Bill Phillips Book on Locksmithing: Worth it?

[Coda]

Hello everyone from Lock Picking 101!!!
I have been interested (not talented or experienced) in lock picking for about five years, and have now become interested in locksmithing as a career. I mentioned this to my mother, and for Christmas she got me a book called The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing, Fifth Edition, by Bill Phillips. I was wondering if anyone here has read or heard of this book, and what the quality of the information inside was.

[David_Parker]

The book is thorough(sp?) and complete, only is directed towards more of the professional locksmithing crowd. It gives somewhat basic directions of picking locks, but gives more insight as towards how specific locks work.


-Dave.[/i]

[Eyes_Only]

That was the first book I bought when i got into lockpicking. It gives you a peek into the profession of locksmithing and I was enlightened about many things concerning locks and locksmithing, very good book. But I found that the chapter on lockpicking didnt have enough information, the book kinda just "skimmed" over the subject.

[Coda]

Thank you both for your input!!! (And thanks to everyone else on this forum for the great information)
I have finally gotten serious in the last month or so about learning the trade (locksmithing, not just picking), and have been devouring information on the subject. I have read the MIT guide to picking, the HowStuffWorks.com page on picking and various other guides that I've been able to find online, and am now soaking up all the knowlege from the Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing. I haven't been able to get any picks or tension tools yet, so I am trying to learn everything I can about locks before I actually try to pick one.
From what I've heard the more you know about how a lock actually works, the easier it is to understand and put into practice the art of picking. I have been taking apart all of the locks that I can get my hands on (my landlord is an independant contractor, so he has lots of spare new and old locks). And yes, I do know that I could theoretically learn by making my own tools, but I dont want to start off learning an improper method with poor quality tools (although I will make my own when I have a better idea of what I want and what works).
Anyway, I was wondering if there was any more that I could do to help me learn before I actually have picking tools.
Thanks again!!!
John

[Varjeal]

There's a section in this forum that contains links to OEM (original equipment manufacturer) sites. Visit these and browse around for lock breakdown pictures. Collecting free pamphlets and technical information is a good way to build a reference library as well.

Best of luck.

[Coda]

Thanks for the info!!!