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

[prof]

Hi there, I am new to the forum. I have always wanted to learn how to pick locks, but only just realised the possibilities. I learned how to fit locks when I was an apprentice joiner 45 years ago, & 5 years later had a little instruction from a locksmith & re keyed my own locks to be keyed alike. and experimented with masters by removing one of the pins. but I have done nothing since only drill them & fit them. I am currently working in maintenance for a housing association & have drilled a couple with another who is (or thinks he is) good at it, the whole of the maintenance staff (about 70) are issued with drill bits for this purpose (without training) so when we came across one that woudn't drill, he left me to it. I did manage to butcher it with an angle grinder without damaging the door & fitted a new lock, but convinced that was not the way to do it. anyway I am thinking of going self employed, & to that end I would like to include a lock out service, in any event the skills would assist me in my current employment & provide some enjoyment as a hobby.
so where do I start, I can open most combination cycle locks easily, (so if anyone has forgotten the number of their combi cycle lock!!!!) which I have done for years & have managed to set the pins on a couple of tumbler locks with a paper clip (but not managed to open them) I have read up somewhat on the subject (though I am sure that there is much more to learn) and have been considereing the purchase of lock picks, (the 22 peice set shown here for instance)

http://www.devonlocks.com/cgi-bin/cart/section/2/

or maybe a pick gun, (though not as much fun, maybe more suited to efficient entry)
I would appreciate any advice.

prof.

[Touchbase]

A quick post to say hello to everyone.

Jerry

[Varjeal]

Greetings and welcome to the site. Enjoy.

[ThE_MasteR's CouziN]

Hey, how are y'all doing ? I'm somewhat of a n00b here but i can pick and bump quite well. My picking can be improved but my bumping skills can be envious. I love expiramenting with new equipement and trying new methods. I joined this forum to ensure that my skills will rise to the occasion. My cousin and I are always together. You might see me in some videos. My signature bumping and picking uniform is a pink t-shirt with PJ pants. The t-shirt has "KEY" on it with an arrow pointing down. Actually all of our videos inlcude both of us. We are both the same age, in case you're wondering. Sometime's, just sometimes you might see my little brother in the movies, very rarely though. I hope joining this forum will aid me and improve my skill so that I may rise to the occasion and become a picking and bumping god!

ThE_MasteR's CouziN

[ThE_MasteR]

Nice to see you finally joined couz ! Your gonna learn a lot here my friend.

[Frazzled Penguin]

Hey All!

Just posting here to introduce myself, as I'm told, it's the thing to do.

I go by Frazzled Penguin and my real name is Sean. I'm still a relative newb to lockpicking. I'm a member of LSI Winnipeg Chapter and have recently attained a level 2 lockpicker rating and practicing for my next chance to beat it. ..... I also enjoy long walks by the beach... oh wait, this might not be the right forum for this..

[Chrispy]

ThE_MasteR's CouziN

Uh-oh.....

[machinist]

I hope I'm posting in the right place here. Mods, forgive me if I messed it up.

Anyway hello to everyone I go by "machinist" in most of the internet forums regaurding technical/smithing subjects. I'm really glad I found this place and I'm dying to make senior membership. My trade is actually as a machinist for any of you familiar I can run conventional/cnc lathes mills and conventional drill presses, pedistal grinders (like anyone can't lol), overhead grinders and I'm a preety good amature programmer if you want to get into mastercam 9.

As far as locksmithing I have never had any real training and kind of taught myself the little I know. I got into it when I was 12 and wanted to grow up and be a spy. I was at a gun show and saw a majestic set with nothign but the basics and the "easy pickings" book little haggling later I got the set for $20. Later that week I got the front door open after 15 minutes. I made some god awful torqers out of hander wire to go with the set too lol.

Recently I had my interest renewed when my girlfriend lost her keys and I slim jim'd the car and pulled the cylinder out and too a locksmith. So far I made a half size half diamond , a full circle, a double diamond, a "two diamond rake", a plug spinner and some really ugly torque wrenches I'll get around to posting the pics later.

latest news: just turned 21!

[Chrispy]

Welcome machinist. Hope you enjoy the forums.

[skold]

Yeah..and happy 21st for whenever it was

[pick_it]

Hey, just posting to say Hi, registered today. I like to pick locks, but I was hoping to find some info on the 4 digit cable barrel locks. If anyone can point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it.


Thanks.

[fallscrape]

newbie would be an understatement

I have no experience unless you count sticking a christmas cracker screwdriver into a christmas cracker lock... That's about it!

Saw a video from digg.com which demonstrated the 'ease' of lockpicking. The guy demonstrated raking and shimmying (I've probably spelt those wrong) and it got me interested...

Few ebooks later and a long hard look at the forums I've forked out a kit from devon locks - I'll give you a review of them when the order arrives tomorrow.

I have a very analytical mind and work for an IP company dealing in patents. I have no problem visualising & rotating object in 3D in my mind when I know what I'm looking for - not sure whether my RSI hands will be able to feel such sensitive lumps and bumps, but I hope with practice I may regain some of my manual dexterity - I'm only 23 for sake!

My intentions for lock picking are purely hobbyist - it would be handy to know some of the ins and outs as I work in the emergency services and (for instance) we needed to get an ambulance onto a field on sun - but the key for the padlock had got lost. Had there been an emergency - like the week before when someone broke their kneck - we'd have been in trouble!

Anyway - wish me luck, I get frustrated easily, but if I dig into a hobby (like beermaking) I can really get stuck in!

[Keyring]

fallscrape: welcome and all that. I just had to say though. If it had been an emergency, you wouldn't want to hang around picking a lock!

Do ambulances not carry *any* fast entry equipment? Bolt cutters and the like? Or does it depend on the fire service to arrive? I suspect that's the likely answer. I wonder if our uk services are organised properly. I haven't done it recently but when you dial 999 (or 112 isn't it?) do they still ask you which service you require. I would have a problem in some cases to decide between fire, police or ambulance. I mean if it's an RTA you may want all three.

[fallscrape]

The NHS teaching things other than general patient transport etc? lol nah, they've not got the budget - best leave it to the fire service

To be honest 'working in the emergency services' is a bit of an exaggeration - I work with St John Amb most times - but we still deal with the same patient transport issues & access. We travel on blues and twos, carry the same equipment etc - so don't think old balding men (or boys with packets of mints) - most of my group are made up of paramedics, nurses & doctors. They do the same job at weekends, evenings and general days off & holidays making up for the things that NHS couldn't cover, but by law have to be covered.

Access wise, we'd call the firebrigade if we needed them, as would NHS amb, but when it's a time critical emergency, we'd be doing the best we could manually - I could have opened that cheap padlock with a shim if I'd had one - it's silly we don't carry one tbh.

I've been considering going into the ambulance service, and locksmithing would be a useful tool, as is my chemical knowledge I learnt and my programming skills - none are professional level, but I know a fair bit to mcguyver my way about :- )

[A-1]

Hi everyone I am not only new, but havent even started yet. My current position in loss prevention will be very soon coming to a close so i thought I would get into something a little more interesting and for extra money, so my question is what is the best course to take? Thanks in advance.