Eplez lockpicking "blog"

[Eplez]

I hope its ok that I make a post where I have my own little post where I post info about my new beloved hobby

I got today my first set of tools from lockpickshop.com and I have only positive things to say about that shop. The package arrived quick and delivery wasnt that bad considering how far my babies had to travel to arrive safe and sound in Norway





This is my first lock. Not that high tech, and I got it open 10 minutes after I opened the package (but I guess it was beginners luck since I didn't manage to open it again )



Like I said at the top of the post. Hope it's ok that I update with some discoveries and how I'm doing and such.

I love that you can feel the pins move when you use the picks. I thought you had to listen for a small "click" and than move on to the next one.

I'm having some problems figuring out which size of the pick I should use, but I guess it will be more logic after some time.

Good faq's btw =)

[Shrub]

If you want some advice,

STOP picking and spend a few mins removing the sharp edges off those picks, they are good picks but they always need a bit of finishing off,

You would lightly sand each pick so when you run your finger over them you dont feel any rough ends or sharp edges,

Do that and the feel will be so much better and also the lock and more importantly the pins will not get marked/damaged with repeated picking.

Have fun, youve made a good start and no we dont mind a new thread you update with your experiances, its nice to see someones progress and especially all in one thread.

[mh]

You would lightly sand each pick so when you run your finger over them you dont feel any rough ends or sharp edges,

How "round" should the edges be in the end? Are there some close-up pictures somewhere?
Because these Southord picks (the ones I got) don't really feel sharp, and there are no burrs. They are of course not chamfered either, but how much exactly would you recommend?

Thanks,
mh

[illusion]

Hey, mh.

Rub the edge of the pick against your fingernail. If it causes scratches then it needs to be smoother.

Keep sanding untill you can rub and it leaves no marks at all.

[p1ckf1sh]

How "round" should the edges be in the end? Are there some close-up pictures somewhere?
Because these Southord picks (the ones I got) don't really feel sharp, and there are no burrs. They are of course not chamfered either, but how much exactly would you recommend?

I'd say find the fine line between roundness and not really removing a lot of material. You don't want to thin the thickness of the material down. Imagine the profile of the tang to be something like [] and try to make it look like ().

Shrub, you got 5k posts!

[Shrub]

I know, make that +1

Yes Illusion has it spot on, maybe they are coming out better deburred now but a quick rubbing never hurt anyone.

[Eplez]

I guess it's about time for a little update

I put up a little video on youtube, but before you watch it and comment, please read my excuse :p I guess its a easy lock since the key isn't cut deep (and after watching the video, it doesn't look like it's cut at all I can post a better picture tomorrow). I've only had the lockpicking set for some days now, so don't laugh please

I was however wondering if someone could say if I'm picking the right or wrong way. Should the pick be straight forward and be moved upwards, or can I do it like I do (well, I can since I manage to pick by doing it, but is it something that I shouldn't do?)

I start by taking the pick and take it as far as it gets, and than feel back and forward until I feel the last pick. Than hold the pick upwards/askew(spelling?) and nudge it a little and than move on to the next one.


Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-ATVyo-wPs

[Shrub]

To me it looks like your useing a little too much tension unless its the way the vid looks and your being a bit rough with the pick,

Are you lifting the pins as high as they will go? if so thats wrong, the way you did it doesnt seem like your feeling the shear line but instead pushing them as high as they will go,

The lock may not bind in then order you seem to use as in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 but the tension your useing means its setting anyway due to the cheapness of it,

The pins should be easy to push up with just a bit of resistance to them and the tension should be just enough to allow this, the pins should be raised just enough so that the shear line is met and not so that both pins go into the chambers,

I could be wrong and its just the way it looks on the video but thats what i think anyway,

You pick how you pick, theres only one right and wrong way and thats whether the lock opens or not (forgetting the damage you can cause for now)

Well done and now move onto somthing else.

[Eplez]

Thank you for the fast and constructive reply .

I also tried to rake the lock, but it was too easy, and won't do that again. I felt like cheating while doing it. Seemed like skill wasn't needed at all.

After watching it again I agree that I'm too rough with the pick.
I guess its because I've been picking for a while now and its 1am and I'm starting to get a little tired.

When all pins were in place, I looked in the keyhole before turning the tension and I saw the pins, so they weren't pushed in the upper chamber, but I think I misunderstood something about the shear line. I thought I had to push the pin up and it would lock in place when it met the shear line on the way back down.

When I push the pin up slowly (regardless of which) it just goes up and down. I can't feel any motion in the tension tool when I'm at the shear line like I do when I push it harder. Guess I have to go back to the basics and see if I missed something.

[Shrub]

Ah,

The shear line is the space between the two pins and when the bottom pin is flush with the plug that is the shearline having been met and means that the pin is no longer stopping the plug from turning,

What you are doing isnt that bad and very good technique if you come across spool pins but normally you wouldnt do that to avoid over compressing the springs,

When you try it the other way as in push the pin up slowly to the shearline, you are not feeling the shearline because you are working on the wrong pin, as i say locks rarely bind in that order,

Put tension on the lock so that the pins are moveable but have some resistance,

Lift each pin in turn a bit until you find the one that stays up, if none of them stay up you need to put a bit more tension on,

When you find one pin that stays up thats the first binding pin, you then look for the next one, this process is a slow and methodical one,

You lift the pin up slowly until you meet the shearline, when that happens you will feel the tension wrench turn a bit, and if looking at it the plug move a slight amount,

Do each pin until all of them are done and you will have succesfully picked the lock open the reconised way,

HOWEVER, as i say its what works for you, you may however find that in some locks and pin combinations you simply can not overlift the pins like you are presently doing and then you will be stuck, its best to do it the above method to be honest.

Have a read of Digital Blue's beginer lockpicking exorcise if your unsure.

[Shrub]

A correctally set pin will lift up and drop down under gravity, if you shake the lock you will hear it rattle, you can get used o hearing how many pins rattle when you do this.

Letting the tension off and listening to how many clicks you hear (the set pins dropping back down) will tell you how many youve picked and how many you have to go.

[LockNewbie21]

Hey bud watched the vid, very nice work, don't be hard on yourself telling people not to laugh, the real lcoksmiths and hobbiest's in here are good people, and will never will never laugh or critisize you for honestly trying and learning we have all been there, just look at my first posts . One tip try and hold the pick in your hand similiar to that of a pencil, and take your hook and run it gently under all the pins with the tension lightly applied, all the pins except for one will go up, and one will actually fight against your pick forcing the hook to go around it thats the first binding pin, so set that one and keep doing this if you do all five and it doesn't open you have overset a pin restart. If you need any help on picking technique making some homebrews finishing Hit me up in a PM i would be mor ethan happy to help help you out.



Andy