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

[too-picky]

Just started picking last week. I've rekeyed the front door to my rental house, picked 5 out of 6 door locks, and rekeyed an old dead-bolt style lock, also for my rental.

I've made a few tools, nothing special, except my torque tool seems to have a unique bend after it keep bugging me enough to fix it. :)

I just started a Handyman Service and thought the addition of locksmithing might be nice. The local locksmith raised his prices and closes at 4:30pm, so I took matters in my own hand and am trying to do my own work now. All that I need to figure out now is how to rekey and then grind/file a key to match. Right now I have some extra door locks and I never throw away old keys, so I just find a key that fits the lock and change the pins to match the shear-line.

I'm thinking it might be useful to find a key grinder, but money is exceedingly tight right now.

I also need to figure out how to take apart the older door-knob locks I have. Dead-bolts are trivial, but my locks don't have the side hole to take them apart with. One has a split ring on it. I'll work it out before too long--I hope.

[soundwave5150]

Hi there, thinking of re-training as a lock-smith in the UK, this looked like a good place to pick up some useful info. :-)

[RedGiant]

Hello. Red from Atlanta, GA here. A programmer looking for a new hobby. Never before have I thought of lock picking as a hobby, until I saw a comment on a Facebook friend's wall. I have ordered a pick set recommended from the beginner section on lp101.com. Last night, I got tired of waiting on the set and went to Home Depot to buy Master Lock #3 to pick with anything i could muster up. I left with a master lock #3, Kwikset deadbolt with 2 keyed sides, a 4pc hook set, and a file to file the hook set down. Disassembling that deadbolt and looking at its insides was exciting.

Can't wait for UPS to deliver that set to me!

[Josh252]

Hello to all! I have been reading for a few weeks now thank you for the wealth of info its been very helpfull to my introduction to picking.
Josh

[jusdndy1]

Hi there. Another newbie here. Received my first set (14piece set with metal handles from the online outlet shop at southard) yesterday and am very excited to get started. Feel a little disappointed that I wasn't successfull the first night like everyone else seems to be but I'll keep trying! I love the challenge. Thanks.

[firstbiggestmost]

Howdy!

Thanks for the great site. :)

First.

[bethelock]

Hi! I've used the site to find some information on various locks. This is a very useful site! Speaking of which, anyone know the MACS for a CISA TSP?
Thanks!

[Dest133]

RHello everyone. I am new here to the site. I have been lock picking for probably 12 years now, the last seven have only been with paper clips since my last set got stolen while living in a homeless shelter. I joined this site a few days ago and never realized that there was still so much information that I could learn. I attempted to pick my first deadbolt a day ago and I am still amazed at people's lack of knowledge of security and how they put so much faith In something to protect them and yet it yet the thing they have faith in is absolutely useless. Since I had never picked any deadbolts and all I had ever picked were padlocks I figured a deadbolt would be a little harder but I was wrong. I picked it so fast I actually thought the wrench had turned inside the lock because I was doing it during the night but no I had picked almost in the time it took me to put the pick in. I love picking and I hope to meet and learn from all of the knowledgeable people here and I am hoping to pick up the skills I have gotten rusty at. Thanks for reading.

[echelon5]

Hello all.

I am typing here from a computer in a cubical cell around 9feet wide and across. On each wall around me is a door, completely black, with a thick pad lock on it. In addition to my provisions for the day (which is dropped in through a hole in the roof) I was given a small back of lock picks, the quality of which is dubious, but the efficacy of which was been proven. I have managed to unlock the southern most door, my elation rapidly cooled by the sight of another similar room, the doors bearing locks of a significantly higher difficulty. It is my aim to be granted access to forums of a more advanced nature, in order to ascertain my freedom.

Thank you, please help.

[Josh66]

Hello, everyone.

I think I just found myself a new hobby, lol! I was bored at work today, so I figured I would try to open this lock I found (Master Lock, not sure of the model - the one with the hexagonal shackle). I made a crude pick out of some scrap metal - and it worked! I opened it maybe 10 times, then couldn't open it any more for some reason... After that, I made some better picks out of a hack saw blade (just googled 'lock picks' to see what the real ones were supposed to look like) - I think they came out pretty good. I made the tension wrench out of an 1/8" allen key. They'll at least hold me over till I get a proper set.

After getting home, I dug up all the locks I could find to test my new picks on... I found a couple Master Locks (No. 380 Rustoleum) and an old (late 70's) American all-brass Government lock. I haven't been able to open those yet.

I also found a couple old dead-bolts. They were much easier to open... My front door dead-bolt (Kwikset) was also surprisingly easy to open... (I don't think the apartment will let me change it though...)

Anyway - Great site! I'll never look at locks the same.

[angel7]

Hey, new here.
Got my first set set of picks at ~15 (a majestic set of which I still have most).
I haven't done much picking except when necessary, and lately have taken a real liking to making picks. I've just finished my first set, an xmas gift (3 weeks late) for a friend and would like to post pics (hosted on my own site). What would be the proper forum for such?
Thanks to everybody (especially raimundo who inspired me),
Wolf

[jarvisjimson]

Hey everyone,
Writing from Vancouver, BC.

I picked my first lock last Monday and I am hooked! I had a Master #3 laying around and decided to make a pick and tension out of a paper clip and the metal flap on a pen. After reading a bit online I was able to pick the Master. What a rush!
I went home same day and picked my roommate's Steelcase filing cabinet, which he lost the key for. Not a bad way to get a free case of beer.

I just bought a 11 piece Southord kit and have been picking everything I see (and own obviously).

This site seems to be filled with tons of info and lots of nice people.
I look forward to learning all I can about this surprisingly fun hobby.

jarvis

[KOB]

Hello, I've been a locksmith since 1978. I joined this forum since I am semiretired and have time to maybe offer some advice.

[MolonLabe]

I'm new to the site, but not to lock picking/smithing in general. Picked my first lock at 13 (1985 to date myself!) and practiced furiously for months obtaining respectable proficiency. I always kept a small pick set around and used it when necessary, but never got into it much beyond that. I also worked in a hardware store, part-time, during high school. I didn't realize the value of the skills I learned at the time, but I learned how to cut keys from originals and from code, how to re-key all types of residential and commercial locks, basic master keying, installation, etc. Fast forward to now, where I'm a PI and occasionally help with emergency lockouts during security details. I've decided to start doing some locksmith and security consulting work on the side. I'm building a new pick set, practicing, and considering going through either the Foley-Belsaw or Assured training program to hit any weak areas and validate my skills. Combining my security and investigation skill sets with locksmithing seems like a natural progression to me. I'm a big believer in 'do what you love and the money will come' and I've discovered that putting complementary skills together and targeting unique niche areas is where it's at for me to make a living.

I just got my second shipment of the pick set I'm currently putting together (SouthOrd, Peterson, SPP, and SerePick) and I'll post my review and impressions in the appropriate forum. I've already learned a lot by combing through the forums and look forward to learning from you all. I hope to have some valuable insight to contribute as well...of course you'll be the judge of that! Lol! I hope to reach the advanced forums soon!

[O_OBruce]

Helloooooooo there!!


Hi! My name Bruce. Currently I live and work in San Francisco,Ca. I work as an interior decorator, or space planner. I expect to be promoted soon to Interior Designer. I came across this site recently while researching some key and lock theme designs for a client. What a great site ! So many Great Ideas !
I hope to be able to contribute some design ideas, as I don't have much experience picking locks.
Looking forward to meeting and visiting with all of you.