Beginner's Lockpicking Exercise - by digital_blue

[VagusX]

Thanks for this. This was a great intro.

[Albrtd3]

It's a shame that no noob will ever find the thread by themselves. They'll have to ask "What's the bext way to learn to pick? (Or should it be "wots tha best wey to lern to pik?") and then we'll have to direct them here anyway.

But, all in all, good guide Db.

Haha, well hopefully I can be the exception to that rule. Thanks for the guide, I was hesitant about the skill level needed for locking picking, but it appears to vary from lock to lock, after reading a bunch of posts on this forums (watching some videos on youtube and what not), this seems much like an art. I'll have my first set soon (after reading the sticky on which tools for beginners are the most useful).
Anyway, much thanks for the post Blue, I really appreciate it.

[wa1ker00]

I've been fairly successful in getting to 4 chambers SPP in most standard residential keyways. It's a much more rewarding feeling to open a lock for me with SPP instead of the "rake and pray" method I initially learned. However, I'm still getting held up on adding that 5(+) pin back in. I've also run into great headaches with large MACs near the back of a cylinder. Should I go back to 2 pins in the back and practice large MACs before trying to get back up to 4-5 cylinders?

[anthrax28]

obrigado cara, creio que este exercício ajudou e ajudará a muitos a aperfeiçoar suas habilidades.

thanks man, I believe this exercise helped and will help many to improve their skills.

[mostlocks]

Hey digital blue, whatever those symbols are people can't really read that stuff, maybe find a different way to frustrate people? Other than that I found your information primitive but useful for beginners.

[Pick4Kicks]

So is the binding pin the one that catches the hook... because i cant really tell the difference's between them.

[acesmith]

If your having trouble with stage one: taking the lock apart, watch this video I made on an easy way to do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhnT3dvDhIQ

[Abula]

This was an extremely helpful first tutorial, thanks a lot buddy. I'm mentally seeing the pins so clearly and mapping out the locks in my head.

[Myka]

I'll just add to the good comments. This is a great exercise. I've just worked my way up and have picked 4 pins on my practice lock.
I think the 4th pin is dramatically more difficult for most people. It took me much longer to pick 4 versus 3. I'm going
to spend more time with 4 pins before moving to 5.

[Fire Fox]

digital_blue, thanks for the exercises! I've worked through all the basics and really getting a feel for picking. I'm now moving on to adding security pins in my locks. I don't think I would have progressed in skill as fast if it wasn't for your exercises.

[serenity]

OMG, you guys rock

[TehToast]

I'm waiting on my pick set in the mail, this guide seems like it will be really helpful. Thanks for writing it, I'll definitely use it to learn.

[punkshorty27]

This is the first thing im going to do when i get my practice lock and first actual pick kit... hopefully very soon

[JRock]

Great info thanks for sharing it. I find it to be even more helpful when it is combined with the "pencil method" suggested in the LSI guide. Also, and I hope I don't upset anyone with this suggestion, but I find that the first time or two that you re-key a lock a magnet can be your best friend. Even though I know we all do the work perfectly each time... and only work in an organized workplace sometimes mistakes just happen. I was putting a spring back in and for whatever reason just had a muscle spasm. Spent the next 20 minutes looking for the spring in this God awful rug we have (my mother in law gave it to us otherwise there would be little reason not to burn this thing). Finally I remembered I had an old speaker in my storage went and grabbed it and found the thing in about 2 minutes. Anyway thanks again for the info. It has really helped.

[MrScruff]

That magnet thing is actually a good idea!

One extra piece of advice though, put the magnet in a sandwich bag so everything sticks to the bag instead of the magnet. Once you've picked up what you're looking for, just pull the bag inside out so all your bits are in the bag and your magnet is not. This is especially important if you do this in an area where there might be iron filings, otherwise you'll never get your magnet clean.