Beginner's Lockpicking Exercise - by digital_blue

[raimundo]

I'm too lazy to click on it and read it, somebody just tell me the highlights

[digital_blue]

HIGHLIGHTS: Stage 1, get lock. Stage 3, pick it.

[Romstar]

You wise aker!

[whypurplishblue]

great guide digital_blue! I learnt a great deal from it. Before this guide I was really just randomly picking at the pins.. with this guide I now am learning to "feel" the pins. Gotta find some spool pins one day to try the intermediate exercises.

[digital_blue]

Thanks for that.

And in answer to your namesake question... because digital_blue was already taken?

db

[whypurplishblue]

never thought about that hehe..

[LockTite]

great guide DB!!

before reading this thread... I read (and re-read and re-read) the MIT guide but I was still having trouble. I had been able to open several locks once (and only once) which made me happy until I realized that it was only luck that opened it since no matter how long I tried I couldn't do it again

Then I found this thread. I've been practicing these exercises casually over the past week or so. (I say casually because my fingers/hands/wrist get very sore after about 30 mins of continuous picking, so I can't do much more than that per day)

right now I can pick up to 3 pins no problem, but it still takes me a while to pick 4 pins. This guide has helped (and is still helping) me alot. Thanks to this guide [and alot more practice] I'll soon be picking 5 pin tumblers and beyond!

Thanks alot!

[Rutteger]

Another newbie successfully learned how to pick from this guide: me!

In the end I found it's almost harder to re-pin the lock than it is to pick it. Almost.

You've made another convert, and I thank you for it.

--Rutteger
Lockpicking hobbyist since...today

[apb]

First time I've wrote here, but been a member for a little while now. If you're looking for spool pins and a lock that is easy to disassemble and repin for practice, the American Lock Series 5200 usually will contain 2-3 spool pins. This is not always a guarantee however. To take it apart just get to the screw under the shackle (once its opened) and a small wooden dowel can be used to take the core out of the lock. You'll have to shim it if you don't have the key. If you get 2-3 of these locks you should have numerous pin sizes with a few spool pins to repin at your leisure with multiple combinations for db's lockpicking excercise. They usually run for about 7-8 dollars for what i've seen. But if you want security pins and a practice lock, this one has worked for me. Hope it helps.

[tooler]

thanks a lot! i am a newbie at this and this guide really helped me. i acually think i know what im doing now.

[beauty_2000_sa]

thanks a lot

[digital_blue]

Always glad to hear that this exercise is getting some milage.

Happy picking!

db

[Caoctane]

This is a fantastic guide. Picked my first lock with it. Yes it was a repinned yale (3) but still. I finally understand the concept of it all. Thanks for such a great guide.

[Udidin]

Well, after a few weeks reading, and a couple of hours of dremeling, I picked my first lock!

I've only done the 3 pin twice now (more luck than judgement I'm afraid), but I'm getting there.

The most shocking thing was how easy the lock seems - it wasn't that cheap, about £7 from Wilkos, 5 pin, but there are no security pins, and I bet I could rake it in a second (if I had a rake).

Many thanks for the guide db, invaluable,

Cheers

Udidin.

[Rehclip]

It's a shame that no noob will ever find the thread by themselves. They'll have to ask "What's the bext way to learn to pick? (Or should it be "wots tha best wey to lern to pik?") and then we'll have to direct them here anyway.

But, all in all, good guide Db.

I am one of these "noob's" you say. For your information, I found this thread myself. Today during lunch. Very helpful. Helped me understand better how to take apart the lock so I could start with one pin at a time, and better understand the binding pin. I can't wait to get started tomorrow. Unfortunately, 2 of the pins in this lock are spool pins. I'll just have to deal.

Thanks!