Practice Locks vs Repinning Kits

[RobertFontaine]

I've got a simple 5 pin practice lock with spare pins coming in the mail to get myself properly started.

I've been looking at the MrWizard and Ultimate Challenge practice locks and thinking that this is half of a good idea....

The Lab Mini Universal Repinning kits are about the same price as a practice lock with the Mini security set being about the same price as well. The refill kits without the nice case are even cheaper.

A trip to the local restore can pick me up weisers, yales, schlages, kwiksets and assorted chinese knockoffs by the handful.

Does anyone on the board occassionally buy the refill kits and split them up amongst members?

I'm thinking more of a hobby size kit would make a lot more sense for us. i.e. 10 of each pin for a personal supply. or do you just buy the whole packs, repin and give away the locks when you are done?

thks,
R

[dhk42]

I got this assortment, which is pretty useful.

https://learnlockpicking.com/product/security-pin-upgrade-kit/

It has an assortment of key pins, springs, spools, plain, and serrated drivers.

I'm using it to add security pins to Kwikset keyways while I work my way up to the seven pin ultimate practice lock (from the same source). The practice lock comes with a similar assortment, too.

David

[sheerluck]

The upside of a practise lock is that you can easily change pins even if you can't pick it.

With a regular lock you need to either pick or shim it before you can gut it. (Or keep using the keypins that match your key.)

[LocksportSouth]

I'd love to find a decent sized universal repinning kit in the UK which I can use to repin some of my locks, but so far have found not much here. Most repinnable practice locks come with a set of spare pins and the ones from learnlockpicking come with a hefty bag of all sorts of pins and springs. I think having a practice repinnable lock is helpful simply because it's much easier to quickly pop a set screw out and dump a pin stack or two than to have to open and carefully strip a cylinder, requiring a plug follower and other tools. That said once you've advanced beyond your practice lock(s), repinning regular locks is really the only way to go.

[Devhad]

Whichever one you go with I would definitely recommend mounting it in a mock up of a door. Even a tabletop setup is good. I think some people get dependent on the feedback they get from holding the lock and when the day comes they have to pick a lock that is mounted it's just not the same.

[Devhad]

That 7pin on learnlockpicking looks like a great challenge. are the practice locks much more expensive then buying all the items and tools needed to re-pin?

[74TR6]

"...A trip to the local restore can pick me up weisers, yales, schlages, kwiksets and assorted chinese knockoffs by the handful....." To me, this seems like your best choice for a variety. You will find some locks easy to pick and others will await your increased skills

For a small repin kit, both Lowes and Home Depot offer a home owners repin kit for about $12 to $14. They have Schlage and Kwikset kits; kits have a plug follower and enough pins for five locks---if I remember correctly. As both stores repin locks, kits are usually an order only item; you can order online and pick up at your local store
Here is one ie: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Prime-Line-S ... /100173492

The earlier suggestion of mounting the lock to replicate actual door etc is very good. Try it.