Tue Aug 26, 2008 5:05 am by GutterClown
Firstly, just as a note, your sign-off "don't break the lock" isn't going to hold up for very long. There are genuine situations where cutting a padlock, or drilling a cylinder is the only alternative, or the most cost effective one. So bare that in mind.
Secondly, Unless you find it hard to stand for two minutes, you won't need a stool. Most times you're doing an unlock, you walk up to the easiest door and use your pickgun. You're in and paid within five minutes.
Lockouts are about speed and doing what you're trained for, not to learn the pinning of a lock by feel and how many spool pins it might have.
Thirdly, locksmithing is 90% fitting, repairing and manual labor, 10% lockpicking \ lockouts.
I'd be very hard-pressed to make a living from just opening houses.
Today I've removed three broken keys from vehicles\bikes, rekeyed two real-estate properties, secured a forced rollerdoor, added a new key into an existing masterkey system and fitted a cylinder for a school, and fitted a new lock to a caravan.
Didn't pick a single lock, apart from the onsite things while repinning.
If you think you can cut in a deadbolt, entrance set and rekey them, or drill a safe, or remove a car door lock and cut a key by code then sure man go for it. If you're just interested in picking locks, locksmithing might not be for you.
Go to your biggest local locksmith and ask them what they think. I know of bigger shops that just have people that pick locks, rekey locks and cut keys all day. That's their job.