Buying Practice cylinders

[Dyonzi]

If I ever have that problem I try and find someone who’s flying over in the near future to save a bit of money.

[Peter Martin]

When I first started, I purchased new Master padlocks, a Kwikset KIK, and a Schlage deadbolt. I would NOT do that again.

For practice cylinders, call your local sole-proprietor handyman to see if they have any, try a "Restore (Habitat for Humanity building supply), keep an eye on Craigslist--where I search for the terms "locksmith, padlocks, deadbolt, etc., and Facebook marketplace. You will find practice locks. You don't have to buy new unless there's a specific type you want.

Find other people near you with same interest in locksport, offer to have coffee with them and see if they're willing to trade lock cylinders.

Pete
Sioux Falls.

[Kenneth_V]

I've had great luck getting kik cylinders out of old door knobs at metal recyclers. Bonus is they are super cheap!!

Door knobs are recycled from commercial office renos or demolitions all the time.

Tell them that you want the cylinders out of the locks. Ask if you can you buy the knobs by weight, take the cylinders out and get a refund for bringing the knobs back for scrap price.

Since they rarely have keys, you will have to pick each one open to rotate the cylinder before you will be able to get the kik out!!

Makes great practice!!!

[demux]

Since they rarely have keys, you will have to pick each one open to rotate the cylinder before you will be able to get the kik out!!

Or pick and disassemble one, then decode and cut yourself a TMK. If they're coming out of a commercial institution, there's a decently high probability they're part of a master system. There are also DE methods to do it (which won't be much of an issue in this case if you're planning to resell the locksets for scrap anyway), but I can't discuss those in the open forum.

[Kenneth_V]

Since they rarely have keys, you will have to pick each one open to rotate the cylinder before you will be able to get the kik out!!

Or pick and disassemble one, then decode and cut yourself a TMK. If they're coming out of a commercial institution, there's a decently high probability they're part of a master system. There are also DE methods to do it (which won't be much of an issue in this case if you're planning to resell the locksets for scrap anyway), but I can't discuss those in the open forum.

Yes but that takes all the fun and practice out of it!!!

[demux]

Since they rarely have keys, you will have to pick each one open to rotate the cylinder before you will be able to get the kik out!!

Or pick and disassemble one, then decode and cut yourself a TMK. If they're coming out of a commercial institution, there's a decently high probability they're part of a master system. There are also DE methods to do it (which won't be much of an issue in this case if you're planning to resell the locksets for scrap anyway), but I can't discuss those in the open forum.

Yes but that takes all the fun and practice out of it!!!

Not out, just changes it. Decoding and key cutting are useful skills as well, and reverse-engineering a master system is always a useful/fun exercise.

[Kenneth_V]

Not out, just changes it. Decoding and key cutting are useful skills as well, and reverse-engineering a master system is always a useful/fun exercise.

Good points!