Are there any locksmiths on PH?

[Pig benis]

Hi all

Over the last year or so, I have been practising lockpicking, which I never realised was such a taboo subject until I started. My family, friends and girlfriend were a little weirded out by my new hobby, but it is a topic that always fascinated me, so I decided to start teaching myself on my own kit.

I have been asking around my circle of friends as I wanted to find out if anyone knew of a locksmith, but no one does. So I thought I would ask on PH, to see if we have any locksmiths here? I would really like to talk with someone who (for want of a better word) broke into the industry and their journey.

I'm sceptical of the courses advertised online, but I would like to become certified and further my knowledge in this industry.

Thank you
PB

[easytiger123]

No help at all, but I've also taken up the same hobby for about a year now. Frustrating and satisfying in equal measures. My wife also thinks it's a strange pastime!

[Mr Pointy]

easytiger123 said:

No help at all, but I've also taken up the same hobby for about a year now. Frustrating and satisfying in equal measures. My wife also thinks it's a strange pastime!

It's the way you sit in a corner mumbling "little click out of one, nothing on two.."

[Jazzy Jefferson]

Despite not being really having an interest in locks, youtube - The lockpicking lawyer. I find his channel fascinating.
Sorry this doesn't help in any way

[Pig benis]

easytiger123 said:

No help at all, but I've also taken up the same hobby for about a year now. Frustrating and satisfying in equal measures. My wife also thinks it's a strange pastime!

I am very glad it isn't just my partner who thinks this is a strange pastime. How far has your journey taken you so far? Recently I have been practising the bump-key method, which I've had a good amount of success with.

I have thought about going to my local key shop to ask for advice, but whenever I have walked past they seem really busy, so I wouldn't want to disturb them with something which they might not even be able to advise me on.

[Pig benis]

Jazzy Jefferson said:

Despite not being really having an interest in locks, youtube - The lockpicking lawyer. I find his channel fascinating.
Sorry this doesn't help in any way

Thanks for your reply.

The lockpicking lawyer sparked my interest in practising lock picking. I have always been interested in the topic, but just watching someone on YT and thinking 'If they can do it, so can I', so I started buying beginner pick kits and have taken it from there.

[Richard-390a0]

I don't know why someone would think it's a weird hobby as assuming from being on here you're interested in cars which are mechanical so it would seem logical to me that you would have an interest in how other mechanical things work too!?!... Or maybe I'm weird as well lol !!!!

[crofty1984]

Pig benis said:

Jazzy Jefferson said:

Despite not being really having an interest in locks, youtube - The lockpicking lawyer. I find his channel fascinating.
Sorry this doesn't help in any way

Thanks for your reply.

The lockpicking lawyer sparked my interest in practising lock picking. I have always been interested in the topic, but just watching someone on YT and thinking 'If they can do it, so can I', so I started buying beginner pick kits and have taken it from there.

His voice is SO calming!

[basherX]

Jazzy Jefferson said:

Despite not being really having an interest in locks, youtube - The lockpicking lawyer. I find his channel fascinating.
Sorry this doesn't help in any way

Exactly the same! Having various trailers and bits of equipment locked up outside plus a garage containing all of my gear it's pretty sobering how quickly he gets into stuff. And there's sometimes a little bit of redneck guilty pleasure as he puts down his picks and grabs his gun.

[Pig benis]

Richard-390a0 said:

I don't know why someone would think it's a weird hobby as assuming from being on here you're interested in cars which are mechanical so it would seem logical to me that you would have an interest in how other mechanical things work too!?!... Or maybe I'm weird as well lol !!!!

From chatting with my girlfriend she somehow jumped to the conclusion that I wanted to (her words) "get up to no good" followed by "it's just such a strange thing to want to know about".

Absolutely - I used to be an engineer in motorsport, plus in my own time, I have always tinkered with cars and my current career (in IT) gives me a chance to problem solve etc.

[easytiger123]

Pig benis said:

easytiger123 said:

No help at all, but I've also taken up the same hobby for about a year now. Frustrating and satisfying in equal measures. My wife also thinks it's a strange pastime!

I am very glad it isn't just my partner who thinks this is a strange pastime. How far has your journey taken you so far? Recently I have been practising the bump-key method, which I've had a good amount of success with.

I have thought about going to my local key shop to ask for advice, but whenever I have walked past they seem really busy, so I wouldn't want to disturb them with something which they might not even be able to advise me on.

Another vote for lockpicking lawyer for getting me interested. I started with the basic kits you can buy on Amazon and mastered those pretty quickly (to be fair they're a piece of piss) and graduated to random padlocks I buy from places like Timsons and whenever I see an interesting one.

I've tried bump-keying among other fairly basic and 'agricultural' techniques but I've kind of hit a wall now where I can do the easy locks but am just struggling to master the complex stuff where I keep getting false sets (I think that's the term). It feels like the kind of thing that with more homework and practice I could get better at and break through the wall. I hope!

[PurpleTurtle]

In needing to find out how to unlock one of those small domestic safes that you get in hotel wardrobes I found myself down a YouTube rabbit hole of lock picking tutorials, all very fascinating!