DIY Lockpick Stand?

[Dontfearthejoshjosh]

In 2005, someone had a 2x4 construction lockpick stand that his carpenter friend built for him.
I could certainly drill up a 2x4 and install some locks- but it'll take a while and there will be a lot of saw dust while I figure my way around something I'd be satisfied with.

Having no real work area other than a living room. I'd like to limit the amount of mess I create in constructing a lock picking stand/station by copying a good design.

Can anyone point me toward a setup or some ideas for ways to mount many different sorts of locks (pin, tubular, automotive, etc..)?

I would even enjoy observing a ordinary photo of any setups/stands

[G-lock]

In 2005, someone had a 2x4 construction lockpick stand that his carpenter friend built for him.
I could certainly drill up a 2x4 and install some locks- but it'll take a while and there will be a lot of saw dust while I figure my way around something I'd be satisfied with.

Having no real work area other than a living room. I'd like to limit the amount of mess I create in constructing a lock picking stand/station by copying a good design.

Can anyone point me toward a setup or some ideas for ways to mount many different sorts of locks (pin, tubular, automotive, etc..)?

I would even enjoy observing a ordinary photo of any setups/stands

Any chance you could use a small table vise? Or are you set on a wooden stand?

[dontlook]

I haven't seen much DIY stuff, mostly it is either a generic hobby stand from Harbor Freight(cheap) or Panavise(expensive).

or these

http://www.lockpickersmall.com/practice-lock-stands/

I see a lot of this (from any brand)
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-3-4-quar ... -3311.html

I know it is not DIY

[RedE]

A small vise on my workbench works for me. It has hard plastic covers on the jaws so it won't mark up any of the cylinders. Other jigs and setups don't work too well for me because they shift all around when I'm trying to pick.

[G-lock]

I haven't seen much DIY stuff, mostly it is either a generic hobby stand from Harbor Freight(cheap) or Panavise(expensive).

or these

http://www.lockpickersmall.com/practice-lock-stands/

I see a lot of this (from any brand)
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-3-4-quar ... -3311.html

I know it is not DIY

I have a cheap adjustable vise with rubber pads on the jaws & bottom. Its no panavise but i really like it. I can keep my locks very secure without marring them & adjust it to whatever angle is most comfortable for me on any type of lock or keyway. Most of the jigs you linked to use set screws to hold the locks in place which will scratch them up & most of them are at a 90 degree angle, which would be good if you were trying to learn to pick locks that are installed. But it would be rather uncomfortable to pick a locks sitting straight up & down in a jig all day for practice.

[Silverado]

I have been using the exact suction base vise linked in the harbor freight page for quite some time and it's never failed me. You have to make sure your mounting surface is smooth and clean, as well as the rubber base or it won't stick real long. Though a lot of times it loses suction to my dining room table and I don't even notice.
What I like the most about this vise is that you can free up the jaws and rotate them around on the ball-joint underneath so you don't always have to pick on a totally vertical lock. I like to have it tilted away from me sometimes to make my angle of attack more comfortable.

[Dontfearthejoshjosh]

I actually do have that green suction vise. I believe i'll consider it's use more often.

The thought of setting up a gauntlet of locks is sort of intriguing to me and do desire to practice picking built in locks.
From what I've gathered in searches, it seems that most setups would probably be vertical boards with locks mounted in them. The real trick being the variety of lock types (auto, home, file cabinet) being securely mounted to the same depth of board.

[Silverado]

So if you want them mounted side by side on say, a piece of plywood, go for it. I'd say use 1/2" for rigidity, framed out fur/fir (?) strip for added strength. Whatever is too thick for the plywood you could just stuff a spacer behind it. That way everything mounts flush with the front side, and nobody will be looking at the ugly backside.

[Ralph_Goodman]

When I clicked on this thread I thought it was going to be talking about stands for your lock picks, not mounting ideas for locks you are picking !

Thought that was a neat idea, but I kept wondering to myself, "Do I have a set of picks that I would want to display?"

Now I am curious if anyone has made any displays for their tools. I have seems some pretty cool images of work stations, but nothing like people do with, say, guitars.

Has anyone gone as far as to make a stand for just their picks?

[TheLockWhisperer]

Actually I use the same thing many people mention, a simple vise that is usually suction-cup mounted, with a sort of "prehensile" section where it can be adjusted in three different planes. I removed the suction cup, drilled 3 holes, and mounted it to a piece of 3/4" aluminum plate cut in a circle, about the size of a dinner plate. I drilled a few holes in patterns on top to hold picks, standing upright, and glued a felt bottom on it so it wouldn't scratch my wife's coffee table, and bolted the vise to it. You have to countersink the holes on the bottom so the nuts or bolt heads don't keep the plate from sitting flat, but otherwise it's very simple.

