Alpha Locksmith

Installed an RCI 6 series heavy duty universal electric strike, an Adams Rite 4513 standard duty deadlatch, an Adams Rite 4590 pushpaddle, and a Don-Jo narrow stile latchguard for a customer in Mississauga.

Opened this Cashguard safe by Canadian Safe Distributors with a LaGard basic safe lock for a customer in Hamilton.

Opened another Sentry fire safe with a direct drive locking system for a customer in Burlington.

Picked and rekeyed two locks for Air Separation Technologies of Burlington.

Repaired a lock for Buffalo Wild Wings of Stoney Creek.

Rekeyed five First Choice Hair Cutters locations in Burlington.

Installed a S&G Spartan electronic lock on a Browning gun safe for a customer in Burlington.

Just finished installing, adjusting, and rekeying all the locks at GameTime Social in Burlington.

This is a Schlage SecureKey (or plus) cylinder with blue reset key. This system was Schlage's answer to Kwikset's SmartKey system. Like the latter, this system allows users to rekey a lock without having to take it off the door. After litigation brought forward by Kwikset however, in December of 2011 Schlage stopped manufacturing and shipping this cylinder.

Removed a broken safe deposit box key from a mini Brawn depository safe for Lululemon.

This is a Sargent and Greenleaf 8400 series group 1 manipulation proof safe lock. These locks are typically used in government applications and high-value safes.

Opened this Cashguard burglary safe by Canadian Safe Distributors for a customer in Burlington. In this case the customer could not decipher the instructions they were given by the previous owner to dial open their LaGard group 2 mechanical lock by Dormakaba.

Opened this Gardex fire safe with a Sargent and Greenleaf group 2 mechanical lock for a customer in Mount Hope by drilling a 1/4 inch hole through the side and scoping the change-key hole with a Hawkeye borescope.

Installed a low energy, left-hand push Entrematic HA8-SP door operator with a BEA 10RD433 receiver and two wireless 10TD433PB3V transmitters for a customer a customer in Hamilton.

Repaired this grade 1 Falcon panic bar with a broken deadlatch spring for Arconas of Mississauga.

Thanks for a job very well done Vector Signs of Hamilton. The signage on my service vehicle looks great!

This is what was left of a storefront in Brantford after thieves made off with an ATM by tying it to a truck and pulling it through the front door.

Opened and repaired this Gardex fire safe with a Sargent and Greenleaf group 2 mechanical lock for a customer in Hamilton.

This is a Medeco mortise cylinder. This lock is unique in that in order for the plug to rotate the bottom pins must be simultaneously turned to the correct angles and raised to the shearline before the sidebar posts can engage with the splines in the bottom pins.

This is a Sargent and Greenleaf group 2M 6500 series universal mechanical vault lock. This model has a direct drive, a four-wheel pack, and a short sliding square-end bolt. It has a standard wheel bridge and is mounted right hand. It provides one hundred million possible combinations and more than two man-hours of expert manipulation resistance. It has been the standard vault lock in North America for over 50 years.

This is a CX5 mortise cylinder. This cylinder includes drill protection in the form of both vertical and transverse hardened rods. Like Assa locks, this lock incorporates inline pin tumblers and a side-bar. Unlike the former however, this lock's finger pins are springless and are guided by a track, not a ramp, cut into the left-hand side of the key blade.

Installed a siren for a distributor in Burlington. Sometimes locksmiths are called on to tie up loose ends in a facilitie's access system.

Serviced this Kaba-Simplex 3000 series narrow stile pushbutton mechanical lock for a customer in Burlington.

Installed this B-2620 Cashguard safe by Canadian Safe Manufacturing for a customer in Hamilton. This safe has a 1/4" thick solid steel body, a 1/2" thick solid steel door, 3 locking bolts, independent relockers, hardplate, and a Sargent and Greenleaf group 2 mechanical lock.

This is an Assa V-10 mortise cylinder. Like many high security cylinders on the market today, this cylinder has two independent locking mechanisms - a standard pin-tumbler system and a coded side-bar system. This cylinder offers enhanced pick resistance with side pins that have false gates and counter milling in each chamber. It also offers enhanced drill resistance with stainless steel pins and hardened steel inserts.

