Any locksmiths able to explain how to become a locksmith?

[moyshekapoyre]

Hi friends,

I have a friend in Gabon interested in becoming a car "locksmith," as he has been helping out at a garage over there and says it seems quite easy to program new ignition chip-keys/remotes (he sees the mechanic doing it).

He thinks all he needs is something like the Autel ds708 or maybe something more specific for the task (http://autotoolscan.com/e/product/pro05/), along with the blank ignition key for that model car.

I'm thinking, is it really this easy to make a car ignition key? It used to be only dealerships could do this, right? Obviously not all cars are supported by these universal tools.

He says mainly he sees U.S. and German cars.

Somewhere else I saw that you can do better with just a laptop and some software and a dongle or something to hook the laptop into the car's ECU?

Hope you don't mind telling me what you recommend in terms of best value & compatibility range.

Thanks for your time--I did do a forum search but didn't find much.

 

[logical]

I have the same question about becoming a bank vault "locksmith".

 

[Slowgsr]

I remember when I went into the stockroom of the job I just finished and I forgot my keys so I could not get into the electrical panel and the locksmith was there changing out the locks on some of the doors mostly high-security stuff it was a jewellery store. They overheard me complain about not having my key and the one locksmith looked at the other locksmith and said hey how are you open that form and the one guy had my panel lock open in about 10 seconds with a couple picks. Never thought it could be done so quickly

 

[iScream]

LOL

I've been thinking about becoming a security system technician. Can anyone help me learn to defeat home security systems? I'm especially interested in security systems commonly used in very large homes.

 

[Finky198]

I have never met an automotive "locksmith". I've met plenty of mechanics with lockout tools including myself, but more or less Your a licensed and bonded Locksmith with specialty tools to work on cars when needed

Changing keys is not as simple as it seems. Most smart keys are still cut like regular keys and then programmed.

The blank keys are sometimes used for pulling codes but not as the actual key

PS: don't get caught with these types tools outside of a professional environment it can lead to additional charges on top of whatever activity you are caught doing... be smart and don't get involved if this is what's going on

 

[gc427]

First thing that I would share with your "friend" is to get the hell out of Gabon!

If he gets caught with "tools" like those trying to learn to be an "automotive locksmith" he will more than likely be beheaded or have his hands "removed!"

Encourage your "friend" to choose a less stressful career and become a "massage therapist."

 

[shanny19]

http://www.lockpicking101.com/

http://www.keypicking.com/

Each of those forums has pro's participating, as well as some very, very accomplished amateurs. Best of luck with your new interest.

 

[moyshekapoyre]

Thanks for the responses. There's nothing illegal about locksmithing, and there aren't any special draconian laws in Gabon regarding locksmithing that I'm aware of (or that my friend is), although I am sure that many criminals are also involved in this, but I assume they have different modes of advertising, or don't advertise at all. Obviously, in order to not get into trouble, my friend would have to verify ownership of the car before getting a key made.

Basically he was just hanging out in a garage and found that this was a fairly simple and highly paid task that he could do on his own with the right toolset... and the garage wasn't hiring, or else he'd just work there.

It appears that I was over-estimating what he needs to do. He isn't trying to be a locksmith. He just wants to make the remotes. He already has locksmiths he can go to if the key blade is lost. I guess the profitable thing is making the remotes.

So my question is, what is the best value tool for programming keyless remotes, assuming one does have the ignition key? I found this system, but it requires internet, which he may not have at any given time, but other than that it looks quite good from the ad: http://www.keylessride.com/images/marketing/k2_v2.pdf

He is thinking of getting the Autel but I am not sure how wide its compatibility range is for programming keys. Furthermore it seems to my naive mind that if he has to purchase the key fob for each model that comes to him, he may as well just get it preprogrammed rather than trying to program it himself, as it isn't much more money.

