Practice locks

[Seachmall]

Are practice locks easier to open or do they just give the advantage of being able to see the pins? Just wondering if I should be a 30 euro practice lock or just use a 10 euro padlock.

[dwb178]

They allow you to see the pins and where the shear line is so you can push the pin to the correct height. So in a way it is a little bit easier than a normal lock.

[Octillion]

They are not worth it. They are good to demonstrate to someone how lock picking works, but for learning to pick, they are of little use. A cheap lock with most of the pins removed, and slowly adding pins is the easiest way to learn, and does not encourage the picker to resort to trying to look at the sheer line. In picking actual locks, you will never be able to see the sheer line.

[Seachmall]

How do you remove pins from a lock? Is it that little hole beneath/beside the keyhole on padlocks?

[Octillion]

That hole is for water drainage when used outdoors. Depending on the padlock, you may not be able to remove pins from it. If you get a cheap deadbolt somewhere it will be possible.

However, removing pins is just a suggesting for getting started. When I started picking I never bothered to remove pins, I just started with easy locks. But if you are having an exceptionally difficult time picking any locks with all the pins, you may have to go that route to get a feel for it. Learning to pick, especially getting started, takes patience. If you get stuck, take a break and try again. That is the only way to learn. Once you pick a lock, you’ve got to pick it over and over again to get the feel, then move on to some other locks. If you get frustrated, put down the picks before you break something, and come back in a few hours when you feel able to sit down for a half hour or so with the possibility you still may not get it open.

There are many locks that have taken me hours until I have finally opened them. As you move on to harder locks, that’s just how it is. Being able to work on the same lock without any success for many hours takes patience, but it’s always worth it when it finally opens.

[Shrub]

Im the same really i didnt learn on locks with pins removed but just easy locks but a lot do benefit from having less pins in a particular lock if you still cant get it,

There is a guide by Illusion on the re-pinning of a lock, if you want to go down that route (i suggest you do) have a read of that.