Just signed up for Foley-Belsaw locksmithing school...

[jimb]

jimb, I'm currently doing the fb course. There are some things that they suggest you buy to help in the course. The vacum vise fb has goes for $37.95 and their swivel magnifying lamp $59. I went to harbor freight and got a nice vice that clamps to a table for about $11 and saved about $20-$25 on their lamp which looks similar. The vise really comes in handy filing keys and holding the wafer lock. Hope this helps, just my opinion.

Thanks Lowtech. I read lessons one and two last night and so far this is pretty much a no brainer. I'll keep the info in mind on the vise and lamp.

[jimb]

Does taking a locksmithing course like Foley-belsaw give you any justification to possess locksmithing tools since the course does comes with lockpicking tools?

This was a question that I ask when I signed up. Several months ago when I started considering taking this course I bought a key chain set of picks. I never carry them but I wanted to know if I could. I just happen to live in the same city as the FB offices and they told me that when I received my student ID that I could carry my picks.

I have not checked with local authorities to see if this is correct and I have not been able to locate info for my area on this site. So don't hold me responsible if this is not correct.

[creamy_bomb]

I just happen to live in the same city as the FB offices and they told me that when I received my student ID that I could carry my picks.

But doesnt that mean once you complete the course you are no longer considered a "student" and therefore your ID card and "clearance" to possess lockpicking tools are no longer valid?

[jimb]

I just happen to live in the same city as the FB offices and they told me that when I received my student ID that I could carry my picks.

But doesnt that mean once you complete the course you are no longer considered a "student" and therefore your ID card and "clearance" to possess lockpicking tools are no longer valid?

Once you complete the course you get a new card that states you are a certified locksmith.

I don't think possessing lock picking tools are illegal in my area as long as they are not carried in public. But as I stated before check the laws in your area to be sure.

[geonap]

Well, I'm pretty exicted... after reading through this thread (and a bunch of others) I just enrolled in this program as well. I took the advice of several of you and asked for the $599 one time payment offer, they gave it to me with no problem at all. Pretty cool, because I didn't have to play the "waiting game" for the price to come down. Anyhow, thanks for all the great advice so far guys. I'm sure I'll have questions as I start to go through the courses, but I know I am in the right place!

[jimb]

I took the advice of several of you and asked for the $599 one time payment offer, they gave it to me with no problem at all.

Congrats, I just got a letter from them the other day saying if I paid the balance of my tuition I could deduct another 50 bucks. This would put me about $550 for the course.

[geonap]

I took the advice of several of you and asked for the $599 one time payment offer, they gave it to me with no problem at all.

Congrats, I just got a letter from them the other day saying if I paid the balance of my tuition I could deduct another 50 bucks. This would put me about $550 for the course.

Wow! Great deal, that's awesome! How long did it take from your initial offer until you received your first lessons? How do the lessons arrive? USPS, UPS, FEDEX? I'm excited to start.

[jimb]

[quote="geonap
How long did it take from your initial offer until you received your first lessons? How do the lessons arrive? USPS, UPS, FEDEX? I'm excited to start.[/quote]

It took about a week. I'm in the same city as the fb offices but the materials are shipped out of Minnesota. Every thing was shipped US mail except the key machine, which came UPS.

[geonap]

[quote="geonap
How long did it take from your initial offer until you received your first lessons? How do the lessons arrive? USPS, UPS, FEDEX? I'm excited to start.

It took about a week. I'm in the same city as the fb offices but the materials are shipped out of Minnesota. Every thing was shipped US mail except the key machine, which came UPS.[/quote]

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. I am excited to start.

[KottonKang]

Sounds good to me im in no hurry so im gonna wait till they drop the price and add the free gift. I have plenty of time to do a course like this and this look like something really worth doing.

[Grey Hat]

Hello all.

I have graduated the FB course and it was a great way to begin. They were very flexible on the pricing (i.e. the "special" lower price) and also with the free gifts. Timing in that department seemed to not be an issue and were more than happy to honor the freebie (in my case a pick gun) even after I graduated.

I especially liked the lesson(s) on impressioning and have found it pretty useful. I don't use the key cutting machine all that much, but it's nice to have in the event I need to.

[bandito]

Congrats on graduating Grey Hat!

I just sent in my final exam for the Advanced Course today. Yay! It was a cool course overall, I would recommend it to any newbie. I've nocticed the F-B ads in Popular Mechanics ever since I was a kid, (which wasn't too long ago) and finally took the plunge and enrolled last year. It was a fun course. I just wished that it went on a little longer, and overall I was happy with it.

Time to give myself a cap and gown ceremony!

[Locksmoker]

hey new to the site here, but read this forum and decided I would take the course because locks sound like a good way to maybe make some extra cash plus ive always been interested in picking and smithing. Any way im on lesson 17 picking a pin tumbler lock. So far between the course and this site I have gained a ton of knowledge. Sure glad I signed up to both.

[Grey Hat]

Congrats on graduating Grey Hat!

I just sent in my final exam for the Advanced Course today. Yay! It was a cool course overall, I would recommend it to any newbie. I've nocticed the F-B ads in Popular Mechanics ever since I was a kid, (which wasn't too long ago) and finally took the plunge and enrolled last year. It was a fun course. I just wished that it went on a little longer, and overall I was happy with it.

Time to give myself a cap and gown ceremony!

Although this is a bit late, congratulations to you as well! I have run into a lot of people who question me when I tell them the way that I learned to impression keys (via FB; smoking the keys). Some tell me that they just rock the keys and look at the impressions without smoking them...I will stick to soot; seems easier to see for me!

[GSA_DENIED]

Hello, I am enrolling in the FB course waiting to send money. Is there anyone that knows if they offer a military discount, I know the monthly cost isn't much but the cheaper the better, We just had our first child and diapers ain't cheap, lol