Installed a new combination chamber on a Kaba-Simplex 3000 series narrow stile pushbutton mechanical lock for a customer in Burlington. This lock requires a single user-code or key-override to gain entry. It is auto-locking, and features passage and lockout functions.

Opened this Chubb-Mosler-Taylor bank safe for a customer in Hamilton. These are group 2M mechanical direct-drive vault locks. These four-wheel locks provide one hundred million possible combinations and more than two hours of manipulation resistance. Each is protected by a glass cross-relocker and 1/2 inch hardplate.

Removed this key-and-knob cylinder from an old Sargent entrance knobset lock in Burlington. Note the spring in the tailpiece.

Some lock manufacturers will go to extraordinary lengths to save a buck. In this case they decided to save by minimizing the amount of metal used in the plug. This can lead to trouble when rekeying however. Most locksmiths turn the plug 90 degrees before removing it from its housing. To do so when rekeying this plug however, would be a mistake.

Spotted this Medeco XT electronic mortise cylinder on a storefront door in Hamilton. This locking system offers controlled access, accountability, physical security, data analytics, and flexible system management. Like a traditional card access system, this system allows one to control who has access, what they have acces to, and when they have access. Unlike a traditional card access system however, there is no need to run wire, install electrified hardware, or set up readers.

Opened this Brinks Home Security fire resistant executive cash box with an electronic lock and key override for a customer in Hamilton.

This is an inside view of a group 2 Sargent and Greenleaf safe lock mounted vertical down. The visible parts are the lockbolt, lever, lever screw, lever spring, end of fence, drive cam, end of spindle, spline key, third tumbler (or wheel), relocker, and mounting screws. The visible parts of the third tumbler are the gate, balance holes, changekey hub, and rivets.

Installed an LSDA shackelless "hockey puck" high security padlock with a Slicklock hasp and 360 degree spinner on my service vehicle to keep out the bad guys.

Serviced this Sargent and Greenleaf group 2 mechanical safe lock. The previous locksmith had forgotten to tighten the dial ring screws and miss-splined the driver.

Opened this old ATM safe with a LaGard 2503 lock and boltwork driving mechanism for a customer in Hamilton. The dial was knocked off by a burglar and the holes to the right of the handle were made by a locksmith who decided he had met his match and passed the job on to me.

Openned this Hunter gun safe for a customer in Hamilton. This safe is sold by Canadian Safe Manufacturing Ltd right here in Hamilton. This safe features a 1/4" thick steel plate door, a fully welded 10 gauge steel plate body, 3/4 diameter bolts, drill resistant hardplate, two relockers, and a Sargent and Greenleaf group 2 mechanical safe lock.

Serviced this ARFE America burglary safe with a group 2 LaGard mechanical lock for a customer in Hamilton. This safe is rated TL-30. This means that it can withstand at least 30 minutes of attack with a wide assortment of both electric and non-electric hand tools. For more on safe types, please see our blog post: https://alphalocksmith.ca/safes-101/

Replacing the assembly slip clutch on a Kaba-Simplex 7100 series mechanical pushbutton lock for iCheck at Golf Town in Ancaster. For our review of this lock, please click on the link below: https://alphalocksmith.ca/mechanical-pushbutton-lock/

Repaired a Von Duprin Guard-X 2670 exit alarm lock for Buffalo Wild Wings in Mississauga. This grade 1 certified alarmed panic bar has an anti-tampering and anti-vandalism design and meets the highest standards for building codes.

Serviced this LaGard 3330 square bolt safe lock with a 1730 top reading spy proof dial on a Canadian made Cashguard burglary safe for a customer in Stoney Creek.

This is a Chubb fire safe with a Sargent and Greenleaf group 2 mechanical safe lock at a jewelry store in Hamilton. The customer requested that I find the lost combination and then set a new.

Like Weiser's SmartKey and Security Solutions' U-Change systems, Falcon's InstaKey system is user-rekeyable. The lock pictured above is a rim cylinder with an inter-changeable core.

