Notice Board
A Great Mix of Trades :
Crosskeys Carpentry & Locksmiths
It was a great pleasure to interview Daniel Pulley of Crosskeys Carpentry & Locksmiths , in South Wales , who offers an interesting combi of trades .
My journey into carpentry , followed by locksmithing
I started out in carpentry right after leaving school , becoming a “ chippy ” at around 18 or 19 years old . My cousin owned a joinery shop where I did my City & Guilds apprenticeship in Carpentry and Joinery . Then I started working onsite doing first and second fix carpentry .
I decided to become self-employed and , initially , I worked doing shuttering carpentry for high-rise apartments and car parks . In 2019 , I founded Crosskeys with the goal of becoming fully selfemployed and owning a business I could truly call my own . I didn ’ t want to be a subcontractor anymore and just make money for others , I wanted to work for myself and see where it would take me , and I ’ ve never looked back .
I did my initial locksmith training in South Wales and then decided I wanted to get a qualification that was more recognised , so then studied with the Master Locksmiths Association to become a Qualified Master Locksmith ( QML ).
Why carpentry and locksmithing ?
Having carpentry skills is very beneficial for locksmiths because often you will need to fit a new lock that ’ s a different size or shape than the existing one or repair a badly damaged timber door or frame .
I also find that carpentry and locksmithing go well together , people who need a carpenter will eventually need a locksmith and vice versa , this is true for both domestic and commercial clients . It makes sense to use of all the skills I have under my belt . People often notice the services I advertise on my van and stop to ask questions . Sometimes , they ’ ll even find me another job to do on the spot - or they ’ ll remember me later when they need something done .
Expansion into automotive In April 2024 , I expanded into the automotive side of locksmithing due to receiving a lot more calls for auto entry services and not having the necessary equipment . So , I did some training and bought car key cutting equipment . I ’ m proud to offer automotive locksmithing solutions for example picking and decoding locks and cutting keys to code . I also supply and install Locks4Vans in aftermarket van security .
Quick success & frustrations
What I love about this job is the quick in-and-out nature and the gratitude of customers in emergencies . Dealing with significant door damage , correcting poor workmanship , and last-minute customer cancellations can be quite
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JANUARY 2025
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