My First Set

[chrisbengivengo]

I just got my first lock pick set from Southord model # PXS-17

Its a seventeen piece set with twelve picks, 4 tesion bars and a brass handle w/ alen wrench to hold picks. I picked two diffrent masterlocks, a gun lock and my brinks fire box with little effort. I am going to try my truck tomarrow but I dont know how hard its going to be. Its a stardard GM colum. Does amyone have any info on this ignition ? am I going to be able to pick it or do I need a special pick for it? Its from 94 so its had alot of wear. is that gonna make it harder or eaiser to pick. Thanks for your time and any info would be aprecated.

[Grudge]

I would NOT recommend you practice on a lock that you depend upon (like your house doors or automobile). Always start on a practice lock (like a small brass padlock, Master #3 or a kwikset deadbolt). There is a small chance you will break something. Just my 2 cents.

[Chrispy]

Welcome to LP101. Well done on the list of picks, keep it up Post a pic of your gun lock that you picked, I wouldn't mind seeing it

Ahhh.... about your truck locks.... I wouldn't try to pick it for the fact of it's in use (by you) and if you frick it up, you'll be paying an automotive lockie to come and replace your locks.

Go to your local junkyard/car-yard and ask them if you can remove/have some of the door locks, etc. These are better to pick than ones you own, and can be taken apart as well.

Happy picking.

[chrisbengivengo]

The master locks I picked where#1 and #3, the gun lock is just a trigger lock that goes in the trigger gaurd. I got it at meijer formy rifle, ( mejier is just like wallmart but in the north mid east. michigan, indiana, illinois and so on) it a red lock, sometime they come in black and dark green. The fire safe has four pins and is stupid easy to pic. its not a safe just a fire box to keep my hand gun and ammo in. I dont have any kids so its to keep my cats out. just kidding. my wife doesnt like it easly acsessable. I going to the hardware store my wife works at tomarrow to get some deadbolts and doorlocks to play with. I wont mess with my truck untill I know I wont break it. Thanks for the advice. Ill keep on pickin

[Mad Mick]

going to the hardware store my wife works at tomarrow to get some deadbolts and doorlocks to play with

You'd better be getting a good deal on those locks!!

[fixer]

I am going to try my truck tomarrow but I dont know how hard its going to be. Its a stardard GM colum. Does amyone have any info on this ignition ?

Unless you have the means to service automotive locks, I would suggest not playing with them. The wafers in a automotive lock are quite small and can be damaged by picking.and impressioning. This would leave you with a non functioning ignition which is not what you want.

[Rusty Shackleford]

I just got started recently with a southord pick set as well. Those who say "don't pick locks that you need to function" are correct.. Once I picked the locks in my new home, the keys would no longer fit all the way into the keyways. I didn't do anything unusual.. they were open after about 3 seconds of very light raking. Regardless, they no longer functioned with the keys that came with them.

I have a sizeable collection of padlocks that came with various firearms.. most of which already have built in locks these days, making the padlocks completely pointless. I've found these to be excellent confidence builders, but some are a bit tiny and require some creative use of the usual tools.

Now that I've got a pretty good understanding of the standard 3-6 pin tumbler lock, I don't know what I should really be trying next..?

[fixer]

Now that I've got a pretty good understanding of the standard 3-6 pin tumbler lock, I don't know what I should really be trying next..?

Rusty,

Go to the local Home Depot/Lowes/Ace and get a 'cam lock'. These are the locks used on desk drawers and filing cabinets. The cheap ones are wafer locks and are a goot target for picking practice. You can also get a cheap deadbolt and/or knob lock and practice picking those.

You will probably need a sheet of wood and/or plate of metal so that you can mount the locks. While practicing picking a lock that is in your hand is good, an advancement in skills is to pick the lock while it is mounted on a door (practice board). Then try picking it upside down or up against a door jamb. At work yesterday I had to pick a lock on the left hand side of a door up against the jamb and a brick wall. It was akward.

Hope this gives you some pointers.