A few project questions.

[LockSlayer]

Greetings,

I'm new here and don't normally post to boards. I just read and learn. However my curiosity has been unlocked so to speak. I've been picking locks now for...2 days I think. Bought a 18 piece set from Northern Tool called Dino. I like them. I started on a True Value lock made in China and worth $7.50...and was irritated when I couldn't do much with it. It has 4 pins and only 40 MM and a few patent numbers on the bottom of the lock and a long shackle with tight machining. Like all who are new to this I have already applied too much torque, bent my tools and become rather irritated.

However. I kept reading here and found a very nice link to a website that broke down picking a Master padlock step by step and read that the Master No.3 was rather easy to start. So I dug up one of those and was irritated that I couldn't open it either. But funny thing is, when you aren't paying attention the lock just sort of pops open on you. Did that when I was reading how to do it. Did it when I was watching TV too. LOL. Anywho...I can now pick a Master No. 3 in only a few seconds and do it everytime. Rather funny when you show family what you can do...and realize where all the locks came from...apparently they are old locks the water company used on all their gates...

Here is my question. I moved on to another old lock available to me and for the life of me I can't find the other threads I read about it before...the Master No. 1 locks. I have one of them and messed with it for a while and couldn't do much with it at first. Then again while I wasn't paying attention, it just popped open. I've picked this lock open 4 or 5 times now...and I don't know what I did.

The Master No. 3 seems to have 2 pins that I can hit every time using only a finger or feeler pick with very light torque and the lock just springs open every single time I repeat the process. Same thing when I picked a different No. 3 that was keyed the same. But I have been trying to figure out what it is about the Master No. 1 that just makes it pop open. I picked it two times in row and opened it both times in only a few seconds. I cannot however repeat whatever I did.

The Master No. 1 seems to either have a bound pin way in the back...or it is some sort of a sharp ledge that leads further back in the lock. Far as I can tell, the Master No. 1 has 4 pins and I've been able to open it 4 or 5 times now. The True Value lock also has 4 pins...and I can only solve maybe 2 of the pins to where it turns a bit.

I'm just wondering how I can concentrate on what I'm doing and open a lock, realizing the tactics behind whatever I did...not watch TV or read about how to do it and then have my sub conciousness go off opening all my locks for me.

I only know how to pick individual pins it seems...raking I have not studied...have tried and chewed up my snake pick a bit already and been unsuccessful with any type of personal raking.

LockSlayer

[CaptHook]

You should be calling yourself pickslayer .... Heres the scoop, do some reading and figure out how a lock works. With this knowledge, apply it to a lock, using your mind, and your sense of touch to "feel" what is going on inside the lock, you will start to improve. Picking locks isnt about shoving tools into keyways and poking/prodding/bending around, its about setting the pins.
Search for the MIT guide, and read all the faqs on this site. Think about what you just read, then read it again until it makes perfect sense. Practice, read, practice some more.
Chuck

[WhiteHat]

I've also noticed the "when I'm not paying attention it opens" phenominon.

usually it means that I'm using too much tension - concentrating too hard and "willing" the lock to open causes me to press to hard.

as soon as I stop caring about opening the lock - *click*..

welcome to zen and the art of picking..... to use the MIT guides terms....

or if you don't care about all the psychological bull.... then just use the minimum amount of tension required and keep practicing.

also a thing to note about padlocks. I've never tried to pick a masterlock before but some padlocks require you to overcome a spring force prior to binding the pins - others have the spring force after you've picked it. the former will require more tension initially and will require you to concentrate more on the amount of tension because you will need to apply it more force consistantly (I'm talking generally here).

finaly: if you've done it once, it can be done again - don't get frustrated and don't focus on getting the lock open - that's not the goal - the goal is to get better at picking....

[zman]

ok, Im new here, and I have a question:

is a master lock one of those combination locks they use on school lockers?

[MrB]

ok, Im new here, and I have a question:

is a master lock one of those combination locks they use on school lockers?

So I hear, yes. But there are lots of padlocks branded Master Lock. Some have keys and some have combinations.

[Buggs41]

You have to look for the manufacturers logo on the lock to know what it is. Yes, masterlock makes locks of all configurations. They could be used on someones back shed, a barn, a bicycle, and yes a school locker.

[pickerman14]

my school uses all master locks and schlage for doors but our combination locks in the locker room are master too with a key on they back(very easy to pick)