New lockpicking method??

[tsharky87]

Yes, it would damage the lock. I have done it in situations where a ustomer had to get a lock picked, but it was an unusual keyway that had to be special ordered, but the customer had to get in that day.

Customer is also always told the lock will have to be replaced.

I'm just curious: why don't you just pick the lock normally in that situation? It would save money, wouldn't it?

[raimundo]

There are a few examples of cheap brass padlocks usually made in the third world which do not have the flange on the end of the plug to keep out the shims.
Shimming has two different applications, one is to shim the plug and cylinder loose, and uses very thin weak shims to separate the top and bottom pins, and the other is shimming back the locking dog of a padlock, which requires a stronger somewhat thicker shim, since it is working against a heaver spring.