Five Tools Every Locksmith Always Carries.
1. Picks
An obvious choice to be at the top of list, no locksmith can work without a good pick set. There are thousands of lock pick sets out there, some more complicated than others. Strip things down to the core though and a locksmith really only needs 4 picks; a diamond pick, a rake pick, a hook pick, and a ball pick. Some locksmiths also carry a pick gun for added speed.
2. Tension tools
Also known as a tension wrench or torsion wrench, tension tools are used in collaboration with lock picks to open a lock. They’re used to hold picked pins in place.
3. Key extractors
Extracting a broken key from a lock takes more than some glue on a paperclip, a knife, or a screwdriver. In fact, make the mistake of trying any of the above and you’re likely to damage the lock beyond repair. Locksmiths should always carry key extractors for damage-free extraction.
4. Plug spinner
Locks are meant to be picked in the correct direction. A locksmith that picks the lock in the wrong direction shouldn’t lose hope though, especially if he carries a plug spinner, a device that can flip picked locks in the right direction without the need to re-pick.
5. Flashlight / scope
A lot of emergency locksmith jobs are undertaken at night time, making a flashlight (or head-mounted flashlight) essential. Experienced locksmiths know that looking at a lock with the naked eye can be tricky, thus opting to carry a mini-telescope with them can be handy.
