Locksmith work experience

wolfric

I'm trying to see if i can find some locksmith work experience but before i ring some people up i'd like to know what might be the best way about it.

Currently i'm undecided on whether i want to go down that route as a profession. I DO have experience in lockpicking to a minor degree (nothing complicated) and i've read a few books about how locks work and have a very good idea about the inner workings of your standard tumbler lock. I've drilled one myself and had a look inside.

Now i'd be afraid that when i ring up and ask for experience that they might have a history littered with kids just ringing up to find out how to pick locks and therefore just say no outright. What would be the best way of getting accross my situation?

I'm going to mention that i DO know a little about how locks work but.. Should i avoid mentioning that i can pick locks?

Adrenalin

Although i am not a lock smith myself, i would recommend simply explaining your interests in locks and how you are considering perusing it as a future carer. I would how ever leave out that you can pick locks, just because it wont make the lock smith want to accept you any more, just explain that you KNOW how locks operate and how to open standard locks. They are looking for someone to teach their own techniques to, not to try and perfect your method of lock picking.

Hope that helped.

wolfric

thanks i appreciate that. I've long since abandoned the idea but do play around with locks from time to time just for fun. Just to let you know that post was 7 months ago....

Adrenalin

Ah i see. Do you own a set of lock picks?

wolfric

I do indeed. I've since made a few of my own which aren't as good but work quite well enough.

Adrenalin

Nice. What did you make them out of?
And where did you buy your set?

wolfric

bought the set online can't remember from who.
I made my own out of hack saw blades and a grinder. It was pretty hard work as the grinder was very powerful. I had the piece of blade clamped but on the first go i did where it was just near perfection just a slight twitch into it and the whole head broke off.

I found that once i used the proper tools i could make makeshift ones from a very small screw driver for a torque wrench and a well bent thin no cover paper clip. However the more stiff and old the lock is the less likely that the clip will stay in proper shape for long if you have to use excessive force to push the pins down.

Adrenalin

Ah very nice indeed.
I was looking to buy a set but couldn't find any Irish seller so i have decided to contact a company who supplies lock smiths, and we shall see how that goes.

The problem with Irish locks is that the keyhole is very thin. i find it hard to use a home made tension wrench.

wolfric

yeah i realized that myself. I got myself a see through lock to practice on. The kit i had came with big and small tension wrenches but i'm sure you could make those yourself.

It might be a bit difficult. If you know a friend that's hardware friendly, get some hammer tongues and see if he has a blow torch of some kind handy Alternatively a good bbq that you can add extra ventilation to will be hot enough. Depending on the metal you don't have to get it up to insane temps before you can bend it. Then just use a brick or something to place it on. Bend it 90 degrees like a hook and then twist it 90 degrees on the handle from being flat to pointing up at you if that makes any sense. So when you're applying tension you have a flat surface to press against.
http://www.lockpickshop.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/TW-02.jpg
Here's a picture. You can see at the top of the handle the metal is twisted so you can hold it right. You don't have to do that of course.

Adrenalin

Good idea. Sure i can use the metalwork room in school
Just use a hacksaw blade for the tension wrench then and a paper-clip for the hook yeah?
It would be nice to get a hook more permanent though. So i could put it in a case ya know?

wolfric

Again i wouldn't be too optimistic about getting it to work once you have the tools. I picked the see through lock in about 5 seconds first time. After that varying between 20 mins and a few seconds. However: When i went to pick an actual lock. I picked a tricircle one it took a number of hours consistantly just fiddling with it, feeling the pins and what happens. Often times one of the pins would go down too far and get stuck and i didn't realise this till later but you'd just have to start all over again (happened in the see through one as well). After that it got progressively easier. i wouldn't recommend using a paper clip first time or it's going to cause you a lot of problems trying to figure out if the paper clip is the right shape or whether you're just not getting it yet. Good luck though (btw there are plenty examples and diagrams online to learn from)

Adrenalin

yeah i understand. So you think it would be best to make the hook out of a saw blade as well?

wolfric

oh i only made the picks out of the hack saw blade. i'd just awkwardly angle a screwdriver or a thicker paper clip for the wrench. paper clip wrench wouldn't be good for more than a few goes before it'd just bend out of shape. Once you bend the paper clip as you probably know it's hard to get it back to straight and stay there.

Tbh if you have a few bob just buy a simple set online. All you really need is a hook pick and a tension wrench. That's the one i use the most. If you want more then get 2 different reaches of hook,different size wrenches and maybe a wigggle or diamond pick.

Adrenalin

yeah i was thinking of that. do you know a website that delivers to Ireland?
I couldnt find any.

wolfric

lockpicks.com apparently is the place i got it lol a 20 piece set for 40 dollars and a clear plastic lock for 34 dollars.

think it was this one http://www.lockpicks.com/20piecepickset.aspx

Adrenalin

haha. never guessed that web address. Cool thank for all the info.
I will let you know if i decide to get one.