What to do for practice?

[Silman]

Okay so I have been wanting to get into lockpicking for a really long time but never got around to buying picks. I finally decided to go for it yesteday and bought the following tools:

[ Individual Standard Small Diamond Lock Pick - SP-07 ](http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-To ... SP-07.html)
[ Individual Standard Single Ball Lock Pick - SP-05 ](http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-Tools/Individual-Lock-Pick-Standard-SP-05.html)
[ Individual Standard Short Hook Lock Pick - SP-09 ](http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-Tools/Individual-Standard-Short-Hook-Lock-Pick-SP-09.html)
[ Individual Standard C-Rake Lock Pick - SP-10 ](http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-Tools/Individual-Standard-C-Rake-Lock-Pick-SP-10.html)
[ Individual Standard L-Rake Lock Pick - SP-12 ](http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-Tools/Individual-Standard-L-Rake-Lock-Pick-SP-12.html)
[ Individual Standard Key Extractor - SP-13 ](http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-Tools/Individual-Standard-Key-Extractor-SP-13.html)
[ Tension Tool - TW-01 ](http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-Tools/Tension-Tool-TW-01.html)
[ Tension Tool - TW-02 ](http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-Tools/Tension-Tool-TW-02.html)

I was trying to match exactly the picks in this set:

[ Eight Piece Lock Pick Set With Metal Handles - MPXS-08 ](http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-To ... XS-08.html)

The only difference is my picks wont have metal handles.

Do you think handles are important? Because if i want i can buy this but i don't know how necessary it is (i'm trying to stay on the cheap side since i'm a beginner):
[ VG-9 Nine-Piece Grips ](http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-To ... ndles.html)

Now that my picks are on the way I need to find some practice locks. But i don't know where to buy practice locks for cheap (i'm trying to stay under 20 dollars for practice locks). What is a good place to buy practice locks? Ebay maybe? I just don't know what to search for and what locks are the kind that beginners should start on.

Lastly also don't understand exactly how people practice with locks that aren't mounted in anything, if you need one hand for the tension tool and one hand for the pick how are you supposed to secure the lock that you are practicing on? Will i need to buy a stand of some sort? Or build like some sort of frame out of wood?

Thanks for the advice!

[MrAnybody]

The only difference is my picks wont have metal handles.

Do you think handles are important? Because if i want i can buy this but i don't know how necessary it is (i'm trying to stay on the cheap side since i'm a beginner):
[ VG-9 Nine-Piece Grips ](http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-To ... ndles.html)

Welcome to the forum.

If you'd like comfortable handles and you wanna do it on the cheap. Use a couple of layers of hockey tape around the handles and cover that with heat-shrink tubing. You end up with very nice handles. And cheap too.

Now that my picks are on the way I need to find some practice locks. But i don't know where to buy practice locks for cheap (i'm trying to stay under 20 dollars for practice locks). What is a good place to buy practice locks? Ebay maybe? I just don't know what to search for and what locks are the kind that beginners should start on.

Ebay is a very good source. Brands of locks are very much dependent on your location (US, Europe, Australia). Search for "beginner locks" here on the forum. You'll find some brands appropriate to where you are. Cheap 5 pin cylinders are a good place to start, but as I mentioned, use the search function.

Another good source is making friends with a local locksmith. Some are suspicious of pickers, but if you find a friendly one, he can be a huge help in advice, and locks.

Another good source is forums like this. Sign up to a few. Make friends, ask questions and enjoy.

Lastly also don't understand exactly how people practice with locks that aren't mounted in anything, if you need one hand for the tension tool and one hand for the pick how are you supposed to secure the lock that you are practicing on? Will i need to buy a stand of some sort? Or build like some sort of frame out of wood?

Essential purchase - buy a table top vice using for modelling/hobbies. One with a suction base is good enough, and they're cheap too. This will give you a very good platform to pick and both hands free. You can pick padlocks holding it in the palm of one hand and holding the tension wrench with the finger s of the same hand. Check out YouTube - you'll get lots of tips over there.

Have fun.

[dll932]

Check out household and rummage sales, even gun shows (surprising what you find there that has nothing to do with guns or ammo). Also demolition surplus joints.