[masraum]

Originally Posted by rockfan4

Watch the Lockpicking Lawyer on Youtube. Or don't, he makes it look so easy.
Instead of the snap gun, I'm thinking of ordering a set of picks. I made one out of the stainless strip from a windshield wiper blade, but I think I pull too hard on the torsion rod. I could get 3 or 4 pins to click, but I could never get the last one.

I also thought about ordering a cutaway or clear lock to practice on.

The general consensus on most of those is “don’t bother”. Get a handful of padlocks, even if they are all the same model. The way they are keyed and the tolerances can make one much harder to pick than others. I need to dig my locks and pick sweet out again.

I have this set. It was my first and it’s a great beginner set.
https://www.lockpickshop.com/PXS-14.html

I think these people actually make decent training locks. They aren’t the acrylic, but you can see into them. And their picks are also very popular.
https://www.sparrowslockpicks.com/collections/beginner-lock-pick-sets

This was the second set of picks that I bought. I bought them to get the picks that are more narrow which are easier to use in a narrow keyway.
https://www.lockpickworld.com/products/dangerfield-praxis-dual-gauge-21-piece-complete-lock-pick-set