i hope this is in the right forum
So i got into the lockpicking gig about 3 weeks ago. I have been looking for a hobby to waste some time at my valet booth. My intentions really are good, don't think ill of your valet. I have been a valet for 4 years, never stolen anything (sidenote: never damaged a car either out of the 10000000 cars I have driven in nasty places). Back to locks.
I have a sentry 1100 firesafe... need i say more? I will, it was rediculously easy. I went at it with the diamond first and had it in 10seconds maybe. Then i raked it (1 time), then i used a handcuff key as a tension bar and a paper clip (4 seconds). Rediculous.
So i got a big head and went after my balcony door, a kwiwset interior lock. I realized i knew nothing, real quick. After about 20mins i had it but didn't know how I got it. SO i tried again, and learned to start back to front (10mins). My third try took me 20seconds max since i figured out that trick. Then i went after the front door. Figured out there are 2 spool pins which got me in after 30mins and second try about 6 or 8.
The manager of the restaurant i valet at let me borrow their side door padlock to practice on (our secret of course). It was a rusty well used LSDA padlock with no less than 4 security pins. I tried for 2 hours before i learned to baby that tension bar, and >click< i got it. My second try was still around an hour because that is alot of security pins for a newbie like me and I need alot of tuning with that tension bar before it comes natural. And my third try got it open in 30mins but i am almost positive i didn't let the pins reset before the third try. I have since tried this lock for several hours and never have reopened it =(
I think ill get a few decent, cheap padlocks to practice on. Anyone have a good recomendation of where to go from here?