I have built several "attachments: for it over the years- a piece of plate and some spacers, drilled like a standard deadbolt or doorknob, with a tail section that clamps into the vise, as well as some spacers to take up the space- since doors are 1 3/4 to 2" thick, and the plate is only 1/2", and a sort of jaw insert that holds various lock assemblies, but honestly, I rarely use them...it's easier just to clamp most things into the vise with the rubber inserts, as others have mentioned.

[TheLockWhisperer]

Sorry, I didn't see this initially- yes, I have a stand for my picks- it's out in my shop, and I'm a little laid up after having knee surgery, but it's very simple. I made a 3 level wooden block, basically, about 30" long, and drilled holes in it. It's 3 level like stadium seating, if you can picture that, and mainly holds the tools I don't carry daily and/or tools that are very special purpose, like some of the bypass tools, and seconds...and thirds, and fourths, lol. It's the same setup I made to hold leatherworking tools as a kid.
The only drawback is that picks come with a wide variety of handles, so I drilled holes specifically for types of picks- in other words, there is a section with very small holes for wiper blade style picks, another for petersen plastic handles, etc. They stand upright in 3 levels, so they are easy to sort through.
I don't know about display...this is just for ease of use, though.

[G-lock]

I actually do have that green suction vise. I believe i'll consider it's use more often.

The thought of setting up a gauntlet of locks is sort of intriguing to me and do desire to practice picking built in locks.
From what I've gathered in searches, it seems that most setups would probably be vertical boards with locks mounted in them. The real trick being the variety of lock types (auto, home, file cabinet) being securely mounted to the same depth of board.

If you were trying to keep mess from drilling, saw dust, etc to a minimum & you dont care what it looks like im almost sure you could use some pvc piping with various tee's & adaptors to make a gauntlet style stand for various types of locks. Theres already people selling pvc practice stands on ebay now. It shouldn't be hard to expand the design & maybe put some feet on it. If you use a pvc cutter to make your cuts & not a saw there will be absolutely zero shavings to clean up & if you decide to glue it pvc glue drys quickly, but it can be messy also.

[Dontfearthejoshjosh]

I actually do have that green suction vise. I believe i'll consider it's use more often.

The thought of setting up a gauntlet of locks is sort of intriguing to me and do desire to practice picking built in locks.
From what I've gathered in searches, it seems that most setups would probably be vertical boards with locks mounted in them. The real trick being the variety of lock types (auto, home, file cabinet) being securely mounted to the same depth of board.

If you were trying to keep mess from drilling, saw dust, etc to a minimum & you dont care what it looks like im almost sure you could use some pvc piping with various tee's & adaptors to make a gauntlet style stand for various types of locks. Theres already people selling pvc practice stands on ebay now. It shouldn't be hard to expand the design & maybe put some feet on it. If you use a pvc cutter to make your cuts & not a saw there will be absolutely zero shavings to clean up & if you decide to glue it pvc glue drys quickly, but it can be messy also.

That's pretty interesting thanks. PVC does seem like a good option
I think it would be cool to have all of the locks contribute toward the opening of a box or something. Perhaps an elaborate piggy bank.
Or maybe just weights falling down after the lock is open. Something as gratifying as a latch popping open for the first time.


I want to see a lockpick display case too

[greengrowlocks]

I was gonna post this as a separate topic but I just finished this stand last night.

I have been using a small Pelican case for my picks but it's been getting more crowded and difficult to find the picks I need. I ordered a yard of synthetic leather in hopes to build a roll out case that many people have. I went to the craft store to get thread and needles and roughly sketched out the design. I don't have a sewing machine and after a small practice sew I quickly found out this is completely out of my wheelhouse. As much as I wanted to make a roll out case I lack the skills and tools to do so.

I don't transport my picks that often so 99% of picking is done on the same desk anyway. So I figured a wood stand would be the next best thing. I spend a couple hours looking at paintbrush holders and similar things to get an idea for the basic design. After figuring out the rough design I went to Lowes and got a few pieces of white pine totaling all of six dollars. I then start marking in pencil the proper dimensions and intersections where the holes will be. The Peterson picks with plastic handles are .47" wide and the Southord picks with one layer of heatshrink are .37". Taking this into account the final holes are made with a .5" drill bit.

My first attempt was with a handheld screwdriver where I drilled small pilot holes. Then I stepped up to .5" which was too much and broke the board. My second attempt I decided to do right with a drill press which proved to be much easier. I also stepped up the size three times to prevent any chipping. After finishing the holes I hand sanded with 400 grit and finished with 600 grit. I rolled up the sandpaper to sand each hole as well. After all four pieces of wood were sanded I used wood glue to put it all together. The glue dried over last night and this is what I have today. I will eventually stain and polyurethane it but have decided to just use it as is for now.

Original Case


Sewing is hard


Wood


Holes drilled


Cut to size and test fit


Glued overnight






Picking Station

[G-lock]

Very nice stand GGL. I made some very simular stands out of some pieces of maple from my burn pile last week. I posted a pic of them already in the "what about cases" thread.