Source For Practice Locks To Pick

by **danreller** » 18 Jan 2004 19:52

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew of sources (cheap sources) of locks to practice picking. Where do you get your locks to practice on? :?:

by **danreller** » 18 Jan 2004 22:58

I posted this question several hours ago and after a modicum of views without reply I can only conclude that this is a hard question to answer. Which leads me to another question. How does someone starting in the field of locksmithing really get a start without having an abundant source of locks to practice on? How do they get the locks to set up the pins to masterkey a number of locks, etc...? How does one learn the idiosyncrasies of each brand name and type of lock without hands on experience? I can't imagine one learns all that needs to be learned from the literature, VHS tapes, CDs or DVDs.

by **CitySpider** » 18 Jan 2004 23:04

It's not a hard question to answer, I'm just sick of answering it. Search around a little, I know there've been threads on this before.

by **CitySpider** » 18 Jan 2004 23:05

Realized immediately after I posted how harsh that sounds. I don't mean it that way -- I'm pushing three hundred posts, and if people searched before asking a question, I'd probably be at about fifty. It starts to feel like a lot of wasted effort.

Yard sales, thrift shops, hardware stores if you don't midn blowing the money, web sites, junkyards, etc etc etc... I've managed to accumulate around fifty locks and I only started a year ago, I've probably spent a grand total of $20.

by **CitySpider** » 18 Jan 2004 23:08

Ten seconds worth of searching, max:
viewtopic.php?p=7454
viewtopic.php?p=2981

by **Chucklz** » 18 Jan 2004 23:10

1.) If you are interested in learning lockSMITHING find an apprenticeship and see what materials they want you to purchase to begin learning.

2.) If you are interested in finding locks for lockPICKING, well, I see CitySpider got done with the searching faster than I did. But I thought one answer to this question you should have been able to answer yourself..... home center/hardware store/ locksmith.

by **danreller** » 18 Jan 2004 23:11

Hi CitySpider,

I appreciate your candor and answer. You might have sounded harsh at first, but, you certainly made up for it by offering those sources. Any chance you would be willing to part with any of those? I'm PayPal verified and my eBay ID is danreller .

by **CitySpider** » 18 Jan 2004 23:13

danreller wrote:Hi CitySpider,

I appreciate your candor and answer. You might have sounded harsh at first, but, you certainly made up for it by offering those sources. Any chance you would be willing to part with any of those? I'm PayPal verified and my eBay ID is danreller .

Dan,

Nah, but it was a nice try. They're all either locks I'm proud of having picked, locks I still practice on, or locks I haven't opened yet. Sentimental value. If you stick with the hobby, in about a month I'm sure you'll know what I mean.

Besides, you'd get KILLED on the shipping.

by **danreller** » 18 Jan 2004 23:25

Hi Chucklz,

All of those sources would be pretty expensive. Don't get me wrong, I feel I have a lot of money to spend, but, I guess I'm not sure if this is a "passing phase" educational venture or a longer term venture. I can say I have been interested in locksmithing for awhile. Over the years I've accumulated books and read many articles about locks and just recently by serendipity came across a set of lock picks. After the initial luck I had and the revelation of the ease of lock compromization I'm stimulated to learn more. But, I can't learn more without locks. Buying them new is not worth it to me ( I think), although, I have to admit I bought 2 locks to "try out". I'm not interested in a new career as I'm doing great presently. I'm just excited to learn more.

by **CitySpider** » 18 Jan 2004 23:33

danreller wrote:Buying them new is not worth it to me ( I think), although, I have to admit I bought 2 locks to "try out".

I don't know that I've said this on-site before, but it's a point of pride with me that I've never bought a new lock. Never paid more than a dollar for one, for that matter. It's doable, you just need to keep your eyes open -- and if you've REALLY been bitten, you'll have trouble NOT noticing locks. I'm at the point where I'm IDing deadbolts as I drive by the houses. (I try not to do that unless I'm a passenger).

And not just locks -- not just deadbolts, doorknobs, padlocks -- but anything with a lock on it. Luggage, trunks, safes, etc etc. They're all over the place. You've already bought two, so there's two, and if you rekey it, there's a whole bunch. Now you've got at least the door on your residence, probably a couple more in house, probably YOU'VE got a suitcase with a lock on it already.

by **danreller** » 18 Jan 2004 23:43

I've definitely been bitten. Once I get interested in something I really go for it. I just put orders in for a Pick Gun, Dyno Kwik Pick (don't know about that one...I'll let you know), Sesamee Decoder, and 7 pin Tubular Pick as well as 2 Locksmithing CDs. Most of the interior locks in my house are now a joke. The only ones I haven't compromised is the Sentry key safes (thus my interest in the tubular item).

I just had the feeling that I need locks to learn on.

by **CitySpider** » 18 Jan 2004 23:48

Good heavens, man. Now I see why you're looking for cheap locks, you threw all that money into equipment...

The Kwikpick is a decent piece of gear, provided you keep in mind its limitations. (IE: It's ONLY a rake). I've worked out my own carry-around lockpicks, tried the Southord and the HPC and the Kwikpick and a few from some other places. I'm sure you'll figure out what works for you, too.

by **Greg** » 20 Jan 2004 3:02

Just a suggestion, can't we make a sticky thread for this question?
Save ourselves aggravation...

by **marso** » 20 Jan 2004 4:34

All i can say is, you are a sick man spider get some help

Source For Practice Locks To Pick

Source For Practice Locks To Pick

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