After running my own mobile (mostly) commercial locksmith business for a little over a decade, I’m taking a break from it and making the transition to an institutional locksmith position at a large university.

I’m excited for the change but curious to hear from anyone who’s made a similar move or currently works in higher education.

What should I expect, what are the biggest adjustments, and is there anything you wish you knew before starting?

Any tips, advice, or insight would be greatly appreciated!

Just moved in to a new home and need to rekey all the locks. How do I find a replacement cylinder for this? I tried googling it but couldn’t figure it out

My security screen door is missing a lock and door knob. After doing some research, I believe it uses a mortise lock so I went ahead and bought what I thought would work on ebay (https://www.ebay.com/itm/137802231391). However, the side plate that holds the lock is too long for my security door and the plate that covers the knob also is too long. Do anyone know the specific type of mortise lock or any lock set that would work on my security door?

I lost both keys to my 2024 Honda CB300R. I have the actual factory key code from the original dealer purchase paperwork.

​I started calling local automotive locksmiths thinking this would be a five minute job. Every single one has some variation of the line we cut 99 percent of keys on the market on their site or on the phone. Yet across eight different locksmiths, every single one hit a brick wall on this bike.

​One looked up the code and told me his software returned four different possible cuts and that he would need me to unbolt and bring in my ignition and seat locks to decode them by hand. Another told me he had the laser wave blank on his truck but his machine could not originate that cut from a code. Even dedicated online motorcycle code cutters told me they cannot do this key.

​What makes these newer Honda wave keys such an outlier for locksmiths?

​Is the code series not published in standard software databases like InstaCode? Do common CNC key machines not have the specific clamping jaws or cut profiles for this bike?

​Just genuinely curious from a locksmith perspective why having the exact manufacturer key code and the exact blank in hand still makes this key part of the rare 1 percent nobody can touch.

Any help is greatly apprecicated

I think I know the answer to this, but I just created a Manual system in HPC Masterking that I designed myself because it was too many tiers and direct changes to do in List mode.

Despite being many tiers, it's on the smaller side (less than 50 cores), so I'm fairly confident I avoided any phantom/ghost keys, but is there a way for Masterking to flag any in a Manual project? I'm fairly new to the program.

I’m trying to replace the deadbolt in my metal entry door. It is not mortised in any way, and this is what is currently in there. I’ve tried image searching and every term I can think of. What should I be searching for? Current one is made by Schlage if that helps. Thanks.

95% of the locks I interact with are Kwikset or Defiant. The most basic key on earth. I am wasting a ton of time driving to various hardware/key cutting shops and would really like the ability to copy basic house keys while I am on the road or in the office. Is there a basic setup you would recommend?

Preferably something with a motor that I can program and let it get to work while I am free to do other tasks.