Sublime Progie's Foley-Belsaw experience.

[sublime progie]

Hello every one, I know there are several threads on this topic, but not one by me, so here it is.

I just signed up for foley belsaw last week and got my first five lessons 2 days ago. They were extreamly easy. I haven't sent them back yet because the post office hasn't been open since the day I got them, but I am sure that I got a 100%. It was basically focused on identifying key blanks, and finding what key blank to use to substitute for certain brands. The hands on lesson for this section was almost rediculous. you just got a couple envelopes with keys in it. One had cylinder key, and one had flat keys. you just had to match pairs up. Also there was a few lessons on identifying certain parts of different key types.

I am really enjoying the course so far, and I am looking forward to learning more. I will keep this thread updated. I will try to be as thorough as possible, but if any one thinks I am stepping on the toes of copywrite enfingement just say so and I will try to back off.

Locksmithing here I come!

[Chrispy]

Copyright infringement would come into it when you start posting exerts from the material or the material itself (scanned, etc.)

[sublime progie]

[digital_blue]

I think it's pretty cool to do anything that furthers your skills an knowledge. What's more, when you're spending your money to do it you show a level of commitment.

Study on lil' dude.

db

[Andyv]

I'm up to lesson15 and the course is fascinating. Easy to understand and some hands on experience.
I'm getting a lot out of this course.

[Magic_Joe]

The corse is great but it is only a start, they will get you basic knolage but lack some of the "Real world" type of things that will come from experance.

[sublime progie]

So far I agree with what Joe said. It is a great start though. I have finished lessons 6-10 today. It starts with a description about warded locks. (more specifically the master #22) it shows how they work, and all of that cool stuff, then you are showed the proper way to impression a warded key. (again, i impressioned the master 22) It shows the smoking meathod. I found this to be pretty simple and I was surprizingly satisfied with my first key. I took my time though.

Next it touches on warded bit key construction. It goes through an open view of the lock and shows the working parts. It shows some tips for adapting a ward bit key. It also briefly describes how to tell what direction a door is classified as based on which way it opens.

After that it discusses sesamee style locks (like the master 175) it showed how they are constructed, and how to change the combination. It also shows how to find the combination using drilling techniques, and how to repair it from there so the lock can still be used.

Finally, it goes through the construction of a lever lock (this greatly sparked my interests in lever locks and I now have to find one to buy). It shows how they work, how to impression them, and how to pick them. (it includes a deep hook, and some spring steel wire. It also breifly describes a master lock system for lever locks.

I am turning this in tomorrow, and hopefully getting the next one soon. I will keep all informed.

[vector40]

Question -- how is the course material presented? Is it printed? Videos?

[Chucklz]

sp- just fyi the combination on locks like the sessamee and the master 175 can be determined rather easily without drilling.
Cheers

[sublime progie]

Chucklez, I know, you can use shim stalk and find the flats of the cams, but i thought it was cool that there was an alternative. I guess if you practice at all with the shim you don't need the drill though.

Vector, The information is presented in print. Obviously, it uses illistrations. At the end of each section it either gives a 10 question exam, or a hands on exorcise. In the last section it was mostly exams, with the exorcise of impressioning a warded padlock.

If there are any more questions, feel free to ask, I will try to answer them all. Also I got a catalogue today with all sorts of cool sets. Some of the prices were outragouse, and i would buy that stuff elsewhere, but some of the prices were alot better too. I thought that was cool.

[sublime progie]

ok, I am sortof slacking on my updates I know. I have long sense completed lessons 10-15. They were by far the most complicated so far, but only because I didnt have any hands on stuff for the hard parts.

The first lesson was of disc tumblers (wafers). This section was incredibly easy. You had to take the lock apart to get familiar with the inner workings. Then they have you put pins in and contunue picking until you can do it with as many pins as you feel you can pick. They will pass you if you pick it with 2 wafers in it . I left them all in though. I did have a little trouble when i was turning it one direction, but when I tried the other direction, i no more than stuck my pick in, and it opened. Oh yeah, and they also had a pre drilled hole for disassembly of the lock. Thatway i know where to drill in the field.

The next thing they talked about was combo locks. they gave me a cutaway combo lock, and i had to line up the gates and tell them the combination. This was extreamly easy. I dont see the relavence because noone is going to pay me 20 bucks or more to find a combination of a five dollar lock, but it was fun none the least. I would way rather raise some skills in manipulation. They basically tought you where to drill and how to read everything.

The next part was sidebar disk tumblers. I understood this lesson but didt retain a whole lot do to the fact that i dont have a car that I can take apart at the moment. however, this lesson basically said that it is impossible to pick a wafer with a sidebar without drilling a whole and putting direct tension on the sidebar. I dont know if I believe this or not, but I have heard it can be done by a friend of mine on the forum.

Then came lockout procedures. I got a pretty good grip on that part of the lesson. I however didnt have any tools to practice with so I am not sure if i could do it. looked pretty easy though. AND I could define what kind on locking mechagnism my car was so i guess i got the basic grasp.

The last lesson was the only one that I really struggled with. It delt with taking out, and replacing car ignitions. I got the basic concept of finding the retaining pin, and poping out the cylinder, but it mosly talked about dash mounted ignitions, and once again, when it did touch on streering wheel ignitions, i didnt want to practice on my car for two reasons: 1, i didnt have a spare ignition cylinder and as i understand it most cars when you remove the cylinder it requires damaging it to the point of replacement, and two i was twenty miles away from home in my car while I was doing this section. (all of 11-15) I live quite a ways out of the little podunk town i live in.

I will once again update the thread when I get and complete another lesson. hopefully my finally updating this has broken the curse and it will apear in the mail. (i havent gotten a new set of lessons in like 2 weeks for some reason) well as usuall all questions are welcome.

Happy picking everyone.

[Trentc]

I am just getting caught up on all the posts.
You haven't done an update for about 3 months.
Whats up with the course ?

[raimundo]

the odd thing about briggs and stratton sidebar cylinders, (general motors old lock) though the side bar even has a groove to work like a serrated pin works against tension, there have long been the set of 64 halfcuts (between the actual depths) that are sold as master keys for this lock, and you can just copy that set to the next new blank, also, it is not uncommon for old worn keys to work in locks they were not intended for. in fact the more old and really smooth the key is the more likely it will do the job. makes ya want to give a good wirebrushing to every old gm key ya have.

[ststephen]

I sent an email to Foley-Belsaw 5 days ago and I have had no response. I am getting nervous about sending them money if they can't even respond to email. Actually, I also sent one about a week ago (now that I see my sent emails) and same thing, no response.

Is this normal for them

I am excited to get going....

[jimb]

Is this normal for them

I am excited to get going....

I have never emailed fb so I can't say if this is normal for them or not. You can give them a call at 1-800-821-3452 with any questions or to enroll.

I finished lessons 10-15 over the weekend and will be dropping them off at fb today.