And then there's this $50 thing which works for all cars from 1989-2003: https://universalcarremote.com/

 

[jakemac]

Try not to take it personally - this is the Internet, suspicion is a necessary self defense mechanism.

If your friend is serious about becoming a professional locksmith, then he needs to go to a school for it, or spend a few years as an apprentice to a licensed professional. The more "creds" and experience he has, the better trust he will have with the customers. Trust translates into better and higher fees.

 

[Finky198]

Basically he was just hanging out in a garage and found that this was a fairly simple and highly paid task that he could do on his own with the right toolset... and the garage wasn't hiring, or else he'd just work there.

Anyways, perhaps it is more complicated than he thinks it is. That's kind of what I was trying to suss out on here. But then again, he's the one watching the mechanic do it, and I'm just on the internet asking questions to people who are suspicious of my intentions.

Yes it might be well paid skill, but no shop is going to pay you full time just to change and or make keys or any super specific service all of these types of jobs would be carried out by the mechanic who is working on the vehicle

 

[moyshekapoyre]

Ok wow so looks like I am just massively miscommunicating with my friend, because now he says he is really trying to fix cars in general. I don't know why he was talking to me only about keys for a week. Damn. Sorry everyone.

 

[koviack]

is this some kind of joke, schlomo? why are you doing job research for your friend?

also can you tell me how to make a golem, i already have the purity of purpose, the maker ritual doesn't seem to be working

 

[moyshekapoyre]

lol, is it a joke? if it is then i'd like to know as well..

 

[Sanny81]

Does your friend not have a computer and Internet access?

 

[Empty Pockets]

LOL

I've been thinking about becoming a security system technician. Can anyone help me learn to defeat home security systems? I'm especially interested in security systems commonly used in very large homes.

I have both a high tech security system, as well as a canine system. While you may be able to defeat the high tech system, my dogs are VERY protective of their home and family.

 

[moyshekapoyre]

@Sanny81: My friend has crappy internet access right now on his iPhone, and the iPhone's battery is messed up or something so the phone dies every so often, usually in less than 30 minute intervals.

 

[Finky198]

Sounds like he should get into the IPhone Repair business

 

[FigureItOut]

Sounds like he should get into the IPhone Repair business

Or just do lockouts, no messing with fobs or cutting keys and you can learn to do it in a few minutes. In my state there's no licensing, just get yourself a DBA and webpage. I've forgotten all the details about locksmith laws in Gabon though.

 

[moyshekapoyre]

He's the kind of person where if I tell him, "Why not get into the iPhone repair business?" He will say, "Wow, that's a great idea!" and get really excited and maybe forget about the previous ambition. The strange thing is that he has held a high-level job down for years in commodities import/export--and he would still be at that job if the CEO hadn't gambled all the money away in some Chilean venture.

 

[JonnyMac]

The autel ds708 is a very versatile tool for reprogramming keys and security systems. Ive done european vehicle's with locked out security systems many times.
The main problem you can encounter is that the coding within the control modules can often require dealer or factory generated reset codes that are only accessible by factory tools. That being said i wouldnt let that stop you purchasing the autel...

 

[Air21]

Is everyone missing that his buddy lives in Gabon?

 

[FigureItOut]

Very old thread, and OP's last and only posts were in this thread, close to a year ago.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk

 

[FigureItOut]

In any case, I'd subscribed to this thread way back when, and since then have learned a bit more about getting set up to make auto keys. It's not easy to figure out what you need, and once you do, it's a hell of an investment. Buying new and of reasonable quality, you can get set up to make just about any auto key for just under $10k if you buy carefully. You could swing a somewhat comprehensive setup on the used market for $4-6k.
Opening cars on the other hand, doesn't really require any training or practice. I was "trained" for maybe twenty minutes and have since opened hundreds of cars without much difficulty.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk

 

[lilredex]

Don't you just reply to the address on the back of those match book covers or the blow in magazine cards? Oh wait that was 1950.