JD Locksmith Solutions

Sometimes people steal the keys to your heart, but sometimes people steal the keys to your house. JD Locksmith Solutions understands that messy situations don’t just happen Monday-Friday 9-5 and that’s why we offer 24/7 emergency service. We know that some incidents for your home or business need to be dealt with now, they’re too critical and too sensitive to wait for the weekend to end or for daylight to come. We pride ourselves on providing honest 24/7 locksmith service and showing up when we say we will. We don’t quote unrealistic times or turn the phone off at 5 o’clock like some companies. We understand that sometimes trust is broken, sometimes situations change and that those things don’t only happen during normal business hours when it’s convenient. Our Plymouth based locksmith company also understands that emergency service isn’t just lockouts and broken locks, but that it's more so the piece of mind of getting locksmith solutions when they are needed and before a bad situation can become worse. Whether you’ve got a significant other that’s very suddenly become less significant, a family member who’s lost your trust or an employee whom you realize no longer has the companies’ best interest in mind we can be there to provide locksmith solutions to anywhere in the entirety of Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol and Norfolk counties. Give us a call to get you back in the property, to repair that entrance that suddenly failed, to rekey the property before someone who has keys ands no longer should uses them. You can check us out on our website, see some of the extensive training we’ve gone through and some of what we have to offer. Call JD Locksmith Solutions if you need emergency service that can’t wait until it's convenient. We provide that whilst still being fully insured, professional and having a wealth of experience in the locksmith, security and law enforcement realm.

Call (508)535-5625 for 24/7 Emergency Locksmith service for Plymouth, Barnstable, Norfolk and Bristol Counties so we can get you back to being both safe and sure.

Key Control and IC Cores

One thing I love educating customers on, especially businesses, is the importance of key control. Key control means ensuring that you know how many keys you have and where they are. Whether moving into a new business or home, changing the locks to a new key is an important step. Taking on a new location whether personally or commercially means anyone involved with that location in the past may have a key to it and you don't know how many keys are in existence.

Quite a few years ago I had a shop with a partner in New Bedford. Our location was a cool little shopfront with big windows in a nice spot that had shops lining the street and a bunch of apartments above. We had keys to a bathroom on the first floor of the building that was near the elevators to the apartments upstairs. One of the first things I did was change my locks on the shop as I'm a fan of higher security and key control. I went with a couple medeco cylinders and gave keys off to the management company.

I was friends with the other shop owners and at one point one of them approached me and asked if my bathroom key operated the front door of his business. It did. In fact it operated the bathroom, his front door, every other shopfront door in the building (except mine!) and all the apartments upstairs. To read between the lines the keys this property management company had handed out weren't bathroom keys, they were master keys to the whole property. At some point they had misplaced or lost the bathroom key. This meant that myself, every shop owner, and every employee who had a key to a shop all had keys not only to the buildings front door but to every single apartment. I approached that company with this information and they seemed unfazed. This is a personal example of something I dealt with that points out the importance of key control. Having a system in place that identifies how many keys are in existence and prevents copying and disseminating Master Keys on properties that have them is important, but often overlooked for convenience.

An IC core is a figure eight shaped cylinder that can be removed by a client from a lock, with what is called a core key, and replaced with another core so it makes an instant rekey possible. They are fantastic when you have an exployee leave under questionable circumstances so you don't have to wait for a locksmith to show up and prevent them from accessing their former place of work. Often clients keep a spare set of cores and keys locked away in a safe place to instantly change locks in an emergency. High security versions make bypassing more difficult and restricted versions make it close to impossible to make copies. The blanks aren't sold to the public or other locksmiths if they are restricted. This allows key control. You can have a certain number of keys, keep them marked so you know which is assigned to who and prevent duplicates from being made unless the appropriate people sign for it. It's a little less convenient but a lot more secure. Having limited keys that are marked also keeps key holders honest as any key encountered has a number on it showing who it belongs to and no "ghost keys" can be made.

JD Locksmith Solutions can help any home or business explore what their physical security needs are and what options are right for you. With over tens years experience we can help make any location in Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol and Norfolk counties secure and we are available 24/7 for emergency service when needed at (508)535-LOCK or (508)535-5625.

