have tenants or multiple people living within your house and can lose keys.

A customer wanted something a little more secure for his front door. This before and after picture shows what he had and what I installed for him. A simple solution to help keep his house a little more secure.

Like father, like son. Emmett, my son, helping me install some entry front door locks. Have a good rest of the weekend!

Do you have sticky locks? Is it hard to turn your key? Before you go to the garage to get WD-40 I would suggest using Tri-Flow. WD-40 actually builds up more dirt and grim than one may think. Tri-flow has a protective teflon that coats the pins inside and protects them from dirt accumulation. You can find Tri-flow at most hardware stores like home-depot or lowes.