Newbie here...

by **JoeLansing** » 25 Sep 2006 18:41

I'm a 45yo geezer with too much time on my hands. I was looking for a new hobby, and decided lock picking should be fun. It also looks a lot cheaper than some of my other hobbies. (Guns, RC Airplanes, etc)

I ordered the SO PXS-14 pick set to get me started. I also ordered a set of 9 depth keys from Ebay to play with. (not real bump keys yet, need to work on the tip and shoulder of the keys I think?) I've got a bench grinder and both corded and cordless dremel tools, but I wanted real picks to start with and SO's PXS-14 for $19 here: http://www.netlinkenterprises.com/secur ... rod=PXS-14
looked like a good deal on a decent starter set.

Is there anything else I need? Do I need lube? Or is that just for crusty old locks? I'll probably end up getting a spinner after I see the need for one a couple of times.

Can I pick at the 11 locks on doors of my house? I don't care about them much. I can replace one in about 5 mins so no biggie. What are the odds of me killing one? I guess it would be a lot more comfortable just buying a quickset to play with sitting on my couch though. I work at a bank. Lots of mastered Schlage? locks to play with there. hehehe

I've seen the lockpicking for a new millinium video, but still have a lot of reading to do. This place looks great for that.

If I can learn to pick my house, my cars, and my motorcycle with a little keychain or wallet set of picks it will all be worth it. Never get locked out again! - Joe

by **Krypos** » 25 Sep 2006 19:01

ok, well, welcome.

next, you wont need lube. wont. unless you become a locksmith in the next 30 minutes, dont worry bout that.

i have never heard of netlinkenterprises before, so I* would be cautious in buying from them, especially as the pxs-14 is like $35 straight from SO themselves....

you SHOULDNT pick the locks on/in your house, but i wont stop you physically from doing so, mostly, you CAN get it stuck, or muss up the springs, or damage the pins, etc etc (especially easy to damage while bumping! you have been warned!)

it would be easy, safer, and better for learning to go buy a cheap kwikset and play with that, because a) if you ruin it- big deal- it was $12. b) you can follow digital_blues beginners exercise and remove pinstacks to progressively learn to pick. c) its just more comfortable for picking to have it in your hand!

DO NOT TAKE PICKS TO WORK AT A BANK! DO NOT EVEN THINK OF PICKING THEM! DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT!

i didnt look at your profile, so i dont know if its filled out, but make sure that lockpicks are legal to own in your state, and know your states laws on said objects, they can be odd and funny, as well, know that if possession is allowed, doesnt mean you can wave it in police officers face and expect to be fine.

also, dont expect to have access to the advanced forum and know autos and the like until a fair amount of effort has been implemented into learning BASIC locks first and other forum restrictions, etc.

know this: auto locks can easily be damaged by an untrained hand and then the key for that vehicle might not work. i want to tell you that before you get your picks and try raking open your car, only to find a nasty surprise tomorrow morning. so dont practice on those.

general rules: dont pick locks you rely upon (until you are experienced enough to fix them definately without trouble)

only pick locks you own, and only those you own.

dont shoot your mouth off to everyone about your new hobby, most people are cool, but some are just a pain in the butt to deal with.

look for the NEW USERS START HERE guide, it has A LOT of useful information for "new users."

and lastly, if you have any other questions, feel free to ask, but you dont need to make a new thread for every new question (always) sometimes you can ask general questions in, for instance, this thread.

ENJOY!

by **Schuyler** » 25 Sep 2006 19:39

Heh,

You'll be able to spend money faster than you realize. As with all great hobbies, this one can be a real strain on the finances, if you're not careful.

Which I'm not.

So if you're hiring...

by **JoeLansing** » 25 Sep 2006 19:43

i have never heard of netlinkenterprises before, so I* would be cautious in buying from them, especially as the pxs-14 is like $35 straight from SO themselves

I think they'll be ok. They already sent me shipment notification. Most places I googled sold it for $25-$29 or so, the $19 deal was the best I found. And I put it on my Visa, and I work at the bank so reversing charges is very easy..

You can follow digital_blues beginners exercise

That's in the Pick-Fu area? I had just read that when you replied to me. Looks like good practice for a newbie. I had a little light bulb come on when I realized what "go for the binding pin" actually means in picking.

