Q About A Practice Lock

[HorizonSon]

Did some searching on practice locks and found "The Ultimate Practice Lock" at learnlockpicking(dot)com


Can anyone give me feedback on service from this website. As well as usefulness of this practice lock?

Thank you kindly

[HorizonSon]

Did some further searching, here on LP101, and it would seem this lock is recommended as a good rekeyable practice lock... Hope to be ordering one in the near future

[fgarci03]

I have one of those. It's very helpful, believe me. Get the one called Ultimate Challenge Prctice lock, as it comes with spools too. You can repin it in less than one minute, which saves a lot of time.

I've done Digital Blue's Lockpicking exercice (it's posted here on LP101) through this lock and it made me get so much better just by doing it.

Don't know about that online store though, try to read reviews of it online...

[HorizonSon]

"The Ultimate" is definitely the one I will be getting... Thank you for the reply

[fgarci03]

You should also get other locks to practice with. The thrill is much more different believe me!

[HorizonSon]

Funny thing...

Today I swung by a local locksmith office. Asked if they had any old, but still functioning, pin or wafer locks; no keys needed... They, of course, asked what for.... I was friendly, nice and polite; but still got the feeling they thought I was some sort of criminal... Had to correct the younger fella, politely, about the state statute, lol.


Suffice it to say; the answer was "No."

[fgarci03]

By the response he gave you, I believe you are on your early 20's??


I found a way to "bypass" that problem. I buy a lock from them. And start asking questions about it. Does it have security pins, etc etc etc. I show them I know at least a little bit of what I'm talking about. NEVER touch destructive entry topics. Just picking resistance. Eventually they'll ask me why I am asking those questions, and I say that I'm a lock collector. I love learning about locks and how they work, and I can pick some too.

Remember that criminals don't spend money on locks like we do. And most of the times locksmiths figure that out by themselves.
One has asked me once if I was foreign because I used too many English expressions refering to locks (most of the stuff I learned how to say in English and have no idea what to call them in Portuguese ) and that it's uncommon to see someone at my age who is willing to spend money on locks just to "rip them appart".

After that, he even taught me some destructive entries and bypasses!
So, unless I have a really anjelical face (which I don't ), he trusted me because of my approach to lockpicking with him

[phrygianradar]

I have the Ultimate Practice Lock and love it. The online store works fine; they delivered promptly and even responded to an email I sent asking a question within a few hours of me sending it. Very friendly. I give it 9 thumbs up!

[phrygianradar]

By the response he gave you, I believe you are on your early 20's??


I found a way to "bypass" that problem. I buy a lock from them. And start asking questions about it. Does it have security pins, etc etc etc. I show them I know at least a little bit of what I'm talking about. NEVER touch destructive entry topics. Just picking resistance. Eventually they'll ask me why I am asking those questions, and I say that I'm a lock collector. I love learning about locks and how they work, and I can pick some too.

Remember that criminals don't spend money on locks like we do. And most of the times locksmiths figure that out by themselves.
One has asked me once if I was foreign because I used too many English expressions refering to locks (most of the stuff I learned how to say in English and have no idea what to call them in Portuguese ) and that it's uncommon to see someone at my age who is willing to spend money on locks just to "rip them appart".

After that, he even taught me some destructive entries and bypasses!
So, unless I have a really anjelical face (which I don't ), he trusted me because of my approach to lockpicking with him

Good advice. I had a similar situation with my local locksmith. They wouldn't give me the time of day to begin with. Don't get me wrong, they weren't impolite and they made me keys and all, but when I mentioned that I enjoyed picking locks, I got "the look"...

I just kept going back in and buying things; locks, keys, and chit chatting about different locks etc. I would mention the books on locksmithing I was reading and ask questions about stuff (even if I already knew the answer ). I told them I was in the process of getting my locksmithing license (which I was, and did) so that if a cop stopped me, I wouldn't get hassled or have my tools confiscated (I live in California, so anything is possible). That let them know that I was serious. As an added bonus I bought 10 American locks from them for my works "lock out tag out" program. With all the locks and mortice cylinders I had bought for myself and work, it put me in the few hundred dollars range after about 4 months. Most importantly they knew my name and had seen my face many, many times (poor guys )

One day I went in to look for something new to buy, and the locksmith who runs the place started selling me old cylinders without keys for 5 or 10 bucks. Then one day he sold me an Arrow 7 pin SFIC lock for 10 bucks. When I brought it back after picking it, our relationship changed in a cool way.

Long story short, building a relationship with anyone takes time (and money!). Just be persistent but not annoying, eventually the person will see what you are all about.

[HorizonSon]

fgarci03, I'm actually in my mid-30's... But I can easily pass for someone in my mid-20's; for better or worse, LOLz...



Phrygian, thank you for the "review". Definitely boosts my "purchase confidence"

[HorizonSon]

Thank you both; for the excellent advice and encouragement

I will try the less direct (and much more humble) approach in my future happenings.

[fgarci03]

Oooops, I said early 20s because it's more usual for people to give us "that look" when we are teenagers or young adults when we talk about lockpicking!
Hope you didn't take it personall

@Phrygianradar: great story you told here! That is how we should all be: focused and persistant (and hopefully with enough money )!

[ParagonPacific]

Just to add another choice into the mix, the
Super Max Security 7-pin Practice Lock by forum member MrWizard is also an impressive training aid with some great features.
A superb review is posted at: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=57002

[GWiens2001]

I have both of the practice locks listed. Both are quality products, and worth the effort and money.

The advantage of the Ultimate Practice Lock (5 pins) and Ulitmate Challenge Practice Lock (6 pins) is that it has a wide open keyway (Sargent LA keyway), so you can reach all the pins easily. Included are standard key pins, master pins, standard driver pins, and with the Challenge lock, spool pins. They also sponsor this site.

The advantages of the Super Max Security Thermonuclear Detonator lock by our member MrWizard are that it uses a less open keyway (Schlage C keyway), requiring you to learn to work your picks around the warding, and to use the warding to help you pick the lock. This more closely represents more locks in the 'real world'. Included are standard key pins, master pins, standard driver pins and it also has something the UCPL does not have - serrated pins, which adds to the learning potential without additional purchases. MrWizard makes then in 6 pin and 7 pin configurations. Also included are instructions and pin configurations.

Both of these locks are well made, and neither is a waste of money. There is considerable learning potential with either of these locks. Consider what your goals are, and go from there.

Best of luck to you,

Gordon

[GWiens2001]

The Super Max practice lock also has spool pins.

Gordon