Clear trainer or cutaway?

[RS686]

I'm extremely new to the hobby, so thank you in advance for your advice.
I've managed to rake a free locks and I've been able to SPP one padlock, but I can't seem to "see" what I'm doing in my head. Would you folks suggest a clear plastic training lock or a cutaway?
I've heard some don't like the clear cylinders because they have a different feel, but it seems like being able to see what you are making your pick do would be useful to me.
Thanks again for your time.

[LocksportSouth]

I've been using a repinnable Euro cylinder cutaway (as that's the type of locks we have on most doors in the UK; you'll need to find one that's relevant to where you live) and found it very useful for seeing where pins hit the shear line. I even figured out the binding order for all 6 pins and effectively cracked that lock (in that pinning config) which I'm sure is in no small part due to the cutaway. This is the item that I bought, but there are many like it on eBay - just search for "Repinnable lock", "Training lock" and the like. Also check out LearnLockPicking for these (I have one on order but it hasn't arrived yet). There's also an eBay user who is apparently on the forums too who goes by "Mr Wizard" who makes these but I can't find a link. In terms of clear padlocks, there are loads on eBay and Amazon.

In terms of whether it's a good idea - well, I guess that depends on you. In a real lock, you won't be able to see the pins so some might argue that you need to focus on developing the feel for finding the pins, knowing how it feels when you set one, etc - and this is all true. Others might argue that cutaway and practice locks help develop the skills and increase confidence to the point where you're able to tackle real locks. Maybe it's a bit of both. I'm sure the see-through padlocks (which are usually from China) have poor production quality and tolerances, and I do wonder whether making a lock cylinder cutaway will necessarily affect the feel of picking those pins...

I guess for a best-of-both-worlds, pick up a cutaway such as one of the ones I've mentioned above (the repinnable types are great, as you can change the pinning to practice more or less pins - start from 1 and work your way up - and eventually tackle security pins when you are ready) and at the same time buy and practice on a few "regular" locks - Master lock No. 3 and No. 5 always come highly recommended, I believe the Master 140 and 150 have security pins too so they are good for practice, in my experience my 140 feels much better made and less "crunchy" than the No.3s. You could also buy a couple of cheap door locks for wherever you're from - in the UK that would be Euro cylinders - and a cheap vice to clamp them up in which you pick. Of course it all depends on budget.

Anyway, that's my 2p

[RS686]

Thanks for the in-depth reply. I'll definitely make sure whichever I choose I can repin.
The master I've been practicing on will open if you look at it too hard, I definitely need something a bit harder

[LocksportSouth]

Thanks for the in-depth reply. I'll definitely make sure whichever I choose I can repin.
The master I've been practicing on will open if you look at it too hard, I definitely need something a bit harder

I feel ya! Bought a handful of Master No.3s and only one of them gives me trouble due to annoying bitting. Honestly the gritty, grimy insides cause more anti-pick security than the lock

The master I've been practicing on will open if you look at it too hard,

Reminds me of This Video

[MBI]

Neither?

I think cutaways and clear locks are great for understanding how a lock works, but not as much for learning to pick. Picking them doesn't really feel the same as picking a regular lock, as the different materials in one and the cuts in the other affect your feedback. Learning to pick is heavily depending on learning the feel of what the pins are doing.

I'd recommend a set of progressively pinned locks, or one that's easily repinnable. Get a lock with 1 pin stack, learn to pick it so you can almost do it in your sleep. Then a lock with 2 pins, and so on. There are many different sets of progressively pinned locks and easily repinnable locks on the market but I'd recommend the lock sold by Mr. Wizard here on the forum.

It's about the best value I've seen. It's a good quality lock and has plenty of spare springs, pins and security pins. He's slightly modified the lock so it is VERY easy to dump out the pins from any one of the pin stacks at a time, or add them. His shipping charges are also reasonable. And no, I don't get any renumeration for recommending his locks.

[blue60]

I was thinking the exact same thing MBI... even if I would be more then happy to try and sell the OP a cutaway

[LocksportSouth]

I was thinking the exact same thing MBI... even if I would be more then happy to try and sell the OP a cutaway

I think well-made cutaways are nice just as a decorative thing anyway, or to see how they work / explain to others how they work. I'd love to build up a nice collection of well-made cutaways for very nice locks to put on a display shelf .

I can see that clear lock / cutaways would affect the feel of the pins which is fundamental to picking, but I don't think there's harm in trying as many "tools" as possible - there's a theory in education that students learn best when mixing together every possible education aid - textbooks, video, audio, lectures, hands on... So I feel it's the same here. Of course, real world locks don't have see-through casing or half of the lock shaved away so it's probably best to move away from those types of training aids asap when you've figured out what it looks like inside.

I personally have issues visualising what's going on inside the lock - where the pick is relative to which pin, how pins look when they are setting and how to tell if a pin is set, overset or not set... I've bought some cheap clear locks / cutaways because that kind of visual feedback is useful for me, but I appreciate that in terms of actually getting that picking 'feel', they're probably useless. It's all about having more tools in your belt. Just IMO

[GWiens2001]

I was thinking the exact same thing MBI... even if I would be more then happy to try and sell the OP a cutaway

I think well-made cutaways are nice just as a decorative thing anyway, or to see how they work / explain to others how they work. I'd love to build up a nice collection of well-made cutaways for very nice locks to put on a display shelf .

I can see that clear lock / cutaways would affect the feel of the pins which is fundamental to picking, but I don't think there's harm in trying as many "tools" as possible - there's a theory in education that students learn best when mixing together every possible education aid - textbooks, video, audio, lectures, hands on... So I feel it's the same here. Of course, real world locks don't have see-through casing or half of the lock shaved away so it's probably best to move away from those types of training aids asap when you've figured out what it looks like inside.

I personally have issues visualising what's going on inside the lock - where the pick is relative to which pin, how pins look when they are setting and how to tell if a pin is set, overset or not set... I've bought some cheap clear locks / cutaways because that kind of visual feedback is useful for me, but I appreciate that in terms of actually getting that picking 'feel', they're probably useless. It's all about having more tools in your belt. Just IMO

Have to admit I am addicted to cutaway locks, and have a decent collection of them. Love the way they look, and like showing people how the different locks work. When you start throwing in sidebars, second rows of pins, security pins, and so forth, it is easy to convince someone that a few extra dollars spent on a lock can be worth it. (As long as you harden the other points of entry).

Gordon

[cj101]

I got a clear cylinder from amazon yesterday with 7 pins and relatively poor tolerances as mentioned.

In case of transparent locks, of course, you need heavily beveled pins in order not to scratch the plastic housing. Security pins are not possible for the same reason. But for training, they can be useful. They are not as easily picked as most cheap padlocks, due to 7 pins.

The plastic material does not hamper with a genuine picking experience in my view
Acrylic glass is a quite strong material comparable to most cheap aluminium alloys, except the heat resistance.

I think You can learn from the clear cylinders quite good how much tension (very low) you require to actually pick a lock. Most beginners use too much tension.

A cutaway on the other side is not comparable in picking experience, as in the most critical plug housing pin contact area there is no material.

[MBI]

I was thinking the exact same thing MBI... even if I would be more then happy to try and sell the OP a cutaway

While I wouldn't use it for picking, I LOVE a good cutaway. My cutaways are my favorite locks in my reference collection. I'm always alert for a good deal on a pretty cutaway lock.