Just signed up for Foley-Belsaw locksmithing school...

[Buggs41]

The pick gun will probably still be included.

I got my course for about $650 up-front. They never mentioned a pick gun at all. I did my main course in six months. Eventually finished the advanced courses six months after that. About a week later I got a pick gun from them. I wasn't expecting a pick gun to be included, ( In fact I purchased the same item earlier. )

If it's the pick gun you are after? I have to say this is just a carrot they dangle in front of your nose. After all, if you are good at picking a lock pin-by-pin, you will never need to nibble on this 'carrot.'

[subtlevoice]

I wouldn't be here if I cared about the pick gun I just figure I might as well get the free loot. I'll likely end up paying for this monthly.. should I expect the price to drop at all.. or is it not going to happen?

Also.. is the course as good as it seems? How is the tool quality? The information?

[subtlevoice]

Also, tell me a little bit about the advanced courses? Thanks a ton. Really looking forward to possibly beginning the course.

[vector40]

Has anyone here

1) Seen the Foley-Belsaw 3-in-1 key cutter

and

2) Has enough other experience to give an informed opinion on it?

It seems like one of the cheapest cutters you can get, especially in that it does both duplication and code cutting, and I gather that you can buy it directly from FB without taking the course. On the other hand, maybe it's a piece of dung... any thoughts?

[Jarod]

i have seen the fb200, in fact i own one, its a pretty stable duplicator and slotter, but i wouldn't really recommend it for code cutting, it will cut keys by code, but there are nicer machines out there, like the framon 2, but you get what you pay for, i've got the fb and a duplicator, i'm going to use the fb as a slotter and temporary code machine, then i'll probably set it up as a mobile unit.

[vector40]

Oh, I'm sure it's not the highest quality gear on the market, but I'm just looking for something inexpensive, and as long as it works, the FB looks to fit

Why exactly wouldn't you recommend it for code cutting? I mean, does it cut 'em or not? Is it just a pain to use?

[Jarod]

you NEED a space key to cut a key by code on it, if you want to cut a kwikset you need a kwikset space key, for gm you need a gm space key, and so on, unless you have the spacing upgrade (i don't) then i have no idea how it works, but other than the need for all the space keys it works pretty well!

[Dr Money]

Just sent in my registation, paid with sweet student loan, so i wont even have to think about paying back for a good 4 years. I got it at $790 with pick gun.

[Patch]

I just recieved my first 15 lessons from F?B in the mail on Monday(paid in full) and I am sending in the the first 5 lessons tomorrow. I just wanted to say thanks to everyone here @ LP101 for the advise on F/B. I hope to finish the course A.S.A.P. my plans are to open a part time lock out business while I keep my day job. Then hopefully be able to go into business for myself in a few years. I will keep you all posted on my progress. Thanks again everyone.

[bigbike]

I just recieved my first 15 lessons from F?B in the mail on Monday(paid in full) and I am sending in the the first 5 lessons tomorrow. I just wanted to say thanks to everyone here @ LP101 for the advise on F/B. I hope to finish the course A.S.A.P. my plans are to open a part time lock out business while I keep my day job. Then hopefully be able to go into business for myself in a few years. I will keep you all posted on my progress. Thanks again everyone.

I was kinda dis appointed in that it took some time (like close to 6 weeks) for them to send the second set of lessons. I called them and they said they were waiting supplies from a supplier in order to ship. They did send out my 3rd pack along with the key machine in the mean time. (I had paid in full). I just received the 2nd set the other day and will work on it this coming week. I can't wait. I also subscribed to the National Locksmith and just today got their bond and number from them, so I am gonna see if I can use it on their site.

[vector40]

bigbike,

Just out of curiosity, did TNL require any sort of verification that you're a locksmith (or in your case, a locksmithing student) before you subscribed?

[bigbike]

bigbike,

Just out of curiosity, did TNL require any sort of verification that you're a locksmith (or in your case, a locksmithing student) before you subscribed?

Thru F/B they send you a form to fill out and for like $46 ($48?) you get a 1 year sub to the mag and the $15,000 bond as well as a ID card. You send the form back to F/B and they send it into NL.

[bcsmith]

Hi everyone,

I have looked into a course through an online company called Professional Career Development Institute. Following is the link to the course information:
http://www.pcdi.com/courses/lk/

Now that I have browsed through the site here however, I have learned of this Foley-Belsaw course as well, which seems to possibly be a better, or at least more established company/course.

I was looking for info concerning the PCDI course, but now I guess the question is, can anyone tell me if the two courses are comparable, if one is better than the other, and will either or both of the courses be a worthwhile investment.

I am recovering from multiple hip reconstructions and I am looking to get into a new field since my old career is closed to me due to the time I have been away. I was a network administrator before the five year lapse, and now all of the server operating systems and software systems have changed drastically.

Thanks a million for any information you all can give me!

[Neo]

pun on institution name.

I plan on signing up for the foley-belsaw program, someone give me an update on all the work they've done. i'd be interested in what everyone has done in this institution and where it has brough them so far.

[bigbike]

Well, I signed up in mid January for Foley Belsaw and because you pace yourself as your time allows I am just starting lesson20. So far I have received in the way of tools, (a very basic 3 piece) pick set which had to be replaced because it broke when attempting to dismantle (as per instructions) a core lock. 1 call to the school and they sent the new tools. 1 cheap impressioning file, which again broke when I was impressioning a key in lesson like 10 or so. Again they sent me a new one to replace the broke one no extra charge. they do send you locks to work on and open, but usually not to keep, as you have to return them for grading.

Like any other self study course you will get the most out of it, by putting a lot into it. I mean do they send you everything you need-yes if you only want the very basic understanding of locks and tools. I would suggest you invest in every cheap lock you can find on ebay or thru friends to do lots of extra study work on, as well as invest in the $89.00 lock practice set they sell thru their catalog. I did this then set it up on a practice board. This way I can pick all kinds of locks and take apart all kinds of locks and see how all kinds of different locks work and how they come apart and go together.

I am with you in that this is going to be another career change as I have had several health issues in the past few years that require me to give up my old occupations and look for something that is lighter weight to do.