We’re Still Open!

Recently our Google my business listing was suspended. This also happened a number of years ago for reasons unknown and was sorted out within a few weeks by resubmitting our info and some back and forth. That being said, we are still open.

JD Locksmith Solutions provides 24/7 emergency Locksmith service to Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol and Norfolk counties. We consist of 2 technicians, are fully insured and are a member of the Massachusetts Locksmith Association ID # 826. We offer residential, commercial and automotive services.

This means we can get you back into your home or business, add deadbolts to an entrance, fix door and lock issues, add door closers, replace your lost automotive keys and much more. We make short work of fitting or fashioning keys to antique hardware and are trained in many aspects of the trade.

A note about Google listings-
Google is going through some growing pains with their listings right now. A lot of listings are being suspended and a lot of what remains, including those google verified listings, are call center scams. Consider checking the reviews (not just the five stars as those are often bought) and looking for any that indicate bait and switch or other schemes. Also be vigilant of call centers and pricing schemes that seem too good to be true (i.e. 15 dollars service fee etc.)

JD Locksmith Solutions can be reached at (508)535-5625 for all your locksmith needs and feel free to ask us about what we can offer you, your home or business.

Why all Locks are Not Created Equal

Locks, like all things come in varying quality and understanding what the pros and cons of different hardware is can generally save us a headache in the future. While locks types differ in their various advantages and disadvantages such as a deadbolt being a far superior security option than a locking handset, today Id like to touch on lock grades. Locks and other door hardware are graded by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association and ratings typically appear as ANSI/BHMA and range from 1 to 3 with 1 being the superior. Any lock without a rating should not be utilized as it hasn’t been held to their standards.

The things the locks are tested for include;
Cycles- The lock is cycled for a set amount of times and retested after to ensure its still in working order.

Finish- A series of tests is performed to ensure the locks appearance will hold up to exposure to various environmental conditions.

Security- An array of tests is performed that consist of various attacks to gain entry.

Strength- Tests are performed to ensure the various parts of the lock hold up to various abuse.

Operational- Tests are performed that test the functionality and ease of use of the lock.

Often, grade 3 locks are described as residential, grade 2 as light duty commercial and grade 1 as commercial. It’s a bit of an oversimplification though and it should be known that having a grade 1 lock does not mean it is a high security lock. Even within the 3 grades various locks are not equal to one another and several factors need to be considered while choosing new locks in regard to what is being secured, the environment they are being installed in and the level of security that needs to be obtained.

While all this can seem a bit overwhelming, JD Locksmith Solutions can provide an array of options for every scenario and help navigate to the right decision. Whether you need a high security solution, the convenience of keyless entry or a finish that will hold up to the harshest conditions we’ll make it easy to get it done right. We cover Barnstable, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol counties and can be reached at (508)535-5625.

If you’re in the market to sell your home this spring don’t overlook the locks to the house. The locks paint a vivid first impression and mismatched hardware with missing keys tends to present as a home with less cared for. As part of the curb appeal matching door hardware and having everything keyed alike can add aesthetic and convenience. Not only can JD Locksmith Solutions replace or rekey the hardware to match, we can also add a follow up service to rekey our installed hardware when the property sells to add value to the sale. Paid for up front we can be scheduled to completely rekey the locks once keys have been passed and the sale closed remedying any keys that were handed out to realtors or contractors during the hectic time on the market. Used as part of a realtors welcome kit this is a great added bonus to add to a sale.
For more info on this or any locksmith related services reach out at (508)535-5625. JD Locksmith Solutions covers all your commercial, residential and automotive locksmith needs and offers 24/7 emergency service to Plymouth, Bristol, Norfolk and Banstable counties!

Why you should buy your car keys from a local locksmith

With the internet at your fingertips, buying anything you need has never been easier. Whether through Amazon, Ebay or the countless other websites picking up a duplicate car key seems like it too can be quickly done with nothing more than a few clicks.
Unfortunately, consumers often screw themselves over by buying their replacement or duplicate keys through websites. It’s a little more complicated and below are some pitfalls to avoid and alternatives to consider.

