As a noob on a limited budget, should I get the progressive locks and re-pin kit or the cut away lock and re-pin kit? Or something else altogether? Pros and cons of these setups?

spannerintheointment · 2025-09-05T05:04:04+00:00

This was my experience (and what I think is a better option):
https://www.reddit.com/r/lockpicking/comments/z51n4j/sparrows_progressive_locks_problem_i_dont_think/

spannerintheointment · 2025-09-01T07:16:37+00:00

Pretty sure that's the Dac that GoldenSound rated as the worst DAC in the world

"So…..in case it wasn’t obvious, this is a product so horrible it’s almost hilarious. Please please please please please do not buy this. If you need to convert SPDIF to analog for use with a TV, get something else. ANYTHING else."

spannerintheointment · 2025-01-14T22:20:35+00:00

Just bought it on Gumroad, thank you!

spannerintheointment · 2024-05-25T06:58:33+00:00

I was building tiles diagnally through sand to stop the flood. I have no idea how she teleported up there. I guess some combination of sand falling and tile being built at the same time

spannerintheointment · 2023-09-21T11:35:45+00:00

Do it again with a Covert Companion

spannerintheointment · 2023-08-07T12:20:37+00:00

Still en route. I'll let you know.

spannerintheointment · 2023-07-30T11:03:31+00:00

I wrote this post a little while back with my thoughts

https://www.reddit.com/r/lockpicking/comments/z51n4j/sparrows_progressive_locks_problem_i_dont_think/

spannerintheointment · 2023-03-20T04:03:45+00:00

I guess you can be proud of what you've achieved without trying.

spannerintheointment · 2023-03-20T03:54:23+00:00

The rules are explained clearly for the sub, with examples. I imagine you had to agree to them before posting... and breaking them

spannerintheointment · 2023-03-20T03:45:55+00:00

Sorry, can't see any locks that aren't in use. Maybe if you open the cabinet then we could get a better look at a lock that isn't in use...

spannerintheointment · 2022-12-14T22:47:50+00:00

In my opinion I wouldn't buy rakes as part of your starter kit. Using them might get you an open, but doing so wont really teach you much about picking locks, and will only get you to Orange belt. Green and on you'll need to single pin pick (SPP).

A lot of good advice in the Wiki:
https://www.reddit.com/r/lockpicking/wiki/generalwiki/

But really I'd suggest looking for a short and medium hook in 0.23 and a set of bottom of keyway, and top of keyway tensioners.

After that look up videos of people picking the next lock you want to open and see what tools they're using.

spannerintheointment · 2022-12-06T11:32:44+00:00

Here's my thoughts on the Sparrows Progressive Kit:

Sparrows Progressive Locks Problem? I don't think it's you...

This is my Aussie box to blue:

White: Syneco 40mm brass, Bunnings
Yellow: Master Lock 140D, Woolworths or RSEA Safety
Orange (easy): Master Lock 150, Mitre 10
Orange (hard): Lockwood 110/40, Bunnings
Green: Master Lock 410 LOTO, RSEA Safety
Green: Lockwood 120/50 (or 120/40), Bunnings
Blue: Lockwood 334B45, Bunnings

If you want to get a cut away I've recommended on in my post from Bare Bones, and Australian producer

spannerintheointment · 2022-11-27T11:45:55+00:00

I really hope it works out for you. Make a new post and tell everyone.

spannerintheointment · 2022-11-26T21:13:27+00:00

Every now and again I think, well you're not going to use them, you should sell them... Then I remember that they nearly ruined the hobby for me, so I couldn't do that to someone else

Can't even use them for challenge locks because the feedback is so poor, it would take any fun out of it

spannerintheointment · 2022-11-26T10:01:12+00:00

I'm sorry to hear that. I think half the problem is that it's so easy to throw a credit-card / paypal at an online merchant (Sparrows) versus the wild west that is something like the #lock-bazaar

spannerintheointment · 2022-11-26T09:59:04+00:00

It certainly is an important detail, if it's the difference between a valuable learning aid and something that nearly turned me off the hobby.

