how do i pick a combination lock? rubberband method??

[MacÔda]

hey guys...im wondering how to pick a combination lock...i seem to remember reading somewhere a while ago that there's a way to do it with a rubberband wrapped around the dial. any help would be GREATLY appreciated..thanks

[unbreakable]

It really depends...... what type of lock are you trying to open??

Ive never gotten the rubberband method to work myself, but i do know some others on this site have. If youre trying to open a masterlock combination lock, then you can just shim it.

here's my guide to making shims out of pop cans!!


http://www.freewebs.com/unbreakable101/Lockpicking%20files/Shims.pdf\


Good luck
Unbreakable

[MacÔda]

thanks a lot unbreakable...your guide to making and using shims was awesome...im about to go to bed right now...but thats the first thing i'm gonna try when wake up..thanks again.

[jeremy]

What kind of question is that? How to pick a combination lock? As though there's only one kind of combination lock in existence.

Assuming that you mean some kind of multi-wheel single-dial combination lock, at least some of the information posted on certain Master(tm) padlocks will be relevant.

There are many other types of combination locks to discuss. Please refer to a specific model, and I'll be glad to discuss it. Post a picture of one that you have if possible.

[illusion]

I heard (since this is untested take this with a pinch of salt) that it worked on single dial combo locks specificaly the classic 'master combo locks'

The idea is, that you hold a length of grippy materail like rubber between each hand. You loop the middle over the dial, and start turning rapidly, untill the lock opens... or doesn't as the case may be.

It might be complete BS, but I haven't tried it personaly so won't pass any judgement. I would imagine it's pretty much luck based, but speeds up the opening rather than trying every combo.

If you have any success I'd be interested in hearing.

[n2oah]

As though there's only one kind of combination lock in existence.

Oh, really? Would you care to enlighten me about the only combination lock in existence?

[pinsetter]

n2oah, I believe you may have misunderstood Jeremy's post. He was not saying that there is only one kind in existence, I'm pretty sure he was being sarcastic at the original poster for not being specific about the kind of lock he was trying to open.

Just my take on the post....not trying to start trouble.

[sams choice]

I think it is Mastergreenleafbrinksdudly Lock that make the only combination padlock . I wrote a method to finding combinations for these locks a bit of go. Use your Search method to find it. its in lockpicking tricks, I'll give that head start.

[MacÔda]

Sorry for not being specific. I'm trying to open a masterlock combination lock. Here's a picture of the lock...

[jeremy]

Okay then, the link in my previous message is to a discussion on determining the combination to locks just like the one you have.

Alternative methods include rapping and shimming. I experimented with rapping a few years ago, but I never successfully opened a padlock that way. (Maybe singing a different style of music would work better.)

I'm not familiar with the "rubber band method". Could someone fill me in?

[jeremy]

Oops, I missed Illusion's post on rubber bands. Okay, I get it. We're basically regearing our hands so we can more quickly dial at random, increasing the probability that our random dialing will stumble upon the correct combination in a reasonable amount of time.

[MeisBarry]

I'm having a little trouble visualizing that method. Are you wrapping something around the dial, then pulling at it and making it spin in a single direction, or just turning it back and forth really fast in hopes that the random turning will dial the right combo?

I have a generic master combo with a keyhole in the back, and have to this date opened it three different ways. For me to be able to open a lock, trusted as much as it is by the public, via 4 completely different methods will be something I'd find amusing and a little frightening.



For the curious: I have shimmed it (curtesy of the guide here), picked it, and used a method I know that reduces the possible combinations to 100, allowing me to just systematically go through them. That's one method for each moving part of the lock.