Make sure it’s the right key -
Double check, triple check and don’t assume. It doesn’t matter if it looks like your key, because the vast majority of car keys are transponder keys. Not only does the key blade need to match but the internal chip needs to match as well. Many car lines use several keys that look the same but either utilize a different internal chip or use a different key blade.

Make sure its not a “shell”-
A shell is an empty car key or remote. It doesn’t have the chip necessary to be programmed to the vehicle. Unfortunately many consumers purchase these because they are the cheapest option and look exactly like their key and are “compatible” with their vehicle. They aren’t made as a replacement or duplicate key, but rather as parts to repair a damaged key.

Don’t assume you can program it-
Most vehicles cannot onboard program a key unless it has 2 already programmed keys and many cant onboard program at all and require a special computer to do so.

Don’t assume a locksmith or dealer will program it-
Many dealers/locksmiths wont cut or program customer provided keys. The issue is thus, first we can’t assume you got the right thing. In my experience it’s about 50/50 that customers purchase a legitimate key elsewhere and want me to program it. Often customers bring me shells or a key that’s identical but with the incorrect chip and its useless. While JD Locksmith Solutions will program customer provided keys we take no liability with those keys. We can’t warranty customer provided keys as we cant control the quality or accuracy of the product. Most locksmiths, ourselves included will still charge if called out to cut and program a customer provided key that turns out to be the incorrect blank.

A Better way to do it-
Buy your keys outright through your local locksmith. JD Locksmith Solutions has a 90 day warranty on all hardware provided. We want to leave you with a hassle free working product, and should it fail to meet your needs we can replace it. We also know what your vehicle needs and are equipped to provide it. JD Locksmith solutions can be reached at (508)535-5625 for all your automotive, residential and commercial locksmith needs 24/7.

Why keying one door differently might be a better solution for you!

For the most part, having one key access all the exterior doors of your home or business might seem like the only option, a true win-win. For some people however, it’s not the best option. While convenience is important, sometimes strategically keying one door differently can be an added layer of security. For some people, using a “contractor” door is an excellent alternative to having every entrance keyed alike. By having one entrance keyed separately, you can control where individuals you hand keys out to enter the home or business. This means they are using the most public entrance to ensure the most visibility should someone be using the keys you handed out nefariously. Beyond that, if you choose to set up a camera system it allows you to better cover the areas you’d expect to be accessed by keyholders, which can work wonders for accountability. Finally, in the event a keyholder should no longer have access to the home or business, only one lock needs to be changed rather than the entire property to remain secure. To clarify, for these purposes a contractor can include more than just a businesses’ employees. For a homeowner this includes babysitters, pet sitters, house sitters, significant others that have become less significant, family members who just no longer need access, actual contractors, the dreaded in-laws, or even that neighbor you gave a spare key to before you found out about their police record…. Regardless of whether you need one entrance keyed differently or every door utilizing the same key, JD Locksmith Solutions can ensure the doors are keyed to you needs and covers Plymouth, Bristol, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties. We can be reached at (508)535-5625 and are happy to discuss what the best option for you would be!

FROZEN LOCKS
Living in New England means strain on most of our outdoor assets and our doors and locks are no exception. Every year the cold season brings an uptick in emergency work and much of it has to do with frozen locks. Locks are simple mechanical devices and as such need to be treated correctly and maintained in order to be useful. Often we respond to home or auto locks that are frozen and can’t be operated by key, thumb turn or switch.

Always have a storm door if its an option. It prolongs the life of the hardware, the door and the frame. It also helps keep heat in the home and prevent debris from hitting the door as well as keeping snow and water out of your doors hardware and free from the keyhole on the hardware.

Always make sure your keys are dry. If you drop them in a puddle wipe off the key before you unlock a door or put it in your ignition. It doesn’t take too much water to make a lock stick. The parts it freezes are tiny. If you suspect a lock is frozen they make lock deicer specifically for this issue. It helps melt ice and displace water out of the lock and is a good first option. Some lubricants designed for locks are also a solid choice for freeing up the cylinder.

