Working conditions

A locksmith would normally work 38 hours per week, Monday to Friday. However they need to be prepared to work weekends installing systems, and to be called out at any hour to 'rescue' people who have locked themselves out. This is especially true if they are self-employed.

Locksmiths may be required to work weekends, on call and after hours. Some locksmiths work in mobile units, travelling between jobs. They may also be required to work in confined spaces and outdoors.

Locksmiths may work in a shop or out, on-the-road. They will often have to work on a client's premises. They may be required to work in awkward or confined spaces.


Tools and technologies

Depending on the area they work in, locksmiths my need to be adept in using specialised tools, such as welding equipment and those used in precision handy work. They may also be involved in security systems utilised in the information technology industry.

Education and training/entrance requirements

To become a locksmith, you usually have to complete an apprenticeship in locksmithing. The apprenticeship usually takes 48 months to complete.  

 

Did You Know?   History of locksmithing started in Ancient Egypt and Babylon, approximately 4000 years ago. During that time, locksmith created wooden devices that used tin tumbler principle to prevent free movement of the door bar. The pins could be moved only with the use of large and cumbersome wooden key (created in the shape of modern toothbrush) that was inserted into lock and pushed upwards, which moved internal pins and unlocked doors.   The oldest of those simple locks currently known was discovered in the ruins of the Assyrian Empire, in the city of Khorsabad near Nineveh. Scientists and historians agree that this wooden lock was created around 704 BC. After the adoption of advanced metallurgy in 18th century Europe, locksmiths were finally able to create much more durable locks and keys. During that century, many famous locksmiths managed to improve upon designs that remained largely unchanged ever since the fall of Roman Empire. With the arrival of more and more successful designs and industrial mass production, locksmithing went through drastic change. Cheap industrial locks took the lucrative market of locksmiths away, and they were forced to become specialized in two fields –work as repairmen of industrial locks (fine tuning of damaged gear or replacing broken parts with those created in factories), replicate keys for people who wanted more of them available for personal use, or work for large security companies who design and build safes for banks and governments. Today, locksmiths work from their shops (often working with all door-related hardware, such as closers, frame repairs, hinges, electric strikes and more), security institutions (designing and creating several layers of locks that protect against theft or intrusion), investigational institutions (forensic locksmiths), security consultants or are focuses on one aspect of a skill (locksmith working in a car company, designing only car locks). (Source: History of Keys)

Precision Instrument Makers and Repairers assemble, calibrate, install and overhaul mechanical precision instruments and equipment.

Repairing and maintaining watches, cameras, musical instruments, medical equipment, and other  precision instruments requires a high level of skill and attention to detail. Some devices contain tiny gears that must be manufactured to within one one-hundredth of a millimetre of design specifications, and other devices contain sophisticated electronic controls.

ANZSCO description: 323314: Assembles, calibrates, installs and overhauls mechanical precision instruments and equipment.

Specialisations: Camera Repairer, Piano Tuner and Repairer, Scalemaker, Scientific Instrument Maker and Repairer, Watch and Clock Maker Repairer [on another page]
    
Knowledge, skills and attributes

An Instrument Maker Repairer needs:

• To enjoy practical and manual work

• Have good eyesight (may be corrected) and normal colour vision essential

• Be able to do precise and detailed work

• Possess technical skills and be able to continually undertake work of a highly
  technical nature

• To be able to use critical thinking and problem solving skills to identify and repair faults

• Learn from experience and take in new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making Algebra, geometry, applied technology, computer science, and metal work are relevant school based studies

(Source: Wikimedia)

Duties and Tasks

• assembles parts and sub-assemblies of precision instruments and locks, timepieces and firearms

• dismantles precision instruments, locks, timepieces and firearms, repairs and replaces defective parts, and reassembles articles using hand and power tools and specially designed machines

• calibrates precision instruments using standard weights and measures, jigs and fixtures, and hand tools to adjust and align parts and small balancing weights

• may estimate costs and prepare quotes for repairs.

Working conditions

Precision instrument repairers work under a wide array of conditions, from hot, dirty, noisy factories to well lit air-conditioned workshops, to the outdoors on fieldwork. Attention to safety is essential as the work sometimes involves dangerous machinery, toxic chemicals, or radiation. Due to the individualised nature of the work, supervision is fairly minimal. Medical equipment repairers must work in a patient environment, which has the potential to expose them to diseases and other health risks, but occupational injuries are relatively uncommon.

Piano and organ tuners must travel to the instruments being repaired. Often, these workers can adjust their schedules, allowing for second jobs as needed.

Tools and technologies

When machining new parts, workers often use a small lathe, a grinding wheel, and other metalworking tools. Additional tools may include:
• Polishers and buffers
• Gas torches
• Lathes
• Shears
• Mallets
• Precision screw drivers
• Soldering irons;
• Multimeters; specialised software and computers designed to communicate with specific pieces of hardware
• Electronic tools to repair and adjust equipment
• Pneumatic, electrical and electronic test equipment and calibrating precision instruments
• Jigs and fixtures, and hand tools to adjust and align parts and small balancing weights and tools

Education and training/entrance requirements

To become a precision instrument maker and repairer, you may consider completing an apprenticeship. The electronics and communications tradesperson; fitter and machinist; metal machinist (first class); mechanical fitter; lectrical instrumentation tradesperson; or watch and clock repairing apprenticeships usually take 42 to 48 months to complete.







