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

by **Chucklz** » 29 Jan 2004 16:30

There are many automotive lockout courses that would probably be better than the general FB.

by **Minus** » 29 Jan 2004 16:55

Id have to agree from what ive seen the FB course is more a general intro into locksmithing, if your sole purpose is to learn how to do car lock outs then find a specialized course.

by **Eyes_Only** » 30 Jan 2004 0:42

Hey guys Im wondering, would you all consider FB to be a actual vocational training or is it more like a "serious" hobby?

by **go1die_locks** » 4 Feb 2004 6:19

Would like to butt in share this about working for this locksmith. I stepped into a situation like yours but it was to be a jewelers apprentice. A very experienced jeweler offered to take me under his wing and share his experience with me. There was no official contract but it was understood that if he taught me everything he knew I was to never use it against him out on my own. Yes I am sure you can get the fundamentals from a book and videos, but I am sure there is a special "ART" to being good. You have to understand that being a locksmith you have to get the trust of the community before you would get a lot of business anyways. If this is a reputable and trusted "old timer" it would be the best thing for you in the long run to work with him. If you are working with him you will benifit hugely from his good-standing and reputation. By the time the 5 years are up you will have good customer relations and a solid base for your own business. Besides these guys are really a wealth of info that can save you tons of $$ and time learning out on your own. It is very well worth it in the long run. Just make sure that you have good chemistry and you can put up with him for the duration of your apprenticeship.

I was browsing through everybodies messages about this Foley Locksmithing school. My husband is work injured at the moment so has lots of free time at home. Thinking this would stimulate his mind and also provide a trade. Please keep the comments comming about the course. I don't want to waste my $$ on B.S.
Thanks guys for letting me share this =)~

by **Varjeal** » 4 Feb 2004 12:24

From the information I've read about the F-B course, I would not consider it a "serious hobby" course, since the intention of it is to launch you into locksmithing as a career.

From understanding the correspondence course that I initially took, I found it too was definitely not for the "hobbyist" since it provided a wide scope of information and tools, that most hobbyists (interested in the sport of lockpicking) would not be very interested in learning.

by **thei2apist** » 4 Feb 2004 19:20

hello i'm new to this forum, and i am also very interested in the FB course. Although i am interested in becoming a locksmith, I'm wondering besides just going around playing with ppls locks and gettin arrested, are there any other ways for me to practice lockpicking. Since the FB is pretty much a beginning step in to the career of a locksmith, what do you propuse I do to enhance my skills. My current job doesn't allow much too much free time, but it pays the bills. Any suggestions?

by **Mad Mick** » 4 Feb 2004 19:23

Read the posts and get a practice lock......that'll kill any free time you have.

by **danreller** » 7 Feb 2004 23:11

I'm first to admit that I'm new to locksmithing, but, I feel the the track to pursuing the profession would be to follow a track such as: curiosity, finding out as much as you can via books and the internet...etc., experimentation with lock devices and realizing "hey, I like this", the desire to have a business, a formal course of study (such as FB), possibly (and preferably) an apprenticeship with an active locksmith (respecting a non-compete clause), and when ready, taking the dive into the business (given sufficient savings to accertain the business will succeed). If you have the drive to do this, I feel you will have most of the keys to make it with a locksmith business. That's what it took in my profession and I think it translates to most all professions.

by **pavel** » 13 Feb 2004 11:35

I've taken and completed the foley belsaw course.

I thought it was pretty good. You don't get the key machine until the very last lesson, so don't be expecting it any time soon. Most people are all about the lockpicking and breaking into cars and what-not, but it seems like FB delibrately drags it out. This is a good thing. Before you even get a pick in your hand you've taken apart and re-assembled several different types of locks. You learn impressioning, master keying, etc... this is a *huge* benefit when trying to pick a lock.

by **Eyes_Only** » 14 Feb 2004 17:31

how many hours a day or days in a week did you spend on the course?

by **pavel** » 15 Feb 2004 16:57

Well, I was unemployed at the time so I had plenty of time to work on it... =)

Some lessons were much harder than others, so it really varied. The early ones would only take a couple of hours, but some of the others (key impressioning for example) I would take the better part of a day on. The cool part is that if you send your lesson back early they'll just send you the next one early.

by **Chucklz** » 15 Feb 2004 17:20

How many lessons are there in the course? Besides the Key Machine, and some picks, what kinds of tools do you get from them?

by **pavel** » 17 Feb 2004 12:35

I don't remember how many lessons there were. As far as tools, the main things are the key machine and picks. There are a few other things, but nothing special... extra pins, lock plugs, a few files, etc... nothing that you coudn't get at home depot. You get a lot of locks, but the majority of them you have to send back for grading.

If anyone want to check it out, fill out the interest form on their webpage. One tip though : hold out as long as you can before you order the course. They will keep lowering the price and start offering you free stuff. Unfortunately, I signed up right before they offered me a free lock pick gun... =)

by **Minus** » 17 Feb 2004 15:09

Yeah i did the same thing, the price eventually came down to $600 and i also got the free pick gun as a bonus. I just finished my first set of lessons and sent them in for grading. I was wondering when did you receive your pick gun?

by **Minus** » 17 Feb 2004 15:14

Ahh i see you signed up right before they offered you it, maybe i should pay more attention ;]

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

Re: Thanx for all the advice

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