Category: Security Articles
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Don’t Close That Safe. Get the Combination From a Phoenix Locksmith.
If you’ve purchased or found a safe, and the safe door is open, but you don’t have the combination, you are in the best possible scenario. Leave the door open and call a locksmith. This only works while the door is open. If the safe is closed and locked, none of this applies. Read Lost…
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Lost Safe Combination Recovery in Scottsdale and the Valley
If you lost your safe combination, you have four routes, cheapest first: use the manufacturer’s override key if the safe has one, look up the original factory combination by serial number (many Sentry and home safes allow this), have a locksmith recover or reset the combination by manipulation, or drill it open as a last…
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Best Door Lock Brands of 2026: A Locksmith’s Top 6 Picks
The best door lock brands fall into two groups. For everyday off-the-shelf locks, Schlage edges out Kwikset and Yale on strength, its Grade 1 deadbolts are best in class. For serious security, the best brands are Mul-T-Lock, Medeco, and ASSA, whose patent-protected, pick-, bump-, and drill-resistant locks are what banks and government buildings use. These…
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How to Become a Locksmith | A Complete Guide
How Long it Takes | Background Screenings | Locksmith Training | Apprentice | Tools | State Certifications Interested in a career as a locksmith? This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about becoming a licensed locksmith for your state. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to enhance your skills in the locksmith…
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How to Reinforcement a Door Frame in Phoenix: The 3-Inch Screw Fix
The easiest way to reinforce a door is to swap six of the short screws in the door hinges and strike for 3-inch screws that reach the wall studs. It takes minutes, costs a few dollars, and improves the door’s kick resistance by at least 3X. Add frame, door and lock upgrades after that if…
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How to Start a Locksmith Business: Tools, Costs, and Steps
To start a locksmith business you need five things: training and any required license, the core tools (key-cutting machines, key-code software, car-key programming equipment, picks, and hand tools), a decision between mobile-only or a shop, a startup budget of about $15,000 to $20,000 for tools and equipment, and a plan to get customers. This guide…
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How Much Will a Phoenix Locksmith Charge You?
How much does a Phoenix locksmith cost? In Phoenix, $95 to $125 for the service call, plus the work completed: roughly $59 to $89 to unlock a door or car, $170 to $395 to rekey a 3-door home, $10 to $290 for a car key, and $350 on up to drill a safe. Emergency and…
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Locksmiths Will Verify Ownership
Though some states doe not require it, all legitimate locksmiths will need to verify ownership before opening any property, whether it be a car, home, safe, etc… Verification of ownership can be a title, registration, photo ID, piece of mail or other document with your name on it and the property address. If you don’t…
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Best Deadbolt for Home Security: A Locksmith’s Solution
The best deadbolt for home security is a Grade 1 deadbolt. Our picks: best overall security, the Schlage B60/B80 (ANSI Grade 1); best budget, the Kwikset 663; and the best hidden, truly unpickable option, a one-sided (half) deadbolt with no keyhole outside. For a primary entry that needs an outside key, use a Grade 1…
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Does Home Depot Make Car Keys? Yes, No, and It Depends
Yes, Home Depot can cut and copy a standard car key, and that is all. It cannot copy or program a transponder (chip) key, a laser-cut key, or a smart fob, which is what nearly every car built since the late 1990s uses. Home Depot can only duplicate a key you already have, it cannot…