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

[Arctor]

Another newbie here, been wanting to get into this hobby for some time now and finally took the dive by picking up a set of SouthOrd. After some searching around it seems that this forum is the place to be for both hobbyist and professional pickers.

[HML]

Joined today, great site. I'm hoping I can find an answer to my question....

[Moderate]

Hi all, just joined up after coming back to the site many times over the past few months. I picked up a Pick Gun in January, and felt that it didn't require any skill and was kind of like "cheating" at lock picking. So a few days ago I picked up my first set of picks, only opened padlocks so far, haven't moved up to cylinder locks/dead bolts yet. It's a fun hobby, and is a decent skill to have. Looking forward to learning some tips and tricks here!

[SunWukong]

Hello. I started picking a few weeks ago, finally getting around to learning a skill I've been wanting to learn for a long time. I've had success picking standard pin and tumbler locks (master locks, kwikset, defiance, etc.) and am looking forward to mastering the gentle touch necessary to bypass those tricky security pins. I've ordered a clear practice lock from SouthOrd with spool pins so that I can see exactly what's going on inside the lock as I work on the security pins, rather than becoming frustrated when the lock doesn't open, even though I picked the binding pins. Looking forward to learning from these boards and hopefully contributing something!

[RomeoFoxtrot]

I came across the site a long time ago but it's since grown quite a bit! I got in to locks as a hobby when I was 16 (in 30's now) by accident. The mechanical operation intrigued and drew me in to the craft. I was never much in to picking though after this much time I can do some basic stuff but never need to. I work in the wireless industry as a field tech so I'm exposed to a variety of locks and locking mechanisms; for someone with my interests it makes the job more enjoyable and definitely tests me after thefts occur. In my later lockie years I was attracted to Best because of the key system complexity and have become an expert with them. I maintain several systems now along with a simple Medeco system.

Lots of good info on here. Even though I'm no picking genius I hopefully can throw some input in in other ways.

[deviated rationality]

Hello all, been into the sport for about a 2 years on my own, as a side hobby. Trying to up my game a bit and move on to the tougher stuff, and so far this site has been a wealth of information. Thanks to all that have made this site what it is!

[Nosmo King]

Hi everyone, I've been picking for about 6 months and its great fun. I would rather ipp but on the tough ones ill take what I can get. I'm working on a Master 220 and some Wilson Bohannan's I can get them eventually but they give me trouble, and hard for me to find the the binding order.
but I guess I have to master the tension and tame my lead finger. anyway, Its a great feeling to be inside a well made lock. Thanks.

[nalaing]

ahoy to everyone please to meet all of you

[Mittens]

Hiya guys and gals!

I've been listening to my husband, Clearmoon247, talk about this forum a lot and decided I would go ahead and join myself.
I find lock picking (as a sport) extremely fascinating and want to definitely get better at it. As it stands I'm a better single pin picker then anything else. I enjoy being able to truly feel the lock. Something that you can't (or at least I can't) really do with a rake or a bogata.

I'm looking forward to exploring this forum and getting to know more. :)

[Camelspider]

Hello all, i really did not have any interest in lock picking until i had a need for it. i inherited an office that had zero keys to the desks and file cabinets. so i sat down and made myself a paperclip pick....

well after 5 min i got it, and that made me wonder if i could do other locks. so far it has been a interesting journey and at times quite trying, but i love the challenge and hope to learn and grow in my new sport and hobby with you all.

thanks, Camelspider

[Loipp12345]

Hi! Started playing around with spare locks and paper clips, until I realize it's not easy to pick any decent locks with them. Successful on a lock which was around 10 years old though. Looking through YouTube guides, I googled and found out about this site. Have known this forum 2 years ago but my procrastination stopped me from making my own picks immediately after reading through the guides. Just about to finish sourcing and obtaining my materials! Can't wait to make my own locks finally and start practicing!

Cheers!

[valeguy]

I've been around the site a little and realized I hadn't even introduced myself... so I live in South Africa, the land of locks and security doors and I enjoy learning to do difficult things so of course I'm now learning to pick locks.. I'm keen to learn and eventually give something useful back to the site :) so there's my introduction, which will disappear into the wasteland of introductions never to be read again haha

[concerto]

Hello LP101,
I love this site. I stumbled upon it looking for a hobby. I am stuck in Afghanistan at FOB Fenty right now. I have nothing but time on my hands. I hope lock picking will help me take my mind off smoking. I think I need something to fixate on so I hope this does the trick. We sure have enough American 5200's laying around so I should be pretty good at them by the time I get out of here. I can't wait for my wife to send my Peterson's in the mail so I can get started.

You all seem very nice and It would be nice to make some friends. I can't see myself asking very many questions though. Every time I have a Question it seems like it's already been answered. I saw someone on here make a plug follower out of a 556 shell so I think that will be my first step. I feel it might be easier starting with one pin instead of all 5. I think you guys call that the Pyramid method.

If any one has any unshared suggestions about the American 5200 series, I would love to hear about them. What American Locks are similar the 5200 Series so I can do a search for them?

Thank you everyone, for adding so much knowledge to this site.
It's truly a work of art for such an art form.

Respectfully,
concerto

[georgethelocksmith]

hello everybody my name is george and iam profesional locksmith in GREECE

Great site ,very nice effort.

[2k05gt]

I have been a Lock hobbyist for many years; I have a collection of locks that date back 150 years. I live and Work around Washington DC as a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Network Security Engineer. Working for Government Agencies is demanding and security is priority.

I Love anything Mechanical, Locks, Clocks, you name it, if it has moving parts I am trying to figure it out.
I built a Race Car from a 2005 Mustang GT and continue to race it every weekend. I did all the engine work myself, From CAMS, springs and Valves to reworking the transmission shift solenoids.

Besides collecting Locks and Clocks, I also have a small Gun collection, like I said mechanical moving parts.
Some old, some new some I built but all as a hobby.
Must be my German / Cuban Ancestry :)