How much to invest as a beginner...?

[kwoswalt99-]

You can modify pins too. Serrated, mushroom, spool etc.

As for file size, I have and use an entire set of like a dozen files. But you if you think about it all you need is a small $10 needle file set from home depot. It's all in how comfortable you are taking off lots of metal at one time. If you are new at hand filing, smaller files will remove metal slower and in smaller amounts. A lot easier for a beginner. But it takes a long time to remove lots of metal. Bigger files will remove the metal faster and in a larger area, so you have to be confident and sure.

I would start with a small $10 needle file set from home depot. They will work, not break the bank, you can progress to bigger files later. Also you will always have the small ones and use them all the time for finer work.

It's so much the size of the file as it is the coarseness of the teeth.

[thephat13isback]

I do actually have some random pins lying around that I might try filing down (I bought a lock from Home Depot and am only one pin short of repinning it to match my house key). I bought the $4 Harbor Freight kit (there was an Easter sale, so I got a free magnetic light out of it) and I think that'll do fine for now; the guy at the store told me they come greased and to clean it with alcohol first. I definitely want to look around Home Depot for files and that $10 set, as they aren't as overpriced as I had originally conceived. Now to order some blank keys!

I wish I could find a pin set on craigslist haha. I saw some on ebay but I want to see what I'm getting into. I did however get in touch with a woman who runs estate sales; said she literally has hundreds (maybe thousands) of keys, and they're ORGANIZED, as well as some padlocks. For sure going to buy any and all locks she has (some are rusted, but that's the kind of dirty stuff I want to run into for practice). Hopefully she can be my supplier; padlocks are better than no locks.

[WestCoastPicks]

I do actually have some random pins lying around that I might try filing down (I bought a lock from Home Depot and am only one pin short of repinning it to match my house key). I bought the $4 Harbor Freight kit (there was an Easter sale, so I got a free magnetic light out of it) and I think that'll do fine for now; the guy at the store told me they come greased and to clean it with alcohol first. I definitely want to look around Home Depot for files and that $10 set, as they aren't as overpriced as I had originally conceived. Now to order some blank keys!

I wish I could find a pin set on craigslist haha. I saw some on ebay but I want to see what I'm getting into. I did however get in touch with a woman who runs estate sales; said she literally has hundreds (maybe thousands) of keys, and they're ORGANIZED, as well as some padlocks. For sure going to buy any and all locks she has (some are rusted, but that's the kind of dirty stuff I want to run into for practice). Hopefully she can be my supplier; padlocks are better than no locks.

Hope it works out for you man! let us know. I actually prefer padlocks, Something about the shackle popping open satisfies me more than just a core turning.

[johnb007]

I had to start pretty low end, I found a small starter pick set from keepshooting that ran $4.95, and scrounged around the house for old padlocks. Once I got good, I could justify moving up to a better set, then multiple sets and then onto the "buy everything I can get my mitts on!". You see this hobby can become a downward spiral into awesomeness

Keep up appraised on your progress and new acquisitions.