A question or 2 and lots of thanks

[Aristotle]

Hey all,
I'm 15 and from the uk and have just started lock picking, i signed up to the forum about a week ago and since than have been emailing quite a few gurus asking lots of anoying newbie questions but i have always had friendly response and helpfull too, so thanks.
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My question is, i've scratched the heck out of my yale 5 pin tumbler lock to no prevail and from varjeal's advice decided to stop attacking my front door lock
so i was wondering how i could get my hands on as many locks as possible, for little cost. Any ideas ie. raiding family members sheds or will the local lock smith give me a few old locks for free?
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Any response and help would be great thanks again
ARISTOTLE

[chunk]

Look for window companies fitting new doors as your doing your day to day things and ask the guy for the old lock. Visit your local widow company, they may have a skip out back with old doors in it or they may save the doors in a pile untill its time to tip/skip 'em and ask can you take the old locks. Go down the dump/recycling centre and ask the workers there to save 'em for you. Look out for cheap locks at car boots and haggle, offer 50p, the stall holder may not realise how expensive that lock they have is. Ask friends and family for the old locks they invariably have in the shed or garage.

[Aristotle]

Thanks chunk for such a quick n useful reply
any more info on this subject or on yale locks
would be great.

[Wolf2486]

Ebay. A lot of times people do not know what they're selling. I've bought Medeco and Abloy locks for under $20.

[Luke]

Go down to your friendly local locksmith! Some of the older members of this site may remember a post of mine yonks ago about a locksmith kicking me ou of his shop etc. Well i have always been honest when explaining what i am going to do with the locks these days even the guy who kicked me out of this shop gives me locks - mind you cheap ones but remember be honest. I know a locky who works for a big company, i have always gotten good quality locks from him and more recently bi-lock.
Just remember as this is a hobby that is shunned, we need to make up for this by been honest and explaining our intentions. But you also might want to chuck in somthing like this

"I am interested in rekeying locks and a bit of picking - just a career option you know!"

[Aristotle]

Thanks for your help guys just picked my first wafer lock it was on my desk draw using a hook and tention rench, than moved straight on to this metal fieling desk in my dads study it had a 4 pin yale lock on it and i've successfully cracked that as well the second pin was a ***** to get .
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Thanks again
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ARISTOTEL
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p.s no longer a lock picking virgin

[toomush2drink]

You may wish to try something easier than a yale as they normally have 2 spool pins in them but the newer x5 series yales contain about 4 and are right sods to pick. Check out this thread too on whats is easier etc http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=1543