6 pin Yale lock

[merlyn1984]

Hi guys,

I've always wanted to learn to pick locks (like challenges), but just recently I've acquired a very specific reason for wanting to learn now. Basically, Im at university and if we leave any of our cooking stuff out in the kitchen (forget to put it back in our cupboards basically), then the cleaners put it in their cupboard to get it out of the way to clean. However, they lock their cupboard and so when I go to make dinner each day I always find that I have nothing to bloody cook with and the cleaners are gone then obviously and so I can't get the stuff back till the following day. It's really annoying!

Anyway, all the locks here are of the same type. They are yale locks. Me and the guy next to me have an outer door, as well as our inner doors, so I have taken the lock off that to experiment with. I can't seem to take it apart to actually see any of the insides (seems like it is designed to not be taken apart). However, there are welding marks on the bottom indicating that it has 6 pins. I dont have any proper tools yet, but with what I have I can reach the first 4 pins and I think I can pick them all (unless I'm being tricked by mushroom pins or whatever). Anyone know anything about 6 pin yale locks? Are they very hard to pick or not? I'm quite willing to buy picks, but I imagine locks are quite expensive so I'm not so sure about buying lots of other locks to practice on first, if this is way too difficult.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks,

merlyn

[merlyn1984]

Oh also, I was thinking of getting one of these sets of picks:

http://www.devonlocks.com/lock-picking/lock-pick.htm

Are they good? I'm attracted to the multi-tool versions so I wont lose them but I imagine that maybe the large handle would make picking much harder? Is it much better to just go for a standard set? (like maybe the 11 piece set?)

Thanks,

Merlyn

[Chucklz]

The standard sets, in my opinion, are much easier to learn with. But I have a simpler solution... just clean up your stuff. But, baring that, yeah im lazy too... Just read the MIT guide a few times, and get some practice locks.

[CitySpider]

Sure tseems like I say this a lot:

Go ahead and get yourself the jackknife, but also get yourself a rake, a hook, and a half diamond. If you buy handleless, that's $5. You can use the tension wrench from your jackknife pick.

[CitySpider]

Oh, and yes, yale locks are very hard to pick. Obviously depends on the particular lock, though.

[jason]

The six pin is the new "X" style Yale (just the name the key profile is conventional), I haven't taken one apart yet but it appears to have a sprung steel guard over the end of the mounting screws to stop you from drilling the mounting screws out.

This seems a little heavy duty for a cleaner's cupboard, are you sure it's a six pin Yale or that this is a cleaner's cupboard.

This will have anti pick pins fitted - probably better to bypass instead of picking.

[marso]

I do not want to state the obvious but its the cleaners door and not your own. You do not want to get tossed out of university over some pots and pans. Go out but a kwikset and practice on that.

Would it not be easier just to clean up after yourself?

[Chucklz]

Why not talk to the cleaners, maby they will leave the cabinet open if you ask?

[Quin]

You should approach the uni and explain that you (and probably others) have this problem and ask them to allow one of the teachers to carry a set of keys during the day to enable people like you to get to your equipment. What you're asking to do is breaking the law so you should go about it the correct way.

Seeing as you mention Yale (I also doubt they use a 6 pin just for a cupboard) I will say that Yale have security features on them to make picking much harder. Yale contain 2 mushroom pins making it false set a lot. Unless you have a really good understanding of how normal pins work you will get very frustrated with this lock.

Even after a huge amount of practise Yales will open in either a few seconds or 30 minutes or not at all. I can open the Yales I have all the time now but it still can take me upto 30 minutes sometimes with the average being 1 to 5 minutes.

[scifibuff]

I got a 6 pin yale euro profife lock. Only one of my practice locks I can't open. Was going to try to impression but can't get the key blanks at the moment. Will keep trying will get it eventually but if I come across one as a paying job I know what I will do. Non destructive opening will go out the window.
Scifibuff