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Hello everyone! This is my first post.
I asked in the chat and searched and had no hits, so I figured I'd post here. Hopefully its the correct place!

I've been letting some close friends know that if they need any help getting into anything they've lost keys to that I would help them.
I've been trying to learn for awhile now but don't have many training aids. So today I came up with an idea.
If I wanted to learn a bit on re-keying vehicle locks, removing them without damage that I would try my local scrap yard.
Parts are cheap and on some of the wrecked doors they don't mind giving away the locks.
Great learning experience and a great deal on parts!

Hope this helps!

What province are you in ?

Welcome to the forum

And you're right, the scrap yard can be a fun place for people like us.
And while you're there, don't forget to harvest some windshield wipers.
The strips of spring steel inside them are good for making picks & tensors.
Only problem I've found is that some of them are too old & brittle for bending.

Also, some cheap wiper blades bend very easily and have no spring return.

Gordon

Alaphablue I'm from Ontario.
I didn't even really think about the getting the wipers! Thanks!

Wiper blades and locks aplenty! Scrap yard owners often don't know the value of the locks too. In the past they've let me get them out myself (which is all very good practise) and then let me take the lock (sometimes even with keys) for only £2 or £3.

Scrap yards are wonderful. One mans rubbish...

When I first started out as a locksmith, I used to go to a "pick a Part" type place with a bunch of key blanks, Vise-Grips and a piping file to get some practice and to learn a particular model. It helped me allot.
Even today when I need to replace something on my car, even if I intend to buy the part new, I'll still go to my local wrecker to practice on a same model wreck, just so I don't screw mine up.

M.

They give me cash for my scrap wire, busted locks and old keys and I buy more locks Does that count?

Yep, I'd count it Jeff. You clearly believe in recycling.

Gordon.