Wanna get started, but...

by **WhiteDragon231** » 4 Oct 2005 17:36

Ok, so I've always wanted to get into lock picking, just because I can (like many other things I do

). So, I asked my parents (I'm 14, so....yea). This was a bad idea. They flipped out! "What do you need a lock pick set for!? So you can break into houses!?!?" Now, I was hoping they would understand I didn't plan on doing anything illegal. Well.... I guess not.
So I am at a loss. I have no credit card, but I have some cash. Right now I have about $25 in my wallet, but I got a check for about $110 coming in. I searched my area for locksmith shops, and found quite a few. So, on come the questions!
1.) Should I continue to persue a hobby in lock picking, or stop and wait until I move out of my parents house?
2.) Would a locksmith sell a minor lock picking devices?
3.) What tools should I start out with if I can buy them?

Thanks!

by **Mad Mick** » 4 Oct 2005 18:01

I could understand your parents reservations, if you've previously been in trouble. If you haven't, please get them to look around this site with you. Perhaps their lack of knowledge on the subject could be elevated by reading through the forum rules etc. and a look at the locksports section.

by **WhiteDragon231** » 4 Oct 2005 18:08

Well... I haven't really gotten into trouble. The worst thing I've probably done..... Urm... I snuck out at 2:30 AM and rode my bike around my town. That's probably it.

Besides, it was more my dad who flipped out. He went berserk! Jeez... I doubt they'll accept it. I don't wanna show them this cause my dad will probably block the site.

by **Fah_Cue** » 4 Oct 2005 18:09

Hey Welcome to the Fourms!

Please fill in you'r profile so we can see where you live which will help us answer your questions.
Cheers,
Fah_Cue

by **digital_blue** » 4 Oct 2005 18:59

WhiteDragon,

It is really important that you follow your parents wishes. I know that might not be the answer you'd like to hear, but remember that your own credibility is on the line here.

I agree completely with Mad Mick. As I see it, you only have a couple reasonable options (assuming that going completely against your parents will is not a reasonable option). You can:

1) Forget about the option of owning pick tools until you're old enough to make that decision yourself (ie: age of majority)
2) Take a chance and bring your parents to this site.

I'd go with option #2.

Bring up, perhaps over dinner, that you are really interested in lock picking because it represents a puzzle or challenge. Explain that you've been doing some reading on it, and that there are a whole bunch of people who share the interest.

If this helps you, print off a copy of this document to show them:
http://www.geocities.com/digital_blue_s ... pintro.pdf

I wrote that a some time ago, but it may help to explain to them what this hobby is really all about and lend it some credibility in their eyes.

Good luck, and so long as they don't prohibit you from coming back to this site, I hope to see you back here soon to tell us how it all worked out.

Cheers!

db

by **WhiteDragon231** » 4 Oct 2005 19:07

Alright. I'm gonna show my mom that .pdf you gave me, DB, and then the site. Not my dad.

by **n2oah** » 4 Oct 2005 19:10

WhiteDragon231 wrote:Alright. I'm gonna show my mom that .pdf you gave me, DB, and then the site. Not my dad.

Show her how bad the n00bs get flamed when they ask about breaking and entering. She'll be impressed. :lol:

by **sentry** » 4 Oct 2005 20:16

No one has mentioned that you can make your own picks as well. Although, I do agree for you to be a good son and not stress your parents out, all you really need is some hacksaw blades and a bench grinder-if your dad has one in the garage. That would be a lot easier all the way around and give you a sense of pride in craftsmanship.

by **WhiteDragon231** » 4 Oct 2005 20:18

Great idea. Instead of just going behind their backs, I can go behind their backs AND wreck their tools! :lol:

by **sentry** » 4 Oct 2005 21:20

Well I wasnt suggesting you go behind their backs. It is a cheaper alternative and will probably be more enjoyable for you by making your own picks. Your parents cant say much about you breaking into houses if you are picking padlocks at the kitchen table in full view. You may even get them interested in it as well.

by **Gordon Airporte** » 4 Oct 2005 23:57

You probably won't be able to buy picks from a locksmith any more than you could buy wrenches from a plumber. They sell a service, they aren't distributors. That means that if you want to buy picks, you pretty much have to do it onliner, and for that you need a credit card, so...
Hacksaw blades and pick templates, on the other hand, are pretty easy to get hold of :-)

by **digital_blue** » 5 Oct 2005 0:39

It's worth noting that you don't really need a credit card to make purchases from lockpickshop.com. However.... that's kinda the cart before the horse. WhiteDragon, first get your parents onside, then worry about how to get picks. My guess is, if your parents are onside, the getting of the picks becomes a lot easier.

db

by **helix** » 5 Oct 2005 4:41

Hide your mums keys, haha.
Oh, if only I was allowed to pick locks, mum....

by **illusion** » 5 Oct 2005 10:03

helix wrote:Hide your mums keys, haha.
Oh, if only I was allowed to pick locks, mum....

I can see a new question appearing on site: "Help, i hid my mum's keys, but I'm not that good at picking and we're locked out of our house!!!"

tell your parents exactly what you want to do... if you try to hold anything back they will think you are doing it for dodgy reasons so be completely honest... don't know if something like this ever happened to you, but when I was younger I really wanted a dog! - I asked them once and they said no and tripped out (a bit like your parents), but then I went away and made a list of all the possitive aspects of having a dog(more exercise, more responsability etc..) and showed them it... I had a dog within 3 weeks

Consider this: lockpicking IS relaxing and allows you to focus, but it also increases hand-eye coordination, dexterity... these are all useful attributes.

This site has a 'zero tollerance' of thieves...

just do it man, and make sure you are completely honest about it.

Good luck :wink:

by **WhiteDragon231** » 5 Oct 2005 10:34

I just showed my mom that paper (Thanks DB!!!). She refused to look at it at first, but after I read a couple lines, she started to read it! She said she trusted me not to do anything stupid, and would try to persuade my dad into accepting it.

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