Practice locks

[Naal]

Hello everyone! I'm new here =)
I've read as much topics as possible, for more than an hour now.
I'm really interested in lockpicking, though I don't know much about the hobby.

I'd like to begin, i think i'll buy http://www.lockpickshop.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?
As said on the big sticky which says what to buy. (I'm from europe)

Do you think that this guide
http://www.lockpickshop.com/EZPICKINGS.html
is good to begin? Or reading stuff on internet should be enough to start off?

And last but not least, what can i practice on? I rely on all locks around me in my house...Should i buy a practice lock? in the LPS? or at some random hardware store ?

Thanks a lot! See you soon

[UWSDWF]

THIS or THIS

reading stuff on internet should be enough altogether... this site has more then most any book you'll find (they're a few tomes of interest but that will come way way down the line)

Cheapest deadbolt at some random hardware store is you're best bet.

[Naal]

Ok, thanks a lot mate!

[UWSDWF]

no worries

[RangerF150]

For locks keep an eye out for skips/ dumpsters, carry a small pocket tool that will do for undoing the screws. A great source of free locks

In the meantime you could start with a cheap padlock, have a look at the keyway, you don't want one with a really small one. So pick a padlock with a key about the same size as a door key.
However even some cheap padlocks can be a pain to open, so do lot's of reading and keep trying

A medium sized Master lock might be a good start. And your right not to pick any lock that you rely on!

[Craiger]

DON'T PICK LOCKS THAT YOU DEPEND ON!!!!! The wisest words I've heard about lockpicking and I will, myself, never do it again! Just DON'T DO IT!

[Charodei]

"Again"? It sounds like you have a cautionary tale, Craiger. Would you care to share it?

[Shrub]

For locks keep an eye out for skips/ dumpsters, carry a small pocket tool that will do for undoing the screws. A great source of free locks

I have to add caution here and say that is illegal unless you ask the owner if you can have them,

Its classed as theft and if the person filling the skip or the person who owns the skip makes a complaint you will be done for theft,

[MaximumCheese]

In the US of A as soon as something's in the trash, it's public domain. There's no penalty for garbage picking. I have gotten a majority of free locks this way myself. I've been hassled by the police before regarding it, but I carry a printed copy of the relevant state, county, and municipal statutes that pertain to said activity.

So there are actually laws wherever you are from that prevent you from garbage picking???

[UWSDWF]

It depends where the refuse container is located....
My company has dumpsters but it's on private property and there by it's contents are not as of yet public domain... same thing if I throw something in my garbage can on my porch it is not "public domain" until I drag it to the curb... that and if I caught you on my porch going through my garbage you better be faster then a swing from a louisville slugger

[MaximumCheese]

Well that's a given... but any dumpster diving I have done has involved dumpsters on public property. If you have to trespass to garbage pick, it's probably not worth it. I've hit up some select locations behind Loews, Walmart, and Home Depot, and all of their dumpsters are on public alleyways. Also, maybe this is the result of living in a big city, but in general, people who call the police because someone is dumpster diving get laughed at.

[raimundo]

in the US, people dont feel that attached to the things they throw out. many will set an item beside a trash can or dumpster in hopes that someone will recycle it if it still works, whateve can still be used is better to be used than put in a landfill where our poor decendents will be mineing them when economy and climate change.