About practice locks...

[Panoply]

Practice locks seem to be quite expensive. Does anyone know a cheap place from which to buy them? Or a way to make your own, perhaps by disassebling a lock? Also, please tell me the most essential type of practice lock(s) to buy. I am not going to start in on autos, I am primarily trying to learn doors and padlocks for now. To call me an amateur would be to grossly overestimate my skill set. Please keep this in mind.

Be Well!
Jeremy

[nsquidc]

Cheap masterlocks No 1s are easy to come by and a good way to start learning. I got a large supply just by asking friends for locks they've lost the key to.

Lock cylinders from cheap doorknobs are also good ways to start. Kwikset knockoffs (though NOT the Kwikset Smartkey) are cheap and easily available either on Craigslist or the Home Depot. (I found a stash of 10 cylinders + deadbolts on Craigslist for $50.) Home Depot also has a brand called Defiant that's nice b/c they usually have 1 or 2 security pins and are pretty cheap.

Just my thoughts on starting out. Everyone has their own story

[MrMandelbrot]

Ask around! Like nsquidc said, lots of people have lost keys for masterlocks, and that's always an easy place to start.

My little secret is the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. If you live near a major city, you'll likely have one around as well. They had buckets of schlages, kwiksets, falcon, etc. on the cheap. Most have keys, some don't and can be had for a lower price. They also occasionally sell padlocks.
Happy picking!