Question about cut-away practice locks from lockpickshop.com

[Lucky1406]

Are these cut-away locks from lockpickshop.com able to change out the pins inside the lock. I mean, can you change out the pins in these locks? I was looking at the ""PcyX5SCH-R 5 Pinned CUT-AWAY Practice Cylinder with Schlage Keyway - Right Handed"" And was hoping that you could change out the pins, does anyone have one of these? It would be a great help, thanks,
Nick

[Shrub]

Yes you should be able to,

To be honest you would be better playing with a real lock as the cutaways arent great for learning on, they should be used to see how a lock works and not up to muich for practise picking,

Click the picture on my post to see a link for a repinning guide for normal locks,

[Lucky1406]

Yes, But I want to learn about spool pins, And I think that this would be an easy guide to help me with them. What do you think?

[Gordon Airporte]

Once you're comfortable picking regular pins you should be able to deal with spools just by reading about how. The first part is picking just like you're used to, but you have to recognize the state when everything is set except for the spools. The next part is probing for and setting the spools, which you really need to learn by feel, instead of already being able to see which stacks have the spools.

[Sesame]

I've been wondering this same question. Never having used a cut-away practice lock, I was wondering if being able to see what was happening with security pins as you were picking would allow you to better visualize what you were feeling on other locks.

Then another question. Do these cut-away locks feel anything like a regular lock? Or has the act of making it a cut-away totally changed the feel to the point that it really isn't much of a help?

[Lucky1406]

Thats what I was thinking, I just wanted to be able to help myself visualise what was going on inside the lock with the spool pins. I just ordered some from lockpickshop.com, the schlage 5-pin, and hopefully it will work well. I was also thinking that i could just tape over the open side when i've mastered it, and it would be just another good practice lock. Also, its great for teaching friends who are getting into the hobby.

[Sesame]

Hey Lucky,

Let us know what you think in a week or two. How did it go with repinning with security pins? What about the feel compared to a normal Sclage?

Hope it's great!

[Lucky1406]

No problem, I hope that I will be able to get it(picked I mean). Right now I have a schlage that I just cant pick, and its driving me up the wall. I hear about everyone else picking at a lock for over 20 min, but I just cant sit there for that long, If its a lock that i have picked before, then I can, but not one that is probibly way out of my league. With this cutaway, I think I wil feel more confident about it, and will be able to pick it for longer times with out giving up. Mostly, I just dont want to keep picking it forever and to start damaging the lock. hard to do with just picking I know, but I would still feel more comfortable with the cutaway. Thanks for the messages, I will let ya'll know when I get them in, Thanks,
Nick