recommendation for a beginner lock, from a beginner

[TMIB]

I found a cheap Kwikset deadbolt at my local Lowe's store last week. I'd planned to disassemble it and go through the basic practice exercises; starting with 1 pin and working my way up.

When I got the box open, I was pleasantly surprised to see that no disassembly was going to be needed- this lock had a metal clip on the top of the cylinder used to hold the springs and clips in.

I was able to easily remove springs and pins from the top without having to remove the plug. Very handy.

Here's some pictures of the lock:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/80897858@N00/sets/72157601508376846

Here's a link to the lock on Lowe's site:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=78406-350-665-26DCP&lpage=none

"Kwikset
Deadbolt Double Cylinder

Item #: 78406 Model: 665-26DCP"

I'm to the point now where I feel comfortable with varying levels of tension. I can do 3 pins very easily. I can do 4 pins but it takes me some time. The biggest problem I'm having picking this lock is that the keyway is wide enough that my tension wrench likes to slip around the bottom warding a bit.

--TMIB

[acestor]

That looks interesting. It would certainly speed up removing and adding pins or re-aranging them for practice. I assume that if you put the key in, you can remove the spring and both pins to get down to 2 or 3 pins for picking. I have a Lowe's near me and will look out for it.

[cyrus104]

This is what I found on my apartment door when I replaced it because someone put some type of putty (Not gum) in the lock.

I went back a got a couple to mount up as practice locks. The people using them seem to like them for getting started.

[TMIB]

That looks interesting. It would certainly speed up removing and adding pins or re-aranging them for practice. I assume that if you put the key in, you can remove the spring and both pins to get down to 2 or 3 pins for picking. I have a Lowe's near me and will look out for it.

You don't even have to put the key in for that. I just pulled the clip off, covered the first 4 holes with my thumb, turned it over and dumped the spring and pins out for the last hole. I then repeated this for each of the other holes, keeping them sorted as I went so I could put them back in their original holes. There were a few times where I had to jiggle things a bit to get the pins to drop out, but once the clip is off, there's nothing really holding them in place.

--TMIB

[acestor]

Actually, this is what comes from posting late at night. Putting a key in the lock would raise the pins and compress the springs more making it more tricky to remove the metal clip.

[TMIB]

Actually, this is what comes from posting late at night. Putting a key in the lock would raise the pins and compress the springs more making it more tricky to remove the metal clip.

Well, trickier to remove without sending springs flying anyway. I have been removing the clip by popping it up from the side. With the springs compressed, it'd probably come off even easier, but then the springs would likely pop out when the clip came off.

--TMIB

[JK_the_CJer]

This was the lock that helped me out a lot when I was learning. I got sick of Master padlocks and graduated to that. Try convincing your local lockie to give you a handful of spools and you'll be busy for a while. Once you get that down, move up to Schlage. Yeah, that removable spring cover really comes in handy. I used to think that only cylinders with removable covers like that were rekeyable (silly me)

[Raccoon]

Note:

That style of deadbolt lock is called a "rim cylinder". Spring caps over the bible (chambers) are typical of this style of lock.

It is a rim cylinder because the cylinder is mounted to the face-plate "rim" which covers the hole drilled through the door. It is secured to the door by screws that pass through the hole from the face-plate on the other side.

You will also find spring covers on many but not all "key in knob" (kik) cylinders by other brands, especially it seems in lever handle locksets. Different brands have different spring caps, ranging from the one pictured, to a flat wedge of metal that's hammered into a groove along the chamber tops.