Locks have been around for thousands of years. Probably as long as there have been valuables that people wanted to protect, locks — in some form — have been there to keep things secure.

Today there are many different kinds of locks. Some are very simple locks that open with a key or a combination of numbers.

Others are extremely complicated locks that open with fingerprints or special electronic keycards. Today’s locks feature many different types of mechanical and technological systems to increase security.

To get a basic understanding of how locks work, let’s take a look at two common types of locks: combination locks and pin-and-tumbler locks. These common locks are the ones you’re most likely to see on a day-to-day basis.

Combination locks can be found in all sorts of places. From gym lockers to shed doors to secret diaries, combination locks allow their contents to be accessed only by those who know the secret combination of numbers that will open the lock.

A typical combination padlock, for example, contains a wheel pack. The wheel pack contains one wheel for each number in the combination.

Each wheel in the wheel pack has a small tab — called a “wheel fly” — on each of its sides. As you turn the combination dial, a spindle that extends through the wheel pack turns a drive cam.

As the drive cam turns, an attached drive pin makes contact with the wheel fly on the nearest wheel. As you continue to dial in the correct combination, the wheel fly on each subsequent wheel makes contact until all the wheels are spinning.

When you get to the last digit of the combination, all wheels will be lined up perfectly. Notches cut into each wheel will also be aligned. These notches form a gap that will allow the lock to release and open.

Pin-and-tumbler locks are different because they require a key to unlock them. Basic pin-and-tumbler locks have several spring-loaded pins inside a series of small cylinders.

When the right key slides into a pin-and-tumbler lock, the pointed teeth and notches on the blade of the key allow the spring-loaded pins to move up and down until they line up with a track called the “shear line.” When the pins align with the shear line, the cylinder can turn, and the lock will open.

If you don’t have the right key, one or more of the pins will remain in the way of the shear line. This will prevent the cylinder from turning, and the lock will remain closed.

What does a locksmith do? It’s a little surprising but this question gets asked regularly. Locksmiths have a massive wealth of knowledge when it comes to security products etc. Think about it a moment – every car lock, every door lock, every key, every safe lock….is different. Technology is constantly evolving & we need to keep learning.

A common call we get is to gain access to a clients home or business when their keys are lost or stolen. Their locks may then need to be rekeyed – this involves keeping the same lock but changing the ‘code’ – so that the old key no longer works if the thief attempts to use it. This is very important as thieves can & do return.

Of course locksmiths do a multitude of other jobs, installing new locks, installing safes, removing broken keys in ignitions, etc.

An important note – 1 in 5 home burglaries occur while someone is home – as alarming as this is the cause is most often because of unlocked doors and windows. Your security products can only work if you use them. Please…stay safe.

Why Advanced Lock & Key? We are part of the Master Locksmiths Association of Australasia. This gives the reassurance of knowing our work is of the highest standard & fully guaranteed. There are many locksmith businesses in Perth. They are not all the same! The advantage to clients who choose a well established business that employs several locksmiths is that clients have the peace of mind in knowing that there is a wealth of experience, cost effective prices & we plan on being here a very long time into the future. Forever if possible J You’re also supporting a business that invests in our young people as we take on apprentices & teach them the trade. We invest in the latest equipment & locksmithing software to ensure that we can securely, safely, quickly & as cost effectively as possible assist our clients. Our locksmiths are experienced & if they come across a challenge we have the support staff employed to help. We have also always had a 24 hour emergency service on a rotating roster with our senior locksmiths.

Our first ever blog post – About us – we opened Advanced Lock & Key in 1999 with Aaron in a single locksmith van, just over 10 years experience in locksmithing & lots of ambition! From humble beginnings we have grown to currently have 3 qualified locksmiths, 2 locksmith apprentices & our admin manager in the retail store/workshop, a marketing manager, as well as 3 on road locksmiths to service clients at their home or business.

A great idea I was reading about was telling people to spend a day being a tourist in your own city.

So much changes in a short time in the city and surrounds, that unless you are out and about for your job (like our mobile locksmiths) you don’t get to see what’s happening.

Here are some links with great ideas of things to see and do in Perth, whether you have overseas or interstate visitors or just want to see what’s new in Perth.

http://www.experienceperth.com/things-to-see-and-do

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/australia/western-australia/perth/things-to-do

http://www.swanvalley.com.au/About_Swan_Valley/Must_See_and_Do

Mining Locksmiths Western Australia

The Western Australian mining industry requires reliable, secure security products for a wide variety of uses.

We have years of experience in the mining industry, which is an industry in particular that has very high and strict standards for their products and particularly safety.

Australia has some of the highest safety & health standards in the world in our mining industry to ensure workers safety.

We are very proud to support our mining industry with their wide range of security needs.

Advanced Lock & Key are automotive locksmiths ready to assist you should you find your vehicle keys lost/stolen, broken or not working.

At our Wangara retail workshop we have the latest automotive programming, cloning and electronic key cutting equipment on the market, which enables us to replace keys on a wide range of vehicles including vehicles with a transponder key system.

Lost/Stolen Car Keys – It is important to not only replace your keys if they are lost or stolen but also to ensure that the lost or stolen key will no longer work should someone find the key and attempt to use it. This is essential for your security and peace of mind, and at Advanced Lock & Key that is what our specialized locksmiths do.
Car Key Cutting and/or programming – Todays vehicles have sophisticated electronics which mean that not only will a key need to be cut, but to work it will need to be programmed to ensure that the vehicle works. Our skilled locksmiths have the expertise & equipment to do this and will advise you on the best and most cost effective way of supplying your spare or replacement vehicle keys.
Keys are safely locked inside – If your car keys have been accidentally locked inside the vehicle we can assist with gaining access to your vehicle without damage.
Broken key?

