What locks should I get?

[brad5452]

I expect my first set of picks (MPXS-14) to come in the mail today, if not on Monday, and didn't think until now that I only have 2 or 3 locks that aren't being used and aren't attached to doors that I could pick. I want an easy one or two, a few ones that will take some practice but aren't too hard for experienced lock pickers, and one that's as hard as it can get while still being able to be picked with the tools I'll be getting, even if different tools are preferred. The hard one will mostly be like a goal for me, not something I expect to be able to pick soon. I'm very new to lock picking so I'm not sure if locks even have a variety of difficulty like that. If they don't, I'd still like recommendations of what locks I should get to learn to pick. Any recommendations are appreciated.

[wa1ker00]

Master No. 3 and/or No. 5 Padlocks are a great starting place. They have an easy to navigate keyway and usually only 4 pins so it's easier to focus on what it feels like when the pins are set. A kwikset and/or schlage deadbolt (make sure not to get the SmartKey or SecureKey) are also a good starting place although slightly more expensive. You could also look into a Brinks or Defiant (Lowes/Home Depot brands) deadbolts which are more likely to contain a few spool pins for an additional challenge.

If you don't want to go the route of locks at big box stores, you could scope out ebay for the above items or occasionally a 'beginners' lock set will pop up which will have several easy, standard grade locks in them.

Lastly if you have a decent relationship with a local locksmith you may be able to get used/scrap hardware from them.

[Squelchtone]

Hi and welcome to the forum,

This stuff doesnt cost a lot and will keep you busy for weeks:

Home Depot: Master Lock No3. blue plastic bumper/metal laminate plates padlock
Home Depot: Defiant deadbolt
WalMart: Brinks deadbolt
Walmart: Brinks brass padlock
Ace Hardware Master Lock No.532 or No.576 Padlock
if you can find one, an ABUS 55/50 padlock that has security spool pins in every chamber!

not big on stores, but you like shopping on the internet? ebay has tons of new and used locks for great prices. look up padlocks, deadbolt, mortise cylinder, rim cylinder, and other related terms. Note that most dollar store locks that just say 40mm or Made in China on the bottom, are either not well made and have very loose parts, or you'll find that they have 5 mushroom security pins in them and picking as a beginner will be a painful nightmare.

digital_blue has a great exercise that teaches you to build up your skill by taking a deadbolt or rim or mortise cylinder apart and taking out all the pins, then installing 1 pin stack, then 2 pin stacks and so on, and picking them to build up your skill level. If you get a double sided deadbolt, you can take apart one side, and pin it up how every many pins you want, and leave the other side of the deadbolt untouched so you can pick all 5 pins any time you want.

Here's db's post: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10677

Read the locksport guide as well, it explains things and has visuals as well:
http://locksport.com/index.php/discover ... l-i-guide/

What are all these spool pins I keep mentioning? check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4hoGY3SAtU

Good luck and have fun,
Squelchtone

ps. Wa1ker00 types too fast, he beat me to the punch

[brad5452]

Turns out one of the padlocks I have happens to be a master no. 3. Thanks for the advice.