My experience so far. Newbie to newbies

[GWiens2001]

#10 Don't give up. I had 2 very cheap locks that I spent about 2 weeks on before I finally got them, so don't give up.

Very true. I had a Best in a door lever that I could pick to open, but it took me months of picking on and off to finally get control. Only spent the time with that one because it was my first Keymark. Then one day while I was watching a movie on the TV, it just magically went to control.

Gordon

[mikenflorida]

#11 Be aware of what you are doing. Especially bad habits. I noticed that when I put more pressure on my pick to set a pin, I applied that same pressure to my tension wrench. Never going to get a pin set that way. Might bend, or even break, your pick.

[TipsyTurtle63]

But I have a dollar tree lock that is a pain and I still haven't opened it. The key way is very wide and any tension tool gets lost, leaving no room to pick.

I had possibly the same lock, the back 2 pins where no lift, and the first 3 where the same cut, I could comb, shim, or use a tensioner to lift the pins till it opens but it refused to SPP. Even after I was opening harder locks I couldn’t get it!
Some advice would be to skip the really cheap ones and get a Master #3 to start.

[GWiens2001]

Some advice would be to skip the really cheap ones and get a Master #3 to start.

That was my first pick. It may have been over 40 years ago, but that's what it was. Most people I have taught started with a Master No. 3. They are so commonplace that it is a confidence builder.

Gordon

[mikenflorida]

#12 Move up to harder locks and don't give up. It took me a while but I finally got this Abus opened. Santa let it slip that he is getting me more Abus locks this year!