Beginner's Lockpicking Exercise - by digital_blue

[CheshireCat]

Without this exercise, there is a good chance that i would have gotten so frustrated with padlocks that my lockpicking experience would have been tainted for a long time to come. Thanks again

You sound pretty much like me. (If I got it right, you are at same age, too. ) I would have given up long time ago if I wouldn't have found this exercise. Reading this inspired me to continue with the hobby and to order a proper pick set to practice with.

Great thanks to db for writing this!

[ElbowMacaroni]

Very nice tutorial! I made a feeler pick earlier today from a cheapo "dental" pick and dremmeling it into submission. It's a nice shape and all, but too bendy and very clearly isn't going to last very long. Oh well, live and learn right? Well that said, I had a kwikset deadbolt laying around, and while I got it open with all five pins in (I just raked it), this exercise makes alot of sense, and seems it should help me learn the right skills instead of blindly raking the pins.

Thanks!

[Rift]

I just recently redid these exercises several times to further hone my sense of what is going on inside the lock. I wish I had come across this earlier but even doing it now helped me tremendously!

Anyone starting out should without a doubt do this. Even several months after i started picking this helped me a great deal.

Thanks Blue for the awesome information!


Rift

[pickinboogies]

Digital_blue, this is a great exercise!!! It can be difficult to explain to someone what you mean by finding the bound pin.....this is the trouble I've had w/ trying to show my little brother how to detect this.. I've been picking for quite a long time now, so it's easy for me to tell what's going on in the cylinder, but yet I haven't had a good method of explaining it so it can be understood by others. Bravo for this exercise! everyone has something that they can learn from it! It has definately made it easier for me, and my brother is now understanding and has the ability to feel it correctly, thus increasing his confidence and helping him w/ his potential!! Thanks!!

Sincerely, Jeff D.

[Darrylportelli]

Hey db, This helped me out a lot, I couldnt pick an FF rim cylinder and with this guide Im up to 4 pins with 2 of them being spools. I can pick the 4 pin in under 30 secs but as I add the 5 th I cant pick it,,,,, I guess Ill have to stay on the 4 pin a little longer then. anyway 10x for the great guide.

[digital_blue]

I am very pleased that so many are continuing to get something out of this exercise. Glad it has been some help to you all.

Happy picking!

db

[arrogantbastard]

this tutorial was very helpful when i first started picking. thank you for taking your time to make it.

[WolfSpring]

I know this guide was written a while ago and maybe I'm blind and didn't see this, but should normal pins be used or start with security pins? I've come a long way and do not need this excersise but I'm going to teach my wife and want to set up five different locks, I'm thinking using only serated, or does it make more sense to use normal pins?

[Wizer]

I know this guide was written a while ago and maybe I'm blind and didn't see this, but should normal pins be used or start with security pins? I've come a long way and do not need this excersise but I'm going to teach my wife and want to set up five different locks, I'm thinking using only serated, or does it make more sense to use normal pins?

If my lady was interested in the sport, I would start with normal pins to get her hooked, then mave on to spools.

[digital_blue]

I know my response is a little late, but FWIW, definitely start with regular pins. Serrated pins feel and behave differently, and having her practice with serrated pins will only serve to get her good at picking serrated pins. Somewhat useful, but sorta misses the point.

[bouncer965]

Nice thread there digital blue. I read it with a keen eye lol. Im a newbie to lockpicking and a newbie on here. i only recieved my pick set this morning and have had a nice result with it so far. I got the goso 23 piece set ......i can hear a few sighs already lol. But i will be adding a smaller slimeline set in the future.

My first lock i did was a Rolson 50mm padlock which ive had no luck trying to pick with homemade stuff. ! rake and it openned.......was very shocked. Then i set about spp'ing it and managed to do it in about 2 minutes. Now im sure by what you said about "feeling" the pins, that this lock has security pins inside .....not definate but the third pin has been giving me trouble on each pick and i have had to release the tension to secure the pin in place.....and normally dropping the pther pins in the process. But im learningand only read your thread a minute ago but from what i read its spot on to what i was practising all day.

I have an old Fiat Punto outside so thought i'd try to gain entry to that. Bit different to the padlock ....seemed more luck than judgement on a car door .....but i was in it in about 4 minutes.

Now the lock that got me the most was a lock from my old p.c server that i have. This is i believe a wafer lock ....no doubt i'll be corrected lol. Now this has taken me over an hour to get into it, again i think this lock is more luck than judgement but it was good fun, and kept me busy for a while.

Well looks like a good site and no doubt i'll have a good look around and pick up some tips.........had a poke around on my back door too, (Iseo) well left that after 20 minutes trying to spp it. Could feel the pins jamming and all sorts ......but time will tell and i will get there hahahah

Nice thread well written and easily understood .........

[Phatphish]

had a poke around on my back door too, (Iseo) well left that after 20 minutes trying to spp it. Could feel the pins jamming and all sorts ......but time will tell and i will get there hahahah

We have a credo here "Never pick locks in use!" (unless you are a locksmith at work )
Also only ever pick locks that you own.

[bouncer965]

had a poke around on my back door too, (Iseo) well left that after 20 minutes trying to spp it. Could feel the pins jamming and all sorts ......but time will tell and i will get there hahahah

We have a credo here "Never pick locks in use!" (unless you are a locksmith at work )
Also only ever pick locks that you own.

Ok Ok Ok ..........point taken

Actually didnt think of that at the time but i was rather itching to get stuck in

[nls777]

Hey I find thst when your doing this if you want to get a even better feel you should do the steps with a light off not total darkness but the less light the more you tend to be able to focus on the feel of the pins etc. a moded tip I got from TAOL. hope that helps

[rhyno]

Thanks for this tute DB,
I made a hook pick a few weeks ago, and had been trying on a padlock. All I was doing was frustrating myself.
So i went to the local hardware store and bought a cylinder deadlock, so i got two keyways to play with.
As a result I can now pick a simple 5 pin lock, thanks very much.