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

[eddie monsoon]

Hello All
Have read a few interesting things on the forum in the past, now finally got round to registering.

[dtw]

Hi all

Great site!

Long time reader, but just now registered.

I've been interested in the subject for years, appreciate the opportunity to learn and ask questions.

[Mike Busby]

Hi everyone from down under (Townsville Queensland Australia). My name is Mike Busby and I am an now IT Tech working at a large high school. I spent 25 years in the Aust army finishing up as a SSGT in infantry. I first started lock picking as part of my job in the military as the key holder for a barracks. (Funny how a lot of us started that way) Soldiers lose keys every day and with no method of reproducing keys on base it was left up to us how best to get into room. We used to have a couple of buckets of old Lane and Lockwood locks to practice on. The only kits we could legally get where Slim Jims and a couple of less than usefull lock guns.

Anyway old uncle arthritis has set in and these hands can no longer hold anything with any sort of strength so I have let my skills slip and found your forum while doing a search for a nasty patio lock which had died on me. I now have an interest in old locks and safes I am starting a collection mainly from garage sales and markets. I am particularly inetrested in the 1800 to 1920's era. If anyone knows of any websites that I might be interested in the please feel free to PM me.

[something_clever]

Wow... 368 pages. Uh, I was gonna actually read/skim the whole thread until I went to hit the next page button.

I've been interested in locks, keys, and pretty much everything else that's mechanically interesting since I was a kid and have always though locksmithing would be a cool career path. I've picked some locks out of pure luck and even opening a luggage lock when I was a kid with a bent paperclip was a moment I won't forget (even though I don't consider them locks anymore). Anyway, I always wanted to learn to pick properly and never found the resources to learn how nor had the tools. So when I stumbled across this site the other day I was excited to learn that there was so much information out there and bought a piecemeal set of picks and wrenches from southord. After giving them a quick test on my front door I had to force myself to stop after remembering that you guys recommend not practicing on locks that are in use... I'm actually really surprised that I don't own a single lock at the moment (I rent or I would probably take the cylinders out of the KIK's on the door and just use the deadbolts) but I've moved 3 times in the last 4 1/2 years so who know where things go. Patiently (not really) awaiting payday is giving me some time to read a lot of good information on this site though. I also read all of the NDE Magazines that are out so far and gained quite a bit more respect for the skills and personalities of some of the people on this board.

Sorry for the long post but hey it's more interesting that "Hey this is my first post, hi"... At least I hope so. Thanks for the site and keep up the good work.

[rriella]

Hello Everyone! New to this site and very interesting craft. I have always been fascinated with locks.
I ordered my first tools and can't wait to get started. This site is great!

[STAMP-MAN]

Hello I just found this place.

I make tools for the locks smiths and lock industry (engraved stamping tools) and a few customers told me about this site.

Never had a clue so many of us with common interest were around.

Thanks for providing a forum like this for everyone.

[MR_H]

Hello everyone.

I'm new to the site, fairly new to picking and locksport. I've been interested in the past and never been able to get a real set of picks, but now I'm on my own and can afford to order one and get to it. I've been picking with inferior tools for a little while now since I've been back into it recently, but now I've ordered a true set of picks and wrenches, so I'll be moving on up in the world of picking soon enough. I can't wait to get started working for real on this hobby.

[DingDongDen]

Hi Guys, Like the site.!! A real newbie here both to lockpicking and locksmithing. An old friend of mine asked me to help clear out his garage of old key cutting machines which he had acquired...6 in total and about 2,000 key blanks and all sorts of lock odments. So...being an engineer...here I am to pick the brains of all you experienced lockers.!! Nice to meet you..

[Pancho]

Hello,

I'm Pancho and 2 weeks ago I was locked out of my own house due to a defective (very old) door Knob. I call a locksmith to open the door and he did opened in about 15 minutes and charged me around 50 bucks. Now I know it's is job and all that but at that moment a thought came to me "locksmithing can be an interesting Hobby" and since I'm currently "hobbyless" I decided to give it a try.

I made my own torque wrench out of an L shaped wrench and a little pick out of a hair pin and started playing with and old Kwiqset cylinder, I removed the pins and started with one, it was easy, then two, not so hard, but with three I started having some problems and I said to myself "I won't get a lockpick set until I can get this opened with all 5 pins". Well yesterday I was able to do it and I'm ordering my very first lockpicking set.

I have read a few guides (MIT guide and a few other) and I'm hooked. Today while doing some google search I found this site and proceed to register ASAP.

Well that's my story, a pleasure to meet you all and now I'm back to the guides section for I'm thirsty for knowledge :)

[SilverDegree]

Hey everybody, I'm new and just recently became obsessed with lockpicking. Everywhere I go I seem to have a padlock and picks in hand haha. Great community here.

[special_dx]

Hi

I'm Matt from the UK, I recently got interested in general physical security matters and locks following the purchase of my first house. This sent me off down the line of interest for interest's sake in locks and lock picking. To date I have only managed to pick a three pin tri-circle luggage padlock using a home made turning tool and a safety pin, but I have just bought a basic pick set and a selection of cheap euro profile locks and spent the last two evenings trying to open them.

I have to admit that the technical side of locks interests me more than picking, I have recently been lucky enough to buy a selection of new old stock Abloy Protec 362 and 342 shrouded padlocks, a couple of which I am interested in re-keying myself if I can get the parts. I have already started a small collection of larger padlocks including CISA and IFAM straight shackle designs and the above mentioned Abloy products, I am on the lookout at the moment for an Abloy straight shackle padlock. As noted above I am also interested in ways to improve physical security with regard to destructive methods of attack on locks and locking infrastructure (such as chains, anchors and padbars), but I am not sure that this is a subject for this forum.

Regards
Matt

Some of my other interests include motorcycles (and thier performance development) and scale model making, both of which I hope will have transferrable skills for me to use in this new found area of interest.

[BypassThis]

Hey folks. I first got into Smithing about 6 years ago. I became disinterested for awhile and just recently got back into it. I hope to learn many things here.

Also, when/how will I be allowed in 'Advanced Locks' forums?

[unlisted]

Also, when/how will I be allowed in 'Advanced Locks' forums?

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2474

[BypassThis]

[quote="unlisted"][quote="BypassThis"]

Also, when/how will I be allowed in 'Advanced Locks' forums?[/quote]
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2474[/quote]

Thank you. I feel like an ass. I found that immediately after I posted here.

[Rankbaajin]

Post subject: introductionPosted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:44 am



Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2009 8:58 am
Posts: 1 First of all greetings, new to this forum and thought i should say Hi yall,
A little about myself, I am a hobby magician and trick cabinet maker (secret compartments, sliding partitions and such), being interested in escapology , I came to this site to help develop my skills, mostly interested in padlocks and handcuffs.
However as a cabinet maker, i have installed my fair share of locks and such and find the picking of them to be an interesting hobby.
Probably not your typical punter but, i hope you dont mind this particular fly on the wall as i find your trade incredibaly interesting.

OK then Cheers, The Rank Von Baajin




srry posted this first on general chatter as i hadnt found this link yet, will try to pay more attention