This enthused craftsman holds a deep interest in preserving traditional skills; far more interested in breaking open a safe from the 1800s, than a lock installed by electric screwdriver. And so, looking inside his toolkit is like straight into an era none of us has known. “The earliest lock I’ve done is from 1667,” says Aaron. “It was an antique cabinet worth about $40,000. You don’t want to muck that up!”

‘Keys cut, locks repaired and safes opened’, states his Instagram bio. But that doesn’t quite do Aaron’s trade justice. His commissions have included hand-cutting keys to locks from the 1850s, opening age-old safes (and being the first to see the treasure inside), and restoration of ancient locks.

Naturally, such a “kickass job” requires some pretty interesting things. And the pride that Aaron takes in his work shines through in the way he described his tools.

THE STORIES BEHIND THE STUFF.

Old screwdrivers.

“Sometimes we need antique screwdrivers, because antique screws don’t fit modern screwdrivers. You might be trying to take a screw out that hasn’t come out in about 200 years. You really want to make sure that you’re not destroying it. Sometimes people say ‘Oh I’ve got Grandpa’s old screwdrivers’ and I let them know that I’d be happy to put them to good use.”