Clear practice cylinders?

[drunk.with.love]

(So I tried searching, but I didn't find anything so if this is a repeated thread I'm sorry and could you give me the link the already-made one...?)


The clear practice cylinder I'm interested in:



The detailed description reads:

We have had great reviews of our Clear Practice Locks. They are great for learning and teaching locksmithing and lock manipulation. Each lock uses a SC1 keyway. These are available with both Spool pins and Standard pins.

Actual url: http://www.lockpicks.com/index.asp?Page ... ProdID=288


So basically just a couple questions:
-Do they really help in the learning process? (I mean, enough so that it's worth the $34)
-Is getting a clear cylinder better than just getting a regular practice cylinder? (Because chances are I'll only be able to afford one right now...)


I have really no experience with practice cylinders at all (I've just been practicing on random locks I bought) so I was wondering if the pins on this one are removable so I can adjust the level of difficulty?


Any help appreciated

[maxxed]

So basically just a couple questions:
-Do they really help in the learning process? (I mean, enough so that it's worth the $34)
-Is getting a clear cylinder better than just getting a regular practice cylinder? (Because chances are I'll only be able to afford one right now...)


I have really no experience with practice cylinders at all (I've just been practicing on random locks I bought) so I was wondering if the pins on this one are removable so I can adjust the level of difficulty?


Any help appreciated

It may be helpfull to have a lock where you can observe how a lock functions but I wouldn't be counting on it to help a lot with learning to pick. Stick with practicing on the locks you already have and learn to rekey them. ,

[Raccoon]

Clear cylinders and cut-away cylinders are a great learning aid for the theory of mechanical locks, and they will definitely help you open THAT lock while you are picking it. But more importantly, they help you explain lock picking to other people, so they understand what's going on inside and how they should be manipulating the pins.

They do not, however, improve your picking skills. Lock picking requires visualization, and that is done through imagination. The clear cylinder can help you gain some visual recollection of what's going on inside, but it can also cause you to become dependant on seeing it with your eyes and not your imagination.

I would only get one of these if you are having real trouble understanding what goes on inside a lock, or if you want to teach your friends/family what it is you're doing. Great recruiting tool with a "hey, that's neat!"

[dmux]

i have one, they are ok, the pins tend to stick a lot because of the material difference, they let you see whats going on inside but i dont think they feel real, too much slack inside

[xxgonzoxx]

If you are going to buy this, make sure that you can re-pin it. I noticed that it said available with standard pins or security pins. There is a cutaway on ebay that is repinnable and is usually priced at $40 as a Buy It Now. I don't have one, but it looks like a better deal. The guy usually puts one up for auction and another as Buy It Now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0066154718

[jayray]

I thought about getting one of those see-through locks but in the end I decided to do the Beginner's Lockpicking Exercise that digital_blue put up here on the board. With a couple of different old locks that a locksmith friend of mine gave me and the Southord PXS-17 picking kit that I bought, I'm doing remarkably well in learning how to pick.

db's Exercise makes one point at the beginning that was true of me ... don't just poke and prod. Even though I got lucky and was able to pick a few locks, I really didn't have the feel (not sure that I have it now) and so didn't really "see" what was going on.

Learning how to take the lock apart and removing all of the pin sets except the first one in order to feel the binding of that first pin is the key to understanding how to pick (at least I think it is).

I've done the first pin and today on Christmas Eve, I'll take the lock apart again and do the exercise again with pin sets 1 and 2.

In any case, IMHO doing that exercise may be a lot more helpful than experimenting with the see-through lock.

jayray

[drunk.with.love]

Alrighty, I'd say I'm doing fine without the clear lock (as in I know what goes on inside the lock) so it prolly wouldn't benefit me as much, but I might consider getting one for my friends then, because they're really... clueless ("So... I just stick this metal thing in and twirl it around?") and I get frustrated explaining it to them haha. Plus, my dad wants to learn now haha so thanks guys!

As for the ebay lock, I was taking a look at that one too and it looks like a great deal. I think overall I'm just going to have to talk it over with the father soooo again, thanks!

[Raccoon]

Convince him that you need it for him and people around you. Also offer to let him borrow it to show the guys at work.