Articles & Product Reviews
Prefer video? Checkout our YouTube channel Locksmith Recommended. We have many product reviews, “How to” videos, and videos demonstrating security flaws that you can address on your own to greatly improve your home and business security.
Our Locksmith blog contains security articles, how to articles, and product reviews for safes, residential, automotive and commercial businesses.
If you’re looking for anything lock and/or key related and you’ll likely find that information here. Just enter your query into the search field or select the category you’re interested in.
For product reviews on safes, door hardware, locks and keys that you can purchase from Amazon, visit our Amazon Locksmith Recommended page.
We’ve been providing locksmith services for over 30 years to the Phoenix valley. We hope you find our articles, and reviews valuable.
How to Adjust a Door Closer | Locksmith Explains
Door Closer Adjustment Diagram 4 Steps to Adjust Closer | Closer Adjustment Screws | Video Demonstration | FAQ Adjusting a Surface Mount Door Closer A hydraulic door closer is a mechanical device that automatically closes a door using springs and…
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How to Remove a Broken Key From a Lock (Deadbolt, Knob, or Ignition)
To remove a broken key from a lock, first rotate the cylinder back to vertical (key cuts pointing up) so the pins will release the key. If part of the key sticks out, grip it with needle-nose pliers and pull…
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How to Get the Combination for a Safe that is Open
When you need the combination for an open safe, you are in the best possible lost combination scenario. If the safe is closed and locked, refer to "Lost Safe Combination, How Do I get Into My Safe." Getting Combination to…
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How to Open a Safe Without the Combination
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…
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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,…
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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…
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How to Reinforce a Door: 6 Steps from a Locksmith
To reinforce a door against kick-ins, attack the three weak points: the frame, the door, and the lock. Replace the short strike-plate and hinge screws with 3-inch screws that bite into the wall stud, reinforce the door frame with a…
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Best Padlocks of 2026: Locksmith Recommended Picks
For most people the best overall padlock is the Abus 83/45, which a locksmith can key to your house key so one key runs your doors and padlocks. Best low-cost: Master Lock commercial. Best combination: Abus 190CS/60 (see our best…
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What to Do When Your Key Won’t Turn in the Ignition
If your key will not turn in the ignition, the most common cause is a locked steering wheel or damaged ignition. Wiggle the wheel firmly left and right while you gently turn the key at the same time. If that…
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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…
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How Much Does a Locksmith Cost? 2026 Prices
How much does a 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, $340 to rekey a 3-door home, $10 to $290 for a…
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Best Sliding Glass Door Lock: Locksmith Picks
The best sliding glass door lock is a double bolt lock (such as the Cal Double Bolt), mounted above your existing lock. It secures the door at the top and bottom so it cannot be lifted off its track, resists…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Can Home Depot Copy My Key?
Yes, Home Depot copies keys. It cuts common house and business keys on standard keyways (Kwikset KW1, Schlage SC1) for about $4 to $10, while you wait. What it cannot do: program chip car keys, cut high-security or laser-cut keys,…
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Who Has Your Safe’s Combination | The Answer May Surprise You
If you've been reading the latest headlines, you heard that Liberty Safe is getting a lot of heat over giving out one of their customer's safe combinations to the FBI. Some think it was justified. Some are outraged. Ignoring the…
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Cost to Duplicate a Car Key in 2026 (By Key Type)
Duplicating a car key in a locksmith shop, when you still have a working one, costs about $10 to $25 for a basic metal key, $60 to $190 for a transponder (chip) key, $70 to $235 for a high-security laser-cut…
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The Best Portable Door Lock for Travel and Hotels in 2026
The best portable door lock for travel is the Addalock. It hooks into the door's existing strike-plate hole and braces the door from the inside, so it holds even if someone has a key or slips the latch, it packs…
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How to Clear a Garage Door Memory
To clear a garage door opener from a car, or wipe every remote at once, you do not need the car or the old remotes. press and hold the Learn button on the garage opener motor unit until the indicator…
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