DO NOT TAKE PICKS TO WORK AT A BANK! DO NOT EVEN THINK OF PICKING THEM! DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT!

I already have keys to all the doors of all the branches and 24/7 access. I know the guys that do our locksmithing there. Fob locks and all that. I bet they'll give me some locksets to play with. I won't get in trouble. I do the security for the bank so picking locks would just be another form of what we call "Penetration Testing", I do it all the time anyways.

know this: auto locks can easily be damaged by an untrained hand and then the key for that vehicle might not work.

Thanks for the info. I'd cry if I busted my motorcycle lock..

dont shoot your mouth off to everyone about your new hobby, most people are cool, but some are just a pain in the butt to deal with.

I know what you mean. Some people act wierd cuz I have an AK-47, long ago some people didn't understand when I had the 2nd biggest virus collection in the world. Some people didn't understand my giant female burmese python. People get scared and defensive when they don't understand something.

I'm going to go read some more tutorials and resist the urge to grind down a hacksaw blade and pick at my front door....lol - Joe

by **UWSDWF** » 25 Sep 2006 20:44

WOW, if you're as real as i am drunk your one crazy mofo

by **Krypos** » 25 Sep 2006 21:37

how drunk are you UWSDWF?

by **Romstar** » 25 Sep 2006 21:57

UWSDWF wrote:WOW, if you're as real as i am drunk your one crazy mofo

Just how drunk are you, and why are you drunk on a Monday? It can't have been that hard of a day was it?

Romstar

by **JoeLansing** » 26 Sep 2006 0:12

That's another thing. Some of you lock pickers seem to be drinkers like me. Does the morning shakes help picking a lock? On a bad morning does it help if your hand is shaking like an electric pick gun? :roll:

- Joe

by **SFGOON** » 26 Sep 2006 0:21

I hope I detect sarcasm. I'm guessing yeah - but I dont know you yet. :lol:

by **shararm** » 26 Sep 2006 0:36

i have never heard of netlinkenterprises before, so I* would be cautious in buying from them, especially as the pxs-14 is like $35 straight from SO themselves....

I bought my set from them and everything worked fine

by **What** » 26 Sep 2006 2:10

UWSDWF wrote:WOW, if you're as real as i am drunk your one crazy mofo

yay! UWSDWF our resident drunk!!! w00t!

by **JoeLansing** » 26 Sep 2006 18:32

I'm hoping to see my picks tomorrow or the next day. So I went to Menards and got a cheezy Quickset lock set to practice on. It says "Pick Resistant 5 pin". That should be ok right? I plan on just starting with 1 pin and add them back as I go like the exercises say to do anyways. They had some cheaper ones there called Atlas brand, and Yale's on sale for $8.00. I was tempted, but everyone here says to start with a Quickset so that's what I got. They had some others "Pick Resistant double tension springs". Hmmm stiffer springs? I didn't want to go there while trying to learn to feel for a binding pin.

Ack! My new practice lock is kicking my ass. It's so cheap I don't seen any way to get the pins out. No push clips or anything.. grrrr! - Joe

by **Schuyler** » 26 Sep 2006 18:37

Are you able to supply us with a picture? We might be able to help you disassemble it.

by **JoeLansing** » 26 Sep 2006 21:11

I'm used to some nice indents to take the brass lock to door base off, then some nice ones to take off the knob cover. Spring things in slots. This has some slots, but I'm not sure they do anything. Here's some small 640x480 pics. http://www.gwapo.org/quicksetPOS

Then again, I've got 4 full knob/deadbolt sets on my house that I'm used to dealing with, and never bought something this cheap. Maybe those little slots will do something. They look like a permanent indentation to me compared to what I've seen on better locks. Thanks for any help. - Joe

by **JoeLansing** » 26 Sep 2006 21:17

PS. Usually on the lock "shroud" that keeps it flush to the door you can twist it and it has a couple of crap threads to take it off. This POS had nothing. It was just pressed on. I had to tear that off to get to the knob base. And there I don't find normal little slots to pop the knob off, just clamped/hammered indentations. grrr.. Maybe I should just toss this and get one of the Yale's that are on sale for $8 - Joe

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