Where to go from here?

[Wolfess]

So new to lock picking here. Always wanted to give it a try because of my puzzle fascination.
Anyways, bought the little 5 piece beginner set on Southord website because I didn't have too much money to spend and went around picking all my door locks, masterlocks, bike locks, and my cash box.

I keep practicing on them to keep getting faster at it and so far fun hobby choice for me. Any other recomendations or suggetions I should do or try from the experienced guys on here?

[ggpaintballer]

If you don't have much money buy a mortise cylinder that you can easily re pin yourself and some pins. You can use a rolled up piece of cardboard as a plug follower. I've had pretty good luck going to family owned hardware stores and asking if they had misc pins floating around.

[Squelchtone]

So new to lock picking here. Always wanted to give it a try because of my puzzle fascination.
Anyways, bought the little 5 piece beginner set on Southord website because I didn't have too much money to spend and went around picking all my door locks, masterlocks, bike locks, and my cash box.

I keep practicing on them to keep getting faster at it and so far fun hobby choice for me. Any other recomendations or suggetions I should do or try from the experienced guys on here?

Yes, read all the posts where we bust people's chops and tell them to stop picking the locks at their house and get some practice locks at the store so you dont accidentally mess up the locks currently in use =)

In order to know what the next step is, what brand of lock is your front door and is it a knobset or a deadbolt?

[Wolfess]

So new to lock picking here. Always wanted to give it a try because of my puzzle fascination.
Anyways, bought the little 5 piece beginner set on Southord website because I didn't have too much money to spend and went around picking all my door locks, masterlocks, bike locks, and my cash box.

I keep practicing on them to keep getting faster at it and so far fun hobby choice for me. Any other recomendations or suggetions I should do or try from the experienced guys on here?

Yes, read all the posts where we bust people's chops and tell them to stop picking the locks at their house and get some practice locks at the store so you dont accidentally mess up the locks currently in use =)

In order to know what the next step is, what brand of lock is your front door and is it a knobset or a deadbolt?

Don't worry I didn't wanna damage them either. I was using the box full of knobs and deadbolts that got replaced a while ago. Some Kwikset some Defiant.

[KPick]

What helped me a lot is obtaining a repinable lock, such as a master-lock pro series, and pinning it up with a moderate level of security pins.
My experience really boosted after I obtained my own locks.
Any lock which has the option of repinning is helpful with security pins in hand.

What I use to do to get a good amount of practice was tearing apart a couple of door locks, taking all of the spool pins and then after that, I put together a good solid lock with nothing but spool pins. After a week of picking it and changing the bitting about a couple dozen times. I got the hang for spool pins. Soon after, I jumped onto the serrated and spoorated bandwagon and mastered that after about 2-3 months of constant whoop ass picking.

[docjon]

I asked the local locksmith and he gave me a whole coffee can full. There was a Best, Medeco, and a whole bunch of others. Free I might add. Docjon

[Divinorum]

A word of advice, be aware that not all locksmiths are that friendly when it comes to lockpicking and specifics about the trade. You will likely be looked at as suspicious if you tell them you want to practice picking locks right away. It's all in the way you present and explain yourself. Don't just go to the shop and ask for a handout. Spend some money at their shop. Get some keys cut or buy a few items. Become friendly and get to know the guys in the shop. Give them a chance to see that you have a genuine interest in locks/locksmithing and have good intentions before you bring up lock picking.