Master 140 and Yale EHC1

[Skips]

I just got a small set of lockpicks, 5 piece SouthOrd. Anyway I own 2 locks, those named in the subject and I cant seem to get anywhere with them.On the Master I dont seem to have any room to fit both tension wrench and pick into the lock, with the Yale padlock I cant even get the pick in. Would it be worth trying to pick somthing else other than these? I have been looking for some other tubular locks but the only ones I seem to be able to find are the high quality, pick proof £20 jobbies. Im thinking those were a bad idea, I mean these padlocks cost me £2 and £1.50 apiece when I bought them. So yeah, do I need to modify my tools or just get some easier/pickable locks....this Yale is a tough cookie even inserting my pick raises the pins about 3/4 of the way.

[VashTSPD]

there should be a 'lip' of metal right below the pins in the keyway, that's to make the key slide in better and (probably a feature) make the lock harder to pick on some locks. I slide my picks in to the right or left of the lip and then angle them up at the pins if I can.

[Skips]

I understand this, but if I do that the pick has to stay below the lip for that 'S' shape and I have no room for the tension wrench or is it tension? Is it a wrench, man Im useless with names. I just cant seem to find enough room in either of these locks to get both tools in at the same time and Im not sure if thats a problem with my positioning of them or my tooling. Seems like my tooling but...

[jb68]

I bought what I thought would be an easy padlock from Wickes and had the same problem.
I actualy made some picks from junior hacksaw blades they are much thinner and easier to get into the key way.
Just mind your fingers when you make 'em

[Gordon Airporte]

You should try tensioning from the pin end of the keyway. You'll need a wrench with a very, very short blade - short enough that it fits in but does not touch the first pin. Now you have the whole are under the pins to fit your picks in.

[Gordon Airporte]

I now see that that's what I'm doing in the image in my sig, if you want a visual aide.

[jb68]

I agree, I started at the bottom of the keyway but after advice, I changed to the top and have found it much better.