- Mobile locksmiths carry key machines, programmers, decoding tools and repair tools so most jobs can be done on site.
- Code cutters and key programmers let us make car keys at your car, even when all keys are lost.
- Lishi picks, wedges and plug spinners let locksmiths open locks without damaging them.
- A locksmith who wants to drill a standard lock right away is a warning sign worth questioning.
Locksmiths use four main groups of tools: key machines that cut keys, programmers that pair keys to a car’s computer, entry and decoding tools like Lishi picks and lockout kits that open locks without damage, and repair tools like plug spinners, pinning kits and broken key extractors. A mobile locksmith carries all of these in a van, so most jobs can be finished where you are instead of at a shop or a dealer.
Knowing what these tools do helps you understand why one locksmith can make your car key in the driveway while another tells you to tow it, and why a good locksmith rarely needs to drill your lock.
Key cutting machines
There are two kinds of key machines in a well-equipped van.
Duplicating machines
A duplicator traces an existing key and copies its cuts onto a blank. It’s the same idea as the machine at a hardware store. It works fine for a simple house key, but it copies any wear on the original too. If your key is old and rounded off, the copy will be just as worn.
Code cutting machines
A code cutter doesn’t need your old key. It cuts a key to the factory specifications using a key code, which is a set of numbers that describes each cut. This matters for two reasons:
- No key to copy. If you lost every key to your car, we can often get the key code from the VIN or decode it from the lock, then cut a fresh key that matches the original factory key.
- Better fit. A key cut to code is cut to the original depths, not to the wear of a 10-year-old key, so it usually turns more smoothly.
Many modern code machines can also cut laser-cut keys, the kind with a wavy groove down the middle of the blade instead of notches on the edge. These are common on newer cars. If your car uses one, see our page on laser-cut and sidewinder car keys.
Key programmers
Cutting a car key is only half the job on most cars built in the last couple of decades. The key has a chip (a transponder) that the car’s immobilizer must recognize, or the engine won’t start even if the key turns.
We program keys with professional diagnostic tools that plug into the car’s OBD port, the same port a mechanic uses to read engine codes. Depending on the vehicle, the programmer may:
- Add a new key to the car’s memory alongside your existing keys
- Erase lost keys so they can’t start the car anymore
- Read the PIN code the car requires before it will accept a new key
- Pair a smart key or push-to-start fob, plus the remote buttons
Some vehicles need more than the OBD port. In those cases a module may need to be removed and programmed on the bench, which takes more time and specialized equipment.
Why it matters to you: without a programmer, a locksmith can only cut a key that opens the doors. With one, most cars can get a working key on site, without a tow to the dealer. That’s the core of our car key replacement work.
Before we cut or program any car key, we ask for proof of ownership, such as the registration or title plus a photo ID. A locksmith with these tools could make a key for any car, so checking ownership protects you.
Lishi picks and other decoding tools
Lishi picks are 2-in-1 tools built for a specific type of lock. They work as a pick to open the lock and as a decoder that reads the position of each wafer or pin inside. From those readings, the locksmith can figure out the key’s cuts and then cut a working key on the code machine.
This is a big deal for car keys when all keys are lost. Instead of removing the door lock or ignition, we can often:
- Pick the door lock open with the matching Lishi tool
- Read the cuts while the tool is in the lock
- Cut a key to those cuts on the code machine
- Program the key to the car
A locksmith needs a different Lishi for each lock profile, so a van often carries a long row of them. Having the right one on hand is one of the things that decides whether a job takes minutes or a lot longer.
Lockout tools
For car and home lockouts, the goal is to get you in without breaking anything. Common tools include:
- Air wedges and pump wedges that open a small gap at a car door’s frame without bending it
- Long-reach tools that slide through that gap to press the unlock button or pull the handle
- Pick sets and tension wrenches for traditional pin tumbler locks on homes and businesses
- Bypass tools for certain latch and lever designs
Used correctly, these leave no marks. If you’re stuck outside your car, our car lockout service relies on these tools, not a slim jim jammed into the door.
Plug spinners
Sometimes a lock gets picked in the wrong direction. Many locks only unlock when the cylinder (the plug) turns one way, and picking it the other way just leaves it locked. Re-picking from scratch takes time.
A plug spinner is a spring-loaded tool that flips the plug around in a fraction of a second, before the pins can drop back into place. The lock ends up turned the right way. It’s a small tool, but it can save a lot of time on a lockout.
Broken key extractors
When a key snaps off inside a lock or ignition, the piece left behind has to come out before anything else can happen. Extractors are thin, hooked or barbed steel strips that slide alongside the broken piece and pull it out.
A few tips if this happens to you:
- Don’t push the piece deeper with the other half of the key.
- Don’t use superglue on the broken end. It often glues the key to the lock.
- Keep the other half. We can often cut a new key from the broken pieces or by code.
If the lock or ignition was damaged by the key breaking, the next step may be repair or replacement. We handle both, including ignition repair.
Rekeying and repair tools
For home and business locks, the van carries:
- Pinning kits with pins in many sizes, used to change which key opens a lock
- Plug followers that hold the springs and pins in place while the plug is out
- Key gauges and calipers to measure cuts and pin depths
- Drills and drill jigs, used only when a lock is failed, damaged or can’t be opened another way
Rekeying swaps the pins inside your existing lock so old keys stop working, without replacing the hardware. With a pinning kit in the van, it’s usually done in one visit. Read more about our rekey service.
Why the tools matter to you as a customer
The tools in a locksmith’s van directly affect four things you care about.
| What you care about | How the tools affect it |
|---|---|
| Damage | Picks, Lishi tools and wedges usually mean no damage to your door or car |
| Speed | Code cutters and programmers let car keys be finished on site |
| Fit | Keys cut to code fit better than copies of worn keys |
| Cost | Fewer trips, no tow and no new hardware when it isn’t needed |
Tools also help you spot a bad locksmith. Someone who shows up and wants to drill a standard lock right away, without trying to pick it, may not have the right tools or the skill to use them. Drilling has its place, but it shouldn’t be the first move on an ordinary lockout. Our guide on how to avoid locksmith scams covers other warning signs.
What to have ready when you call
The right tools only help if the locksmith brings them. When you call, tell us:
- For cars: the year, make and model, and whether you have any working key
- For homes and businesses: the type of lock and brand if you can see it
- Whether a key is broken off inside the lock
- Your exact location
That lets us bring the right blanks, Lishi tool or programmer the first time. Pricing depends on the vehicle or lock and the time of day; our locksmith pricing page explains what affects the cost. You can also call 704-905-6600 for a quote.