This article is something I've been pondering for a bit. I've already had two threatened law suits and one subpoena to appear as a witness in court this year, and the year's still young.. so I modified the title slightly to avoid any litigious angst.
Now then... on with the article...
So, you're new. You've probably already picked your first lock or two and thought "Hey, this is cool! I could really get into this!". And now you've set out to devour every bit of information you can find on lock picking. Sound about right? Ok, keep reading.
What is it that separates those who can from those who "kinda can"? How is it that some people get really, really skilled with lock picking and others just kinda level off at the illustrious Master No. 3? What exactly should you do if you want to really hone your Pick-Fu? This and more is what I hope to convey in this article. It is broken down into 7 habits.. er.. habitual behaviors that you should consider part of your regular lock picking endeavor.
HABITUAL BEHAVIOR # 1
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Read! Then read some more. Then when you're done reading, find something good to read.
The simple fact is that the more knowledge and understanding you have of the mechanics of locks, and the mechanics of lock picking, the easier and more intuitive you will find the rest of the habits. Always try and read stuff that is just above your current level of understanding. If you have to read and re-read something to get a grip on it, you're probably on the right track. Read through forum posts, read every guide you can find, and if you really want the grandaddy of them all, get yourself a copy of Locks, Safes, and Security and read that cover to cover. Point is, it will be a long time before you reach a point where you can't find anything new to read about.
But don't think that you have to wait until you finish reading to start practicing. Far from it! Just don't forget to keep reading. Print off articles for reading while you're away from your computer and have some downtime.
HABITUAL BEHAVIOR #2
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Visualization. Good lock pickers can actually SEE in their mind's eye what is going on inside the lock. They learn to interpret the feedback they get from their tools and create an accurate mental image of the state of the pins, the way the locking mechanism works, the way the pins are binding, etc.
Fact is, this trait comes easier to some than to others. It may be that you really have to work at this. It may be that it comes naturally. But either way, it's essential to developing into a skillful lock picker. Every time you pick up a lock, try and imagine all the pins. Make sure you know how many pin stacks are in the lock, and their locations. Imagine all the pins at rest. Then put your tension wrench in the lock and imagine that one of the pins is binding. How would that look? Where would it be binding? What would happen to the pins? Start to pick the lock and feel for that binding pin, always increasing and clarifying your mental picture as you gather new information from the tools. What does a set pin look like? How is the driver pin resting on the lip of the shear line? What happens to the bottom pin? Can you see it?
HABITUAL BEHAVIOR #3
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Become a collector of locks. Actively seek out new locks, and try your hand at picking every one of them. Don't be discouraged if you just CAN'T pick some of your locks no matter how hard you try. I have a whole bunch of locks I own and have never successfully picked. They're just plain too hard for me.. at least for now. But at least try. And learn what you can from it. Then set it aside and come back to it when you've developed your chops. But all the while, collect as many kinds of locks as you can. Work on many different ones during your practice time, not just one.
HABITUAL BEHAVIOR #4
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Learn about every lock you own. Research it. Take it apart and put it back together. Get yourself to the point where you FULLY understand the locking mechanism and the possible vulnerabilities of the lock you're working on. Seek out breakdown photos on the web. If you can't find any, take the lock apart and take some of your own to share. If you can't take the lock apart, and can't find photos, read about it. Find out what others say.
HABITUAL BEHAVIOR #5
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Ask questions. When you're having trouble, try and work it out yourself. But don't be afraid to seek out help from more experienced pickers. There's no sense in reinventing the wheel, and why not stand on the shoulders of those who have come before you. You see even farther that way. Be a part of the community. Draw from those who know more and share with those who know less.
HABITUAL BEHAVIOR #6
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Have a pile of confidence boosters. Keep some locks around you that you KNOW you can pick. The fact is, sometimes you're going to have an off day. And it seems that the harder you TRY to pick a difficult lock, the more impossible it seems. So when you find yourself getting frustrated, grab that bunch of confidence locks and start working your way through. Maybe try and time yourself to get through a group of them, then try and beat your time. Even though you're only picking locks you've picked 100 times or more, this is still VERY valuable practice!
HABITUAL BEHAVIOR #7
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Practice regularly! I can't stress this enough. No amount of reading or asking questions can replace plain, simple practice. Get your tools in the lock and just do it! And do it again! And again! Try locks mounted. Try them unmounted. Try different pick tools. Try different tension wrenches. But practice often. You just can't skip this step.
These are all pretty simple habits, and mostly common sense. But the fact is, I would say that every successful lock picker I know has made the above part of their experience in lock picking. Now here's the stark truth. 90% of the people who took the time to read this article will not take the time to follow up with themselves and make sure they're covering all of them. Check back on it. Are you unsatisfied with your growth? Can you honestly tell yourself that you're doing all of the above?
Your skill will develop exactly to the extent that you take care of these simple basics.
I hope this helps some of the beginners (and maybe a few of the old hats... who knows).
Good luck and, as always, happy picking!
db
