Locks/Pad Locks for a Newbie To practice with.

[Benvox2]

Hey, new to this site but I have learnt so much from this great resource.
Im a real newbie, haven't yet successfully picked a lock yet but keeping at it!

I live in Australia and I need some help with deciding what Locks I can use for beginner exercises and practice, not living in USA I have never heard of the locks/pad locks mentioned in other posts and locks I come accross down under seem to be commonly (not always) "upside down" so im guessing we use European locks?
ANYWAY, I currently have a Lockwood padlock of an old appearance with an "L" on the cylinder which I attempt to pick (but cant get it) Im looking for new locks to try, but need some feedback.
would this be a good practice lock - http://www.locksgalore.com.au/?page=sho ... =cylinders OR http://www.locksgalore.com.au/?page=sho ... =cylinders OR any of these - http://www.locksgalore.com.au/page/shop ... s_padlocks if not is their something someone can reccomend to me? Im not having much luck with my old Lockwood so I want to try other locks.
Any help at all would be very much appreciated!

Thanks heaps!

[Kaellman]

Welcome to the forums.

There are tonnes of recommendations on beginner locks. I dont know if the master locks are avaliable in Aus, but im sure you can find some brass padlocks to play around with to get an idea of what your doing and how to do it.

However, the best way of learning imho is to get a repinnable padlock or random cylinder without security pins. Remove all the pins then add them one by one as you learn to pick the lock with more and more pins in it. Try to learn something new from each lock your picking.

Make a search on "beginner locks" and see what you find.

[Benvox2]

Yea I have never encountered Master locks or anything like that in Australia, Lockwood seems to be a big manufacturer of locks down here.

I may just take your advice on getting some random brass padlocks to play around with as the one i have now seems very difficult.

However I am very interested in a Cylinder that i can remove pins as you mentioned is this one of those sorts? http://www.locksgalore.com.au/?page=sho ... =cylinders keeping in mind I'd prefer to buy from Australia to avoid higher postage.

By the way I am using a 14 piece beginner lockpick set by SouthOrd that I bought from USA.

Cheers!

[JackNco]

Get your self a laminated padlock, they are general quite similar to master lock padlocks.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/2-KEY-CYLINDERS- ... dZViewItem

that looks about ur best bet on ebay.com.au

[Benvox2]

Ok, so that eBay item is a cylinder I will be able to remove the pins from and use for practising? http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... ink:top:au

Thank you.

[JackNco]

I dont recognize it exactly, it looks kind of like an oval cylinder. but i dont recognize the shape of the key, email the seller and ask for some details and let us know. but yes you SHOULD be able to open it up and repin it.

[Marco321]

Hey
My first brought lock was a Lockwood deadbolt cylinder. It is very easy to repin and is very cheap, myne was AU$15 and it isn't too chalenging. I also have a 5 pin lockwood padlock which i cant do, i think because it is a bit rusted because it used to lock the outside shed.

[JackNco]

ive herd a few people on this forum say they have had trouble finding locks in OZ. maybe you should set up some kind of share thing, send locks around of roughly equal value.

[Marco321]

ve herd a few people on this forum say they have had trouble finding locks in OZ.

Thats not true for me, there are 2 locksmiths near my house and many stores to buy locks.

[Benvox2]

Yea that sounds like a great lockwood cylinder, I wish I could get one like it, I think its impossible to pick my Lockwood 5pin padlock aswell!
And I wish more people from Oz would hit up the Trading posts on this site with locks and stuff.

I bought the two cylinders of ebay, when they arrive I will let you all know what there like.

Thanks heaps all!

[Marco321]

Im sure you can get one like it, just look in your local hardware shop (myne is mitre 10), or k-mart, they have a great range of locks. By the way, where about in Aus are you?

[Benvox2]

Im on the Far south coast of NSW near Batemans Bay if you have heard of it, I know of a local Mitre 10 that I will soon check out, you got any idea of their prices? around $15 for a cylinder?

I still havent been able to pick a single lock with my manual picks (South Ord 14pc) or with my new Pickgun (Brockhage BPG-10) I dont know what im doing wrong! possibly the whole "binding pin" idea but im keeping at it!

Thus why I am trying to source out many locks to try!

Thanks!

[Marco321]

Hey
Yeah around $15 for the cylinder, the best advice i can give you is digital_blues guide http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=10677.
It is one of the most useful guides for learning to pick and feel locks and i highly recomend it.
Oh and here is a guide to repin a cylinder incase you need it http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=10505

And one thing keep practising and be patient

[raimundo]

I don't know if this works in upsidedown land, but here, you can easily find free locks if you look in a dumpster near a remodeling job. you may have to bring a screwdriver to dismount them. My man at the metal recycler brings me the best stuff also, gets it for 50cents a pound.

[JackNco]

ve herd a few people on this forum say they have had trouble finding locks in OZ.

Thats not true for me, there are 2 locksmiths near my house and many stores to buy locks.

Im sure its easy to buy locks off the shelf. but if ide brought all my locks new ide have spent well over £500 ($1250 AUD) its WAY cheaper to get them from auction sites and nag people for old locks.