Opened this Brinks Protector 2743DF executive gun safe for a customer in Hamilton. This fire- and theft-resistant safe features an electronic lock, a recessed door, and five 1-inch steel locking bolts.

Changed the combination on this Sargent and Greenleaf group 2 mechanical safe lock for the Salvation Army. For more on mechanical safe locks, please see our blog post on the subject: https://alphalocksmith.ca/mechanical-safe-lock-groups/

Performing an operational test of an Allegion Schlage BE365 keypad deadbolt with Camelot trim for a customer in Hamilton. For more on this lock, please see our review of it by clicking on the link: https://alphalocksmith.ca/schlage-be365-keypad-deadbolt/

Installed a Sentry UC-039K solid steel under-counter drop slot depository safe with a double nosed safe deposit box lock for a customer in Hamilton. In order to open this lock first the guard key must be inserted in the lower nose and turned, then the renter key must be inserted in the upper nose and turned. Unlike most modern locks, safe deposit locks do not use pin tumblers; they use lever tumblers.

Rekeying a Schlage F-series key-in-knob compressible cylinder. This is the only cylinder that I know of with a false bible. Not one of Schlage's best designs.

Converting a strike pocket for a deadlatch to one for a narrow stile commercial deadbolt using a Don-jo electric strike filler plate. The red stuff is lipstick; it helps with accurate bolt-pocket alignment.

Tailpiece orientation of key-in-knob and key-in-lever cylinders is critical for security purposes. The cylinder on the left is for a knob and the cylinder on the right is for a lever. If not orientated correctly the knob or lever could be removed without the operating key and the door opened with a screwdriver.

Found this two-part, antique rim lock on a door in Grimsby. It is stamped with the letters F. T. It would not make economic sense to manufacture such a lock today.

Replacing the clutch assembly on a Kaba L1000 series lever pushbutton lock for a customer in Stoney Creek. The L1011 model allows for access by combination only. The L1021 model allows for access by combination or key override. The L1031 model allows for access by combination or by setting the lock to passage using a thumb-turn or key cylinder activator.

Installed a Kaba 2015 series exit device control lever pushbutton lock for a customer in Hamilton. This lock features a single access code that is easily programmed via the keypad, and is compatible with most leading brands of rim exit devices.

Installed a dogging assembly for an Adams Rite 8200 series exit device. This assembly allows the user to place the panic bar in the hold-back (i.e. unlock) position with the use of an allen key. This is a useful feature for facilities (e.g. churches) that want associates to lock and unlock their doors without having to use a master key.

These are the geared plates of an Adams Rite 8600 series concealed vertical rod (CVR) exit device. This device is designed for narrow stile aluminum-glass doors that require either a one- or two-point locking system. A standard mortise cylinder with a MS cam is required to lock, dog, and unlock this device. Egress is by push bar.

Installed a Kaba-Simplex EE1000 series heavy duty pushbutton lock for a customer in Burlington. This lock requires entry and exit by a single access code for all users. It is ideal for high-traffic areas.

This is an Abloy grade 1 deadbolt; arguably the world's best high security deadbolt. Abloy cylinders are unique in that unlike all other high security cylinders, Abloy does not use pin tumblers; it uses eleven rotating discs that interface with a sidebar. This makes it bump proof and highly pick resistant.

An antique Ilco rim cylinder with a YA1 keyway found in Hamilton. This cylinder is unusual because it is held in place with a small plate. Modern cylinders are held in place with a cap screw, e-clip, c-type retaining ring, h-type crescent ring, or e-type retaining ring.

Had to drill open this no-name safe for a customer in Hamilton. This safe owner did a good job of hiding his safe and bolting it to the concrete floor. It's not enough to store your valuables in a safe. The safe should be out of sight and secured to the floor or wall.

For the eight dangers of safe cracking, please read the latest blog post from your local Hamilton locksmith: https://alphalocksmith.ca/the-dangers-of-safe-cracking/

Using a Chinese-made Lishi 2-in-1 tool to pick a Schlage C universal brass 5-pin cylinder. Lishi tools allow locksmiths to pick open and decode (or read) the bitting (or cuts) of a particular cylinder's operating key.