First post and some questions.

[f4llacy]

Hello all, new to the forums and lockpicking/locksport in general.

I recently decided that I need a new hobby and here I am. Ordered a set of picks from Southord after reading many good things about them. I ordered a basic blemished set after reading this is a better and less expensive option than buying a regular set. I'm very pleased with the set and find it hard to determine what exactly makes them "blemished", but then again I am new to this.

On to actual picking:
I've been messing around with a Master Lock no.142 which I have read has security (spool?) pins. I've popped it 3 times but have felt like it has been luck all three times, the most recent actually surprised me because i was half asleep just prodding at the pins. I have yet to open the lock by raking, all three times I have single-pin picked the lock. I seem to have the most difficulty with proper tension, and binding the security pin and screwing up the attempt. I have read through both the MIT guide and LSI guide.

Questions:
Should I continue practicing with this lock or go pick up a cylinder and follow blue's guide with a few pins instead? What cheap lock brands/numbers should I pick up to follow blue's guide (something that I could pick up at Target would be great)? Would the master lock be considered a difficult first lock? Also, any recommendations on proper tension (some comparison of the force I should be applying), and any feeling from the pick/cylinder I should be aiming for would be great.

Anyways, glad to be a part of the hobby. These forums have been great so far, can't wait to get more involved and start opening some more locks.

Cheers!

(hope this is the right place for this post)

[Josh K]

Great locks to start with are a Kwikset deadbolt and some numbered (#3, #5, #930) master locks.

Tension wise someone had an excellent interpretation of light - heavy tension as it relates to real world applications. Light is barely resting your finger on it. Heavy is visible 2-3* bending of the wrench.

[Moosekace]

My locksmithing teacher said the tension you use should be no lighter than the weight of a penny but no heavier than the weight of a dollar coin.

[nostromo]

Find out what the local metal salvage yards are paying for 'mixed brass', then make a polite visit to a local locksmith or three and ask if you can buy their brass cylinders. Be direct and to the point, you want to have an ongoing relationship with them because if you continue in the hobby you might want a source for other locks and keys. Some will not want to talk to you, some will be helpful.

Or scrounge at flea markets and yard sales. If you can, try and get 5-6 cylinders and take one of them apart to get a better idea of how pin tumbler locks work. You'll learn a lot, especially putting it back together . . .

With that practice, re-pin the locks with 1, 2, 3, etc pins to make the progressive set up described in the LP101 tutorial.

You can pick a whole BUNCH of locks (wafer tumbler, mostly) for the day by going to the local auto junkyard. Some of the yards are free to get into, some charge a few bucks. Ask them if it's ok to pick. Do your research to see what cars have pins and which you want to try. You'll want a tension wrench that can deal with the spring loaded shutters. BTW, scrounging around I've found several padlocks without keys that they let me keep and even a lockstand with a deadbolt, KIK, and bathroom knob lock.

Is there a TOOOL or other Locksport group near you? Networking is wonderful!

For tension wrench pressure, my Keyless Entry students (I teach Law Enforcement) are taught to use no more pressure than it take to depress a computer key or lift the cuff of a long-sleeve shirt. They practice with the silicone bit from a torn-apart keyboard to get used to the pressure to use. Visually speaking, the torque only needs to be enough to 'twist' the plug no further than the diameter of the thickness of the pin - about a tenth of an inch. And that's the outside limit, really. You really only need to get the plug to move about half the diameter of a pin well underneath the shell plug wells.

[f4llacy]

Thank you for all the awesome recommendations. I'm going to have to look around for a local locksport group and see if I can find one. I like the idea of talking to some locksmiths as well assuming they are understanding of the activity as a sport. Too many people seem to immediately associate picking with crime, it's unfortunate.

Thank you for all of the tension analogies, I've found that I have been applying a little too much pressure and have been having much more success after letting up a bit.

Anyone have any recommendations for TOOOL or Locksport groups in the Atlanta area?

[nostromo]

There is a lot of misperception about Locksport, unfortunately.

FWIW, at the start of every Keyless Entry course, I ask the students (sworn Law Enforcement Officers) what methods of breaking and entering they encounter. Very rarely have they said lockpicks were used.

Here's the LP101 "Atlanta" group posting - viewtopic.php?f=19&t=17792. About 2 years old, but you never know. Maybe YOU could be the Atlanta Locksport organizer?

Keep picking!

[Rickthepick]

I remove all kinds of cylinders on a daily basis and just throw them in a box for practice and whatnot and eventually weigh them. you can buy them for 50p per half cylinder if you want plus postage to wherever you are, obviously theres not going to be anything ultra challenging but theres a good range of lockd i can mix as many diff brands as i can for you if you let me know how many you might want.

[nostromo]

50p is about .78 USD? That is very generous- especially considering the time spent packaging, addressing and posting. Nice of you to do this!

[Rickthepick]

here you go:

£10 posted to US and a free yale i just found in my bag

all totally different, had to put in two milas but theyre different halves

[Rickthepick]

too late someone else wants them now...

first come first served.

Il see if i can dig another load out

[Rickthepick]

ok got another batch, some of these are probably the opposing half of those in the last sale, includes an awfully hard asec that iv never opened, 3 have keys. Again £10 the lot posted



Iv got a batch of tough locks in the for sale section also.

[Rickthepick]

All sold

[unlisted]

Ok, whats the deal here? This is NOT the Buy Sell Trade Forum.


Do NOT make any transactions anywhere other than BST- there is a reason for it.