Beginner's Lockpicking Exercise - by digital_blue

[JRock]

That magnet thing is actually a good idea!

One extra piece of advice though, put the magnet in a sandwich bag so everything sticks to the bag instead of the magnet. Once you've picked up what you're looking for, just pull the bag inside out so all your bits are in the bag and your magnet is not. This is especially important if you do this in an area where there might be iron filings, otherwise you'll never get your magnet clean.

You know another thing I found was that instead of using tweezers to put the pins back into the lock I can put a good strong rare earth magnet on end of my tension wrench. This allows me to simply place the pin on the end of the wrench and seems to be much easier to do for me. Again though, I am new to this and it wouldn't surprise me if one of the people that have been doing this for years freaks out on me because this is going to mess up the lock in some way that I didn't think of.

[JRock]

I know that this isn't really that big a deal for the guys that have been doing this for years, but I am so excited because I just opened the lock with two pins in it. I felt like I could really feel and see what was happening in the lock. It took a couple of tries, but right as I was getting frustrated and ready to go back to one pin I took a deep breath, calmed down, loosened the tension a bit, and picked a little slower and the darn thing opened for me. Again, I know it's no five pins, and no security pins, but I am so excited. Just thought I'd share, at least this way some of the people that are newer can get an idea of how useful this training method really is. Thank you so much for posting this guide.

[tenohsix]

I know that this isn't really that big a deal for the guys that have been doing this for years, but I am so excited because I just opened the lock with two pins in it. I felt like I could really feel and see what was happening in the lock. It took a couple of tries, but right as I was getting frustrated and ready to go back to one pin I took a deep breath, calmed down, loosened the tension a bit, and picked a little slower and the darn thing opened for me. Again, I know it's no five pins, and no security pins, but I am so excited. Just thought I'd share, at least this way some of the people that are newer can get an idea of how useful this training method really is. Thank you so much for posting this guide.

Yeah man, same here!!! I just started today on a kwikset and Im up to 4 pins now comfortably unlocking it within 1-2 tries!
I was super excited when I did 2 pins because I felt like I actually have potential lol

Do you find it easier picking from the front of the lock, or from the back??? I cant seem to figure out which is easier or if there is a right or wrong way. I feel like picking from the back of the lock makes it a bit easier, but maybe my mind is just playing tricks

[JRock]

Yeah man, same here!!! I just started today on a kwikset and Im up to 4 pins now comfortably unlocking it within 1-2 tries!
I was super excited when I did 2 pins because I felt like I actually have potential lol

Do you find it easier picking from the front of the lock, or from the back??? I cant seem to figure out which is easier or if there is a right or wrong way. I feel like picking from the back of the lock makes it a bit easier, but maybe my mind is just playing tricks

If you mean do I which direction do I start looking for the binding pin from, I start at the back of the lock for the most part. I find that doing it this way allows me to more easily move the pick over the pins. I had tried starting at the front once or twice just to see how it feels, and it seems like it was a bit more difficult to get the pick to the next pin to check it for binding. Also this practice technique seems to be really good way to learn how to rake locks while you're at it. Raking seems to be a lot about how much tension you use, and this really helps teach the right tension. BTW if anyone cares I'm up to a five pin Schlage now. No security pins yet, but I'm going to be getting some to put in and practice with.

[tenohsix]

Yeah man, same here!!! I just started today on a kwikset and Im up to 4 pins now comfortably unlocking it within 1-2 tries!
I was super excited when I did 2 pins because I felt like I actually have potential lol

Do you find it easier picking from the front of the lock, or from the back??? I cant seem to figure out which is easier or if there is a right or wrong way. I feel like picking from the back of the lock makes it a bit easier, but maybe my mind is just playing tricks

If you mean do I which direction do I start looking for the binding pin from, I start at the back of the lock for the most part. I find that doing it this way allows me to more easily move the pick over the pins. I had tried starting at the front once or twice just to see how it feels, and it seems like it was a bit more difficult to get the pick to the next pin to check it for binding. Also this practice technique seems to be really good way to learn how to rake locks while you're at it. Raking seems to be a lot about how much tension you use, and this really helps teach the right tension. BTW if anyone cares I'm up to a five pin Schlage now. No security pins yet, but I'm going to be getting some to put in and practice with.

