Notice Board
Defining and Setting the Standard : The LockLab 101
» WE INTERVIEWED BRIAN JAMES from LockLab 101 who , thanks to his entertaining and often informative locksmith videos , has thousands of followers on YouTube , Instagram and TikTok . He is known and appreciated for his specialism and knowledge in nondestructive entry techniques .
Brian has had a lifelong obsession with locks and likes to help ‘ new to the trade ’ and existing locksmiths improve their confidence with opening complex locks and develop business skills .
How did you get into locksmithing ?
Prior to being a locksmith , I worked in the corporate world in various capacities : marketing , adult education , printing and colour management , before taking voluntary redundancy , which became the catalyst for becoming selfemployed .
I was interested in locks from a young age but my locksmith journey truly began when I helped a neighbour who was locked out of their garage . I fortuitously managed to pick the lock using just a couple of pieces of bent wire . This good fortune stirred my curiosity to learn more about locks , soon moving on to more complex and difficult types . I started to gain locksmith experience when fitting and exchanging locks , often using my joinery skills which have proved a very useful part of the journey . I formalised my locksmith business in 2017 , Lock 101 Limited .
Initially I worked for the emergency response insurance industry enabling me to steadily build my experience , buy the specialist tools and stock to service my own private clients .
Being a locksmith utilises many skills from simply fitting locks to doors , handling complex non-destructive entry situations and dealing with people often in their hour of need . All my abilities are challenged daily and put to full use . This is what makes the job satisfying and every day is different .
How did you get into locksmithing training ?
After a few years of domestic and commercial locksmithing , I started working for various energy companies as a warrant locksmith . This is a very demanding and rewarding job which requires excellent non-destructive entry skills , working in a team environment and using the specialist tools I had already purchased . Nothing I had experienced before improved my knowledge and skills quicker than being a warrant locksmith . Within a few years my confidence , as well as the ‘ on the door ’ skills , grew exponentially .
Due to the requirement for a new code of conduct , the energy company and debt management industry has had to undergo
restructuring . As a result , I went from being employed as a warrant locksmith from five days a week to just a few days each month . I am still reasonably busy undertaking commercial warrant work , but I have found it difficult to run a sustainable business with this limited income .
Having spent 15 years teaching in adult education , I decided to bring my experience and skills to the locksmith industry . With very little comprehension of video editing and opening locks on camera , my initial YouTube videos were clumsy and not the best representation of what I knew I could do . However , over time , and with experience things , it has become easier and many people tell me they find my videos entertaining and informative . Thus , LockLab 101 was born - the perfect extension for portraying my locksmith business and skills ; a name inspired by my pet Labrador .
Today , with most of my experience being in non-destructive entry methods , this has become my teaching specialism : to teach people how to open locks and not destroy them .
What ’ s next ?
I have recently been invited to help develop video content for the Locksley Application . This constantly expanding application helps locksmiths reference information for mortice lock and gearbox identification , high security cylinders , hinge adjustment guides and much , much more . It ’ s been called the ‘ personal locksmith sidekick ’. The new video content will reference the different methods for opening locks , which picks to use and how to use them , including tips and tricks . I am delighted to be part of this growing application which will give locksmiths access to knowledge in the field via their smartphones .
Whom do you train ? A lot of new entrants to the locksmith industry come from armed forces , joinery and engineering backgrounds ; I ’ m a great believer it ’ s a positive thing to reinvent yourself . When you find something that
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JULY 2024
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