Clear / Cutaway Locks

[Zeteg]

Hi everyone,

I bought a set of lockpicks a while back, and managed to open a small lock I had lying around. Anyway, I really want to learn the art, rather than just fool around, so I'm considering buying a clear/cutaway lock.

Unfortunately, I'm in Canada and shipping tends to be 50% of the cost from the sites I've looked at. Does anyone know a good place I can get some clear (or cut) practice locks that won't cost me a fortune? I don't mind paying for one, but $80 for a lock, where $20 is shipping is a little ridiculous. If there are no alternatives, I suppose I don't have a choice, but no harm in asking right?


Thanks!

[WolfSpring]

I'd stay away from the clear ones, they are good for demonstration but not for picking, cut aways are the way to go. I use lockpicks.com not sure about shipping and what not, but they are pretty good about price.

[edsmiley]

Cutaways are good to look at and to get what is really happening inside a lock. However, I would not recommend using it to learn how to pick. Picking is very much about touch and feel and is not very visual. Maybe try some of the great videos linked from LP101 and available on YouTube to get a visual understanding of what is happening and maybe spend some money on some decent practice locks.

Good luck!
Ed

[ww85]

I'm just starting out as well. I just went to my nearest hardware store, bought a cheap "Faultless" double cylinder deadbolt, and I'm repinning it as I go. I think this is definitely the way to learn.

I started by repinning one cylinder with 1 pin and the other with 2 pins using the 1 pin to feel the relation between tension and the resulting binding friction on the pin and the 2 pin for very basic navigation.

Then I repinned the 1 pin to 3 pin so I could play with 3 pins but always have the 2 pin to go back to as a confidence builder for if I get lost. When I'm set on 3 I'll turn the 2 into a 4, and eventually the 3 into a 5.

This also lets me set up specific scenarios (very shallow pin behind a deep pin, etc).

[RoyalRow]

Cutaways are good for learning to visualize what you feel. Nevertheless, you learn from videos, books, and practice.