Lock Picking 101 Forum
A community dedicated to the fun and ethical hobby of lock picking.
       

Lock Picking 101 Home
Login
Profile
Members
Forum Rules
Frequent Forum Questions
SEARCH
View New Posts
View Active Topics


Live Chat on Discord
LP101 Forum Chat
Keypicking Forum Chat
Reddit r/lockpicking Chat



Learn How to Pick Locks
FAQs & General Questions
Got Beginner Questions?
Pick-Fu [Intermediate Level]


Ask a Locksmith
This Old Lock
This Old Safe
What Lock Should I Buy?



Hardware
Locks
Lock Patents
Lock Picks
Lock Bumping
Lock Impressioning
Lock Pick Guns, Snappers
European Locks & Picks
The Machine Shop
The Open Source Lock
Handcuffs


Member Spotlight
Member Introductions
Member Lock Collections
Member Social Media


Off Topic
General Chatter
Other Puzzles


Locksmith Business Info
Training & Licensing
Running a Business
Keyways & Key Blanks
Key Machines
Master Keyed Systems
Closers and Crash Bars
Life Safety Compliance
Electronic Locks & Access
Locksmith Supplies
Locksmith Lounge


Buy Sell Trade
Buy - Sell - Trade
It came from Ebay!


Advanced Topics
Membership Information
Special Access Required:
High Security Locks
Vending Locks
Advanced Lock Pick Tools
Bypass Techniques
Safes & Safe Locks
Automotive Entry & Tools
Advanced Buy/Sell/Trade


Locksport Groups
Locksport Local
Chapter President's Office
Locksport Board Room
 

Where to find locks to pick?

Having read the FAQ's you are still unfulfilled and seek more enlightenment, so post your general lock picking questions here.
Forum rules
Do not post safe related questions in this sub forum! Post them in This Old Safe

The sub forum you are currently in is for asking Beginner Hobby Lock Picking questions only.

Where to find locks to pick?

Postby fgdgafdf » 30 Jul 2008 13:51

I'm new. I was wondering if anyone had any advice/experience with finding used or trashed locks. I tried calling the habitat for humanity restore near where I live but they said they did not have what I was after. I was thinking about go to a recycling center or something. Ideas?
fgdgafdf
 
Posts: 2
Joined: 2 Jul 2008 18:05

Postby frostbyte » 30 Jul 2008 14:09

Salvation Army Thrift stores

Yard sales

"Liquidation" outlet stores.

Post on your local Freecycle (freecycle.org) group, asking for locks missing keys, or padlocks with broken shackles.

Check local locksmiths, some might have a 'junk' box.

Friends and family.
This is a block of text that can be added to posts you make. There is a 255 character limit
HTML is OFF
BBCodeis ON
Smilies are ON
frostbyte
Moderator Emeritus
 
Posts: 619
Joined: 4 May 2004 10:35
Location: NS Canada

Postby doppleganger » 30 Jul 2008 16:31

I have been meaning to ask this same question.

Thanks for the feedback!!!!!

D
doppleganger
 
Posts: 62
Joined: 28 Dec 2007 23:59

Postby PickFree » 30 Jul 2008 17:54

In the UK we have car boot sales. People take their old junk and sell it, i have found quite a fee old padlocks there. On top of that i found locksmiths are actually quite helpful if approached correctly. I usually tell them what i am (a locksport enthusiast) and go from there. I've found quite a few arent aware of the sport and once you tell them all about it they are happy to help.

The other place i found is scrap yards. Where i live people still drive around shouting "any old iron" in trucks. I can usually jump on the truck (after asking) and talk to them for a bit. After some serious bargaining i can usually get 4 or 5 locks pretty cheap. They are hard bargainers though.

Best of luck finding good locks, i should also suggest eBay, they cost a little more but you can get the odd deal here and there.
PickFree
 
Posts: 29
Joined: 26 Jul 2008 16:31

Postby doppleganger » 30 Jul 2008 19:40

The other place i found is scrap yards. Where i live people still drive around shouting "any old iron" in trucks. .


off topic...but reminds me of Monty Python, "Bring out your dead!"

D
doppleganger
 
Posts: 62
Joined: 28 Dec 2007 23:59

Postby PickFree » 30 Jul 2008 20:12

Lol well i guess so, but it's cries of "any old iron" are still common around here and i'm not in a poor area. It's gotten more frequent since the metal prices increased. Last week i picked up 3 old yale locks from a guy shouting that on a truck. cost me 5 quid.
PickFree
 
Posts: 29
Joined: 26 Jul 2008 16:31

Postby MacGnG1 » 30 Jul 2008 20:32

yea i hit up a local locksmith with a 5$ bin of off brand schlage door knobs
Nibbler: The poop-eradication is but one aspect of your importance.
MacGnG1
Supporter
Supporter
 
Posts: 1360
Joined: 9 Apr 2008 22:14
Location: Know Where, MD, USA

Postby doppleganger » 31 Jul 2008 23:18

MAN...I'm getting bummed...Here in houston all the locksmiths are mobile or so it seems, and I called habitat for humanity and they don't even carry locks or I was told by the person on the phone. It was some chick and I really don't think she knew. I still plan on swinging by there and checking it out. i haven't hit up salvation army or good will yet. Might hit up the Army/Navy store also.

Arrrrrrrrg!!!!!!! Not giving up yet...I will achieve success in finding cheap locks.

Never give up, Never surrender!!!!

D
doppleganger
 
Posts: 62
Joined: 28 Dec 2007 23:59

remodeling

Postby raimundo » 1 Aug 2008 6:40

Often you can find a roro (roll on roll off) dumpster at the site of a building remodeling that will have some doors in it with hardware still attached, its usually ok to just take the hardware off, carry a swiss army knife with the phillips screwdriver rather than the corkscrew. :)
Wake up and smell the Kafka!!!
raimundo
 
Posts: 7130
Joined: 21 Apr 2004 9:02
Location: Minnneapolis

Postby prag » 2 Aug 2008 18:42

You should try areas where middle or lower income people live. They would rather recycle locks or other goods. Second hand stores or flea markets. I bought some good locks, some in the original wrapping, for a lot less than what we'd pay for them at the suppliers. And the price was negotiable, too 8)

Also some good second hand tools eg. screwdrivers, hammers,rachet sets etc. I would stay clear from buying electricle goods for obvious reasons.
IF life throws you lemons
MAKE LEMONADE
prag
 
Posts: 201
Joined: 10 Nov 2007 6:00
Location: South Africa

Postby Nick Sharp » 3 Aug 2008 17:35

I was in the same boat with trying to find cheap locks and I figured out that Walmart was a pretty good resource.

They had the same locks that Home Depot and other stores of the like had for half the price.

I bought a cheap brand lock that just says Hardened on the top, for $3.97

Also, I never actually thought to look at garage sales, but thanks for the suggestion.
Nick Sharp
 
Posts: 2
Joined: 1 Aug 2008 23:34
Location: Behind a door

Postby test » 4 Aug 2008 10:02

Two cheap sources:

1) Dollar stores.

2) University/Colledge sports centers. They generally have a huge bin of lost locks. If you are lucky you will find a few standard key locks, and maybe a master with a key hole in the back. If you are nice about it they could give you them for free.

3) Fellow lock sport enthusiasts. ;)
10 Print "circular reasoning works because "
20 GOTO 10
test
 
Posts: 62
Joined: 21 May 2004 17:06
Location: Eastern Ontario


Return to Got Questions? - Ask Beginner Hobby Lockpicking Questions Here

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests

cron