We are usually able to assist with your broken key even if it is stuck in the ignition or door/boot lock.

Please feel welcome to call and ask for advice, our friendly locksmiths deal with the above situations on a regular basis.

Differing industries need a variety of security and lock solutions, which means you need a locksmith who can offer advice, products and the ability to service those products into the future. We believe in offering a variety of solutions where possible to suit your industry in Perth.

No matter what type of business you run, the highest quality locks available within your budget is essential, to ensure your items & property is safe and secure, whilst meeting industry standards and safety recommendations.

Supplying and installing, as well as servicing current security products, including restricted key systems, in a variety of industries is a core part of our business.

While it’s difficult to protect your home from professional thieves, most home burglaries are done by amateurs. These thieves are more easily thwarted if you employ some of these simple security precautions listed below:

Lock up your home, even if you go out only for a short time. Many burglars just walk in through an unlocked door or window.
Change all the locks and tumblers when you move into a new house.
For the most effective alarm system, conceal all wiring. A professional burglar looks for places where he or she can disconnect the security system.
Your house should appear occupied at all times. Use timers to switch lights and radios on and off when you’re not at home.
A spring-latch lock is easy prey for burglars who are “loiding” experts. Loiding is the method of slipping a plastic credit card against the latch tongue to depress it and unlock the door. A deadbolt defies any such attack.
Before turning your house key over to a professional house cleaner for several hours, make sure the person is honest and reputable as well as hardworking. Check all references thoroughly.
Instead of keeping a spare key in a mailbox, under the doormat, or on a nail behind the garage, buy a small lock box that bolts onto the wall, or a magnetic key box which can be easily concealed on any metal surface.
If the entrances to your home are dark, consider installing lighting with an infrared detector. Most thieves don’t want to be observed trying to get in a door.
Dogs are good deterrents to burglars. Even a small, noisy dog can be effective — burglars do not like to have attention drawn to their presence. Be aware, however, that trained guard dogs do not make good pets. Obedience training and attack training are entirely different, and only the former is appropriate for a house pet.

When looking at purchasing locks for your home or business, the amount of options can certainly be overwhelming. There are many different types of locks and several different security factors to consider before purchasing. This page will explain the different types of locks and the security features that should be considered. Although there are many types of locks, the four most common are padlocks, deadbolts, knob locks and levers.

Padlocks

Padlocks are the only type of lock that is typically not permanently attached to anything else. Padlocks come in a range of sizes, are free standing and portable, and are one of the most easily recognizable types of lock. Padlocks come in two main varieties: combination and keyed. Combination locks have one or more number dials that open the lock when the correct combination is entered. They are often easy to decode or shim open. Keyed padlocks have several options to consider. There are rekeyable and non-rekeyable padlocks. If a padlock is non-rekeyable, then you cannot change the key that opens the lock (for example to make it use the same key as your house). Padlocks can be key-retaining or non-key-retaining. A key-retaining padlock does not allow the key to be removed while the padlock is open.

Deadbolts

Deadbolts are generally installed on external doors and have a few more options to consider than padlocks. Deadbolts come in three primary varieties: single, double, and lockable thumbturn. Single cylinder deadbolts are found on most American homes. They use a key cylinder on the outside and a thumbturn (rosary) on the inside to open or close the lock. These deadbolts have one primary weakness. If access to the inside is possible (via a nearby window or even through the peephole using simple tools), the door can be opened using the thumbturn. A double cylinder deadbolt uses a key cylinder on the inside and the outside of the door to solve this issue. These have the clear disadvantage of always requiring a key to open the door from the inside if it is locked. This can pose a significant problem in a fire or other emergency situation. If used in a residential situation, it is strongly recommended that a key is left on the inside when people are present to ensure a safe exit in an emergency. The final type of deadbolt is a hybrid between a single and a double deadbolt, and is called a lockable thumbturn. It features a thumbturn on the inside that works like a normal single cylinder deadbolt, except the thumbturn can be locked using a key so it cannot lock or unlock the door. This means in a residential situation, the thumbturn can be left in an unlocked position while people are inside the house, and it will operate exactly like a standard single cylinder deadbolt.

Knob Locks

Knob locks are frequently installed in residential situations on exterior doors in addition to deadbolts, and are sometimes used as the primary source of security for doors. First and foremost, it should be said that knob locks should virtually never be used for security on external doors. The problem lies in the fact that the lock cylinder is in the knob itself and not the door. In almost all setups, they can be broken off the door with a hammer or bypassed using pliers or a wrench behind the knob, completely bypassing the locking cylinder. If you currently have knob locks, consider replacing them with simple passage knobs as it will provide almost as much security as long as you are using deadbolts on the same doors.

Lever Handle Locks

Lever handle locks are frequently used for inner doors in commercial settings. They are easier to open than knob locks as they have a large push down style handle rather than a knob that one must grasp and turn. Frequently when handicap accessibility is important lever locks are used. Our lever handle locks are ADA accessible and can be changed between left and right handedness. When purchasing it is important to measure the proper backset. Levers can frequently be the target of torque attacks (excessive pressure applied to the handle to try and force the lock). Some levers are “clutch” levers meaning if they are forced they just turn rather than apply pressure to the lock.