DON’T FORCE A KEY OR THUMBTURN
A lock cylinder should turn smoothly with the key. Very little force should need to be applied. If the cylinder is stuck forcing the key will bend or snap it off in the cylinder. The key is the weakest part and that’s what will give up first. With a vehicle this tends to be worse because dust shutters close over the broken key making it more difficult to remove. If you attempt to force a deadbolt that seems stuck or frozen the weakest link will be the first to give up. In a deadbolt that is typically the spindle that connect the thumb turn to the deadbolt and causes the bolt to retract. If that snaps the thumb turn will no longer operate the lock as it will be damaged. Locks are fine mechanical devices. Force isn’t part of how they operate, Never force a lock.

DON’T STICK FOREIGN OBJECTS IN A LOCK
Screwdrivers, barrettes, wire, incorrect keys, knives, bread ties, soda straws and anything else that isn’t the key that goes to the lock have no business being in it. Unfortunately there is quite a bit of MacGyver lock repairs and picking that end up damaging or destroying the lock. Ignition locks are especially sensitive. Jamming random objects can often make a problem a lot worse, so as a rule of thumb avoid it.

DON’T POUR HOT WATER IN THE LOCK
Pouring hot water into a cylinder may free it up momentarily, but its almost guaranteed to cause huge issues with it. If its cold outside that water will freeze a cylinder solid and often make it damn near impossible to fix on the short term. Water has no place in a lock. If using lock deicer isn’t an option (as its not always available and doesn’t always solve an issue) locksmiths like JD Locksmith Solutions can get your door open and give your options for repair. We can be reached at (508)535-5625 at all hours for emergency service.

At the end of last summer I experienced an accident that caused me to have to take a step back from business as usual. I ended up with a left side lower leg amputation and longer then Id like recovery but have made the strides necessary to reopen JD Locksmith Solutions and resume regular operations. While I still have progress to make we will be offering the vast majority of locksmith services as we have done in the past. Id like to thank the community and our customers for their understanding in the last year or so. Above all else my company holds safety and security in the highest regard and that includes our own.

While I dispatched out of Brockton in the past I will now be operating out of Plymouth. Our service areas remain the same and include the entirety of Plymouth, Bristol, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties. The difference being the turn around time for jobs will be longer or shorter depending on location. That being said we are still on point at quoting time frames.

JD Locksmith solutions provides 24/7 locksmith services including automotive key replacement and lockout services. We also intend to start writing our weekly articles in regards to safety and security for your home, business and vehicles in the next week or so as we have done in the past. Feel free to ton contact us at (508)535-5625 for any locksmith needs. I look forward to serving the community with the same level of expertise and quality I have in the past and am happy to once again be in service.

-Jacob Diodato
JD Locksmith Solutions

JD Locksmith Solutions will be closed to emergency services and available on an extremely limited basis due to a catastrophic medical issue for the next few months. Thankyou for your patience and understanding during this time, we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and messages will be returned as availability allows. Stay safe and well. -Jacob Diodato

Extending the life of your locks with simple lubricant upkeep!

All doors and locks need some sort of lubricant and not just any lubricant! Not all lubricants are the same and should be used for the various applications of your home’s doors and locks.

For keyways, locksmiths of the yesteryear were fond of graphite which is a solid particle lubricant. Often times locks could become so packed with graphite lubricant it could actually impede the mechanism and pin tumblers causing malfunctions. It really was a light touch application. We’ve taken malfunctioning mechanisms apart and removed packed in caked up graphite and had to clean the parts and reassemble to get back to a working lock. The graphite itself would often trail and extremely stain clothing. Any mixing of this and liquid lubricants could cause an incredible mess.