What kind of pick set are you using? I need to invest in some, I'm currently using nail clippers for tension, and some random needle I found for picking -_-

[amlwchlocksmiths]

this tuck me back to when i started,seems a long time ago.very good

[JRock]

What kind of pick set are you using? I need to invest in some, I'm currently using nail clippers for tension, and some random needle I found for picking -_-

I got a cheap set off of lockpickshop.com It came with a feeler pick, snake rake, single ball pick, broken key extractor, a tension wrench, and a book. The book is frankly a joke. There is nothing in it that isn't on this site, and quite a few things on this site aren't in the book. I would recommend spending a few extra dollars and getting a more complete pick set. This is the set I got, but if I could go back and change it I would probably go ahead and either get a more expensive set or spend a few bucks extra and put together one myself. But this is a good starter set still. Just there are some tools I wish I had and don't. And I can't just buy one or two picks because I guess they have a minimum order. But if you do buy there be sure and use the discount code from on this site. I think it's LP101.

http://www.lockpickshop.com/PXS-05L.html

[Herms]

This thread is amazing. Helped a lot over the past few days. I've worked my way up to 5 pins on the cheap brinks that i found at Walmart. Then realized that I had been dealing with 2 spool pins the whole time.... Thought the pins looked a little funny when i was placing and removing them, but never made the connection till just now. derp derp

[rexferal]

Noob here with an excellent observation ref: "feeling is important, as it is precisely what you will be feeling for later when trying to find the �binding pin�. Get to know this feeling well. Try applying more tension and notice how the feeling will change as the resistance caused by your increased tension makes the binding more pronounced."

Learning the "feel" of this is MUCH easier for me when I have the lock in a vise. When I'm holding the lock, I seem to have trouble concentrating on the "feeling" I'm getting through my right (picking) hand, since I'm holding the lock with my left hand while keeping tension on the wrench with my left index finger. I guess with less sensory input, it's easier for my brain to concentrate on the feeling in my picking hand. And I know - even in a vise, you've still got to use your left hand to put tension on the wrench, but there's still much less sensory input for your brain to sort out when you're not trying to hold the lock, too.

I think this (putting the lock in a vise while doing the beginner's exercises) is helping develop my "feel" much quicker and better than before.

Try it!

Also - as a noob, I TOTALLY underestimated the difficulty of lockpicking in general. WOW is this tough - all the more reason to go through these exercises as slowly and repeat them as much as you need to in order to progress to the next step.

Another great tip - use "delicate hands" with these locks, picks and tension wrenches, or you'll NEVER get the hang of it.

RexFeral

"We are the people our parents warned us about."

[alfredbobas]

I have got a stupid problem in very, very early part of this exercise. It's about removing this triangular circle from back of the lock. I cant do it with tension wrench beacouse there is no space to put wrench into. So i wanted to ask how did You do this? Maybe you have another type of lock so you can remove the circle, but if someone have lock similar to this showed in LSI Guide To Lock Picking, I would be really thankfull for any advices.

[SurvivalDC]

This is very useful information! I am exited to start! Thanks!

[concerto]

Awesome post. I think this is what is needed to keep your moral up. It's too easy to get frustrated when you don't have great guides like these.

[luckey]

I have just done this exercise before reading your guide and started off with a PAPER CLIP! i soon gave this up as the metal rapidly degrades. I am now using a modified hair clip as a pick and windscreeen wiper blade as a torsion wrench which works well. I completed the task of repinning then picking one key stack at a time in a couple of days. However, 90% of the time I was using the POKE AND PROD METHOD, but realised there was little to be learnt this way. Then I slowed down and got an idea of when a pin was binding and when it wasn't. Now I will get a new lock and follow your guide and the other suggestions. I am waiting for Xmas and New Year to pass before investing in some picks. Thanks for the guide and I will let you know how get on. I am very new to this but find it fascinating.

[luckey]

I used your guide with a 5 pin rim cylinder lock and progressed from the poke and prod method to really understanding what was going on. As i started over Christmas I was unable to purchase any picks, so I used windscreen wiper metal as a torsion wrench (which is actually very good) and a modified hair clip as a pick (which is not so good). Once I realised I enjoyed picking and could see that it could always be challenging, i.e. progressing from basic to really advanced locks then I ordered some picks. I managed your exercise from 1 to 5 standard pins then started using spool pins. This stopped me in my tracks until I realised that the circlip was twisted and preventing the lock from turning so once I fixed it I had great success again until I had 3 spool pins in. However, now that my lock picks have arrived I am back in business and moving on to 4 spool pins. I know the saying A BAD WORKMAN BLAMES HIS TOOLS, but in this case my modified hair clip had done all it was going to do. So now I will try picking the lock with all 5 spool pins in.

[fgarci03]

Whenever I'm stuck with a new lock (or one that I already picked before and for some reason can't do it again!), besides grabbing my confidence locks, I come to the basics.
Not necessarily disassembling the lock, but empty my mind, and feel each and every pin like it's the first time I'm doing that.

Concentrate....

Eventualy it starts to be automatic again and I pop the sun-of-a-gun open!