Learnign to pick

[alex20005uk]

Hi Guys, im fairly new, had a poke around the forum but have a few questions the more experienced may shed some light on:

Ok so i go ta pick set and have successfully picked quite a few locks thanks to some tutorials on here.

But im wondering is there a natural progression of what type of locks ot advance with? I mean ive picked basic padlocks, and basic pin - locks. At present im stuck on a 5 pin tumbler with 2 mushroom type security pins. Am i trying to advance too fast?

There are so many many locks i dont know what to try out to slowly learn this fascinating art. I want to maybe try a few motice locks next but need to wait for my pick set to come. In the mean time can anyone advice what type of locks i should have ago at it sort of a pregressive order? or am i thinking of it all wrong?

is it best to just get myself on a course? thing is im not particularly thinking of becoming a locksmith, just enjoying the hobby at the moment. But i would like to learn about the different type of locks and slowly learnt his art. Shoul di just shut up and study this forum more?

well i hope someone will point me in the right direction

thanks

[!*AMP*!]

I would say to start out with a lock that has one security pin. The masterlock 532 is a great lock that I recently started to learn security pins on.

Then a good step from that is the Brinks Shrouded Padlock.

Also, before you do security pins, I would tackle a couple of six pin tumbler lock without security pins.

Good luck man.

[alex20005uk]

cheers AMP, thast exactly what i shall do tomorrow! I took the yale lock apart with the 2 security pins and put one in at the front. Its a bit tricky and i dont think i have the knack of it yet but i can pick it with a bit of a wiggle.

you say masterlock 532 - excuse my naivity, but how exactly do you know the exact models? is it just experience?

One more stupid Q - im london based, any idea best place to buy locks? ive been to selco, b&Q and wickes - they didnt seem to have such a massive range - is there like a specialist website or shops for locks?

thanks again.

[Shrub]

Ebay,

[alex20005uk]

aha!!! cheers!

[Wolfman]

I'll drink to that!

[unbreakable]

I'll drink to anything!!

[!*AMP*!]

Well, the masterlock has 532 stamped right on the front.

And if you can't find something on the lock itself, either go with the keyway, or look around online. I personally am not good enough to just tell a whole bunch of locks by site, but I know a lot of the guys on here can.

[Ray_Air]

The Master 140 is also good practice. Big Lot's had them for a $1/ea so I bought a few. I cut one open and it had 3 spool pins. The 140 has a 4-pin cylinder and is a little more difficult than my Master 532. Have fun!

[Krypos]

The Master 140 is also good practice. Big Lot's had them for a $1/ea so I bought a few. I cut one open and it had 3 spool pins. The 140 has a 4-pin cylinder and is a little more difficult than my Master 532. Have fun!

big lots had master 140's for a buck each?! holy cow, i havent checked out big lots yet, but i will now! theres one right around the corner from my house...wish it wasnt 9 at night so i could go now.

[alex20005uk]

wow thanks guys - these are great starting pointers - its a shame i live in uk, no 'Big Lots' Here! $1 sounds good to me though.

Ok so i have picked and raked quite a few basic 5 pin tumblers/cylinder locks. Am stuck on a yale with 2 spools at the Mo - taken it apart and just put 1 spool in - not there yet, but practicing and the info on this forum is incredible!!!!!!

Im stuck in one little wafer lock i go tthough - this thing came fomr my desk at work and my god, i spent hours on this and raked it once by pure luck only. Thin i may have damaged it now though.

I really want to start having a go at some mortice and sash locks - are these really hard? what about euro cylinders? Am i being a bit ambitious? Its really difficult to gauge how ot upgrade your lock practicing without getting a really hard one that just bugs the hell out of you! You reckon i should buy a 2 in 1 or just make my own mortice lock picks? I dont mind investing a bit of cash

My hat goes off to good lock pickers, this truly is a fascinating art

[mpj]

If I may ask a followup question about this...

Anyone reading this forum can easily find a list of good starter/practice lock brands. Kwikset, Master, Brinks etc. are mentioned frequently. I haven't found anything such a list for the UK though. Many of the brands listed are not readily available here, and it is often difficult to tell just by looking which locks are going to be harder than others.

So: can anyone recommend good brands/models of (pad)locks to practice on, that would be available in the UK? Ideally the beginner model would have a relatively open keyway, reasonably good construction but no security pins. More advanced versions could add warding and/or security pins. Ideas?

[Krypos]

ok alex, one thing to remember about wafer locks, they are easily damaged by raking, so you MUST*** rake lightly. or risk damaging it and then even the key may not work.

i dont know anything about sash, or even what that is, but i know mortice locks arent that hard. or at least, the ones i have/know. maybe ive got something wrong there, but i dunno. i can only see them being harder if they are still IN* a door/etc.

**maybe ive got this mortice thing all wrong.....im pretty sure ive got it though, i checked the lp101 dictionary...seems what im thinking...

im based in the states, so i dont mess with euro locks...that i know of. and as for upgrading locks, just get as many as you can and work with a lock for a while, if after a few days or a week you havent got it, then put it aside and try a different one, perhaps that one will succumb to your picks.


mpj, well, again, i dont know jack about european thingers. but i figure, when i look at locks at the hardware store, i just look at the keyway, if the package claims* to have pick resistant pins (read: joke) and the key itself, this usually gives away how hard the lock looks to be. so just browse your hardware store and see what brands might sound familiar, but look easy. or just ask the clerk which is most popular, and which is cheapest. and/or which is most widely used.

good luck, and you might*** find the euro lock/pick section worth a breeze and ask the same question there, crazy europeans have a habit of gathering together someplace.

[alex20005uk]

hehe cheers Krypos.

MJP i here you mate, its tircky, i go with the ££ tag at the moment. The cheaper the easier. Mind you i got a £5 yale with 2 spools in!! Bugger is a nightmare!

I think it would be a good post for an experience locky to put in the Newbie section - like a chart on different brands and how hard they are. But maybe this coul dbe perceived as dangerous ionformation for th public, i dont know

Krypos, i think you got it spot on mate, im jst gonna get hold of a whole load of locks and work my way through. Thing is i get stuck on a lock and dont want to give up - until i smasht he thing after a week!

I read that about wafer locks being sensitive to damage JUST after i raked the hell of it haha. Typical impatience

[mpj]

I like the idea of a chart of different brands/models. Perhaps a list of locks by approximate difficulty and with international emphasis so everyone can find something on the list in their nearest supermarket or DIY store.

I just picked up a long shackle version of the Tri-circle 265 for £4.50 from the key cutting / shoe repair shop in the shopping centre. Could probably have saved a few bob getting it from eBay, but I had a nice chat with the owner and he promised to bring me some old throwaway locks from his bigger shop. The lock is a pretty hefty 6-pin deal; others on this site say it has mushroom pins. I was really quite surprised I could single pin pick it in about 20 minutes. Nice confidence booster that...