At this point there are so many far superior lubricants that graphite is all but retired. A good easy to find solution for in lock keyways would be WD-40 brand Specialist Dry L**e w/ PTFE. Its fashioned after some of the harder to find brands locksmiths have been hoarding for years. This is a wet to dry lubricant, meaning it goes on wet and dries rather quickly leaving a lubricating film. This prevents it from sucking in dust and causing a “mud” in the lock. We suggest lubricating locks and keyways once a year to help prevent salt, rust and corrosion buildup. This is done by using the hose applicator to spray the lubricant directly in the keyhole and then running a key in and out a dozen times or so to work the pin tumblers. Use a paper towel to wipe any excess from the key and lock cylinder front. Sometimes cylinders left in disrepair need more serious help including being taken apart and cleaned properly, and a quality locksmith like JD Locksmith Solutions can help bring those back to good working order.

Latches and bolts are a bulkier, less precise part of the lock that doesn’t need a wet to dry lubricant. A lot of the standard lubricants work on these as needed. Think the regular wd-40 formula. Remember to wipe of excess and that lubricant can only do so much. The lubricant is more effective if used preventatively than if used to reverse oxidation. Remember that lubricant is small piece of the puzzle. If Latches aren’t retracting, catching or bolts are hard to use, other issues can be addressed by a trained locksmith.

Hinges are often ignored, but a little lubricant can go a long way. A lot of the squeaking hinges we hear can be fixed with a small amount of spray. Often times the lubrication can help the hinge to swing easier and prevent force issues with the hinge that could cause bending or pulling of the screws. A general lubricant like wd-40 would be ideal with most standard door hinges, albeit there are special extremely thick lubricants made for garage door applications. Of the various issues that shouldn’t be ignored, doors dragging or rubbing should be towards the top as it tends to be a compounding problem, which is to say it can start as an easy fix but cause stress and damage to several areas over time. If lubricants don’t ease an issue or seem to have to do with it, consider getting the issue professionally repaired to forego more expensive issues down the line. A lot of hinge repairs start as simple fixes if you’re trained in what the problem is, but they have a way of spiraling out of control.

JD Locksmith Solutions is available 24/7 across the entirety of Plymouth, Bristol, Barnstable and Norfolk Counties to keep your locks and doors working as they should. We can be reached at (508)535-5625 to help sort out any problems or prevent them from arising altogether!

High Security and Restricted Keyway Locks, What’s the difference and what’s the big deal?

In circumstances where security is of the upmost importance, the level of locks and keys offered to meet this requirement are beyond the typical Home Depot trip. High security in the realm of Locksmiths refers to physical security, difficulty to pick or bypass as well as key control.

Key control refers to ensuring that all keys to a system of locks are accounted for. Many high security locks have patented keyways, meaning the blanks are available only to one entity in the area, and only an authorized person can order duplicates. This prevents unauthorized duplication as the physical key blanks simply don’t exist elsewhere. This means all keys in the system can be numbered and assigned individually, making accountability for lost keys a possibility while also ensuring no duplication unless stipulated through the proper channels.

High Security locks can only be as effective as the weakest link in the facility. There is no lock that is 100 percent effective, the object is to detect and deter, prevent entry and bide time. Locks are always a short term solution in comparison to alarm systems. A truly secure area has multi tiered security, typically meaning excellent locks, a professional alarm setup and cameras to deter and document.

The objective of the high security lock is to make a point of entry an undesirable target. Locks utilizing anti drill plates and anti pick technology that makes experienced locksmiths not even want to try their luck ensure that the locks aren’t an easy method for entry.

Other accessories such as steel wrenching cylinder guards, Latch protectors and the Scotsman Dorgard make the physical aspect a non-issue when paired correctly with the appropriate tiered security.
Customers for this level of security include government and medical facilities, schools, dispensaries, pharmacies, law offices and really any high profile target as far as physical and intellectual assets goes.

JD Locksmith Solutions has been providing high security solutions to Bristol, Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties for the better part of the past 10 years and can be reached at (508)535-5625

Customer "We tried to do it ourselves"

To get it opened right call JD Locksmith Solutions before damage occurs.

FYI none of the damage or "tools" are courtesy of JD Locksmith Solutions.

The truth about skeleton keys

In Massachusetts we have a rich supply of antique doors and furniture, often using what the laymen refer to as a skeleton key. In reality however, that term is completely incorrect. The Keys used for these are typically bit or barrel keys, which consist of a solid metal key or one with a barrel designed to accept a post in the lock, and cut with wards to match that of the said lock.

