Easy locks to start on

[porty]

Hey everyone, new to the whole lock picking thing. I have made my own picks and tension wrench, but everylock i try just seems way too hard. Im having trouble feeling out the different pins. So could someone tell me of some easy locks to begin with?

By the way i live in Australia, so are the locks down here different?

[nezumi]

Wooh! I get to be helpful.

I'm not sure about down under, but up here Weiss and Kwik-set are both very easy. But the simple rule of 'you get what you've paid for' is pretty reasonable. If you pop down to your local hardware store and a lock is around $6 or $7 (not sure what that is in your heathen currency, sorry), you're probably getting a good starter lock.

Padlocks are supposed to be a bit easier to pick because they fit nicely in your hand when you're picking and pop open quite satisfyingly when you get it open. However, I personally am not so keen on them for two reasons:

1) I have no idea how to take the cylinder out of a padlock to fool with the pins
2) I have heard stories of people buying a $6 padlock to find out it has security pins (!) Apparently padlocks are more likely to have little surprises like that (like a box of cereal).

[porty]

Thanks mate, yea ive just bought a padlock for about $6 and I feel like im breaking into a fortress. On the cover it had a list of all the different anti pick systems it had, so i spose it was a poor choice.

[echohtp]

pictures perhaps? for a starter lock i started on this type of lock (not sure if its the same) http://www.masterlock.com/cgi-bin/class ... x=8&Go.y=8
its a number 3 and its fairly easy to get through.

i have no experience with any sort of tumblers sorry good luck.

[Disin]

can I get that in Europe?

[jgencinc]

You'll want the cylinder from a deadbolt. Kwikset, defiant, and weiss to name some popular ones. take it apart so all you have left is the part containing the keyway. On the top, you'll see a metal cover, that cover is what holds the springs and pins in. take that off carefully. You'll notice there is a spring on top, then a driver pin the spring sits upon, then the bottom pin. What you want to do is remove all but one set of pins. Practice with that, then add more.

HERE is a more detailed explanation of this excerise. Thank Digital_blue for his time.

HERE is the MIT guide to lockpicking. A very helpful resource.

And the most important thing, please try searching before asking. Most likely it has already been asked.

[nezumi]

On the top, you'll see a metal cover, that cover is what holds the springs and pins in.

Hey, silly question, is there a trick to getting those covers off? I haven't had a lot of luck with either of my locks. You don't need actual tools, do you? I mean, it's supposed to just slide off, right?

[Wade]

actually, most of those covers arent meant to be taken off. I know that kwickset has a cover that will snap on and off , there might be a few more. Your best bet is to take the retaining clip off the plug and to pick the lock. after that the plug should come out. you will need a plug follower to "follow" the plug as you take it out. if you dont use a plug follower you will have pins and springs flying everywhere, and you are likely to get pissed at the lock and end up bashing it with a sledgehammer and sending the little ****** to hell... (or maybe im the only one thats done that) just use the follower...

TIP: do all of this in a bag so if you decide not to use a follower all of the flying springs will be contained inside the bag
-Good luck

[weldman]

Hey everyone, new to the whole lock picking thing. I have made my own picks and tension wrench, but everylock i try just seems way too hard. Im having trouble feeling out the different pins. So could someone tell me of some easy locks to begin with?

By the way i live in Australia, so are the locks down here different?

I find the masterlocks are the easy ones but I'm sure others will say something else...

Just take your time with a good pick set and you'll get it

It just takes time