Shoe Repair Carlisle | Key Cutting Carlisle

Another lock picking course!

Today I attended another course specialising in the use of picks especially designed for entry into vehicles with ‘laser’ keys.

Laser Car Key

Laser Car Key

In fact, the term ‘laser key’ is a little misleading as in fact they are produced on a precision milling machine, Keyishoes being one of the few companies locally to own one!  Even the the franchise car dealers whose own vehicles use these keys bring them to us to be duplicated when a spare is needed.  Vehicles that use these keys include: Volkswagon, Audi, Seat, Skoda, Vauxhall and Saab to name a few.

SKS Hurricane Laser key cutting machine

SKS Hurricane Laser key cutting machine

It is a myth that cars that use these keys are any more secure.  In fact car locks have changed very little over the years and the vast majority still operate on a disc (Ford Tibbe) or wafer tumbler system with a few that use pin tumblers.  They all use the same principle that the tumblers must all clear the ’shear line’ of the barrel core in order to operate the lock.  Manufacturers have invested the majority of resources into engine immobilization rather then increasing the security of the locks themselves.  After all if a thief wants to break into your car then if they cannot enter by operating the lock they will just break the window!  At the end of the day it is the immobiliser that makes the vehicle virtually impossible to steal without a working transponder key.

Today I travelled to Bury in order to receive training on using the latest lock pick designed to gain entry to vehicles using the laser key system.  Keyishoes have invested in a 23 piece Lishi pick set specially designed for the purpose, covering the majority of vehicles using laser locks.  The course was mainly straight forward hands on training using locks from a variety of vehicles.  It became clear during the day that lock picking takes more than just tools but plenty of practice and practice we did during the 6 hours of the course!

Specialist picks for laser key locks

Specialist picks for laser key locks

So, what application will this training have for our business and how does it help you our customer?  Have you ever made the mistake of putting your keys down in the boot while loading your shopping and had that sinking feeling as you slam the boot shut and realise that your key is in the boot?  Or have you started the car early on a cold winter morning to allow it time to defrost.  When you return, you find that your car has locked itself with the key still in the ignition?  Believe me it happens!  In fact, it happened to me just a few weeks ago!  Well now you know who you can call to get into your car and retrieve your keys!

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Have you tried our mobile collection and delivery service yet?

Have you tried our mobile collection and delivery service yet?  If not, a chance to do so is coming up soon!  Our collection & delivery service is not normally offered house to house but rather business to business.  This means we can reach more people in less time and bring valuable services to your place of work.  So we can provide our services to the business itself and to its employees!  Our full range of services are available using this facility as follows:

  • Shoe Repairs
  • Shoe Recycling
  • Key Cutting (non-urgent)
  • Car Key Programming
  • Watch Batteries & Straps
  • Dry Cleaning
  • Clothes Alterations & Repairs
  • Knife, Scissor & Garden Tool sharpening (as well as many other items)

Our next collection is scheduled for Wednesday 10th March in the Carlisle area (approx. 10 miles radius). If you want us to visit your work place, then please email us using the contact form or call Simon on mobile:  07584135177

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Our services are proving a hit in Carlisle!

Last week (on our return from Spain), was a short week as we remained closed on Monday because my wife Jennie and I had travelled back from Spain during the night and didn’t get back until about 6am!  We had been up roughly 24 hours straight!

However, despite the short week, last week was the busiest week’s trading since inception and Saturday was the best day beating the previous best by something in the order of 30%!!  Looks like our services are really appreciated in the North of Carlisle.

We get a really good mix of business:  Shoe Repairs, Household Key and Dry Cleaning & Clothes Repairs all in demand.  Car keys are going down a storm at the moment as people begin to see the savings that can be made by coming to Keyishoes rather than their local dealer.  One customer was quoted £120 for a non remote key by their dealer.  We did it for just £39 while he waited.  Another was told by the dealer they would need the car for the whole day.  We said they could go and look around the shops for half an hour while we did it!

If you want to know any more about any of our services then please do not hesitate to get in touch through our contact form on this website or by telephone.

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Day 5 – Auto-locksmithing Course

So the final day of the course was yesterday.  We spent time practicing picking various locks and looking at different entry tools as well as looking at the tools that can be used – and made!  Finally, we discussed the various suppliers and equipment needed.

At the end of the course I went and spent an hour in a small traditional bar in the village with the trainer, Mike and his family.

