Buying Practice cylinders

[Doobner]

I hope this isn’t considered redundant, but after a lot of searching on this site, it’s still a question for me. I have been looking at some of the recommended businesses sites, and I am not sure what I should be buying. Most recently, looking at lockpicks.com, and lockpickshop.com. Admittedly, I still need to learn more about different types of locks (referring mainly to types- not brands). As I’m just starting out, I don’t know if I need to spend more than $30 for a Schlage-style cylinder, or if a 5 pin cylinder or something for less than $10 would be worthwhile. Sorry if I should just know better by now, but I have been searching and reading until I get some heavy mental fatigue.

[Doobner]

So, just to clarify. I just am looking for beginner difficulty level door type locks. I plan to hit some local hardware shops, Target, etc. to look for padlocks. Looking US types. Really, right now, I would rather spend no more than $30 right now. Maybe two $12 cylinders? Not sure about anything considered ez-re key, is that what I really should get, especially if it would cost much more?

[femurat]

There's one practice lock that I suggest you to get. It'll follow you as your skills grow.
It's the Improved Mr Wizard's Super Max 7 Pin Practice Lock Kit

Cheers

[Doobner]

Thanks for the recommendation! I will have to see if I can scrape up enough funds for that. I might have to wait for a little while. Sounds like a lot of people like that one! It’s nice to have such artisans around!

[Squelchtone]

ebay is your friend for used Kwikset, Schlage, Arrow, BEST cylinders. Look for the words mortise cylinder, rim cylinder, KIK cylinder, and Master Padlock

Squelchtone

[Squelchtone]

Ddon't forget to buy a vise or 3D printed cylinder holders so your hands don't get bruised and tired from holding cylinders with sharp edges for hours and hours.

the KIK (Key in Knob) one is the one I would get if you were only getting 1.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Inserts-for-Universal-Lock-Holder-Locksport-3D-Printed/153874124319

[Squelchtone]

example of stuff on ebay, sort by Buy It Now, and Price and Shipping Lowest

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Schlage-Key-In ... 4696836482

get to know the names of distributors and generic lock makers such as ILCO, GMS, US Lock,

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ILCO-Grade-2-K ... 2704855551

https://www.ebay.com/itm/US-Lock-Core-B ... 3984463759

https://www.ebay.com/itm/US-LOCK-US1500 ... 3176498164

https://www.ebay.com/itm/WEISER-951-SAT ... 1934854793

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Premium-Mortis ... 3730084324

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-GMS-M118-Y ... 3318751041

https://www.ebay.com/itm/American-Lock- ... 4159926484

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Padlock-Master ... 2878417839

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ABUS-55-40-Pad ... 3929518370


Look out for the shipping costs. Some sellers have a lock for $5 but want $15 to ship it, so you have to make the call if that makes sense or not. a small flat rate box costs $8.95 to ship and can fit a good amount of padlocks and cylinders, so try to find sellers that have multiple auctions and ask them if they will combine shipping into 1 box for all of your purchases with them.


90% of of all the locks I ever owned for this hobby were purchased on ebay. I usually try to buy cylinders and padlocks that include the key so you can make sure the lock works and nothing is stuck inside and if you want to cheat you can peek at the key cuts to see how hard or easy it is. or when you can't pick a lock for an hour straight, you can insert the key and turn it to make sure it's your skill level and not something wrong with the lock from hours or picking on it.

Squelchtone

[Doobner]

Thanks for giving me such a good load of information! I will peruse their selection. Although, ATM, I was thinking about what I might pick up from lockpicks.com, or lockpickshop.com as I think I’ll be placing an order from one of them. Thinking of picking up a few single picks, or a small but decent set to get the feeling for how to use picks without damaging them. The basic Brockhage or HPC spring steel sets might make sense. I am very tempted to pick up a book or two from one of them. It seems like a lot of people don’t recommend books, but I just feel like if I had one to look at, as I am a visual learner. It might be nice to leave a book open in front of me when I’m offline. Also lockpickshop.com has the HPC “basic raking and picking” book available for $5 or something plus the visual guide for $20. I don’t know for sure, maybe it would be a waste of money. I’m a bit indecisive right now. Still reading a lot of stuff here, probably at least a few hours an evening, and a lot of stuff on YouTube. I do appreciate the advice I get here. Sorry if I’m unloading here, obviously I’m trying to figure out a few things at once. Should be a relief once I get up and running, I just feel the need to really research and plan stuff out. You wrote a lot of good stuff while I was writing myself

It sounds like Kwikset is a good brand to look for. Anyways have a good day!


Thanks for listening!

[Doobner]

Just for disclosure, I don’t have a real workbench or vice right now. Somebody mentioned wrapping a cylinder in gaffer tape, sounds like a good idea. Also, I don’t really want to do more than 2 orders right now. Will probably wait at least a couple of months to do another. Was thinking that one of the 2 will be from Sharrows, the other from lockpickshop or lockpicks.com. Will start looking around locally for some basic padlock to start with.

Thanks for all the info. Will be going through those links to check stuff out!

[Doobner]

Ok. I checked out all those eBay links. I think I know pretty much what I’m looking for, now.

Thanks a bunch!

[Squelchtone]

this seller on ebay is selling lots of practice locks: https://www.ebay.com/itm/8-Random-Locks ... 4255991895

[Doobner]

Thanks for the heads up! Sounds like a good deal

[Dyonzi]

I started out with a cheap kwikset but that Mr Wizard one looks great!

[GWiens2001]

I started out with a cheap kwikset but that Mr Wizard one looks great!

It is. Got one for myself and another for my son years ago. Still works great when I need to brush up.

Gordon

[ausGeoff]

...
Look out for the shipping costs. Some sellers have a lock for $5 but want $15 to ship it, so you have to make the call if that makes sense or not. a small flat rate box costs $8.95 to ship and can fit a good amount of padlocks and cylinders, so try to find sellers that have multiple auctions and ask them if they will combine shipping into 1 box for all of your purchases with them.

Squelchtone

Exorbitant shipping costs are a real issue that make it virtually impractical for us Aussie to purchase anything from the US.
Often, a $20 lock will add an extra (say) $40 delivery charge. Most of the quality locks we can get here on eBay are from Asian
sources, with free postage, but at 2 to 3 times the RRP of the US equivalent selling price.

The SouthOrd MPXS-14 set cost me AU$59 here in Australia (US$42) whereas in the US it's around $25.