practice boards

[wizz]

can anyone tell me if its worth mounting cylinders on boards to practice on and if its worth buying a board or should i just make one my self.

[jordyh]

Never heard of lockboards that you can buy, but isn't this a "Got Questions" thing?

Yours,

Jordy

[Varjeal]

Yes it is worth mounting locks and yeah, it's cheaper by far to build your own.

[Gordon Airporte]

If you make a board, get a hole saw. I have an adjustable circle cutter like this: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx ... 42316&ap=1
and I swear the thing is going to kill me one of these days.

[undeadspacehippie]

Gordan A - wow, that thing looks crazy - I'm sure your carefull, but be carefull - wow.

I have a set of dewalt hole saws (think they are dewalt, used often - paint has worn off them, still sharper than a zootsuit) 3 different sizes. They are so worth the initial cost.

I've made a little lock board - only three locks mounted. I want to make one that has at least 6 locks ( different pinnings perhaps to practice) as well as places to attach pad locks and cabinet locks.

[devildog]

I've never seen the appeal in using lockboards except for asthetic purposes: 'Here, look at my locks, mounted all pretty on my shiny wood display'; just stick the lock you want to work on in a vice and switch it out when you want to do a different one.

[n2oah]

I display a few of my high security locks on a deadbolt, but the majority are still waiting to be mounted. I'll take a pic later tonight. That reminds me, I still need to paint the thing.

[Raccoon]

Stain! Don't paint!

I think a nice cherry or red oak or mahogany. Redder the better.

[illusion]

I agree with the part about staining the wood - it looks really nice. I guess it's spoilt if you've used plywood or another man-made variety.

[horsefeathers]

Anything that gets you into the habit of practicing lock picking is worth it.

I have a few old cylinders (euro and rim) mounted on a scruffy bit of board (no-one is gonna see it as it is not for display purposes). I have the board mounted on the wall at roughly the same height as you would expect to find them on a door - more useful for prospective trading lockies. Get used to picking them with all the techniques you know, and you also get used to how much harder it is when you are cramped over them, legs slightly bent, as you would be in real life at a customers door, rather than being comfy. I prefer to use old second hand cylinders rather than new as they are the real deal, filled with dirt and grime etc.

When you feel that you have 'worn them out', (maybe by over use of pick guns etc) and they open just by blowing on them, replace them with another.

As Fagin in Oliver sang..." You've gotta pick a lo-ock or two boys.....you've gotta pick a lo-ock or two". At least once every day.

regards

[picksmith]

I like to practice with the locks mounted and in my hand because it is different to pick a lock in your hand than when it is in the door just by the way you old you tools and how much room you have to the jamb etc. etc.

I would make you own or:

If you don't want to put the locks directly into the vise there is always:

http://www.hpcworld.com/Tools/t_sut600.htm

and the keedex impressioning plates.