Now, on my return home it will be down to me to hone the skills learned, probably spending many hours frequenting scrap yards for locks to pick for practice and working my way through my shopping list of tools and gadgets.  I’m really looking forward to this part of the learning process.  It seems to me that this business becomes a hobby first and skilled trade later.

In the meantime, if your locked out or have lost your keys!  Why not give me a try?

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Day 4 – Auto-locksmithing Course

Well, today was interesting!  We spent time looking at Japanese & French vehicle systems.  In particular we dismantled a Peugeot door ignition lock down to it’s component parts and cut a key both by hand and also using a cut to code machine to fit the lock.  Immensely satisfying to come away today with the first key I have ever cut by hand just by working out the key code from the pin tumblers in the barrel then rebuilding the lock.  I have kept the key as a souvenir!  Tomorrow?  More on picking the locks themselves and car entry techniques.

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Day 3 – Auto-Locksmithing Course

Vauxhall & Rover were the order of the day today.  Learning the various lock types and the similarities between the two!  It was fascinating to learn how to dismantle the locks and put them back together and learning how to overcome the problems of keys broken in the locks and how to pick the lock if the keys are lost or stolen.  There were also tips on how to make the Rover keys easier to work and reduce the risk of broken keys again in the future – a weakness on the Rover locks.  However, while they have their weaknesses they are also one of the most difficult to dismantle from the steering column!

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Day 2 – Auto-locksmithing Course

Today was all about Ford.  We got the opportunity to study the various types of locks used on Ford and then strip the locks down, repair faulty tumblers and rebuild the lock.  We also got the opportunityto learn entry techniques by picking and decoding the locks using a three different tools.  There were also tips on how to remove keys stuck in the lock and how Fords with different locks in the ignition and doors could be altered to allow just one key to operate both.  Emphasis was on gaining an understanding on the way the locks operate and what is happening inside.  A must for identifying faults and making a successful entry to the vehicle!

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Day 1 – Auto-locksmithing Course

We made it to Spain!  Arrived at the hotel 12:30am!  Finished first day of the course at about 2:30pm today.  The location of the training is outside an old-time spanish village, untouched by tourism.  Had lunch before the traditional siesta.  This was an experience!  Barely able to speak a word of Spanish other than hello, goodbye and thank you ordering lunch was hilarious!  The hotel can’t speak english either and all the menu’s are in spanish.  So ordering a meal is just taking pot luck!  But we are really enjoying the experience and the spanish are friendly enough.

The course is intense and today has been mainly discussing the paperwork and administration side of the profession.  Tomorrow we will be working on Fords:  access, dismantling locks, decoding them and reassembly as well as programming to the vehicle.

More tomorrow!

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Keyishoes-nearly auto-locksmiths?

Well we are now in Stansted airport waiting for our flight to Seville.  I’m going to keep adding to our Facebook to let you know how the course is going.  So if you have not done so already sign into facebook and become a fan of keyishoes!  In the meantime, I wish I hadn’t watched all those airline disaster documentaries!!!

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Keyishoes – Auto-Locksmiths?

Excitement is building for my journey to the village of Zafra in Spain not too far from Seville where I will be attending a 5 day auto-locksmithing course!  The course is ideal, with a small class of just four meaning plenty of one to one training.

This particular course came highly recommeded by other auto-locksmiths and the suppliers of our computerised key programming and cloning equipment, so we have high expectations!

On my return from Spain I should be able to undertake the following procedures:

  • Door & Ingition Lock – Removal & Service
  • Entry techniques to most vehicles
  • Key Cutting
  • Emergency Auto locksmithing procedures
  • Safety

The course will cover:  all Fords, Vauxhall, Peugeot & Renault, Rovers, Motorcycles and other vehicles (time permitting).

This is an exciting development bringing a much need service to Carlisle and other areas of Cumbria.

Jennie and I leave for Spain on Sunday morning and will be back home a week later.  However, Keyishoes will still be open for business while I’m away!  My brother, Matthew, will be holding the fort.  Matthew is also a trained Shoe Repairer and Key Cutter.  He will be able to help with most of your requirements.  Nevertheless, for just one week, Keyishoes will be unable to offer a car key cutting and programming service or Dry Cleaning & Clothes Alterations or repairs.  However, items may be booked in at our mobile unit in Homebase Car Park for attention on my return and Matthew will be able to take your details for enquiries regarding car keys and these will be attended to on my return.  We would like to thank our customers in advance for their patience during these early days of our new enterprise.

Simon

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