Really... can't do it! (beginner - ABUS 65/40)

[veecrawn]

Hello,

let me first say this is the second lock I am trying to pick, so I am a beginner. I use a regular 14 piece southord set. Quite a solid set.

My question concerns the ABUS 65/40. My problem is like this:

1-I can pick the first pin no problem, by lifting it to maximum and rotating with the wrench.
2-BUT I will then be unable to move the second pin at all. It's just stuck.

3-I can pick tumbler 3-4-5 no problem -- When I release the tension wrench, I clearly hear 3 tumblers coming down.

4-If I pick 3-4-5, I simply can't pick pins 1-2. They will just fall back to their position (down) no matter what I do).

I have really, really no idea what to do and would appreciate any advice.

Thank you!

[Squelchtone]

by lifting it to maximum and rotating with the wrench.

Hi welcome to the forum.

The Abus line of padlocks use anti-picking security pins called "spool pins" which are shaped like an empty spool of thread. They get stuck while picking and applying tension and this is what is happening in your case. It is a lock you should save for another day, unless you enjoy frustration.

As for lifting pins to the maximum height... that's not how picking works. just lifting all the pins up as far as they go is not going to pick the lock. If this were the case, then a strip of metal or a blank uncut key inserted into a lock would open all the locks on the planet.

Your objective is to lift each pin so that the key pins (the pins touching the key) lift up high enough to push the top pins (in your case the spool pins) out of the way so the plug can turn and the lock can open. Look at the key, it has valleys cut at different heights. So when the key inserts into the lock, it lifts each pin only so much, not all the way up. When you are picking, you are doing what the key does, but you are doing it pin by pin where as the key does it all at once for all 5 pins.

How do you know when each pin is at the correct height? That insight will come to you with practice and experience.

You will eventually open that ABUS, and it will feel good, but for now, I recommend reading some more articles on the forum, learning how pins, springs, plugs, and shear lines work, and practicing on locks with less security pins.

A great visual guide to lockpicking can be found HERE

Cheers,
Squelchtone

[veecrawn]

Hi and thank you for your reponse! It is much appreciated! I'll definitely be reading around and that guide looks excellent

I have to ask, is there any lock you'd recommend as a start-up? I opened a bicycle lock, I'm ready to buy anything. Mostly 1-2 pins stuff? Any name in mind?

Thanks

[Squelchtone]

Hi and thank you for your reponse! It is much appreciated! I'll definitely be reading around and that guide looks excellent

I have to ask, is there any lock you'd recommend as a start-up? I opened a bicycle lock, I'm ready to buy anything. Mostly 1-2 pins stuff? Any name in mind?

Thanks

You're welcome!

I am not sure where you're from so your local store may have different makes and models than around here. They don't make 1 or 2 pin locks, most have 4, 5, 6 and sometimes 7 pins. Traditionally many of us start with a Master Lock No.3 padlock or a Kwikset, Schlage, or Yale rim cylinder that you can easily take apart, remove some pins, and build up your skill by picking 1 pin, then inserting another pin, and so on until you can pick all 5 pins with repeatable success.

Click Profile on the left, then click Profile again and fill in your Location info, this will help us give the proper advice for your geographical location.

good night,
Squelchtone

[TheSkyer]

Hey there, I've been having trouble with ABUS padlocks as well. And for good reason to as indeed they contain spoolpins. Here's a little picture to show you how such a lock looks from the inside.



You see those last 2 pins? That's a spool. The middle part is smaller so it get cought between the plug and sheerline giving a false indication that you have succesfully set that pin (which is not the case). The only way to get the right feel for when you have set it and when not is ALLOT of practice.

To boost your coffidence that this lock can be opend you could buy a cutaway model and practice with that as you can relate what you see to what you feel. This will eventualy lead to not having to look at the cutaway side anymore as you can now "feel" the pins. You pick will become your eye inside the lock

Alternatively you can also rake abus locks with good succes. You could just try that for a while to atleast let you open it once or twice and put the whole issue to a rest for a while.

As to which locks to buy. Repinable once are ideal since you can ideed practice single pin picking. There are some cutawaylocks on ebay which actualy have a sh%tload of extra pins with it (spool, mushroom, straight, you name it). They aren't cheap but you can configure those to be more difficult as you grow, a good practice tool in my eyes! Other than that I would get CHEAP cylinders with a nice big keyway so you got plety of room to move and feel

Hope this helps!

[5thcorps]

Starting on an Abus is not wise. You'll get frustrated before you have the chance to develop any real skill. Abus should be one of the last on your list. Kwikset is the best repinnable starting point.

[veecrawn]

Thank you all for advice

Last night I started lockpicking at 10pm and before I knew, it was 2 am and this morning (LOL).

I'm defenitely on that!!

[TheSkyer]

One of the easiest locks I found where trigger locks for firearms (yes, that's a scary thought). They contain 3 to 4 pins and can be picked with only 15 minutes of practice or so. The first time you get it you will feel how it works and in my case I am now able to pick most trigger locks in less than 60 seconds. They cost somewhere between 5 to 15 dollars.

This is the one I practiced with Highly recomend it

http://www.masterlocks.com/item.asp?CID=1562

P.S. If someone knows a decent lock for my firearms I would apriciate the info. I live in a flat and don't want housemates to get a hand on my guns,

[TheSkyer]

Some extra info, for picking my own triggerlock i usualy use a half diamond pick or a very flat hook. GOOD LUCK

[laf]

glad there is another canadian here! where you are from? tu parles tu francais?

[veecrawn]

Oui, je parle évidemment francais! For the people here I think we will stick with english though, we can do english in PM.

I started to get interested in lockpicking after reading an article in a newspaper. It looked really interested, how locks works and such, how locks were invented a century ago -- and how they're still being used today.

It took me a while to get my lockpick, getting lockpicks in Canada is TOUGH. Final price : 50.00$ for some high-quality lockpicks. Was well-worth it.

I'm really fascinated, I can spend 1h focusing on a lock and not doing anything. While we're at it, perhaps you can answer that question (since I'm just a beginner)!

My neighbor has a 1000$+ grass mower. To protect it, he bought a high-quality super-powerful resistant lock. It costed him nearly 100 bucks. It's made out of platinium, the bar is very very large and harder to cut and all. He says it's impossible to lockpick!

My question is: is it true that there are some locks that CANNOT be picked in any way? I looked at his lock, the keys looks regular, as normal as any key I have, perhaps a bit longer. Is he right?

[TheSkyer]

He is wrong XD If the key resembles your everyday standard cylinder key it's probably not even that hard to pick (you can probably get it open with some practice). There are sometimes extra security features like "deformed pins" (spool pins and mushrooms pins), sidepins or even magnetized locks. But those are also overcomeable (For example a really high security magnetic lock could be totaly messed up with a 39 euro magnet XD, they compagny said it was 100% pickproof, they where wrong XD).

Another great example is a rather famous ABUS lock, the site advertist it as being unpickable. TOOOL was wondering if they where right and in fact proved them wrong. Same goes for medico locks. Some of those where believed to be unpickable (even by Barry "The key", head of TOOOL). However after some time they did manage to get it open.

To put it simply, Locks are never 100% safe, just like a PC for example, you can run all the virus scans and spyware sweeps you want but someone is always going to outsmart those in some way. No lock is pick or bypass proof, some of them are just insanely hard XD

[TheSkyer]

Another cool example, there was a bikelock made by kryptonite, which probably resembles what your neighboor has (in design). This was also believed to be a good lock, however it could be opened by inserting a BIC pen, just shows you than you can't think of everything as a lockdesigner XD