Zieh Fix: Video Review for The Ultimate Tool to Break a Lock
July 7, 2022
9:30 in the morning, I’m still asleep. Had a long night last night, a job went deep into the night. Working as a locksmith is 24/7 and I accept it with love. Anyway, I had no plans getting out of bed anytime soon and all I wanted is to have some rest, recharge my battery.
The phone ring. The work phone. That 24/7 business sucks balls! “How soon before you can get to Leidseplein?” Leidseplein?! At 9:00 in the morning!? Parking, traffic, bicycles, tourists, traffic, parking. Nightmare. “30 minutes, I can be there”. I can not believe what I am hearing coming out of my mouth. “Thanks, see you then.” The guy sounded desperate and I will not leave a customer hanging. We are an emergency locksmith service for a reason. Amsterdam needs us. Five minutes after I was in my locksmith car making my way to the hazard zone.
The map showed 28 minutes. I texted the client to keep him in the loop. I always do. He was happy. Getting to Amsterdam’s belly of the beast was easy for my surprise. I was able to find parking seven minutes’ walk to the address.
You can imagine parking under the house in Amsterdam city center, not possible! Therefore, 7 minutes’ walk is a good result. Got my tools out of the car and started walking. Outside of the building, the client was already waiting. He needs to be at work very quickly and please be quick to unlock it and he really needs to go. I get it. I will do my best, I promise. As we walk into the building, I see the stairs. On a straight angle, two levels up, million and one-steps. Stairway to heaven. Amsterdam Centrum style. I started climbing.
I was looking at the lock already sweating. My toolboxes are getting heavier by the second, I swear. The lock looked straightforward. Could maybe use the under the door tool or drill it. On the other hand, so it seems. I already know not to take lightly any door or any lock. Nothing is ever what it seems in this line of work of ours. “How much is it?” The customer asked. “150 including VAT flat”. I said. “150? For a five minutes job?” No, I did not hear it. 5 minutes job. Every time I hear a client claim that a job will be 5 minutes, I end up sending the night on the door. “Only the VAT is 21% and we have to also pay taxes” I explained. “Ok, no problem”. He said. Moreover, I started to work.
First, I tried to get under the door. Did not work. There was some kind of rubber under the door to prevent cold drift to enter the apartment. In addition, the thing prevented the under the door tool from getting under the door. I was working on the lock hoping to have it unlocked the clean and easy way. I knew it would not be easy as the lock was restricted. As I was working on the door, I informed the client of the process. I also mentioned that if there will be no way to unlock the door in a clean way, I will have to drill or snap the cylinder. No problem.
I was working on the door for 45 minutes already. Sweating as in Amsterdam stair rooms its very hard to find a window to open. More like impossible. Unlocking the door the clean way was no option at the lock was protected. I had to drill it. No problem. I was using a special screw that will pull the cylinder out of the door and will allow me access into the lock’s mechanism. I was drilling the special screw into the lock when I heard a snap. Snap. The screw broke inside the cylinder. OMG, no no no… It was already an hour into this job and it was not getting easier.
A broken screw in the cylinder will prevent me from snapping the cylinder. That option is no more. I have to drill it out. Pulling the drill, using a special Cobalt drill bit costing 30 euro just for the bit. Another hour of work. Drilling the lock with everything, I have. The broken steel screw stuck in it does not help. I had to get to the car twice to top up the meter for parking. 7 minutes’ walk each way every time and 7 more minutes return. 7.5 euros per hour parking in Amsterdam centrum. In addition, up and down the stairs of hell. Moreover, sweating. The lock had protection pins in it preventing burglars doing exactly the thing that I do. Drilling the lock. I was pushing and pulling until the drill bit broke as well. 30 euros down the drain. I was fighting with the cylinder the fight of my life. Every bone of my body was hurting. Its already 3 hours since I came here, I looked at my phone. Drilling, hammering, pushing, drilling, hammering pushing, pooling, and the door is open. I came here at 10:00, it’s already 13:30.
Three and an half hours. Yes, three and a half hours of back breaking work. I replaced the cylinder with a new one, thanked the client for his patience and was walking to my car dragging my heavier by the second toolbox. Parking costed about 30 euros. The drill bit that snapped another 30 euros. The new cylinder installed another 29 euros. 89 euros expenses. 3.5 hours of slave labor. Over 30 euros for VAT tax as well. In short, of 150 euros I made 31 euros for this work. Before tax obviously. Gross. That is ok. This is our work sometimes. Next time that you have a locksmith coming over, just pay the man. Our work is not always a walk in the park. Not always.
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