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

[Patch]

Did you recive all 30 lessons @ one time? I only recieved 1-15 and sent them all back. I am still waiting on 16-30.

[Ezer]

Did you recive all 30 lessons @ one time? I only recieved 1-15 and sent them all back. I am still waiting on 16-30.

When I ordered the program, I paid in full, and told them I wanted all 30 lessons sent to me at one time. The lady I talked to said I had to wave my right to a refund if I had them do that, but I told her I didn't care.

I set my key machine up earlier today. I went and had a piece of plywood cut to mount it to. It took me hours to adjust it though. To make a long story short, their was a tiny bur on the shaft keeping the pulley from being as close to the bearing as it should have been, which was allowing the cutter wheel to move back and forth. So I would align the machine, but as soon as I started it up, it wouldn't be properly aligned anymore.

[Neo]

Ok, i ordered a catalouge from the internet site. i think it's a catalouge.. is there a way i can swindle FB-I out of money and get the price lowered to 750$ what was the exact process you guys went about to do it?

How long did it take you to complete the program?
How many hours a day did you spend on it?

How many hours a day does a person really need to spend on it to get it done within 2 months and 2 weeks?

I want to get a summer job so I can make some extra cash while doing this program and then move up to becoming a locksmith.

However, i start college in the fall again, and i want get certified by Foley-Belsaw before then.

So time managament is a big thing for me.

I'd be really interested in how you managed time with this program.
Or things you may have heard from others.

[Ezer]

Ok, i ordered a catalouge from the internet site. i think it's a catalouge.. is there a way i can swindle FB-I out of money and get the price lowered to 750$ what was the exact process you guys went about to do it?

All I did was call and say that I knew they offered the course to people for $599. It took several minutes of arguing with the lady, but I stayed polite yet insistent that I wanted it for that price. Now I also told the lady I wanted to pay for the entire program right then if I were given the $599 price. I don't know whether that affected the ease with which I received my price or not, but I do believe paying up front is especially important to time as well.

How long did it take you to complete the program?
How many hours a day did you spend on it?

How many hours a day does a person really need to spend on it to get it done within 2 months and 2 weeks?

The most important point I can make about the time it will take to do this program is not how much time per day you spend or how easy or difficult you find it, it's getting the entire program shipped to you as soon as you order it, but the only way this is possible is to pay the entire amount up front and tell them you don't want a trial period. Make sure to make the point that you want everything right then.

I received the first half of the program on Monday and the second half of it on Wednesday. I could easily have finished and mailed off everything on Thursday, but that's with a lot of free time. As it is, I've sent everything but the last five lessons in. I plan on doing the last 3 lessons I have yet to complete in the morning and getting them shipped off.

The reason why I believe it takes people so long to do the program is because of the amount of time spent waiting on lessons to be graded and the next lessons to be sent. I see no reason why someone with the entire program couldn't finish it in 2 weeks just spending a few hours a day, but I should point out that I'm only talking about the basic program. Someone else will have to chime in on the advanced course.

[Neo]

anyone out there want to chime about the advanced?

[Patch]

Why would you want two finsh in 2 weeks? You won't get much out of it if you don't take the time to learn it. I'm not saying you won't learn anything but if you read the forums on this site it takes a lot of time and patience to learn to be a good locksmith. If you just to the lessons and turn them in as fast as you can you may learn very basic skills but, in my opion you won't be able to be a good locksmith. I learn like most people to by hands on. This mean practice, I can easily turn in there disc tumbler lock that had only two disk in it when I got it and it would have pass but I ask if they could send it back with more disc's. They sent it back and I took it apart and put it back together again. Then opened it and will be sending it back one more time. I have only finished the first 15 lessons and will start on the next 15 this weekend but I have been practicing with locks around the house while I was waiting for the next set to get here. If you think you are going to complete this course and then become a locksmith you are fooling yourself, unless you have a lot of natural talent. This is just my two cents. The best of luck to you.

[Ezer]

I guess I need to clarify my last post.

I'm not advocating rushing through the program as fast as you can at the expense of learning, but to me the point of a correspondence course like this is that you can go at whatever speed you feel comfortable with.

This is somewhat of a sore subject for me, because I've had professors and other students at my college put me down for doing projects and tests too quickly. I might have done the basic program in a week, but I read every word and did everything they asked me.

If I had had no experience in picking or taking locks apart, it would have added some time, but I've already put in the time practicing, that picking their wafer lock with five disks was no problem nor was their pin tumbler lock with all five pins.

Also I don't believe this program, no matter how slowly taken, will make anyone a good locksmith. A program like this teaches you enough that you can ask intelligent questions about locksmithing. It's from constantly asking and finding the answers to those questions that I believe would make someone a good locksmith.

If this came off at all hostile, I do apologize. I'm just trying to clarify what I meant.

