Deadbolt or padlock for starters?

[Uisgdlyast]

Now for some reason i cannot find any of the locks i thought were in my house. I just spent 40$ on a pick set and would rather not spend more than another 10$ on locks just yet.

I went to DrugMart and say a 7$ dead bolt and then Home Depot had soem more expensive ones and some 4$ padlocks. I read that with the deadbolts you can take some pins out to build yourself up.

So i'm wondering if i should get a deadbolt or padlock? I'm a student so I'm always short on cash.

I think i'll also be going up to this locksmith shop and seeing if they have any locks to sell, i don't know where else to go.

I have a few days until the picks get here

thanks a lot

[hzatorsk]

Uisgdlyast,

It's hard to believe you can live anywhere where there are no locks of your own to pick... ...sounds like a really safe neighborhood.

I think you pretty much figured it out:

Padlocks have the benefit of actually being a useful lock when you are not picking it (ie putting on your bike, trailer, fence, etc.)

Most deadbolt locks (or standard cylinder locks) have the benefit of allowing you to disassemble them so you can pin them as you may need.

I may be worth a shot to ask the locksmith if they'd be willing to part with any cylinders brought back from customers seeking lock upgrades. You'd have to level with them that your intent is to practice the hobby and some locksmiths may be reluctant to help. Also, I'd expect the stock items at a locksmith to be more secure than the typical Home Depot Kwikset general security lock.

Perhaps the Home Depot / Kwikset route is your best starting point.

[randmguy]

If you're just starting out I would recommend going for the best of both. Wal-Mart sells a Brinks rekeyable padlock with the KW1 keyway. It's easy to tear down and rekey...They have decent instructions inside the package. It also seems to be a good beginner's lock if you remove the spool pins. They sell for about $15 and you should be able to use it for quite some time. After you've mastered the basics just start asking around...I'll bet you have friends and neighbors that have padlocks they've lost the keys for.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

[Uisgdlyast]

thanks
what i meant was i can't find any padlocks, we don't really have anyhitgn to lock up. I have an extra deadbolt on a door we don't use but since its winter i can't just take it out.

My home depot did not carry just the Kwikset cylinder, which is only 8$ compareg to the 15 for the deadbolt including. They did have it in another brand starting with an S but it was not Schlage, i was hesitant to buy it because i wasn't sure it would be as easy as the Kwikset.

[KingColliwog]

I personnaly prefer to practise on deadbolt and actually deadbolts that are actually on real door... I have a really hard time when I try to pick a padlock... I cant keep it in my hand since I need both to pick... the only thing I can do is putting it in a vice to keep it from moving... and I prefer a real door to a padlock in a vice...

So if anyone as some advice as for "how to pick a padlock" exept putting it in a vice...

[_Ethereal_]

Hold the padlock in three fingers, have your index finger on the tension tool and your thumb sitting at the top of the padlock.

[David_Parker]

I'd go for a padlock. Its much easier to carry than a deadbolt...allowing you to practice where ever you go.

However, some do express concern in showing off your new attempt at a talent. Onlookers may scold or feel threatned....so exercise with caution.


-Dave.

[quasar]

we can get padlocks in various sizes here for equiv US$1.
The're all 3 or 4 pin tho.

[Uisgdlyast]

so since i can not find the Kwikset should i just buy the other brand they carry?

I think it was called Scaley or something, same price as the kwikset on their website.

Unless anyone knows where they carry just the kwikset cylinder? I'd rather not buy the whole package if i dont have too.

thanks again

[fugi]

have you asked a locksmith if you could have a few junked parts to practice with? could cost you nothing

[digital_blue]

This topic got me thinking. A friend of mine recently acquired a lage amount of old padlocks from his gym. He had seen a box of old padlocks sitting there, so he asked the manager what he did with them and before he knew it, he owned them. I haven't seen his score yet, so I don't know if they've been cut or not, but even a cut padlock would suffice for practice. If you can get the plug to spin, you win! Just a thought for those eager beginners looking for a cheap source for practice locks.

[raimundo]

locks are often found thrown out. attached to doors that are also thrown out. if you have a swiss army knife with the phillips screwdriver, you can souvenir them, (thats old vn war era slang apologies to the quebeqois who have it on their liscense plates) i have a friend with good connections in the scrap metal business, and he can go through their wharehouses where the copper is separated from the iron, and he would fill up my place with buckets of locks if i acepted all he brings over. his connection is that he has sold them stuff for years, and he's very knowlegable so he often tells them what they have, which is sometimes very interesting when the university closes some old experimental programs and scraps the technology out.

[Uisgdlyast]

no one has seemed to answer

does anyone know US stores that carry just the kwikset cylinder or should I get the offbrand they have at Home Depot that seems to be the replacement for their kwikset.

I just dont want to accidently buy one thats harder

thanks again