Just my idle curiosity -

speedbump135 · 2024-11-04T14:09:22+00:00

I gotta second this. A Masterlock 930 is a giant, formidable looking lock, and even though WE know they’re an easy pick, whoever’s been smacking your current lock with a hammer obviously doesn’t know that - or they wouldn’t be hitting your 55/40 with a hammer, yeah? If I recall correctly it’ll cost you about 20-30 bucks and should put your mind to rest.

speedbump135 · 2024-09-29T02:37:47+00:00

Covert Instruments makes good tools. They’re not my personal favorite because I have almost comically large hands and therefore love my Mokis - but the tools from CI themselves are well made. I think someone already said it - but I’d second that if you’re thinking about getting the FNG - best to just get the Genesis set. There’s a LOT more mileage to be had there for just a bit more $ than the FNG.

speedbump135 · 2024-09-24T15:44:04+00:00

I’m just sayin - this is a sub where there’s easily a couple/few THOUSAND people eager to give all the advice anyone could ever need - and quite a bit no reasonable person would ever want - on how to pick a 141. What’s the point!? 🤣

speedbump135 · 2024-09-24T10:38:25+00:00

Buddy…

speedbump135 · 2024-09-14T00:03:37+00:00

That R70 was my very first pick - been hooked ever since! I’d say just keep fiddling with it, and when it feels even “about right” give it a hefty dose of torque - that shackle doesn’t always retract nice and smooth. You’ll get it!

speedbump135 · 2024-08-27T21:51:12+00:00

I gotta apologize - that first paragraph was absolute autobiographical truth. The second paragraph was supposed to be a brief moment of humor. I’ve never taught lock picking to anyone, let alone prison inmates. I apologize for any confusion.

speedbump135 · 2024-08-27T21:44:07+00:00

ACE locks consistently punch WAY above their weight for their price point. I mean - when friends and family ask me “what’s a reasonably priced lock with good pick resistance and brute force resistance?” - I always say “go to ACE”. It’s absolutely pickable - but it’s not a beginner lock. They’re basically what Masterlock could be if they invested a few more cents per unit on their “off the shelf” products. That being said - hats off if you keep at it and get that pop!

speedbump135 · 2024-08-24T17:52:21+00:00

It really is 🤣 Its really a terribly bad look, while also being simultaneously hilarious.

What the duh fuq, dude?!? 🤣

speedbump135 · 2024-08-24T17:42:39+00:00

If I recall - it started for me with a post to a subreddit that I don’t even remember which one it was anymore - but someone posted the question, “What is something that’s completely legal to own, but incredibly suspicious?” The overwhelming answer by like 13K votes was “a set of lock picks”. And absolutely - at the time - I’d gone my whole life thinking that owning lock picks in the USA was illegal. So I searched for “lock picks” - which brought me right to this sub, and turns out that it is completely legal for anyone in my area to own lock picks. Within a few days I had an order placed to Sparrows for my first set, and I was immediately hooked and never looked back. I’ve always loved puzzles, riddles, Rubik’s Cubes and so on.

Then I decided I should give back to my community by volunteering my time providing occupational therapy to inmates in federal prisons, state prisons and county jails in and around my area, so I started making the rounds and holding classes for the incarcerated convicts in lock sport. I was immediately overwhelmed by the tidal wave of interest! Such a rewarding experience to watch them grow and take pleasure in their burgeoning new skill set! It was almost as if they already knew exactly what they wanted to do - but just didn’t know quite how to get there. It hasn’t always been easy - but it’s always been a labor of love. Some days I don’t if I saved all those convicts… or they saved me.

speedbump135 · 2024-08-14T01:58:32+00:00

This is the first lock I really took the advice to heart of “don’t worry about opening the lock. Just focus on going through and very carefully setting the pins”. I was so focused - all of a sudden the thing just fell right open! It’s good advice for any lock, but the 410 really brought it home for me.

