New Starter - First things I should buy - UK Based

[L0ckp1ckn00b]

Hi all,

I'm a noob, name is Jay. Apologies, sure this has probably been asked before, I have had a search around and read a few bits, but still wanted to ask a little advice. Looking to get into lockpicking as a hobby, looks like it would be fun and something I would enjoy, and also a very useful tool and something that I may even look to make into a proper job later down the line and get properly licensed etc.

As a complete noob though, although I have a rough idea on the basics of say a tumbler lock, My knowledge does not extend too much further than that.

Obviously I will want to buy some picks and a number of different locks etc that I can start pulling apart and playing with. Most decent things I see mentioned though or most information I find seems to relate heavily toward the American market etc.

What and where would people recommend in the UK in terms of best start items and where to get them? I see a lot of random bits on eBay and Amazon etc, but just trying to work out what the best is for starting out and some nice simple locks to get the basics down.

Any help/advice appreciated.

Cheers

J

[billdeserthills]

You can find cheap locks at garage sales and thrift stores. As far as a good deal on picks go I like the Klom picks and the
cheapest ones I know are sold at Censored by squelchtone.

[Squelchtone]

You can find cheap locks at garage sales and thrift stores. As far as a good deal on picks go I like the Klom picks and the
cheapest ones I know are sold at Censored by squelchtone.

sigh.. really bill.. maybe people don't want the cheapest crap, maybe they want something basic but good. you sound like a broken record always linking people to banggood.com to their mediocre pick selection.

Just feel free not to reply to every new member asking what pick set to get, you're doing new locksport hobbyists a huge disservice with some of your opinions, and then you get butthurt about it when someone like me calls you out on it.

Also, you're in Arizona, OP is in the UK, let someone from over there answer his question.

but I swear to god, you guys with your cheapskate recommendations and crappy Klom pick sets. Not everyone starting this hobby is on a $5 dollar budget..

Squelchtone

[kwoswalt99-]

If you're any good with metalworking, you could also try you hand at making your own picks, it's more fun and satisfying.
Besides locksportsouth, it seems that there aren't any Brits or Aussies left on the forum.

[L0ckp1ckn00b]

You can find cheap locks at garage sales and thrift stores. As far as a good deal on picks go I like the Klom picks and the
cheapest ones I know are sold at Censored by squelchtone.

sigh.. really bill.. maybe people don't want the cheapest crap, maybe they want something basic but good. you sound like a broken record always linking people to banggood.com to their mediocre pick selection.

Just feel free not to reply to every new member asking what pick set to get, you're doing new locksport hobbyists a huge disservice with some of your opinions, and then you get butthurt about it when someone like me calls you out on it.

Also, you're in Arizona, OP is in the UK, let someone from over there answer his question.

but I swear to god, you guys with your cheapskate recommendations and crappy Klom pick sets. Not everyone starting this hobby is on a $5 dollar budget..

Squelchtone

I'll take his suggestion as a pinch of salt then eh? lol.

Good to know the forum is well moderrated though!

[L0ckp1ckn00b]

If you're any good with metalworking, you could also try you hand at making your own picks, it's more fun and satisfying.
Besides locksportsouth, it seems that there aren't any Brits or Aussies left on the forum.

I'm not too good with those sorts of things, I did look at it, but not sure that is going to be a viable starter position for me.

I'd probably end up grinding my finger to the bone! lol.

Appears to be my problem all over as well, lots of US based etc, but not seen much from the UK side at all. I did see South's thread on the vice, was quite an interesting read, and something I might have to look into. Then just need to find some decent well priced starter picks etc that I can have a play with.

[Squelchtone]

Appears to be my problem all over as well, lots of US based etc, but not seen much from the UK side at all. I did see South's thread on the vice, was quite an interesting read, and something I might have to look into. Then just need to find some decent well priced starter picks etc that I can have a play with.

I wasn't chiming in because I don't know which UK online stores are trustworthy for lock pick sets, but I think you mentioned Amazon, so here is basically what you would need to get started and it is well priced:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lock-Picking-PX ... B0009GYL82

looking at a UK bumpkey/lockpicking site, I found this set: http://www.ukbumpkeys.com/products/sout ... k-pick-set
(which is honestly the only thing I'd recommend on that site) It's also the slim profile sets which fit better into the tighter keyways found in Europe vs North America.

hope this helps,
Squelchtone

[L0ckp1ckn00b]

Perfect, cheers buddy.

