NEWBIE First post - UPVC yale door lock

[milinks]

Hi, this is my first post on the forum, so Hi to all, There seems so much knowledge here and help. I decided a few months ago to take up the hobby, and I've bought a basic pick set, and numerous practice padlocks etc, and after reading a lot of info, although I'm not expert I am finding my way. Whilst cooking my other halves tea tonight I thought I'd have a look at the yale lock on the kitchen door which is a UPVC double glazed door, with the lock upside down. The moment I examined the lock I found that none of my standard picks would even fit in the lock to even begin. Idon't want to upset on my first post, but would a photo of the lock assist. My set is a standard 12 piece set. I apologise about being thick on this subject, just that having practiced with standard padlocks for a few months I thought I'd move onward a bit. Hoping Im not sounding too thick here. Thanks again for a brilliant and informative forum.

[Squelchtone]

Hi and welcome,

We recommend not picking locks in use, it's one of the major rules of this hobbby. If you bugger up the lock by prodding it with those picks and there's a house fire tonight, you may not be able to get out using that kitchen door unless of course it is keyed outside with a thumb-turn inside, but either way, locks in use are tempting as f*uck beacause they're right there, but we recommend going to the DIY store and buying a upvc replacement cylinder from Yale or ERA or some other company and practice on that in your hand, not in the door.

I'd like to see what you have for a pick set though, we've had a ton of people lately buying this real crap set from Amazon and I'd like to discourage people from it if I can.
upload pics to http://imgur.com and copy/paste the Direct Link to the .jpg here.

Thanks and enjoy the forum,
Squelchtone

[milinks]

@Squelchtone.. many thanks for the reply, this is where I'm cringing the same as when my wife told me I'd bought a pup for a car only to find she was right. Hopefully the images show the set that i purchased, and a couple of the locks i've been practising on. If, as i think my picks should be toothpicks, then Id be very grateful directing me to a decent set. Ive been looking at practcie yale locks but not confident on knowing which one would be best.

http://imgur.com/MHOfOSq

http://imgur.com/jOl3wqc

any advice would be very much appreciated, regards

[mseifert]

That is a pretty robust set of pick .. where did you get them from ??

[milinks]

Hi mseifert, to my detriment I did actually buy a set of picks and practice locks from amazon, from an amazon shop called
"Shop Lock Cowboy" its reduced from £39.99 to £20 or $15. It came with a transparent lock but the springs are very weak on it, so even my cat could open it after a few goes. It also came with a credit card set, which is pretty crap, apart from the tension bar, which Ive found handy.

[mseifert]

Hi mseifert, to my detriment I did actually buy a set of picks and practice locks from amazon, from an amazon shop called
"Shop Lock Cowboy" its reduced from £39.99 to £20 or $15. It came with a transparent lock but the springs are very weak on it, so even my cat could open it after a few goes. It also came with a credit card set, which is pretty crap, apart from the tension bar, which Ive found handy.

The set only sells out side of the US .. Where are you located..

[Robotnik]

Those hooks and the city rake look useable, but the diamonds and remaining rakes make me do a single-eyebrow raise .

Personally, I think SouthOrd makes a great starter set; presuming you're in the UK, the Euro Slim kit is relatively affordable and good for tight keyways like Yale.

[capt.dunc]

the picks are a copy of the old majestic picks, they'll do to get you started and will fit the yale keyway.

go and buy a euro lock (upvc lock) from b & q, homebase, ebay or where ever, then try picking it the way up that you're used to, but note the new lock will have security pins. if you want to something easier to move on to then buy an era rim cylinder (not a euro lock). the era rim cylinder is the same keyway profile as the yale but won't have security pins, then go for a yale rim cylinder, make sure you get a yale 1109, not an x5. the 1109 will have 1 security pin.

[capt.dunc]

ps make yourself a top of the keyway wrench from something, use the search button above to learn more