What locks to buy for practice

[SeanGallagher]

Hey guys, I am in the process of learning and I need as much practice / experience as I can get. I'm working on getting all the tools and inventory at the moment. What my plan is to get a solid piece of wood and simulate a door & install a selection of locks onto this, then pick them & also locks to work on taking apart inspecting cutting kets rekeying etc. Dead bolts also. Help me out guys, I'm gonna snag them off ebay cheap and just get to work. Do the kwikset locks vary that much? I know the smart key one stands out. I see there is a way to break into this lock by forcing it open but does anyone actually pick it?

Kwikset with the smart key

[dmux]

I wouldn't buy any locks. Ask friends and family if they have any old locks laying around.

[cyrano138]

I got a box of assorted locks from a member here. I paid for them but only a very reasonable amount of money. For something like 20 or 30 dollars (I forget the exact amount) I got over a dozen locks of varying difficulty--enough to keep me busy for a while. Try posting in the "Buy Sell Trade" section for some beginner locks. Best of luck.

Jack

[MarkMcGrath]

Buy a cheap large size lock if you can't get a training lock, or don't have the income for one. I started out with some very difficult locks, and they were frustrating. I haven't picked them in a while and they have become extremely tough again, but not as hard as they use to be. I also bought the "lean lockpicking" lock. Which is a drilled and tapped lock with LA stamped into it. This lock is nice because you can expand and grow your technique, much like the progressive lock set that I should have actually practiced with ages ago instead of having a bag of paper weights.

If you click shop at the top you can find a progessive set and a few locks you can repin for about 30 bucks. I feel if you can't see the pins you are going to get better training, and I recommend a book called Practical Lockpicking by Deviant Ollam which pushes that point. Regardless which way you go don't get frustrated out, start slow work up.

[SeanGallagher]

Some of my tools recently came in and I messed with a master lock I had, I can hear the pins click in place pretty well and have been picking it fairly easy, at times it test my patience but other times im in within seconds so its fun to be learning. I may go over to ace hardware and purchase some locks to keep testing myself and also do what you said in the sell section. Thanks!

[MarkMcGrath]

If you happen to come across a Fortress they are great confidence builders. Someone handed me one this morning during the morning mandatory speak and snore(briefing) and I had it open in about 35 seconds with a rear pin that had to be set deep. If you express your hobby properly people will bring you locks, and usually keep bringing them for nothing more then a song (explination). Good luck.

[edsmiley]

If you are in the United States or Canada, see if you have a local Habitat for Humanity Restore. They have lots of basic deadbolts and knobs pretty cheap. Here is a list of where they are located and you can search:

http://www.habitat.org/restores/default.aspx

Good luck!
Ed

[Huabtais]

I love my ultimate challenge practice lock, I use it all the time. I've got a friend that owns some storage units and now he saves padlocks he cuts off for me. Lately I've bought a couple "lot of padlocks" off ebay and was quite pleased with what I got. The majority were useable practice locks, some just look nice on the shelf, and others were rusted junk. Definitely feel like it was worth what I paid though.

[Josh66]

If you are in the United States or Canada, see if you have a local Habitat for Humanity Restore. They have lots of basic deadbolts and knobs pretty cheap. Here is a list of where they are located and you can search:

http://www.habitat.org/restores/default.aspx

Good luck!
Ed

I was kind of surprised to see they had a store in my town! I'll have to check it out soon.

[fawkesinator89]

If you are in the United States or Canada, see if you have a local Habitat for Humanity Restore. They have lots of basic deadbolts and knobs pretty cheap. Here is a list of where they are located and you can search:
Ed

That's awesome. We have one in my town as well! I am going to have to check it out. Thanks so much for the tip.