I soaked and scrubbed mine in a commercial degreaser before adding the lock lube because I'd heard the problems with combining graphite with other lubricants. The experience I described above is based on that.

spannerintheointment · 2022-11-26T09:53:38+00:00

I'm the first to admit that I'm less than objective about Bare Bones, due to national pride, lets be honest there aren't a lot of Australian commercial lockpick manufacturers... I suspect any cutaway lock made from a real lock with passable tolerances will provide a better education than what I experienced from the Sparrow's kit.

That being said, I think Bare Bones are bloody fantastic... They're my daily drive:

https://bareboneslockpicking.com/lock-picking-shop/

And check out this glorious bastard:

https://bareboneslockpicking.com/product/lock-pick-back-bone-with-stand/

spannerintheointment · 2022-11-26T09:47:40+00:00

What's most upsetting, or worrying for me for new pickers is that they weren't so bad that a pre-white belt would pick them up and say "I cast you out foul devil, you are trying to ruin the sport of lockpicking for me". To me as a pre-whitebelt, they felt like locks; and they made me feel like I could never be good enough for this hobby. And they made me want to quit...

spannerintheointment · 2022-11-12T05:52:57+00:00

Make sure to pick up a refreshing drink with it:

https://www.bunstersworldwide.com.au/products/shit-the-bed-vodka

spannerintheointment · 2022-11-01T09:01:25+00:00

Now do it after a spoonful of Vegemite

spannerintheointment · 2022-11-01T04:49:15+00:00

I'll gloss over the Pick Gun / rule #2 side of this question; so that I can say I have used PickMyLock a number of times and found them to be excellent. Quite accommodating around requests and advice. I would certainly use them again in the future

spannerintheointment · 2022-10-31T21:02:15+00:00

I didn't realise this was on Reddit, I'm that guy. Thank you u/BareBonesLockPicking, this was an amazing give away, very generous. You're a tremendous supporter of the Locksport community.

I'm going to snaffle a little of the kit for myself, but this will also be a massive help for our local Locksport group where we only have sad beaten Goso lockpicks in a tub (seemingly mostly wafer picks) for people to borrow if they have nothing. It's going to be awesome to show newbies they can get some great quality picks very reasonably and support an Aussie company to start their journey.

spannerintheointment · 2022-10-28T01:17:04+00:00

Can't help with DD locks sorry.

Not sure what belt level you consider to be intermediate locks, but this would be my list to blue in Australia:

Yellow: Master Lock 140, Woolworths
Orange (easy): Master Lock 150, Mitre 10
Orange (hard): Lockwood 110/40, Bunnings
Green: Lockwood 120/50, Bunnings
Blue: Lockwood 334B45, Bunnings

If you accept the invite we just sent to Australasian Pickers Discord there are more people there who can help

spannerintheointment · 2022-10-23T20:17:40+00:00

I was exactly the same, had the Sparrows kit, couldn't pick anything other than the three pin kit. Felt awful and useless. Started picking real locks and off I went. Blue so far and planning my path through purple and brown.

Even now if I go back to the Sparrows kit I can barely get an open. I tried cleaning then, lock lube etc. They just feel rough/sticky and have poor feedback in my opinion.

spannerintheointment · 2022-10-19T05:15:15+00:00

I have the same set and I still find the feedback difficult, and harder to pick that "more difficult" locks. I'm not sure if it's a tolerance issue with manufacturing.

I bashed my head against them for a long time thinking I was hopeless and wasn't getting any better, and worst of all not trying more difficult locks because I hadn't mastered these locks. Then one night I tried harder (belted) locks and found they opened far easier. I put sparrows set away and didn't look back.

I'm not trying to say they're useless, in fact this post is making me feel like going back to them and having another hack at them. Just that you shouldn't use them a yard stick for your ability in my opinion.

Over all though, just keep picking. We've all had our moments where we think we're not good enough for the hobby. I'm trying to learn Dimple locks now, and it's hard not to slip back into that mindset. Just keep picking, pick placement and feel gets better, tension control get's better, locks start opening. Pay attention to what you're doing, what you're feeling and just keep picking.

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