A lemmy community dedicated to the sport of lockpicking. Information about our belt system can be found at https://lpubelts.com.
#Rules
Rule 1 - Possibly Illegal or Inappropriate
We do not facilitate illegal or inappropriate activities, which includes picking locks that are not owned by you. Also, be sure that you are familiar with any legal issues for your state or country.
Rule 2 - Lock Not Owned or In Use
Though asking for assistance in regards to how to open a lock is permitted and encouraged, the lock must not be in use. Any submission looking for assistance in opening a lock that is implied to be, or is visibly in use (eg. a deadbolt still attached to a door, or a padlock with anything secured by a closed shackle) will be locked or deleted. Posting about picking locks or having picked locks in use is also not allowed even if they are your own.
Rule of thumb, lock is "in use" if installed.
Rule 3 - No Emergency Services
We do not provide emergency assistance for opening locks. These violations also generally violate our no "in use" locks rule.
Rule 4 - Being a Jerk
Hate speech, bigotry, and personal attacks are not allowed.
Rule 5 - No Astroturfing
Absolutely no astroturfing.
Definition:
Astroturfing is the practice of masking the sponsors of a message or organization to make it appear as though it originates from and is supported by grassroots participants. It is a practice intended to give the statements or organizations credibility by withholding information about the source's financial connection.
Rule 6 - Off Topic
Posts must stay on topic. Off topic content will be removed at our discretion.
Off topic includes posts asking for lock recommendations, evidence of a lock being picked, and anything not having to do directly with locksport.
Rule 7 - No Stock Photos on Picking Advice Threads
No stock photos on picking advice threads in an attempt to circumvent Rule 2.
Rule 8 - No posts about broken tools or equipment
As some users have demonstrated an inability to discuss this in a productive way, posts about broken tools or equipment will be removed.
This is primarily to address posts commenting on the quality of products (or lack there of) contributing to their breaking.
Rule 9 - No low effort posts / Memes
/c/lockpicking is a subreddit to discuss topics and build a community around a skill, low effort posts and memes take away from that spirit. Including but not limited to photos of keys, Memes, etc
Check Goodwill, Salvation Army, Savers, and other thrift stores for deadbolts and doorknobs to take apart. I think I got 6 or 7 for like $20.
The cylinders can easily fit held in your curled index finger of non-dominate hand, tension with the thumb.
Try not to get any Kwiksets(look for the slot on the face, Google it), you will beat your head against them fecklessly.
If they come with keys, write numbers on the key and cylinder so you don't mix them up; just in case.
I actually quite like qwicksets (edit: classic, not smartkey) for practice (specifically home Depot defiant brand). I swapped a few doorknobs in my last apartment to match the styles, so I took the extra cylinders and re-pinned them with randomly generated bittings and assorted security pin configuration. Also used a label maker to print a hint on which pins were what security type into the tailpieces or pin chamber covers.
They are starting out, no need to introduce them to 3rd Gen kwiksets god mode. They need a solid foundation with realistic locks to better understand the art and science. You only need one kwikset to emulate countless security tumblers so long as you have a key to clone.
I thought kwiksets were supposed to be easy? I have no idea what 3rd Gen means, and I don't have any smart key ones. I also like being able to switch quickly if I get bored trying to get one of the ones with security pins open, the one I pinned with standard pins is very easy, no God mode needed. I'm just starting out too and I find it to be a great collection of difficulties from easy to moderate.
The Kwiksets are basically only destructive defeat locks. They have every permutation of pin available and will only turn if exactly picked or are broken.
The first gens are "easiest", the 3rd Gen Kwiksets are only reasonably defeated by destruction.
Ah well I'm definitely not talking about 3rd Gen then, some of mine rake open and most will open with a snap gun. I just picked up the cheapest kwiksets in home Depot so I could get rid of the mismatched handles in my apartment. They're easy to re-pin and pick (most of them, I still struggle with one of the 2 spooled ones) and as a beginner it's nice to have a few I can become familiar with.
Edit: it looks like first Gen is still smartkey so I guess I'm talking about before even that. Just a regular non-smartkey lock. Maybe it's easier to find non-smartkey kwikset keyways in the budget brands - all the landlords buy home Depot's defiant brand so that's what I was looking at to get matching knobs for my place. I don't think I've seen a defiant with smartkey.
How would one get a solid foundation with realistic locks? I'd like to learn, what equipment do I need?
Buy a basic set of lockpicks, buy some practice locks, watch a few YouTube videos on picking theory/technique, practice until you are competent. Southern Ordinance 14 piece set(pxs-14) is everything you should need for standard locks and then some. The rubber handles in that set are more comfortable for longer practice sessions while you are learning and using entirely too much force that will hurt your hand(with bare metal picks) until you learn what tension is appropriate.
Knowing how to single pin pick is foundational, knowing how to rake is handy. Once you know what you are doing then you can play with other pick profiles to suit your personal preference or style, but a hook and tension tool will defeat most standard locks.
The fun part, aside from feeling competent and helping people, is watching movies and TV while WTFing about how the hell they portray lock-picking.
Anywhere somebody doesn't want you to be. But really you're probably just looking for cylinders like you thought. Might want to look into one that you can easily replace the pins on like this one so you can practice with different types of pins: https://www.ebay.com/itm/225003758502
Careful.... As someone who got started back in the day when wizwazzle was doing videos. You'll end up with a bunch of random ass locks.
Enjoy op! And congrats!