I did look at the Bumpkey site as well but instantly looked a bit over priced to me compared to what I had seen elsewhere.

Will get a set on order from Amazon ready for the new year!

Appreciate all the inputs.

[LocksportSouth]

I know you already got your answer, and I know that as a noob myself I probably shouldn't be giving any advice (lest I get the billdeserthills beatdown ) but here's my two cents.

If you want to get into the hobby cheap-ish, try the SouthOrd C2010 set. You can get them from WithoutAKey, Amazon, Walker and probably UKBumpKey as well, they're all over the place.

My first set was a GOSO 24pc but I'm not allowed to recommend them . However it's what I started with. Yeah, they're kinda crap but they're also cheap as chips. *shrugs*

If you want to start off with a small set of some really good picks, I recommend Sparrows, Peterson and SouthOrd Max.

For Peterson, check Here and scroll to the small sets at the hottom, or simply pick up a small selection of individual picks. The Stainless Slenders set is good too for us Brits.

For Sparrows, check out UKLockPickers who do all sorts of Sparrows from individual picks right up to the massive Monstrum set.

The SouthOrd Max you can get from Amazon or LockPickShop (UK)

I've personally bought from all of the above stores and can guarantee their veracity.

As for locks, a lot of people like the Master No.3 locks (the smaller laminated plate masters with a blue bumper - the No. 5s are also fine) as they only have 4 pins, all standard. You may also wish to practice on Euro cylinders - you can buy some cheap as chips (£4 to £15) from Screwfix (keep away from B&Q, they're hella pricey) or probably get even better deals on eBay.

You could also try clear plastic practice locks and cutaway locks to help learn the position of your pick relative to the pins, and to "see" pins set - although they're not recommended to LEARN picking on, as they tend to react and feel different to "proper" locks. If you want some of these, search eBay and Amazon for things like "practice lock" "training lock" "practice lock cutaway" and things like that.

Finally, you can also try re-pinnable locks. These are proper locks but the pin stacks have been milled off and replaced with hex screws, and usually come with a bag of different pins so you can re-pin the locks and instantly make a new challenge for yourself. I own This one and it's quite nice, I also have some from learnlockpicking.com but bear in mind that those are US cylinders, not UK cylinders so they will be different to most stuff you'll find here.

Good luck and happy picking!


DISCLAIMER: Yes, I'm a total noob to lock picking too and anything I say should be taken with a grain of salt and is not the official opinion of the forums, it's staff or anybody else on this board and is only my personal opinion and thoughts.

[L0ckp1ckn00b]

All very good information my friend! Appreciate the info, especially the known UK stores etc.

I'm looking forward to having a play and seeing what I can learn.

As seemingly the only other UK based picker, where abouts are you located on our great Emerald Isle?

[LocksportSouth]

You're welcome . I should point out that when I said that I've had with all the stores mentioned, I did actually mean -all- of them, not just the three that I linked to. So if you buy from -any- of those (and let's face it, that's basically all the lockpick suppliers in the UK anyway ) you shouldn't have any problems .

Ah, yes. We're a rare breed, us locksport Brits! Myself, I'm in Hampshire. daaaaaaaan saaaaaaaaf

[L0ckp1ckn00b]

Ah, yes. We're a rare breed, us locksport Brits! Myself, I'm in Hampshire. daaaaaaaan saaaaaaaaf

Haha, small world, also daaaaan saaaaf, and also Hampshire. North Hampshire more specifically, not too far from Baaingstoke, which you will probably know. Lol

[LocksportSouth]

Whaaaat. That's TWO new people who I've randomly found out not only live in the UK but also down here in Hampshire. What are the odds . I'm in Southampton. The other guy is, well, not far from me either. Really is a small world .

[L0ckp1ckn00b]

You know Basingstoke though I assume also? Given closeness.

I'm actually slightly closer to Soton than Basingstoke is, live just down the A303 from Bas.

Crazy though. Hants Lock Pick club coming up I feel! Lol.

[LocksportSouth]

Yep, I know it . Don't often travel there but it's only just down the road.
It's nice to meet some new locals I'm always surprised by how few of us there seem to be!