The term “skeleton key” that people love to misappropriate actually has to do with a very specific type of bypass key, where in a bit or barrel key is filed down “bare bones” to allow the warding to pass through a great many locks. They make really lousy keys, as they are so thin and brittle they break often. Below you can see a set of skeleton keys I got my hands on some time ago for the sake of collection, what’s not present is the half dozen broken keys I pulled off it. You’ll notice the warding is super thin and basic, not like the various bit and barrel keys in the second photo that are typically cut to an exact specification for the lock.

If you have old hardware or furniture missing a key, you can often order a replacement if you have certain information from the product. It tends to be case specific. There are also tryout key kits that give you a ring of common bit and barrel key sizes. I find these are effective maybe 25% of the time. Beyond that, a qualified locksmith like JD Locksmith Solutions can fit and fashion keys to the lock. The process starts with finding a key that is the correct type and dimensions and then filing it to work with the lock. We use a variety of methods to assist in this; including impressioning and scoping the lock.

A small warning, its easy to damage the post in barrel locks by forcing a key of the wrong size on it, which is a hard fix. A light touch is needed with these mechanisms. They should never be forced. Any antique or vintage hardware needs to be handled with a certain amount of respect.

JD Locksmith Solutions technician Jacob Diodato has been dealing with antiques professionally for the entirety of his life as part of a family business and paired that with his love of locksmithing for the past 10 years and has come to be quite skilled in the repair and fabrication of antique locks, keys and hardware. We can be reached at (508)535-5625 and offer repair, replacement and key fabrication for these style locks.

SMART LOCKS; THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

More and more often we are seeing a desire for various electronic locks to be installed in customer’s homes. There are a multitude of great options for the sake of convenience, but with a higher level of convenience typically comes lower level of security. Every smart lock is different and has its own array of options, abilities and vulnerabilities so be sure to research the specific lock you are interested in. The following information for the newly emerging units.

THE GOOD
Electronic locks are convenience incarnate. They offer keypads so forgetting your key isn’t a problem. Multiple user codes can be logged and removed as users are no longer allowed access. The higher end models can restrict user codes to certain days and hours and log use. The “smart” versions can often be opened with phone credentials, a fob or card. Some of the smart locks hook to wifi to be able to receive commands when your out to unlock the door. Thye can make great options for businesses or Air B and B’s.
THE BAD
Batteries need to be upkept and changed regularly with high end alkaline batteries. Deadbolts that use the battery to physically throw the deadbolt will eat up batteries much quicker as do units that constantly connect to wifi. Electronic components add a whole extra level of parts to fail for various reasons. Special care needs to be taken if putting on or taking off not to clip the often feeble wires in the units. Most of the units offer a metal emergency key bypass method. This tends to mean the unit has all the vulnerabilities of a regular key lock with the added vulnerabilities of a smart or electric lock. Something to keep in mind, you are typically buying this for convenience, not security.

THE UGLY
Bluetooth can be hacked. Wifi can be hacked. While convenience is nice, it should be noted there are a considerable amount of devices on the black market for bypassing electronic locks. Whilst this isn’t my specialty, I took a course at a security conference a few years ago wherein the instructor spent about 15 minutes explaining how a 150 dollar device could gain access to your phone through Bluetooth vulnerabilities. You could see a room of 30 security professionals pull their phones out and shut down Bluetooth. The point is, these devices add less security, not more. I wouldn’t say its likely to be used on your home, but the risk is there and it should be known.

IN SUMMARY
Consider keypad and smart locks if the convenience is the more important factor to you. Air B & B’s do well with them because they can issue credentials remotely for guests or contractors. If you forget your housekeys twice a week a keypad could be a gamechanger. If you are dealing with a domestic issue or a deranged ex employee, the less options to gain entry may be the better solution. Either way, research the specific lock you’re interested in and pay as much attention to the negative as you do the positive.

JD Locksmith Solutions can always help in the selection process of an electronic lock that suits your needs and budget and can be reached at (508)535-5625