suggestions for good practice locks?

[pookguy88]

I've started picking up lock picking this weekend and have done a couple Master No. 1 (4 pin) padlocks. The thing that's getting me is it's hard for me to visualize which pin I'm actually touching so is there such a practice lock that's transparent or lets you know which pin you're touching so I can start gauging my feel?

The ones that are especially hard are the 4 pin ones, I'm not sure if I'm touching the 4th (furthest back) or the 3rd pin...

thanks!

[fgarci03]

You can search "cutaway lock". Many online shops sell them!

But I don't think you should rely on those. I mean, they sure help you figure out some stuff. But it's important that you develop "finger visualisation"
Are you able to disassemble a lock? You could also start with 1 pin a work your way to the full lock. See this exercise here! This way you will be able to feel wich pin you are lifting without looking!

It's not a bad idea to use a cutaway. But just be sure not to rely on it to learn picking. Use it only to assist in a couple of situations (like how spools behave inside a lock, binding pins, overlifting, etc). When you figure those out, you won't probably need it again.

Hope I helped you!
Be safe!

[MrAnybody]

You can search "cutaway lock". Many online shops sell them!

But I don't think you should rely on those. I mean, they sure help you figure out some stuff. But it's important that you develop "finger visualisation"

I think you can also be more adventitious with a cutaway, but I do agree that you shouldn't rely on them. Experimenting in different types of keyways is very valuable.

As an example of a little adventure: Of course, you can be tempted to look what's going on with the stacks when things get tricky. In which case, if you do look, you pay a forfeit by setting all the stacks back to rest That way, you gotta start again. That's the price you pay

You can also tape it up real good, so you can't see a thing, once you've got some confidence, and/or get a buddy to repin it for you with spools and such. Either way, the short life of a cutaway as useful practice can have an extension .... for a while.

[fgarci03]

if you do look, you pay a forfeit by setting all the stacks back to rest

Great suggestion!

And having a friend to re-pin the cutaway is a great deal!
And that way you can have the best of two worlds: being able to see what is wrong. And really learning how to feel without relying in looking to the pins everytime!

For me that is the main problem of cutaways. Some people rely on the shortcut and never learn to proper feel the thing

[Luissen]

If you have the key, what I did was I took a pick and marked where the groves on the key corresponded to the pick's length.