Lock pick station plus,,, thoughts??

[crash220]

Hey everyone,,

Locks and picking has always fascinated me, I have some time off coming, shoulder surgery,, but thats another story,, I did a search and couldn't find anything.

Lock pick shop sells a "lock pick station plus" what do you all think of it. Picking,, locks that is,, is just a hobby-interest, and probably will never be any more than that.

Thanks,
Tom

[Shrub]

You could go and buy a cheap cylinder and start that way, its probably your cheapest,

If you click my www button you will find a guide that will tell you all the basics you need to know to get into this hobby and make your own picks,

The boards are ok so its a choice thing really, you could buy a lock now and again and simply buy a bit of wood to mount them on at a later date,

[crash220]

You could go and buy a cheap cylinder and start that way, its probably your cheapest,

If you click my www button you will find a guide that will tell you all the basics you need to know to get into this hobby and make your own picks,

The boards are ok so its a choice thing really, you could buy a lock now and again and simply buy a bit of wood to mount them on at a later date,

I did look through the getting started section,,, and thats the point where I am,, no picks, and short of a few slim jims in trucks, (when I was a mechanic) and the bobby pin in the interior door, I have never picked a lock.

So

I have nothing yet,, and the LPS plus seemed like a good starting point, picks, cut-away, cylinders, stand and the CD seems like a good deal?

Tom

[Shrub]

Well like i say the guide on my www button is better than any cd you will get for free but its your choice, im guessing without looking at the price that a few hand selected picks or a small pick set and a practice cylinder would be cheaper,

The practice cut away or see through cylinders are not worth getting to learn on unless you dont know how a lock works, they hinder progress with the temptation to look at what you are doing with the pins,

The best way to learn is by removeing pins from the lock and starting with 2 and working up,

However these are only my opinions and i shall step aside for others to comment as im sure plenty here have bought them and may say somthing totally differant,

[crash220]

Well like i say the guide on my www button is better than any cd you will get for free but its your choice, im guessing without looking at the price that a few hand selected picks or a small pick set and a practice cylinder would be cheaper,

http://www.lockpickshop.com/p-LOCKPICK-STATION-PLUS.html
$125 -10% from site discount.

The practice cut away or see through cylinders are not worth getting to learn on unless you dont know how a lock works, they hinder progress with the temptation to look at what you are doing with the pins,

Hmmm,, good point, 'till I looked on this site, I had ideas how they worked, but know pretty much feel good to go.

The best way to learn is by removeing pins from the lock and starting with 2 and working up,

Roughly speaking,, how much are lock cylinders?

Thanks,
Tom

[Shrub]

Go and ask your local locksmith if he has any second hand ones for sale, we all have buckets of locks weve removed from doors and such like so if you have a freindly one you should get a nice bundle otherwise look on ebay or your local hardware stores,

A simple cylinder will be very cheap but im in the uk so dont know of your prices much but im sure you will get something for around $5,

[crash220]

Go and ask your local locksmith if he has any second hand ones for sale, we all have buckets of locks weve removed from doors and such like so if you have a freindly one you should get a nice bundle otherwise look on ebay or your local hardware stores,

A simple cylinder will be very cheap but im in the uk so dont know of your prices much but im sure you will get something for around $5,

Ok cool, This is why I asked,

Thanks,
Tom

[Eyes_Only]

A small Panavise is a nice little tool to have. It's portable, can be mounted anywhere and will hold any lock in any position. Extremely useful if you get more deeply involved in this hobby if you choose to do so.

[pip]

invest in a small bench grinder
( with appropriate safety gear )

and make your own picks

you'll be surprised how much you learn
from making your own picks

[Spike666]

hey crash, pm me if you have trouble dowm in MD with your local locksmith.

[Roger E]

When I got into lockpicking last year, I bought a similar device off ebay- I think it's called a Lockpick Plus or something. Basically it's the same thing, but the Lockpicking Station has some extra showy containers attached to it to hold picks and locks. Frankly, I found it a waste of money.

I later bought a desktop vacuum-base vise, available at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. for under $30, which is far better. As far as any cylinders which might be included, you can get them much cheaper elsewhere. I've gotten 1/2 dozen or more lock cylinders in a lot on ebay for less than what they claim the sale price of a single cylinder to be. Shop around!

[whiteknight38]

You probably have better things to spend that much money on.
The post on "mounting a mortise cylinder to a practice board" has my reccommendations on how to mount mortise, and KIK locks, based on a design I've seen at lock picking classes put on by TAOL and ALOA.
Pretty simple. It's designed for fast swap outs of cylinders. Screw the board to another piece of wood, to make an L or a T shaped base plate, and attach it ot a table with something like a C clamp.