Correct angle to hold lifter pick

[starfishblue]

This might be a bit hard for a n00b to explain but here goes:

So when you use the pick to lift the individual pins.. there are 2 ways possible to do so.

1. Holding the pick and lifting the pins so that the horizontal pick is parallel to the opening thing. So in essence the pick is lifted up while being horizontal.

2. The pins are lifted by using the entrance as a fulcrum so that a downward motion on the pick handle is used to lift the pins. So instead of lifting the pick vertically upwards, we push downwards so that the end of the pick goes upwards on an angle.

I'm not sure which is the correct way.. so can anyone give me any insight?

Thanks

[Krypos]

umm.... well, the correct way is any way that works best fro you.

really, there arent alot of "this is how you should hold your pick" kind of rules. however it works for ya is how you should do it.

although, with some locks, it can be difficult to do it one way or the other. and typically, using the bottom of the keyway as a fulcrum will be very tricky, unless you are using your tension wrench on the top of the keyway.

so maybe a little bit of both is what i* use.

just play around with it and see how it works best for you.

[Romstar]

Krypos pretty much has the answer.

While there are a few "standard" ways to hold the pick in general, what happens once it enters the keyway is entirely up to the construction of the lock, the height and position of the pin, and what you need to do to get the pick to put it in the right place.

This means that you are going to be all over the place. Sometimes using the keyway as a levage point, other times, just gently lifting a pin, and other times getting so frustrate, you forget you are using a hook, and just start raking the crap out of the thing.

I strongly recomend you not do the latter.

In any case, the more feel you develop, the more you will know what technique you need to use on a pin by pin basis.

This only comes from practice and discovering what works best for you.

Romstar

[a00177420]

ya i'm going to have to agree with them. from what i know there really isn't a exact right or wrong way to hold a pick. just whatever feels good and works good for you. just try a lot of idffernt ways and see what works for you best

[Gordon Airporte]

Take a cylinder out some time, but leave the pins in. "Pick" it so you can experiment with what kind of lifting works with what kind of pinning combinations. You're just trying to get every pin to the shear line without oversetting any of the others. Make sure you try some high-low pinnings; that's where rocking helps.

[starfishblue]

thanks guys.

i did have this hunch that everyone was gonna say that there is no right answer and it's just what YOU feel is comfortable.

i'll work on it.

[Romstar]

Well, I could have given you a three page essay on the proper way to hold the pick, and when to use the pivot technique, and when not to........

But it would have been a crock of bull.

Most of the time, your first instincts are correct.

The most important thing you can learn about lock picking is being able to envision what is going on inside the lock. After that, its all about applying what you feel, and making those feelings correspond to what you want to happen in that lock.

Good luck,
Romstar

[eViLZuG]

Krypos pretty much has the answer.
This only comes from practice and discovering what works best for you.

And that is SO true! I had a nice key lock Master (Not sure of model). It had the translucent blue bottom... But anyway, the keyway was MAYBE 1/8" tall, so the key was infact microscopic compared to usual key sizes.

Anyway, I found great success in using a snake and going in at a 45 degree angle from a ward and the bottom of the keyway. The whole time, using a few techinques that felt right rather than awkward for that particular situation.

It all depends on how you learned to hold the pick, what handle, and what kind of motion you're going for. I'm sure you'll get greater success if you stick to basics and get old school rather than trying anything fancy, I say

[FiapFiak]

[quote="Romstar"]Well, I could have given you a three page essay on the proper way to hold the pick, and when to use the pivot technique, and when not to........

But it would have been a crock of bull. :wink:

Most of the time, your first instincts are correct.

The most important thing you can learn about lock picking is being able to envision what is going on inside the lock. After that, its all about applying what you feel, and making those feelings correspond to what you want to happen in that lock.

Good luck,
Romstar[/quote]


ROMSTAR! I want the 3 page essay :D

[wallshadow113]

Krypos pretty much has the answer.


This means that you are going to be all over the place. Sometimes using the keyway as a levage point, other times, just gently lifting a pin, and other times getting so frustrate, you forget you are using a hook, and just start raking the crap out of the thing.

I strongly recomend you not do the latter.

Romstar

We aren't?......guess i gotta change...
But i usually use method #2