Pin Depth / I GOT MY SET!

[Badmonkey005]

OK, FINALLY got my MPXS-14 lockpick set from lockpickshop.com (they sent it to the "Bill To" address instead of the "Ship TO" address, grrrrrrrr)

I dunno, I guess i'm kinda dissapointed at how thin the things like the torque wrenches are, they just seem too flimsy.

OK, so I went to my basement and I sat down and started to try and pick a MasterLock deadbolt to see what I was made of. I started by inserting the snake in and attempting to count how many pins there were. I think there were five.

However once I started I realised that I had a lot more to learn about this than I thought. The first question I encounterd was: "OK, how the heck am I supposed to put the torque wrence in, and how far in?" This problem I eventually resolved on my own, which was an easy answer but it still startled me that I did not emmedietly know the answer.

Next, I tried setting the pins. I decided to start with the first one because it was the one I could see. w00t, I set it. On to the next one... I put the snake deeper in and when I lift the first one lifts too. I cannot accuratly pinpoint each pin, and I also am not confident of my counting ability when I counted the number of pins.

I guess my depth perception is off when I am trying to do this? I am not sure, I know that in every 1337 lockpicker there started a noob like me. Did any of you encounter my problem? If so, how can I better improve my abilities?

[nightrider]

I'm also new to this but I think i can give you alittle advice. I would recomend you use a hook or something other than the snake pic to count the pins and to pick the lock. I only use the snake when I am raking a lock. I like to use a hook pic with a round nose to feel the pins and see how much preasure each pin has from the spring before i ever start o pick it.

[quicklocks]

try this to help your depth thing
put a few evenly spaced pen marks on the side of the pick you can then see how far into the lock you are

[Badmonkey005]

I'm also new to this but I think i can give you alittle advice. I would recomend you use a hook or something other than the snake pic to count the pins and to pick the lock. I only use the snake when I am raking a lock. I like to use a hook pic with a round nose to feel the pins and see how much preasure each pin has from the spring before i ever start o pick it.

Yeah I ment I used the hook
Man, that's embaracing, the names of those two aren't even hard to remember.

quicklocks, good idea, but how far apart are each of the pins?

[Vincent-XXI]

You can do one of two things, either inserty the pick till you are lifting the first pin with it and mark the neck/tang/shaft/long thin part with a pen insert it further till you can lift the second pin and repeat. Might be an idea to try to count and lift each pin for 5 minutes before marking just to get a feel for it to avoid marking the pick in the wrong places because you think you're lifting the pins.

The second way is to hold the p[ick along the top of the cylinder, if its not mounted on anything, some locks the pin chambers are easily identifable from a top/bottom view so you can slide the pick along the top/bottom of the lock marking it as needed

thirdly remove the core from the lock drop the pins out and move the pick along the inside of it, you should be able to see it looking through the holes in the core to mark.

[Badmonkey005]

well I actually just put it against a key, however I now realise the fault of my idea. I cannot see the line because I did not account for the few milimeters the first pin is away from the edge of the keyhole.

I think I will do the first thing you said, because I cannot take a part any of my locks and I am practicing on my back door (dispite all the warnings from people saying not to pick it on a door you use)

The problem I keep having is, I lift the pin up and it sticks, I cant quite find the one point where it clicks to tell me that the sheerline met the edge of the bottom pin. I guess its just practice I need.

Any other good ideas for a noob?

[Badmonkey005]

[quote="Badmonkey005"]well I actually just put it against a key, however I now realise the fault of my idea. I cannot see the line because I did not account for the few milimeters the first pin is away from the edge of the keyhole.

I think I will do the first thing you said, because I cannot take a part any of my locks and I am practicing on my back door (dispite all the warnings from people saying not to pick it on a door you use)

it was perm. marker but thats OK, if I ever learned one thing in my school days it was that you can remove any perm. marker by coloring over it with a dry erase

The problem I keep having is, I lift the pin up and it sticks, I cant quite find the one point where it clicks to tell me that the sheerline met the edge of the bottom pin. I guess its just practice I need.

Any other good ideas for a noob?

[Vincent-XXI]

I'd advise getting a cheap replacement cylinder at least you can repin that, take out all but one or two pins making it somewhat easier to learn on.

If the bottom pins is sticking, you are probably overlifting it so its above the shear line and the tension is holding it in place, avoid holding picks in a vulcan death grip you lose alot of feedback if you are trying to squeese the life out of them. Light tension also helps with feedback.

Tension the lock, when you are fami,liar with where the pins are located/ have marked the pick, lift each pin from front to back feeling the resistance each offers and try to identify which pin is binding.

[digital_blue]

To put the marks on the pick, hold the pick up against the key and line up the tip of the hook with the middle of the last cut (nearest to the tip of the key). While holding this position make a pencil mark on the pick in line with the shoulder of the key. This way, when you insert the pick, you can line up the mark with the face of the plug and know that you are under the last pin. Repeat the process with each of the other cuts, putting marks on the pick as needed. When you are done, you will have 5 lines that, when lined up with the face of the plug, will ensure you have positioned the tip of the hook directly under a pin.

Use this early on while you get the feel. It helps to know for sure that what you think you are feeling is actually what you are feeling. After a while the marks will no longer be needed, but that's ok. Around that time they will have worn off anyway.

Hope this helps.

db

[Badmonkey005]

Thanks vincent and digital. And sorry for the posting in the wrong forum, I figured it would be good in the questions one

The lines are no longer needed. I can now identify each pin without trouble.

I have confirmed that it is a Master Lock, 5 pin deadbolt. The lock is both ways (so you need a key to get in OR out)

When I apply tention, I feel the pins. I can feel that pin number three and five are binding. I go for five because it is slightly harder, however I can never seem to get it to set. I make it go up and it just wither wont go far enough or it's not setting for some reason. I tried setting pin number three and it worked fine. I know I have set it because I do my thing and the pin goes back down, however when I lift the pin up again I do not hear the spring, and it is significantly easyer to press up. Than once I release the tension, I can hear a click of the pin going back to normal.

I guess i'm gonna try less tension, but other than that I cant figure out why this wont set. I am confident that I will be able to get the rest once I get five and three out of the way.