Just getting into picking and liking it quite a bit--hoping to progress through the belt system. Now I get to ask my wife for a Xmas gift.
I was thinking asking her to order from Sparrow (although I'm to be convinced otherwise--prices/quality seem good):
- The Spirit Set
- Flatbars Knurled
- Heavy Bars
- Offset Hybrid .025
How far will that get me? And handles or no handles? Should I get the Spirit (without) and then a couple with, like the hybrid, short, etc? Or do I get the kickstart, which has the handles, and then add some without?
Thanks!
Need some suggestions on what you guys would put on your Christmas list for unique lock picking stuff
In my dive into attacking spools, 'Hybrid Picking' came up, and tools like the Sparrows Medusa intrigued me. I started to think why this technique wasn't being taught to pickers who first start attacking spools. It is used in these YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1oWSDiD-oA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iw0VjQYg40&list=TLPQMDkxMTIwMjGjlBN5aSbH6w&index=11 . I have noticed that some lockpick sets are geared towards this style like the two Southern Specialties 2500 Series Kits, the Classic and the TOOOL. Is this basically just a competitive LockSports thing? Or I am just late to the party? I remember seeing Wizwazzle use this technique, but I really didn't understand what he was doing at the time.
There used to be a lockpicking meetup at Ada's, but I was told they moved somewhere else. Is this going on these days or did it die when the pandemic came?
I was just curious how many of you have heard of locksport and what the likely hood of a local smith being up for supplying keyless locks for this purpose might be.
Hello! I just moved to SF and can’t find any locksport groups to meet in person and pick together, swap locks, make friends, etc.
Anyone know of any groups like this? Are there enough pickers in the bay that there’d be interest in forming a group? I’d be down to host.
My first blood is a Master no.140 that I stumbled upon in an old desk at work we were throwing away. It had the key sticking out of the plug, so I brought it home.
Took damn near 45 minutes the first time, and still takes me roughly 5 minutes each subsequent time but it sure is addicting!
I have a profile cylinder that has some pretty challenging bitting but no working key! Went to a local locksmith shop today and the guy there made me feel like a real dickhead after he asked what I was doing with it. I was honest I said it was going to be a challenge lock, he rolled his eyes, handed it back to me and said it would be $45 to have a key cut. Am I taking this personally? Is code cutting a key really that much more of an expense to a locksmith than just duplicating?
Anyone interested that would able to begin to build a SE Wisconsin locksport community
I figure with a student body this size there ought to be other lockpicking hobbyists out there. Give me a PM if you would want to meet up sometime.
Looking to see if their are other like minded people around the city, or province in general that are into locksport / lock picking. I picked it up as an easy to transport hobby during the pandemic, due to loving problem solving and have been hooked ever since.
Say hi if you're out there!
For anyone wanting to get like minded people 'together' on social media I have started Locksport Nova Scotia on Facebook, join up!
I read it on my YT if you don’t want to read it
https://youtu.be/8u2MR4nKSiw
The calling of a Father
As any good father knows, as your children get older you tend to see them less. They always have something they are doing, and let’s face it we are old and boring! So when the opportunity arises to hang out or help my kids I pretty much drop everything.
So the story goes.
I had just gotten home from a long days work and was enjoying my first glass of a beautifully balanced honey colored whiskey. I could taste the vanilla and oak tones as I looked at my phone and seen a pin drop in the phone from my son. The pin location was a state park atop of the Ko’olau mountains just 10 minutes away. It’s filled with tall Norfolk Pines which litter the forest bed with long skinny pine cones. The air is cool and filled with a energy of life and relaxation. Still tasting the similar tones in the whiskey I felt I was there already.
I was pulled quickly away from this day drift of a dream by bongos banging in a salsa Cuban inspired rhythm, it was my ringtone. Ah I see my son is calling , he must be inviting me up to enjoy a sunset and music session amongst his friends. This is it , my time has come my child likes me and thinks I’m cool enough to come hang. I smack my lips to enjoy the lingering finish of chocolate and oak from the whiskey. The phone is on its 3 or so ring. I don’t want to answer to quickly and seem desperate so I enjoy the finish for another moment. Now it’s time to answer “ whats up kid?! “ he reply’s in a young mans tone “” oh uh hey dad so what are you doing ? “” .
Now most fathers have it , some better than others but we all have it, that father sense that can pick up the subtle nuances in tone and approach. Now realizing it’s not the turning of the tide and I’m all of a sudden cool, he needs or wants something !
“ I just got done working, what are you up to? “ “” well we were up here chilling and the guard locked the gate early I guess and never came to tell us they were locking it. There’s like 8 cars locked in the gate. Sooo you think you can pick this lock that’s on the gate? “ “
I feel this growing sensation in my spine as my eyes widen, my spine straightening, my chest pushes forward as I grow taller . This is it I get to be the hero! So I reply in a nonchalant manner
“ well it depends , send a photo of the lock “ I stare into the phone awaiting the photo and my eyes tighten and slightly look up to the side as I recall the cit
