$200 Bucks to spend...Where to spend it?

[musicmaniac414]

I'm about to get hold of about $200 bucks, mostly saved, that I want to use to improve my enjoyment of lock-picking. Where you you guys recommed I start? I've been picking about 6 months and all I have now is a SouthOrd 16 piece pick set and "Secrets of Lock Picking." Possible candidates are more literature, a copy of LSS+, a pick gun, different picks, padlock shims, or locks to practice on. Right now I practice on padlocks (Master) and my house lock (Kwikset). Any suggestions?

[SFGOON]

Save up a touch more, then get your hands on a falle safe set - you'll never need anything else, it's all top of the line equipment. It can be ordered from the UK at www.safeventures.com - absolutely worth the price. If my wife would let me, I'd buy this....

[Chrispy]

This is the second thread like this. Maybe I should start making a thread whenever I've got some spare cash....

"Yeah, I found a five dollar note today, what should I spend it on?"

No offence maniac.

You could try heading around to the different locksmiths in your area and asking if they have any old locks or cylinders lying around that you could buy cheap.

Or you could buy some materials and some cheap locks to make a practice board.

Or you could buy some power tools (bench grinder and dremel) and start making your own picks.

Or you could keep saving the money for a rainy day.

[Varjeal]

Just send it to me. I'll look after it.

[Chucklz]

I would get some better tools. First, decide wether or not you want to make tools. Many people find making picks fun and enjoyable. IF so, get a dremel style tool, and some nice files, especially a sharp new chain saw file, and of course a nice sharp mill b@stard file. I bet this all would run you less than $50.


Now, if you still want commercial tools, I would recommend something from Petersons "Just Picks" line if you don't feel you need a fancy case. ~$20-25 for one of these sets. Hmm, additionally, or instead you could spend 20-80 on an HPC pickset. Id aim lower, or not at all.

The rest of the money? I would put into locks on ebay. Look for rim cylinders or mortise cylinders. You dont want any of the other "stuff" like bolts etc. I've often picked up ~6 locks for 25 including shipping.

Still have extra cash?
Plug spinner, pin kit(s)

[Ezer]

I agree with everything Chucklz said, but I'd add one thing. When first starting out, I'd definitely get one of Varjeal's pin sets with the plug follower. It's kit# SS at www.Varjeal.com . That one kit can provide you with a ton of practice with just one practice lock. I'd suggest getting a cheap deadbolt for use with the kit as their so easy to repin. I spent weeks on one deadbolt by repinning it at first with different standard pins then moving on to different combinations of security pins.

A tip for his follower or any other like it, is that you can use the slot cut into one end (which is needed for certain locks) to make pinning even easier for you. Insert the follower into the cylinder vertically with the slotted end of the follower pointing up. Then drop your pin or spring into the slotted part of the follower. That makes it incredibly easy to line up the pin with the hole. I can't tell you how happy I was when I realised I didn't have to fumble around so much aligning the pin or spring anymore.

[vector40]

No need for a plug spinner in my opinion, if you're just a hobbyist. Who cares which way you pick it?

[Ezer]

As a hobbyist, you don't really need a lot of things, but half the fun of the sport is the cool toys you get to play with.

[vector40]

You can eeeaaasily spend that much on new locks, though, or weird picks for them (MulTlock picks, Abloy picks, that sort of thing).

[EricM]

I spent 150 alone on three mul-t-locks when I came up with my bypass, and I still feel I could have done better with 150 at that time.

I actually look at those locks and say, geesh what a waste of time.( they are still sitting next to my monitor)

For two hundred you can do a bunch, paint the town red on e-bay, haggle with the local locksmith when you buy a bulk order of locks, and he'll usually through some others in, I wouldn't get a pinning kit, just repin the locks you have.

For new picks, get your self some good brick strap from your local mortar yard, or go to the local car garage and ask the mechanic if you can have the old wiper blades, and if you have a dremel or an angle grinder make some picks of your own which I have done countless times.

I mean most things in this field can be done on the cheap, and almost free if you know where to look.

But for a solid purchase, hrmm.....

You could always get a Left Handed Smoke Shifter, we always made sure the new Boy Scouts in my troop when I was in it a few years ago brought one on thier first camp outs with us.

[Chucklz]

o/tEric--- You wouldnt happen to have gone to camp nobebosco now would you?

on topic: After I got suckered into some opening jobs for friends this summer, I picked up a kwikset pinning kit that contained spare parts for these locks. Just in case I ever mess one up. But, the pins can be used to pin up practice locks, just as long as you dont mind that they will be out of "spec" . Usually not a worry for the hobby picker.

[EricM]

Why yes Chucklz I have been to NoBe on many occasions but that is almost a decade ago now.

[musicmaniac414]

Sorry about the selfish thread, I'd just read a lot of stories about disappointed buyers. I don't think machining my own tools is for me just yet, but a practice board sounds like a great idea. I'll probably buy some cylinders from locksmiths and ebay, get a pinning kit for some more practice, and later I'll upgrade my picks. Thanks for all your input!

[EricM]

I would say that is a wise choice, because if you already have decent picks the only thing right now is for your skill level to raise up.

I really don't have any specific purchases that I make other than for projects that really need specific things, other than if it's a impulse buy, and I don't have any cash on hand for that.

[digital_blue]

When I came into this forum I saw the thread "$200 to spend... Where to spend it" and directly below I saw a thread titled "Gone in 60 seconds".

How appropriate.

db