Clear practice locks

[Banpei]

Hello all, I'm just starting out on lock picking, and I'm probably going to get the 11 set from SouthOrd, or at least a SouthOrd from another retailer. Anyways, I was wondering what you guys think about getting this clear practice lock set:

http://www.lockpicks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=288&HS=1

I figure it'd be easier if I could see what I was doing at first, and also I wouldn't have to buy a new lock from Home Depot and disassemble it to take out a few pins to practice on. Or is it not worth it? It is kinda pricey... What do you think?

[Bud Wiser]

Hi and welcome! For what it's worth, I don't have the practice lock you asked about, but I did get the schlage practice lock because I still can not consistantly open my schlage like my other locks.
http://www.lockpicks.com/index.asp?Page ... ProdID=169

Any way I was very disapointed with mine. It was nothing like the schlage I have. In fact it was waaaaaaay to easy to pick! Didn't feel like a schlage at all! There for was no help for me.

In all fairness the one your looking at may be better quality, and beneficial for you because your just starting out. I wouldn't expect too much in the quality department. I don't think they use original or brand name parts to make these practice locks. If you do get it be sure to let us know how you liked it.

Good Luck!

[Shrub]

Clear practise locks have very very little merit in learning how to pick, they are good to explain to you how a lock works but as for pickign you would be taking 2 steps back everytime,

You meet a difficulty and you will look at what your doing and then solve it by sight, then you carry one, as time goes by you look at the slightest problem and this gives no help at all in how to pick,

THE best way to learn is to buy a lock and strip it down, this way you learn about the lock and what you wil be doing when picking, a good way of learning to pick is indeed then to repin it to 2 pins only and learn what your doing then move up to 3 pins,

Click the picture in my post and go to the beginer exorcise to learn,

Clear practise locks should be left to explain the way a lock works and used for noting more,

[SteveOXIII]

I was thinking about getting a clear practice lock until I looked at the price [$50 USD?] so I went with the beginners exercises and it made ALL the difference, after doing those it's amazing how much you improve by taking a lock apart and putting it back together then following the exercises.

I think you'd learn more by taking a $10 lock apart and doing the exercises than you would by spending $50 to see what you're doing. Of course that's keeping in mind that you'll never encounter a see-through in the field.

[dmux]

If I were you I wouldn't get a clear practice lock, picking plastic locks is not even the same feel as picking a real lock, the pins stick in the wrong places and it just doesn't feel like a real lock anyway

[kodierer]

Save the money it costs to buy cutaways for some cheap locks. Instead of $50 for 1 clear plastic cutaway, that will help you little, you could get 4 to 7 cheap pad locks which would help you lots. As we always mention here you don't need a large pickset, you just need a half diamond a feeler, and a twist flex tension wrench. That will save you more money, becuase I have something like 20, or more rakes, and I still only use 2 of my picks.
I also recommend when you purchasing your first practice lock that you consider a house key rekeyable padlock. It will come with everything you need to key the padlock the way you want it. You should be able to get one for less than $15