Farmerfreaks lockpicking videos

[FarmerFreak]

At this point in time I am not sure if I am going to make a lot of videos. But if I do I would like to keep them all in one place, with the exception of advanced material. Also I don't really want it search-able on youtube. I know I know there are lots of picking videos on there, but I would rather mine be found here on LP101.

To start things off, I would like to show a video of how I like to pick a lock. This video also covers a basic overview of how to single pin pick. If you are new to picking I recommend you watch the first video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wERQLMSt6w
This is an aftermarket Sc4 keyway cutaway cylinder. And even though I may use fairly heavy tension from time to time, I always use less than what would bend the pick. I vary the tension I use all the time, less tension to move the pin, and more tension to help find the binding pin. I was going to explain more on the video,...then the battery died,...I should have checked before I started. I figured it was good enough as is so I posted it.

This next one is already on the forums, but I wanted it here too. It is a Medeco Biaxial cutaway.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsjuC_vhy9s

This last one is also a Medeco Biaxial. I didn't feel like taking it apart so you'll just have to take my word on it having all six pins in it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K7eoCMiQn0

I hope you enjoy my videos. I will probably make them less blurry in the future. I learn something new about taking pictures/shooting films every time I try.

And I have picked these locks multiple times. I'll have to pick a lock that I have never picked before and explain what I think is going on as I pick it.

[ElbowMacaroni]

yeah, I see what you mean about the focus, but they are better than alot of videos on youtube, so don't feel too bad. I'm anal about focus personally, since I have a side photography business and mostly shoot stock photography and well, that stuff's gotta be tack sharp or they shoot ya down.

But nice work! It's cool in the first vid (admittedly the only one I watched) that you used a cutaway to show what's going as as you explain it. Would be very nice for early noobs.

Keep it up! and thanks for using a tripod or some sort of stand, that just drives me nuts with all the vids where someone is holding the cam w/ one hand...

[lock2006]

I enjoyed your videos FarmerFreak all of them
specially the last one Medeco Biaxial, keep up the good work and thanks
for sharing your videos.

[raimundo]

The last S&G 800 series lock, the eighthundred refers to the price I think.

[ElbowMacaroni]

I watched the other vids... good stuff.

What are you using to shoot these? an actual camcorder or a digital p&s with video capability?

-EM

[FarmerFreak]

What are you using to shoot these? an actual camcorder or a digital p&s with video capability?

[ElbowMacaroni]

Ahhh... gotta preset the zoom and be far enough away... I don't think macro mode works with video.

[FarmerFreak]

I'll try it farther away next time. I'm not too sure about the zoom, every time I try it everything seems to get pixelated. I'll give it another try. I've been using the manual focus, but I don't like that I don't really have control over the focus (basically it will auto focus to begin with, and then it won't refocus while shooting the video). Which I think is a good thing since the lock isn't going to be moving while in the vice.

Also it has a macro setting while in video mode, I have always turned it on for these videos, as to whether it actually does anything is another story.

[tjweaver84]

Yeah I have that same camera and haven't noticed much difference between macro mode and regular mode. I stopped using mine for video though because the focus doesn't change. more distance should help though.

[FarmerFreak]

I think I have figured out the focusing issue.

Here is a video of the same Sc4 cutaway, except with 4 spooled pins.

[FarmerFreak]

Here is a video of me picking the same Medeco cutaway. Except it was rekeyed and I picked it without having practiced or knowing what it was keyed to.


And this next video is of me picking 4 cylinders that I haven't practiced on.


Those videos give an honest view of my skills, and they show me what I need to work on to refine my abilities. As they are not keyed to something I have picked a million times in practice.

[ElbowMacaroni]

WOW! Very nice! The focus wasn't all that bad in the old ones, but as I mentioned, I could see why you wanted to get it better... Let me be the first to say, you did! That is tack sharp, really good detail! Keep up the good work!

[FarmerFreak]

Here is a quick video of picking out a Schlage Everest interchangeable core. (not the SFIC type)

To pull the core out you need to lift the seventh pin enough to grab the control pin, then continue to turn the cylinder.

[gilduran]

Nice videos.

On the cylinder with the removable core, what is the thin strip of metal you place in the bottom of the keyway?

[FarmerFreak]

The removable core is a Schlage Everest. The piece I put in the bottom is the bottom part of a blank. It holds the check pin up and gives me something to fulcrum off of. Though you should practice without fulcruming off of something, it can be considered as a bad habit.

And yes the check pin can be lifted with a pick. I just find using the bottom portion of the key is easier since it is the same space/depth for all non key controlled Everest locks.