ARCHIVE 2003-2013 Introduce yourself HERE if you are new. :)

[DanG]

Hey all. Stumbled across this place when searching for info about re-keying locks in my house. I've always been fascinated with locks and how they work, and since I'm not afraid to take things apart, I figured I could tackle a simple job like that. Anyway, it seems like a great bunch of folks here, so I'm looking forward to learning what I can!

Oh, and my day job is software development.

Cheers,

Dan

[Brianetta]

So, after seeing a warning on the BBC news about how my house locks were vulnerable to lock snapping, I decided to replace them with better ones. After this, I had a couple of vulnerable, but still perfectly functional, Euro profile cylinders which aren't secure enough to go in the door. What to do with them? A puzzler indeed.

The answer? Buy a set of lock picks and sign up at lockpicking101.com - seems obvious in hindsight!

So, I have a set of brand new Southord picks (the C801 set). I can pick my old (UAP) back door lock in both directions, but the old (unbranded) front door lock is being a bit of a sod. I can open a Yale padlock that I have lying around, but not a Wilko-branded one (Wilko is a store brand in the UK). Today I bought a cheap rim lock, just so I'd have another lock on which to practice. I can pick that in both directions too. (-:

So, by day I'm a network technician working in local government in the UK. In the evening, I contribute to the Pioneer Space Sim project (a free game - go try it!). I have an unfinished model railway, a modest collection of slide rules and a cat. My biggest hobby is photography.

A few years ago, the first lock I picked was my Kensington laptop lock. I had to pick it again immediately, because you can't insert a key into an unlocked one. The second lock I picked was my desk drawer at work, after which I was in some demand from colleagues to open up desk drawers that had been all but written off due to lost keys. I had no picks back then; for tension I used round-nose pliers, and for a pick I used a big paperclip.

Having the right tools has made it so much easier. I'm really enjoying myself. Especially since there's a lock here in a hobby vice on my desk that is taking more than a little persuading...

Nice to meet you all!

Brian Ronald

[Kirbee213]

I have been interested in this hobby for a long time but life was always to hectic to actually do it. Well, now life has told me to pick it up and learn (That means I lost the keys to my car and need to remove the ignition cylinder without damaging it). I hope that I can use these forums to not only fix my current predicament, but also pick up a hobby I always wanted to have.

[novice99]

I'll always be a novice, no matter how good I get at this hobby. There's so much to learn.

I do computer security stuff for a network company and got interested in lockpicking. Then my wife got a display cabinet for free because the seller didn't have a key to the lock so that was my impetus to get a set of picks. Took me over an hour to open the silly 4 wafer lock on the cabinet, but when it finally popped, I was hooked. Been picking for a few months. Managed to get my boss at work involved and we've got a pile of padlocks that we and others have contributed. Nice way to spend time in a boring meeting. I've picked (SPP) about 20 different padlocks and a few deadbolts (kwikset) and I have one of the re-keyable practice locks. Constantly working on improving my skills when watching TV at night. Looking to make an EPG to see how effective that is on the same locks.

[jsuz8122]

jsuz8122 brand new to the site... great site so far. love the 10% discount for being a member!!!! ty

[Gurney]

hello everyone, I've been reading here for a while and finally decided to join

[abclocksmiths]

I am new to this forum and i need some advice as to what i should do first to start a discussion.

Thanks.

[Atsume]

Hi all, my real name is Jace I'm from Wisconsin, USA and I tend to read and read and read about locks.(I love getting to know my locks before I pick them.) I might tend not to post much, but hopefully I can help some people with my knowledge and I hope to learn much more than I can currently teach. I hope all of you pickers are acting within the law. I'm also curious if anyone lives in the Madison area of Wisconsin, I saw that maybe one or two from the Milwaukee area. Well have a good day folks. ^.^

[edenslocksmith]

Hello, I'm new on thie site, but have been picking for several years.

[intelarms]

From just south of Birmingham (Alabama that is). Been interested forever but just now finding the time. Still not retired but thinking about it. Teach security on the side. Was very encouraged by successfully opening a 40-year old Master padlock I had lost the combination to 35 years ago. Just follwed the instructions I found on Youtube. I am looking forward to learning.

[saltyhobbit]

New to lock picking and this forum. Seems like an interesting hobby and looking forward to learning something new.

[75thRanger]

I learned a lot by reading the forum, figured I might as well join. Hope to learn more from you all.

[t|n|<]

Newbie! Already making my own picks. Doin' a lot of reading in prep for a pen-testing company. :)

[arclight17]

I'm new! And I'm looking forward to getting to know more about this... I haven't got an actual pick set yet, but I have jury-rigged one that works. Well, sorta.

[byronbfd]

Hi there I am new to lockpicking and have been using two paper clips on a pad lock and have alot of fun passing time with it so I decided to get more into it and am going to order my first pick set also very soon not a expensive just a cheap beginners one again lots of fun.