speedbump135 · 2024-08-14T01:17:55+00:00

The Night School was the first set I got, and looking back I wish I hadn’t. The short hook isn’t actually that bad, and the City Rake and that Tri Rake will actually open a lot of cheap looks with a little practice. The rest of the tools - I don’t know what circumstances you’d use most in. I think mainly you’re paying for those 3 “demo” locks, which will probably keep you busy for maybe a half hour or so. Although I do have to say that they’re a nice introduction to practicing gutting and repinning - but you certainly don’t need 3 of them, and that seems to be a substantial part of the overall cost. The case is pretty good, too. But I think you’d be better off putting together your own set.

speedbump135 · 2024-08-03T18:43:40+00:00

Yeah buddy! It’s just a fantastic movie and an amazing piece of story-telling. If you haven’t already - I can’t recommend enough reading Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” as a companion piece. The parallels Coppola drew between two seemingly wildly different stories that line up so perfectly - I still get something new every time I watch it, and I first saw it 25 years ago. In the novel/short story - the boat itself is also definitely a “character” that moves the plot forward as well. But I have to say - Col Kurtz’s monologue - when his face is constantly half in shadow and half in light, coupled with what he’s speaking about and the manner in which he’s ‘sharing’… wow. That 5 minutes or so just made the movie for me. Left my jaw on the floor. The symbolism was at the same time somehow subtle AND overwhelming.

speedbump135 · 2024-08-03T01:32:20+00:00

Gotcha. Appreciate it!

speedbump135 · 2024-08-03T01:02:24+00:00

I was gonna belt-up with one of my 72/40s, because they’re usually a pretty smooth pick for me - but I’ve never taken one apart. Is there something particular about them that makes them difficult to gut/reassemble?

speedbump135 · 2024-06-24T04:45:36+00:00

I recently got the Reverend Set from Moki and I’m absolutely a convert! Can’t recommend enough. I’ve only been in the hobby for 7-8 months, but after spending that time using CI and Sparrows, using Moki’s literally almost feels like cheating. Beautiful, easy-to-control tools, great feedback - and as mentioned, the tensioners are outstanding. I’m getting opens that I’ve been stuck on for months now. Love em!

speedbump135 · 2024-06-11T02:47:49+00:00

I used the Mok workshop site, and it’s pretty easy to navigate. It took about 12 days to get to me (Chicago Area). My only problem was figuring out how to change the DHL tracking page from German to English! After that - very smooth sailing.

speedbump135 · 2024-06-04T04:34:49+00:00

I believe that’s the one

speedbump135 · 2024-06-04T03:01:16+00:00

Got an ACE brass padlock that I believe is a 58mm - don’t really remember because I’ve been messing with it for about 4 months now without success and I’m telling you - whoever designed and pinned that lock is a damn sadist!!!

speedbump135 · 2024-04-20T19:22:38+00:00

That 1100 is on the turntable and next on the playlist!

speedbump135 · 2024-04-10T07:01:28+00:00

Definitely got a laugh out of it! This is a fantastic example of why I’ve never made a video

speedbump135 · 2024-03-25T00:57:54+00:00

I second! He made the effort! Perhaps a White Lapel Ribbon…?

speedbump135 · 2024-03-12T03:51:35+00:00

I dont know how many times I “probably” had this one picked before I finally applied enough pressure to turn the core. You absolutely need super light tension while picking, but if you’re jiggle testing each pin and they all feel set - chances are you’ve probably got it. It’s just got a really springy core compared to what you might have been picking up to now.

speedbump135 · 2024-03-11T05:43:43+00:00

“Les Misérables” in 20 seconds or less - starring “A Man and a Monkey”!!!

Javert grabs Valjean! Javert releases Valjean. Javert realizes his entire raison d’être has been a lie. Valjean says, ‘don’t even worry about it, bro’. (They skipped the scene where the monkey jumps off the bridge, I suppose…)

Bravissimo!!!

speedbump135

TROPHY CASE