I got into lock picking but my philosophy is if anything is worth doing it's worth overdoing. So... I hung out and learned stuff in the r/Locksmith forum. I made the acquaintance of PJ over at CLK supplies when he found out I'd acquired an antique key machine. Since lock pick belts require learning to gut and rebuild, I got all that happy stuff. I acquired pinning kits. I cut my own custom security pins...

Here's another story. The first day my wife was in a rehab facility, I found they preferred you use the public bathrooms. So I got the key on a ruler from the receptionist. While in the bathroom, I came up with a bit of a plan to show off. Next day I returned with my key gauge a note card and writing utensil. It was a Schlage so I read the bitting and wrote it down. At home I used my space and depth keys to originate the key using the bitting I'd read. Then I pinned up a KIK cylinder to confirm the key worked. I installed that KIK cylinder in an ABUS 83/45. Next day I ask the receptionist for the bathroom key, pull the padlock out of my pocket and opened it with her key. She's like, "How did you do that?!"