First lock

[Dartan]

Well, I just received my set of Southord PXS-17 lockpicks. So far I've been able to pick the 4 wafer locks in my office without too much trouble. Actually, on 2 of the 4 locks I don't even have a key so ended up locking them first with the lockpicks and then unlocking them (of course, hind sight being 20/20, I probably should have made sure there was nothing I needed in those drawers before locking them just in case I couldn't unlock them!).

I think next on my agenda is to find some of the old deadbolts I have laying around at home and trying to pick them.

I must say, this is pretty exciting stuff!

Hey, what's the best way to find old locks to work with? I'd like to practice on other locks, but some of them are expensive (especially for someone only doing this for fun).

Dave

[illusion]

I bought a cheap deadbolt cylinder off Ebay for like £3... that hardly broke my bank, and I'm a student!

Make sure you can repin it - this is probably the most important thing... click my signature for further info should you need it including some nifty threads that'll help.

Some shops might sell the cylinder by itself, if not just buy the entire thing... no real problem. Schlage seems a good bet.

Or go to a local locksmith and get chatty - perhaps you'll walk away with some free locks - lockies are decejnt guys, and you you might get lucky - beer helps

[jimb]

Hey, what's the best way to find old locks to work with? I'd like to practice on other locks, but some of them are expensive (especially for someone only doing this for fun).

Dave

Another way is to walk through the lock section at the hardware stores.
I bought a Black and Decker 5 pin double cylinder today at Lowes on close out for 5 bucks and some change.

Most of the locks I've picked so far have been padlocks and I just started with dead bolts. So far the deadbolts have been easy compared to the padlocks. Is this normally the case?

[Dartan]

Say I get a lock from Lowe's or someplace to practice on. Would a locksmith sell me pins so I could repin it myself? Or is that one of the things it would be best to wait to get to know a locksmith and then ask for? That way I could try a lot of different pin combinations on the same lock.

Dave

[jimb]

Say I get a lock from Lowe's or someplace to practice on. Would a locksmith sell me pins so I could repin it myself? Or is that one of the things it would be best to wait to get to know a locksmith and then ask for? That way I could try a lot of different pin combinations on the same lock.

Dave

Just move the furnished pins to different positions in the lock.

[scampdog]

don't know what the guys around your way are like, but the locol guys here, let me get old locks from the local scrap tip, out of old upvc doors that people have had changed, great for practice.

[Dartan]

I thought about just rearranging the pins, but thought it might be better practice if I had a combination of short and long pins. I was thinking of alternating short and long with the aim of making it harder to pick. Does that make sense?

Dave

[Chrispy]

Sure does. Try putting a short pin behind a long pin, this will get you used to using longer hooks to lift the short pin while leaving the long pin unmolested.

[Dartan]

One more question. What would be a good lock to buy to practice on? I would want two locks I suppose; one that wouldn't be too hard to pick and another that would be more challenging. Also, simplicity in taking apart and repinning would be nice (and availability of pins to repin...I'm assuming not all locks use the same pins). And speaking of pins, is it possible to get spool pins or other pins that make picking harder, for most any lock?

Dave

[jimb]

Take a look at this thread. I may take a trip to Walmart today and see if they have this lock.

http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=11456&highlight=walmart

[Dartan]

Wow, I think that may be just what I'm looking for. Time to head to walmart for lunch!

[Dartan]

Well, I just got the house key padlock from Walmart. Talk about hitting a brick wall, yikes! But like they say, practice practice practice! Anyway, since I'm at work, I don't have any other tools around to take out all but 1 or 2 pins (well, I supposed I could get them out, but getting them back in is another story...plus I don't want to risk losing anything at work). So, I think I'll continue working on it as is while at work and then tonight work on taking out all but 1 or 2 pins.

Speaking of pins, can I use the pins that came with this padlock to repin other Kwikset locks?

Dave

[jordyh]

Speaking of pins, can I use the pins that came with this padlock to repin other Kwikset locks?

Let's put it this way:

I've had about 15 5-pin cylinders from WinkHaus.
I disassembled loads of them
I repinned one.
All the pins are the same make, because it is the same brand.

I don't know how it is with switching pins between brands, but if you keep it within the same brand and (in general) model, i give you a fair chance of succeeding.

Why not start disassembling, or repinning with the pins from the same lock, and compare the pins on the spot?

[Dartan]

Wo-hoo!!! I just picked the Brinks padlock!! Though I think I may have cheated some. I noticed when opening the lock with the key that it required quite a bit of force to turn the key to open it (stiff spring I imagine). So, I took the cylinder out of the lock and picked it that way.

Oh, one other weird thing. I find that I do better if I close my eyes while picking it. For some reason I can feel the pins catch better that way and I can kind of imagine the pick pushing up on the pins.

Well, off to go practice more...I'm so glad it's a slow day at work today!

Dave

[jordyh]

I find that I do better if I close my eyes while picking it. For some reason I can feel the pins catch better that way and I can kind of imagine the pick pushing up on the pins.

Good, you're getting the feel of it already.
You're probably doing better without looking, because then you are able to somewhat visualise what the inside would be like. Essential for lockpicking.

Allso, you'll find that closing your eyes will stop you from getting distracted.

Don't worry about the 'cheating', you opened it. Period.

Try it a few more times and try to get familiar with the feel of the keyway and the pins and you'll see that your skills will improve.