Need help picking staggered pins!

[boo35]

Hey,

I'm relatively new to lockpicking, I can pick a few easy ones though. I am having trouble picking locks where pin 1 is set really low and pin 2 is set high and so on. I notice this by looking at the keys of the locks I'm trying to pick. I find myself always getting pin 1 jammed too high up when trying to lift pin 2. What is the best pick to use for locks like these? Are there any techniques that will help me with picking locks like this as opposed to others?

[Phatphish]

To answer your question, it sounds like you need to use a hook type pick of a suitable size to get past the low pins. Be it small, medium or large.
Also, have you checked this exercise out yet? viewtopic.php?p=117211#p117211

[Raymond]

Besides changing to a higher curve on a hooked pick, try tensioning from the top of the keyway. This allows more room for the pick to be angled from the bottom of the keyway. If the wards on sides of the keyway are tight when doing this, try a thinner pick. You can also try setting the shorter pin and then gently release tension to let the over lifted pin drop. I remember one instruction that said to pry the overset pin down with a sharp probe after setting the short pin.

In the real world of picking for dollars, when you draw an impossible combination, it is time for: bumping, pick gun, and then the rotary pick. We do not have time to waste trying to perfectly pick all of them would that we could.

[Josh K]

Besides changing to a higher curve on a hooked pick, try tensioning from the top of the keyway. This allows more room for the pick to be angled from the bottom of the keyway. If the wards on sides of the keyway are tight when doing this, try a thinner pick. You can also try setting the shorter pin and then gently release tension to let the over lifted pin drop. I remember one instruction that said to pry the overset pin down with a sharp probe after setting the short pin.

In the real world of picking for dollars, when you draw an impossible combination, it is time for: bumping, pick gun, and then the rotary pick. We do not have time to waste trying to perfectly pick all of them would that we could.

+1 for TOK tension. I prefer the Peterson prybar.

[gilduran]

I had the same problem with a lock. Pin 1 (rear of the keyway) was a high stack and pin 2 was a low stack. I used my large hook +TOK tension to get to the pin I needed. It's amazing how much room TOK free's up at the bottom of the keyway.

The only situation I could see a larger hook not working, is a heavily warded lock. In that situation, you just need to get creative and figure out a way past the low pin stack to reach the high pin stack. If the low stack is not set yet, you might try heavy tension to keep the stack from lifting easily as you slide past with the pick., That should help to limit the possibility of over lifting it.

+1 for TOK tension, +1 for the Peterson prybar

[Raymond]

This weekend I experienced axactly what is being discussed. I tried to pick a Master 150 padlock and opened it once. But it would never open again. I finally got frustrated and impressioned the key. Turns out the cuts were like 51641. There was no way the turning tool would have provided enough room if used at the bottom of the keyway. I think the first picking was pure luck.

[Nelrond]

The big issue that I am having is that Pin 2 or 3 (in my master padlocks) are low set and in the second one, both are set low. Almost at the resting point of the pins when no key is inserted.

I've tried setting my torsion wrench at the top of the keyway but I can't get it deep enough to set properly and thus it can't apply the right level of force without falling out.

Maybe it was beginners luck that I was having with other locks or maybe I'm just missing something.