PJ Slauson

Tubular locks are a routine part of a locksmith's workload. Vending machines, bike locks, elevator panels, alarm boxes, file cabinets, and coin-op equipment all rely on this compact, circular pin design. When a client is locked out, or a business...

For locksmiths who service commercial hollow metal doors, a bent hinge reinforcement plate is one of the most common — and most misdiagnosed — service calls. A door that won't latch often gets blamed on the lock or strike plate,...

If you're a working locksmith, a locksport hobbyist, or anyone who regularly handles pin tumbler locks, you've likely come across the buzz around the SouthOrd Lock Noob Set (LNB-20). Developed in collaboration with well-known lock picking educator Lock Noob, this set...

If you've spent any time in the locksmithing trade, you've almost certainly faced the frustration of a spring latch lockout. The customer is locked out, the clock is ticking, and the last thing you want to do is drill out...

Identifying unknown key blanks used to mean flipping through dog-eared Ilco books or making educated guesses. ideniKey by CLK Supplies changes that entirely — just snap two photos and let AI do the rest. Here's everything you need to know....

Most tool brands start with a factory and a catalog. Red Team Tools started with a problem. Deviant Ollam, a physical penetration tester and trainer who's taught at DEF CON and Black Hat, kept running into the same gap: the...

If you work on RVs and campers, 2026 is already reshaping the work coming into your shop. New key systems, updated software, and purpose-built rekeying kits are opening up jobs that many locksmiths are still turning away. The opportunity is...

If you've ever struggled to open a file cabinet, desk drawer, or truck toolbox with a wafer lock, the Rewind reverse pick is the tool locksmiths and lock sport enthusiasts have been waiting for. Designed by Tyler at Newhouse Lock...

What is the Door Core? The Door Core is a stamped thin steel reinforcement plate built specifically for hollow door cylindrical lockset installations. It has been around for decades, trusted by commercial installers and government agencies alike, yet it remains...