DeadBolt Trouble

[skinnerme]

I have been trying to pick a deadbolt lately, I can get all the pins up but it will not open, when I put the key in and try turn the key as I put it in, it will go in, but not open. It seems like I need to stop applying tension with the key before it will open.
I have to put the key in without any tension on it. Or if I put it in with tension I have to release the tension and I hear a small click, then it will open.
If this is correct, how should I open it with a pick, as I would have to stop applying tension with the tension wrench and this would reset the pins.
Any tips on how to open it?
Thank you

[Aqua]

As i understand, you can fit the key into the lock after you have picked it, and kept holding the tension?
If that's so, then you're probably overlifting one (or more) of the pins. Try to push individual pins slower and more carefully. Stop lifting at the exact moment when you hear/feel a click.

If you overlift a pin, you should be able to make it drop again if you loosen the tension just a bit (but not as much to let the other pins drop too). This may be easy or hard, depending on the tolerance of the lock and on your dexterity and experience. With a few hours of practice with overlifting, you should have it covered. It's usually an easy problem to overcome with low and midium seciruty locks.

Cheers!
N.

[pinsetter]

It is my understanding that the OP is trying to insert the key *while* applying tension to it by twisting as he inserts it. This will not work as the higher pinning of the key will be overlifting and hanging lower pins as it goes in. Then when he releases the pressure it is allowing the overset pins to drop back down and the lock opens. From what I can gather, the lock being referenced is working normally.

[Wolfman]

Using a key to open a lock is different then opening a lock with picks.

A key brings all the pins up to the exact place where they should be. Seeing as there are high and low cuts on a key, applying tention to it will cause the pins to overset at the high points on the key. Keys are ment to be inserted into the lock (without tention) and turned. I'm sure your whole life you never applied tention to keys and they worked just fine, what would make you think they work any differently now that you are learning to pick locks? *scratches head*

Picking is taking advantage of a defect in locks and is DIFFERENT then using the key. When fully inserted a key sets all the pins at the shear line, allowing the lock to rotate. The tention used in picking is to hold a pin at the shear line while you set the rest.

I realy dont know how to explain it, and belive me, I would love to be able to help you, but I cant find the right words.

I would suggest you read the MIT guide to lockpicking and the NEW USERS START HERE thread.

[digital_blue]

Any tips on how to open it?

Yes. Start at the beginning, because you've certainly missed something.

POINT ONE: I have NO IDEA what you're trying to do with a key, but you don't need a key to pick a lock.

POINT TWO: Something that seems to come from the mouths of many newbies is this idea of getting all the "pins up". I am not exactly sure what you're thinking when you say that, but who ever said anything about getting the pins "up"? At best, this is non-descriptive and not a good representation of what is going on. At worst, it indicates a gross misunderstanding of how lockpicking works.

POINT THREE: Have a good, LONG read of the MIT Guide to lock picking, then go through the Beginner Lockpicking Exercise at the top of the PickFu section of this site.

Once you've done that, I'm sure you'll have a far better understanding of what you're trying to do.

Good luck, and happy picking!

db

[Shrub]

Are you trying to reverse pick with a key blank? or trying to use a bump key?

Thats the only two ideas i have from reading the post.

As Db says have a read of the MIT guide then follow HIS very good guide on single pin picking (your too modest Db) you may also want to try the lockpicking paper Matt Blaze wrote which can be found on his crypto lock pages (link on this site in a few places)

[Wolfman]

POINT ONE: I have NO IDEA what you're trying to do with a key, but you don't need a key to pick a lock.

I was thinking he was trying to apply tention to the key now that he knows about tention. I tried to explain the difference between how picking works and how the key works... But I got confused myself. heh.

Like we said, MIT guide and the foremetioned beginers guide

[skinnerme]

After having trouble with picking, I wanted to check if the key did what i thought it did.
I took the pick and tension wrench out, then put the key in while trying to twist it, it would fully go in but the door would not open. If i stopped applying tension to the key while it was in, i would hear a click, twist the key, and it would open.
With the pick I was wondering if it would do the same thing, if I had to much tension on the wrench as i was lifting the picks it would not open, from what I have read I think this would be from over lifting the pins?
Thanks for the replies!

[Shrub]

Yes what you are doing is this,

The higest cuts on the key are pressing up all the pins, the tension on the key is keeping them up in the chambers and thus some of them will be above the shear line,

Releasing the tension is then letting the pins drop down to the correct height and then you can turn the key.

If you do that with any security pins you may encounter then you will set them correctly and thus get around them but otherwise its not a good idea to pick locks like that as over compression of the springs will happen and can damage them.

[Krypos]

it would fully go in but the door would not open

door? i hope this lock isn't on your front door or anything, cuz a real big general rule is that you do not pick any lock you rely upon (ie: front door back door, car door, office, etc)...just in case something goes wrong (which it can, especially if you're newer to picking.)

so i hope this isnt a lock you rely upon, if it si just go down to the local hardware store and for roughly $10 (american) buy a simple deabolt and whatnot and play with that.


*hope i did that quote thing right.....