Saw Makers and Repairers make, repair, maintain and sharpen a wide range of saw blades and cutting tools. Saw blades will include both circular saws and band saws, and cutting tools may be from planers, lathes, routers or drills. They also maintain mechanical parts of a range of production machines.

Saw Makers and Repairers operate hand and power tools, machines and
mechanical equipment as they mill, grind, press or sharpen cutting tools, weld tools, saws and cutting edges, manufacture and/or maintain the straightness and balance in all cutting tools and saw blades.

ANZSCO description: 323315: Makes, repairs, sets and sharpens blades for circular, band and other saws.

Alternative names: Saw Doctor

Specialisations: Saw Sharpener

Knowledge, skills and attributes

A Saw Maker and Repairer needs:

• to enjoy practical and manual work and have good hand-eye coordination

• to be safety conscious

• to be physically fit and have normal vision and hearing

Saw Makers and Repairers must perform their tasks with good knowledge, excellent skills and high precision. Some will manufacture saw blades from blank sheets or strips of steel. All will need to straighten and stretch steel in circular and band saws so the blades run true.

(Source: Popular Woodworking)

Duties and Tasks

• dismantles precision instruments, repairs and replaces defective parts, and reassembles articles

• using hand and power tools and specially designed machines

• makes blades for circular, band and other power saws and repairs, sets and sharpens blades for hand and power saws

• may estimate costs and prepare quotes for repairs.

Working conditions

Saw Makers and Repairers work for saw manufacturers, saw service shops, machining shops, woodworking factories, large timber mills and other industries which use sawing equipment.

Tools and technologies

Tools include: Semi automatic and automatic grinding machines for filing teeth; stretch roller machines and flat anvils for levelling and taking the deformities out of the saw; stretcher roll for tensioning the saw; hammers; bench vices; files; teeth alignment jigs; etc.

Education and training/entrance requirements

To become a saw maker and repairer you need to complete an apprenticeship. The sawdoctoring apprenticeship usually takes 36 months to complete and is available as a school-based apprenticeship.

Gunsmiths modify, service and restore rifles, revolvers and other firearms. In their work, gunsmiths use hand tools and machines such as grinders, planers and millers. They may restore antique guns, convert old rifles to up-to-date firearms, or adapt factory-made rifles to the special needs of customers. A gunsmith's work calls for many different skills. Gunsmiths must know how to handle and operate a gun. They must also understand the various assembly requirements, such as fitting the action (moving parts) and barrel into the stock (handle or butt end). They must be able to attach optical sights, pistol grips and recoil pads, and they may be asked to install new choking devices. Carrying out these adjustments calls for skill in stripping the old finish from the barrel and action. Knowledge of woodwork and different types of steel is useful for producing, fitting and polishing various parts.
  
Licensing and registration is required in some states and territories.

ANZSCO description: 323312: Modifies, services and repairs rifles, revolvers and other firearms. Registration or licensing is required.

Alternative names: Armourer

Specialisations: Forensic Trace Evidence Specialist

Knowledge, skills and attributes

If you are considering a career as a gunsmith you should:

• enjoy technical work

• have good hand-eye coordination

• be able to work independently or as part of a team

• demonstrate attention to detail and be good at practical tasks

• have normal hearing and no skin allergies

(Source: LearnU)

Duties and Tasks

• assembles parts and subassemblies of firearms

• dismantling firearms, repairing and replacing defective parts, and reassembling articles using hand and power tools and specially designed machines

• calibrating precision instruments

• may estimate costs and prepare quotes for repairs.

Working conditions

Gunsmiths work indoors in workshops equipped with grinders, drill presses, lathes, saws, drills and various metalworking tools. Test firing is noisy, but routine safety procedures have removed most of the risks. Retail gun stores employ gunsmiths who spend time talking to customers and repairing guns. Hazards include fumes, heat and powder smoke. To deal in or repair firearms, you need to hold a firearm and dealer's firearm licence.

Many gunsmiths work for gun manufacturers or sporting goods stores. Some are self-employed.

Tools and technologies

Tools include: Lathes; milling machines; polishing spindles; grinders; oxy-acetylene welders; gun clamps; punches; taps; dies reamers; odd size drills; saws; various metals, such as steel and brass.
Blue blacking 'hot bluing' involves immersing the steel parts of the gun to be blued in a solution of potassium nitrate, sodium hydroxide, and water heated to boiling point. Similarly, the stainless steel parts of the gun to be blued are immersed in a mixture of nitrates and chromates, and similarly heated. 'Rust bluing' involves coating the gun parts in an acid solution, letting the parts rust uniformly and then immersing the parts in boiling water to stabilize the rusting process. Then the rust is scrubbed off (karded), leaving a deep blue finish. Large scale industrial hot bluing is often performed using a bluing furnace.

Education and training/entrance requirements

To become a gunsmith you usually need to complete an apprenticeship. The fitting and turning, metal machinist (first class), or mechanical fitter apprenticeships usually take 42 months to complete and are available as school-based apprenticeships.

​In Australia, gunsmiths who repair firearms must undergo a National Police Check before obtaining a Firearms Licence for Repairers.

 

Related Jobs or Working with these Jobs

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Materials sourced from
Jobs & Skills WA [Precision Instruments Maker; Sawmaker; Gunsmith;]
Your Career [Precision Instruments Maker & Repairer; Saw Doctor; Gunsmith; ]

 

 

 

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