Pratice Cylinder, Yes or No?

[Hawk2064]

Do you think its worth it to get one of those practice cylinders where you can see the pins to help someone that is new to lock picking, or do you think its just better to get them a kit and tell them to pratice on real locks?

[macaba]

I think it would be worth it to get a see-though cylinder if the person had no clue how a lock works, its potential for a pratise lock is limited, as a cylinder designed to be see-though won't withstand the punishment that a beginner will give them as good as a proper cylinder pratise lock. But, if that person had a pretty good imagination, then simply show them diagrams (MIT Guide) and get them the kit.

[CitySpider]

No. You don't learn much more from a transparent lock than you do from a video or the howstuffworks animations or Matt Blaze's online lockpicking "course."

[Eyes_Only]

personally i think those locks are a waste of money. the MIT guide should be enough to be able to teach someone how a lock can be picked. and besides, lockpicking isnt a visual skill anyways. well mentally visual yes but...well...you know what i mean.

[Hawk2064]

personally i think those locks are a waste of money. the MIT guide should be enough to be able to teach someone how a lock can be picked. and besides, lockpicking isnt a visual skill anyways. well mentally visual yes but...well...you know what i mean.

Mind over matter, eh? Yes I guess the only thing a visual aid would do if really help you "cheat" in a way, lock picking is more feel than actually seeing what you're doing.

[Chubby]

personally i think those locks are a waste of money. the MIT guide should be enough to be able to teach someone how a lock can be picked. and besides, lockpicking isnt a visual skill anyways. well mentally visual yes but...well...you know what i mean.

Very strange coming from someone who's handle is "Eyes_Only"...

Training cylinders are made for the locksmith industry, they are no easier to pick even though you can see what you are doing via the cut-away, they are also used to help you to learn the techniques of impressioning, it's always better to know why spool/mushroom/pins etcetera act the way they do rather than just imagining why. I believe if more beginners had access to a training lock you would not have the hundreds of repetitive " how do I pick a lock Plz help!" questions posted every week. Seeing is believing after all...don't knock anything until you've tried it, on those occasions when a pin will just not set you can have a peek and say "Ahhh! that's why"... If it helps then get one!...

[Eyes_Only]

on those occasions when a pin will just not set you can have a peek and say "Ahhh! that's why"... If it helps then get one!...

Thats a good point, didnt think of that one.

[shyguy]

Hello!
Did someone finally buy one?
If yes – what impressions do you have?
Was it useful?
I am a quite newbie so I can be wrong but what I think is that the difficulty of picking a cylinder does NOT depends only of the pins.
Of course it matters, if there are security pins or if there is a huge length difference of two pins nearby.
But I think a very important matter is a quality of the cylinder itself.
I mean its material, tolerances etc.
Therefore I think, that buying a training cylinder made of a poor quality original is a waste of money.
It makes sense only if it is made of a good quality original.
Cause there are cylinders which even I can pick in seconds with a hair pin.
Can you imagine making them "practice" ones?
So correct me if I'm wrong or acknowledge, please.
BTW: what do you think about that one sold by www.multipick-service.de?
I will be grateful for the reply.

[Shrub]

Great resurection there, i think this is the oldest one i can think off lol

The clear ones are more of a hinderance than help in my opinion, you will cheat at the slightest problem regardless what you think or want to do.

Get a reasonable lock thats cheap but not pure rubbish and remove 3 of pin stacks with springs, then learn single pin picking with that.

Its the best way for sure.

[shyguy]

Well, cool!
Thx for such a quick reply!
This is a good advice: see the post "Beginner's Lockpicking Exercise - by digital_blue"
He says exactly the same and describes it step by step.
Therefore I am about to do it at home someday.
But IYO: am I right about the quality of the cylinder?
And what about that one sold by "multipick"?
Please tell me frankly:
You think that for beginners like me there is NO sense to buy ANY training cylinder made from ANY material and produced by ANY company
or it will be minimally useful (or even disturbing) therefore will be an expensive toy?

[Wolfman]

Today is june 25. With that in mind, read this.

shyguy

Joined: 25 Jun 2006
Posts: 3
Location: Poland

Not so shy, huh?:lol:

Just messin with ya. Nice to see ya here. Good to see ya interested.

[undeadspacehippie]

I have made a couple of cut aways - so that I can see the pins and springs and sheer line. I find that I can't pick the lock when I am physically viewing the lock. My friends and brother like the view of the bits and peices, but I personally find that it is better when I just do it blind. I like to use the eyes in my fingers i guess.

[Shrub]

You think that for beginners like me there is NO sense to buy ANY training cylinder made from ANY material and produced by ANY company

Thats my opinion anyway, use a real cylinder to learn to pick real cylinders.

or it will be minimally useful (or even disturbing) therefore will be an expensive toy?

Thats what i think, it will be a paper weight before you can say 'disturbing?'