ARCHIVE 2003-2013 Introduce yourself HERE if you are new. :)

[charles ward]

I am (or was) an institutional locksmith. Starting in maintenance at a GM plant I found myself dealing with locks from steelcase furniture to S&G manipulation proof combination locks. GM paid for training at my request, largely through correspondence, Foley-Belsaw~McGraw-Hill~Lockmasters. Another Millwright joined me and we became competent enough to handle the factory's locksmith requirements.

I thought the information to be relatively well guarded as we accumulated code books, instructional manuals and picks to get our jobs completed. We cut keys, re-keyed and set up code matrixes. Suppliers required verification of an on-site locksmith which the factory afforded me the designation.

Tonight I found this website on twitter and I have to admit I was somewhat flabbergasted to see the information provided, at least as listed in the site map. Admittedly I am a geezer but I didn't realize the information I once protected had become proliferated in this manner.

I also realize this may get me blasted out of here but I do wonder if I am naive or if the industry has changed that much from the few years I have been out of touch.

[WolfSpring]

Been ghositng round here for a bit researching and what not. I'm 32 in the US Army currently in Kuwait, where street sweeper bristles are as common as the sand, literally, funny thing I was using them before I found this forum site. Love the info here, Want to be a locksmith when I retire in 7 years so I'm starting to learn now. Picked my first 5200 which is the hardest lock I can get out here last night. I'm currently working with a 20 piece South Ord with home made tension wrench for top keyway, a bogota and home made lifter pick. Can't wait to start manipulating some other locks and learning about other security pins, already started taking apart cut locks out here and recycleing the tumblers and pins.

[traceurspoon]

Hey, my name's Chris! I've been picking for a few years, and lurked around the forum for a while. Finally decided to create an account and say 'hi'!

Currently located in MI. Going to school in Japan next semester. Live in NY when bored.

Thanks for the information and suggestions I've gotten so far just from reading the forums!

[GymnPayomylob]

Hello All

Just saying hello!

This seems to be a really nice community site you have got here.

Will see you all round soon!

Many Thanks, GymnPayomylob

[TinniestToaster]

Hey so I'm just getting into the picking hobby and ordered up my first set of tools. Went with the MPXS-14 from lockpickshop.com. Hoping to find some people around my area to connect with and also just learn as much as I can from all of you here. This is something I've always been interested in ever since I was young so it just took me this long to find a group that did this for sport and hobby as opposed to using picking for malicious purposes.

if anyone has any other good tips/tools for a beginner I am always open to more advice.

[lick]

Hello all,
Great to be here and hope to learn from you guys/gals. I will also contribute when and where I can.




Thank you for having me!!!!!!!!
Lick

[_RAGNAR_]

Hello,

Just joined. Made my own picks from street sweeper bristles in about 1980!

Been picking on and off since then (more off than on) Decided to get serious recently.

I’ve taken some classes on picking and bypass but have never practiced. I’ve had basic tools since the 80’s and just ordered a bunch of more advanced stuff. Plan to really master basic pin tumbler locks this year (never had a problem with them but would like to get very reliable)

I am also am starting hard impressioning (done it 30-40 times in classes, but never kept up on the skills) Bought about a hundred different locks from ebay this month, then I’ll go get a few hundred key blanks and start having fun.

I also just ordered everything to do molding and casting. Never done it, but it doesn’t look too hard.

I am just as interested in bypass techniques as picking.

Hoping to learn a lot from the site and meet some people in Seattle area to trade knowledge with.

[Zeak187]

Hey,

I have alays been interested in picking and have tried to do it a few times (with mixed results, seems like I was getting more luck than skill) But since i have been browsing this site and reading some posts I see where I was going wrong. Not understanding a lock means you can't pick it reliably. So I am just kinda lurking maybe asking some questions off and on. Thanks for the help I am sure to get and have already received.

-D

[raoken80]

hiho @ all ;)
im reo and new into "lockpicking" but to be honest ive to sai i spend more time in makem them ;P
It is just another way to be creative for me an i hope i can contribute with my functional art-pics ;)

sry for my bad english...i know it sucks ;P

cheers
rao [ree-oh]

[angie0307]

hey guys , really really new at this , just taking it up as a new hobby and as of yet have nooooooooo idea what i'm doing or what you're all talking about!
be prepared for more than a few stupid questions!

cheers all!

[mmccormick]

Just joined in the last week or so, dealt alot with security in the military, but not so much commercial. Haven't had to pick up lockpicking so much but hopefully like most things it will come pretty easy. I've dealt more with security systems, alarms, cctvs etc..

At some point i've decided to open a locksmithing business, but will see what happens along the way (obviously if i end up with trouble picking locks no reason to go farther)

So far i've done quite a bit of research and checked around here so not much in the way of apprenticeships, but i'll be going through Penn-foster for locksmithing to get my feet wet.

There's currentlyonly one locksmith in town and he has a habit of disappearing for many days/weeks/months on end which leaves the city the vultures (read large corporate locksmithing companies.)

I know of at least one occasion where someone had to come from 50 miles away to make a transponder key for a customer who lost theirs. That rang out to around 280 dollars. mostly i'm assuming because of travel time and distance.

So the market really is in need here. Also not much in the way of security awareness so when i do start the business, hopefully i can use that to my advantage for company/home security evaluations and leads towards more Business.

I've already run two seperate businesses that were moderately successful. One in Computers that i decided to end when all the contracts were up dues to the growing overpopulation of web based undercutters. THe other business was a web host/design company I ran while in the military. Same deal there, it's much easier now a days to design your own and i really just didn't want to have to learn asp/microsoft when i was very proficient in Php/Mysql.

I've recently gotten out of the military about a year ago, and the job market where i am is bleak, fortunately i have more or less a pension/disability coming in so it gives me some leeway.

[titanic]

hello everyone, my name is myles. i recently started taking correspondence courses with PennFoster to become a locksmith. today actually i disassembled my first kwikset key in knob lock that i am going to rekey! i stumbled across this forum trying to figure out what a plug retainer clip was! this looks like a great community of knowledge of locks so i look forward to using this forum as a reference.

[drgrinderman]

Hi All,

Im from Sydney Aus, always had an interest in picking never really tried it.

Looking to take it up as i enjoy the mechanics and the intricacies.

Thanks

[magiclockman]

Hello from the UK! Looking forward to learning and hopefully contributing too.

[lockpicker09]

hi im new in this forum