Locksmith training suggestions, please?

[Dumber than lumber]

Can anyone suggest a good way to get a young person interested in this? We know a family with a 13 year-old son. He is really good at working with small parts (like Lego) and can focus very intently. I was messing with a Baldwin Smart-Key lock a few days ago and realized that this kid could be developing his mechanical skills this way.
Are there any worthwhile kits that take one through the basics and even help a kid to show his parents how to make house more secure? Or is there a better way to be looking at this?

 

[jfleisher]

3D printer kit for ~$200? Lots of tinkering involved... and less likely to make him think about becoming a cat burglar. Kidding!

 

[gofastwclass]

Look for Bosnian Bill and Lock Picking Lawyer on YouTube. They have several videos about picking locks, the security flaws and the logic of how they work. Bosnian Bill even has a site locklab.com which is a wealth of information for home security and other stuff.

 

[kkroger]

Meh, I had to make my first set of picks from Feeler Stock, layed out in sharpie then grind to shape... Diamond, bypass etc... after that I was allowed to get a real set of picks... never used a gun or vibro... nor bump keys or that stuff... Its easy once you get the hang of it.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Look for Bosnian Bill and Lock Picking Lawyer on YouTube. They have several videos about picking locks, the security flaws and the logic of how they work. Bosnian Bill even has a site locklab.com which is a wealth of information for home security and other stuff.

These guys, especially LPL are AMAZING !

First, a lot of it is "feel" ! Yes, you need an excellent sense of "touch".

Second, is the right tools. A large percentage of locks in the US can be picked with carefully crafted tools from hack saw blades or other pieces of "thin, stiff" metal.

Third is knowledge/experience. When those two are faced with a new "challenge lock" they can spend hours trying to understand how it works. Most locks work on a very similar principle and the QUALITY/PRECISION of the parts is what makes the difference.

 

[ttpete]

Don't forget bump keys.

https://zerodaygear.com/bump-keys?g...2aox1NFqoEf5Yho1gvL3X0rNUyXJRH8xoCU9QQAvD_BwE

 

[gearhead1]

I bought a $10 kit on eBay from China and taught myself. It was far easier than I imagined to pick a lock.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/12-Pcs-Unl...544349&hash=item56b5e74603:g:VxMAAOSwPEFbhvdV

 

[dogdog]

Can anyone suggest a good way to get a young person interested in this? We know a family with a 13 year-old son. He is really good at working with small parts (like Lego) and can focus very intently. I was messing with a Baldwin Smart-Key lock a few days ago and realized that this kid could be developing his mechanical skills this way.
Are there any worthwhile kits that take one through the basics and even help a kid to show his parents how to make house more secure? Or is there a better way to be looking at this?

Not a good idea to introduce 13 year old into locksmithing... maybe if he is good at working with mechanical stuff... maybe a STEM program in your area.... a remote control hobby like a kit from "Tower Hobby"? are all way better than finding a locksmithing course for a 13 year old kid... Seriously...

There are other things like toy modeling that would help develop the kids mental mind set...

 

[dogdog]

3D printer kit for ~$200? Lots of tinkering involved... and less likely to make him think about becoming a cat burglar. Kidding!

No joke in that...

 

[dogdog]

Look for Bosnian Bill and Lock Picking Lawyer on YouTube. They have several videos about picking locks, the security flaws and the logic of how they work. Bosnian Bill even has a site locklab.com which is a wealth of information for home security and other stuff.

A mind is a terrible thing to waste on teaching a 13 year old kid how to pick locks... and I am not saying have gun must shoot scenario... it is just that there are other things that can bring out better potential of the kid.... than learning to pick locks or locksmithing. besides that it's just not rocket science... once you have figured out the first tumbler, second and third....

 

[Capt Chrysler]

Not a good idea to introduce 13 year old into locksmithing... maybe if he is good at working with mechanical stuff... maybe a STEM program in your area.... a remote control hobby like a kit from "Tower Hobby"? are all way better than finding a locksmithing course for a 13 year old kid... Seriously...

There are other things like toy modeling that would help develop the kids mental mind set...

Really?

At 13 I had every lock out, apart, cleaned and reinstalled in our house.

Capt. Chrysler

 

[dogdog]

Really?

At 13 I had every lock out, apart, cleaned and reinstalled in our house.

Capt. Chrysler

LOL.... look pass that and into..... maybe there are better things than lock smithing for a 13 year old.... at your times that might be the best crazed cool thing to do... probably not these days.. If the kid decided that he wants to pursuit his career as locksmith later in life, it's just not that hard to pick up...



I rather teach my kids welding, machining, machine shop math, lathe or milling machines, or even principal of flight or gears than locksmithing or other fun destructive sciences....

 

[bullnerd]

When I was in 6th grade, my buddies dad who was a master machinist and liked to play with locks taught us how to pick. We made our own tools. We mostly stayed out of trouble, but we wandered off a few times. One of the more harmless things we did, We use to open the new construction homes/condos in the area and move all the workers tools around and then lock the doors again. We imagined them being really confused when they returned to work the next day, but we never did know? lol! I kept my tools under the pad on my bmx bike. Was handy if I didn't have my house key and my parents went out.

That said, Id say there are waaaay better things to get a mechanical minded kid into these days.

 

[homebuilt burner]

Our youngest son showed the same interest after watching The Italian Job. A friend is a locksmith and gave him a set of picks and a shoe box full of door locks and padlocks. He practiced until he could open every one in the shoe box. When he lost interest, we took the picks and box of locks back.

Not every kid is a deviant. He might learn a career skill.

 

[jimgood]

If you're really serious
https://foleybelsawlocksmithing.com/

 

[rickpaulos]

Looking to interest a kid in a career? I'd say lock smithing is kinda limited. The LPL is pure hobbyist. In my town of 100k, there are 3 lock business so the jobs are quite limited. There are so many careers that will die out as technology changes. Looking for a future growth job? Ebikes. The sales are just starting to take off in the USA and in a few years there will be millions of them needing repair. Knowledge of batteries, electronics, motors, etc will be a huge benefit for that sort of career. Knowing how all the circuits work and how to quickly diagnose problems will be in big demand. I see those skills lasting a long time. Right now you can get "Bosch certified" but that's just 1 brand of thousands on the market.