bobby pin picking

[codizzly]

I recently have picking up lock picking and the first lock I picked was a masterlock padlock which took me under 30 seconds. I later found out that this was pure luck as I was raking with a paper clip. I then found some video's online that showed people using bobby pin's as the pick. When I attempted to do this I discovered that the pin would not fit in the lock so I bent it the skinny side so there is plently of room and it works fine I wanted to know what am I doing wrong all of the videos I watch are of people just bending the pin straight down and I find this more than impossible. This may seem like a pointless question its just something I was very curious about

[Squelchtone]

Spend $21.95 on a real set of picks, you'll thank us later. It's a very basic set, but a million times better than paperclips and bobby pins. Leave those for TV shows and the movies.

Squelchtone

[TheSkyer]

Agreed, I don't really think you need to start of with SouthOrd, there are cheaper sets on the market. But do yourself a favour and get some "profesional equipment". This will make picking easyer and more enjoyable.

[taracor]

Paper clips and bobby pins do work for a while, but only on the most basic of things, then they lose their value. The only point in using them is if you have nothing else at the moment. Do invest in some real picks (or make some!). Once you are proficient with those, then you'll have a lot more success in jury rigging picks if you so desire.

[apb]

One caveat to this bobby pin discussion would be that they make excellent tension wrenches to be used for top tension. They're cheap, easily found and last a long time. As for use as a lock pick, get some real tools.

[TheSkyer]

Here's a nice video for you if you interested in hairpin picking (made by me XD)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xPo8lb5DDw

[freakparade3]

search.php?keywords=bobby+pin&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

[raimundo]

To the OP's question, I havent' seen those videos, as I don't click on bobbypin picking topics but all locks are not equal, and the ones youve seen on the net may have been very easy locks with wide open keyways.

[TheSkyer]

To the OP's question, I havent' seen those videos, as I don't click on bobbypin picking topics but all locks are not equal, and the ones youve seen on the net may have been very easy locks with wide open keyways.

I second that, the lock I open in that youtube video will open if you look at it or breath on it just right

[Solomon]

Like everyone has already said, it's far better if you have proper picks. That being said, I like to improvise just for fun.

Here is a video of me opening a euro cylinder (Univeral Imports, 5-pin, standard pins) with a couple of hairpins: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4di1ep4KPs

It's not a particularly good quality lock mind you, I posted about it on here a while ago. I've also picked a yale cylinder using a wiper blade as a tension wrench and the pick seen in the video, along with the Brockhage practice lock I got a while back. I can also open an Iseo euro cylinder which contains spool pins with it... what have I learned from this? How you use the tension wrench is far more important than what you're doing with the pick.

Still, it's far better using professional tools because they're comfier to use for extended periods of time and they're obviously better quality.

[Engineer]

Universal Imports??? I thought at first you meant you had bought a lock from James Bond's cover company???

Thinking about it though, I think it might have been called Universal Exports...

[Solomon]

Haha nope, this thing is about as low tech as you can get

[quiksilver]

I have to agree with everyone else here...I have been attempting to use bobby pins and paper clips until this week and I could not be happier. In fact, I was unknowingly trying to pick a high security lock and wasted countless hours trying to pick it. I still haven't gotten it but the difference is night and day.

[Dooms_day]

i find bobby pins make good tension wrenches

[JohnVital]

I´m from Brazil, here we prefer bobby pin to open locks. I know that in my country many locksmiths don't have the register, then they cannot buy lockpicks or automotive open tools. Obviously people can buy it from not verified sellers, but the great stores do not sell items until they know register and courses and some professional history.

Because of it we have a great use of bobby pins to open door locks. Many of the doors in Brazil use Yale locks. Even very respected and very known locksmiths use bobby pin to open locks.

With cars we use some type of fine metal and cut the open tool, or wires in many cases. We have, off course, "professional" tools. We can see some of these "professional" tools in sites like http://www.chavesgold.com.br/abertura.htm

All locksmiths that I know in Brazil use bobby pins to open residencial doors. We have great bobby pins that are used to open great locks and a black bobby pin that is small. We have numbers for it, I don´t know about numeration of bobby pins in USA and other countries but I´m very curious about this information.

Number 5 is the most used:
http://www.cabeleza.com.br/loja/produto ... lagens_n_5

Number 7 is for great locks and not work in many cases:
http://www.akbox.com.br/novo/bjprod/927 ... reto-ndeg7

We have a great ratial mix in Brazil, then many girls have hard hair (even white people). I believe that this is another cause of success of the booy pin method among locksmiths.