Schlage deadbolt as practice lock?

[eulachon]

Well I just got my picks, and I have this old Schlage deadbolt from my basement to play with. The key is relatively flat (good, or bad?) and I slid the cylinder out and checked there are no spool pins. Good lock to start on? Or should I go and buy a kwikset (are they available in Canada or just a junky American lock?)

It has 5 pins which all set relatively low, and a ward right below. When I slide my pick down the ward, i feel it may push the pins too high, and the wrench takes up most of the rest of the keyway. Any tips?

[Dosk3n]

Put the tension wrench at the top of the key way where the pins are but put it in front of the pins and make sure its not touching the first pin, that way you have all the extra room where the tension wrench would of been.

I dont know much about american/canadian locks but I would start with a 4 pin lock (preferably MASTER), but if your adventurous, since there is no security pins in your lock you could try to start with your 5 pin lock

As for the key allmost being flat id say it doesnt make much of a difference in a lot of locks especialy if they have security pins (which I know yours hasnt), It does make it slightly easier since you can see the key and know that most of the pins are at the same hight but thats about it, If you didnt have the key infront of you I'd say it wouldn't make much of a difference. (I can see people are going to argue against this lol) but thats just my opinion on the locks.

Hope this helps you out and good look with your lock.

Dosk3n

[Lockpick Dan]

i didn't find my 5 pin deadbolt as a bad starting lock, but then it wasn't schlage either. anyway if it's a deadbolt don't forget to keep the driver pins from falling in the bottom of the key hole when u turn it to 180 degrees. gl picking

[UnLock]

Good lock to start on? Or should I go and buy a kwikset (are they available in Canada or just a junky American lock?)

Naw it's not just the Americans that have those "junky" locks...we have them as well. I bought a brand new double cylinder Titan Kwikset at a Liquidation store for $11.99. It was really easy to open. Maybe I should check to make sure it has pins in it!

[eulachon]

Popped out the cylinder again and removed all but one pin to get the feel for it. Then worked up a bit, now I'm at 3 pins and am having trouble single-pinning it - though raking works great, can pop it in under 2 seconds!

The first time I "got" the feeling when you set a pin (with 2 pins in) was pretty cool though, all of a sudden it gets a lot easier. But I'm finding I'm having trouble manipulating the 3rd pin now - the small hook almost seems too big, it gets stuck.

The half diamond works better for me with this lock, and I almost didn't order it, too!