Advice and tips for beginner!?!?

[ford01explorer]

hey there,

i want to start by saying this site is awesome and i love reading all the posts. i started lock picking for fun just recently once i got my pick set. i also ordered a schlage cutaway cylinder to practice with.

i have been able to open some locks in my home, but i then read that it is a bad idea to pick in use locks, so i went out and got a few padlock style locks to try. i got a master 380T which i have been able to pick pretty consistently but im still working to get the time down and get better technique. i dont belive this one has any security pins as far as i can tell. i also got a brass brinks lock that has spool pins for sure. so far i have not been able to open this one. i know how these pins work and how they false set. im using pretty light tension and am constantly letting the tension off to restart.

if anyone can give me any advice or any of these locks, or any advice in general, i would much appreciate it. i really love hearing ideas and advice cause i want to know all there is to this sport, as this is an extremely addicting sport. thanks

[JackNco]

stop picking it and pick something else, no point getting the time down on a single lock, it will do more damage than good. buy more locks and repin them

[Kayvon]

Welcome to the group and kudos to you for reading before posting. It's obvious you've done some research before asking questions.

I would recommend finding a lock that you can repin. It may cost a little more, but you'll get more use out of it than anything you already have. You've already built some confidence with the padlocks.

Repinning a lock isn't as hard or complicated as it might seem. You can start by removing a few pins and working your way up to all 5 pins. You can also rearrange the pins to simulate trying a different lock altogether.

[Eyes_Only]

Try looking in the L.I. picking guide to get started in taking apart and re-pinning locks here, http://locksport.com/LSIGuide/lsiguide.pdf

It's not all that complicated. You can buy manufacturer specific or universal pinning kits from places like www.lockpicks.com or www.lockpickshop.com . And you might want to get a small kit cos more than likely you'll loose one or two critical parts when you try to re-pin a lock for the first time. I've personally lost or destroyed hundreds of springs and pins in the past 9 years.

[delocking]

As you get used to picking a variety of locks and you refine your technique you will find that your times improve accross the board. Variety is the spice of life and will keep you feeling the pins rather than simply repeating the pick pattern for the one lock. Locks that can be repined will keep you challenged without the cost of always buying more locks.

[joseph01]

As you get used to picking a variety of locks and you refine your technique you will find that your times improve accross the board. Variety is the spice of life and will keep you feeling the pins rather than simply repeating the pick pattern for the one lock. Locks that can be repined will keep you challenged without the cost of always buying more locks.

Thats correct - it will make you more professional in this field - good luck

[le.nutzman]

delocking wrote:
As you get used to picking a variety of locks and you refine your technique you will find that your times improve accross the board. Variety is the spice of life and will keep you feeling the pins rather than simply repeating the pick pattern for the one lock. Locks that can be repined will keep you challenged without the cost of always buying more locks.

Thats correct - it will make you more professional in this field - good luck

This is an inaccurate statement, using a repinnable lock will NOT make you more professional in this field, it will make you more PROFICIENT in this field. Being more professional in this field means going and trying to learn as much as you can, establishing yourself as a trading lockie or getting an apprentice position. Working behind an established name or establishing one for yourself will make you more professional in this field.

[freakparade3]

You asked for advice so here it is. Never play leapfrog with elephants. Never pet a tiger unless his tail is wagging. Never stop practicing.

[delocking]

This is an inaccurate statement, using a repinnable lock will NOT make you more professional in this field, it will make you more PROFICIENT in this field. Being more professional in this field means going and trying to learn as much as you can, establishing yourself as a trading lockie or getting an apprentice position. Working behind an established name or establishing one for yourself will make you more professional in this field.

le.nutzman Drink some more coffee and WAKE UP !!! ford01explorer raised the thread and didn't mention wanting to be a professional lockie, in fact he specifically specified lock picking as a SPORT. Also I DIDN'T used the phrase "more professional".

[bumber]

As you get used to picking a variety of locks and you refine your technique you will find that your times improve accross the board. Variety is the spice of life and will keep you feeling the pins rather than simply repeating the pick pattern for the one lock. Locks that can be repined will keep you challenged without the cost of always buying more locks.

Thats correct - it will make you more professional in this field - good luck

I think he meant it will make you more professional in the field of sport lockpicking as a hobby

[le.nutzman]

le.nutzman Drink some more coffee and WAKE UP !!! ford01explorer raised the thread and didn't mention wanting to be a professional lockie, in fact he specifically specified lock picking as a SPORT. Also I DIDN'T used the phrase "more professional".

Delocking,

Perhaps you're the one who needs to drink more coffee and wake up. I wasn't addressing your statement, but perhaps that is how you took it. I was addressing the statement

Thats correct - it will make you more professional in this field

made by joseph01 as it pertained to picking a repinnable lock. I pick American 5200s that i've repinned hundreds of times, does that make me more professional in this hobby? No, it makes me more proficient in picking locks that utilize spool, serrated and spoorated pins.

I agree with what bumper stated in that the poster of whom i've referred to may have meant it one way, but it came out a different way, and I clarified that difference.

[delocking]

le.nutzman - As the OP has not returned after raising this thread and joseph01 has not elaborated on what he meant by "professional", we might never know the meanings behind the statements.

In the UK being professional is a state of mind or system of approaching the subject. Professional is not limited to those that take payment for doing a task, possibly over the other side of the pond it may be different?

As this is a site for those that do lock picking as a hobby and neither poster made direct reference to their statements being anything other than in terms of a hobby, that is how I translated their postings.

The way you quoted my posting and your reply states "Quote: delocking wrote:" no mention of joseph01. You will see the difference if you look at bumbers posting which is "joseph01 wrote: delocking wrote:"