[Neo]

no, i understand what it means to learn too quickly. learning quick is easy for me, i'm the kinda person that learns quick and tries to apply it quick. however, i am a lazy person at times.

if anyone has details on the advanced course i'd be interested in that also.

[kendale]

Have you taken a look at lockmasters.com training courses in their million pound training room 3 weeks for approx $2200 this also includes govmt gsa containers, vehicles and general locksmithing?

[bigbike]

no, i understand what it means to learn too quickly. learning quick is easy for me, i'm the kinda person that learns quick and tries to apply it quick. however, i am a lazy person at times.

if anyone has details on the advanced course i'd be interested in that also.

F-B Just sent me some info on their "new" advanced course. If you email me with your address I might be able to access my account and send you the ad they sent me. (I am sure I will be receiving more).

Currently having problems with my email account-seems I can't gain access to it.

[bw]

Decided to go with Foley-B after reading the (re)views and feedback here. Hope to have as good an experience as you all.

[Jim S]

Taking the FB or any other course - does not - repeat DOES NOT make you a locksmith ! !
It only gives you the basic knowledge and guidance to begin to be a locksmith.

Much like learning to drive a car, you read up on or someone shows you where and how to - with the shifter, brakes, lights etc. Then (hopefully) guide you a few times - then you're on your own, making decisions, anticipating other traffic, avoiding curbs, telephone poles, cats, dogs and people along with the 17 million other dis-tractions we all encounter.

After that it is up to you and the only way to be proficient at it is Practice, Practice, Practice.

Even locksmiths with 50 or more years of experience could tell you (but don't like to) that you never know it all, there may be a surprise around the next corner or door! Even with locks that you work with a thousand times - then one will gitcha !
Then is where practice and experience comes into play - and how to (hopefully) overcome it.

The best experience comes from avoiding or learning from your mistakes or the mistakes of others and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.

Many of us too, are "Quick Learners" Practicing what we learn is what takes the time and can't be hurried.

Always remember - IF you are good at what you do - You don't tell them - They will tell you ! !

no, i understand what it means to learn too quickly. learning quick is easy for me, i'm the kinda person that learns quick and tries to apply it quick. however, i am a lazy person at times.

if anyone has details on the advanced course i'd be interested in that also.

F-B Just sent me some info on their "new" advanced course. If you email me with your address I might be able to access my account and send you the ad they sent me. (I am sure I will be receiving more).

Currently having problems with my email account-seems I can't gain access to it.

[Elijah]

I completed Foley-Belsaw in under two months. The first 15 lessons are a joke, basically. Sure, they have you pick some wafer locks, impression some keys, repin some locks to a specific key and so forth, but the hands on work are the only things that require you to go slowly and possibly more than once.

Lesson 16, however, starts a WHOLE new world of hurt. Immediately, you are asked to dissassemble a pin-tumbler cylinder, rearrange all the pins, and then construct a master key system for the lock. Basically, you're asked to impression 4 keys - I don't remember the specifics, but they made me utilize the spacers to produce different keys that would all turn the cylinder. You're introduced to the basic mathematics of master keying and spacers (and the basic mathematics of having to buy $100 in tools that Foley-Belsaw doesn't give you), and the lesson will likely take you over 12 hours of work.

The way I see it, just as long as I get everything as possible out of the hands on work, I can always go back and read my Foley-Belsaw coursebooks. One lesson on automotive locks was so redundant and boring that I just barely skimmed it. Further into my locksmithing endeavors, I opened it up again and actually understood what they were talking about. I rushed through so that I could get my certificate and my key machine.

I thought Foley-Belsaw was well worth my money - $1,000 is just about enough to nail you one college course for a semester. What they don't tell you, however, is that you'll likely be spending hundreds of dollars more on tools they don't give you and on things you see in the numerous catalogs they send you. Personally, I bought the Foley-Belsaw vice (it is garbage, don't buy it), a subscription to the National Locksmith, some depth and spacing charts, a pin kit, and other pointless things. If you have the cash, go for it.

-Elijah

[Neo]

I need help on lesson 7.

I was given a Ward Master Lock and told to impression it. I can smoke the key with a candle, that's not hard. However, putting the key in and sharply turning it from left to right and then pulling it out doesn't make any sense to me.

I see no indication of where the marks are that i'm suppose to file at. I'm very tempted to just throw it all in a vice and pass-by real quick. Alas, that wouldn't be very locksmith-ish.

My first attempts at smoking the key were to smoke the key and then dip it in water to cool it off quickly. Then from there I took it from the pliers I had holding it and held the blank with my fingers. From there I slowly inserted the blank into the Master Lock and turned sharply left and right. I tried slow, that didn't seem to work. I tried back and forth quickly.. Didn't work.. I really don't understand this whatsoever.

[Neo]

Also, I grasp that somehow the metal inside the lock is suppose to scratch at the carbon on the blank but.. i don't really see marks.. just scratches up the side of the blank. Probably from when I pulled the blank out.