Picked my first lock but .. it didn't open? Huh?

[euphoricism]

So I bought my first pick set, and figured 'what the hell lets just give it a shot on the front door'. It's a deadbolt (though off the top of my head, I don't know the brand.)

After just a few brief (lucky) seconds the plug turned, but the deadbolt didn't retract. Am I missing something?

[Riordian]

So I bought my first pick set, and figured 'what the hell lets just give it a shot on the front door'. It's a deadbolt (though off the top of my head, I don't know the brand.)

After just a few brief (lucky) seconds the plug turned, but the deadbolt didn't retract. Am I missing something?

If your tension wrench roted the plug then its a successful pick.
(if this was your first lock congratulations)
I suggest experiment after the succesfull pick, because you may have picked it the other way around and instead of unlocking it you tried to lock it.

[TheSkyer]

As stated above, if the plug turns than you did it right I can't recogment practicing on your front door tough (as tempting as it is). If something goes wrong (pick breaks, lock gets damaged etc.) you got a problem. You may wanna get some loose locks to train on, just som friendly advice

[barbarian]

Picking your front door is a bad idea. Get a practice lock.

Somewhere here there is a list of people that have messed up locks by picking them.

Having said that, once you pick the lock it should be the same as with the key. If you turn it a certain way to extend the bolt, then it should work the same as with the key. But if you turn it 180 degrees, then the pins can drop into the empty keyway and jam the lock. With the key in place the smooth bottom of the key stops this from happening.

If the lock jams this way, you can often use the back edge of the pick and gently push the pins back up.

Practice lock = good.
Front door = bad.

[euphoricism]

So yeah, I'm an idiot. Needed to turn the wrench more.

Successfully picked the garage deadbolt and the front door (and good idea about not doing that again) in... under a minute a piece. They're Kwiksets, and probably really cheap

However the garage door has a second lock on the door handle which I could not get! Weird that the deadbolts were simple (felt like there were only 3 pins?) while the handle wasn't (I think theres five in there, when i give up i can hear at least three fall back down). The handle lock is situated sideways though, which might increase the difficulty since there is not as much force downward to create a bind.

[euphoricism]

And yes, I'll stop picking my front door now. Off to Home Depot!

[euphoricism]

But if you turn it 180 degrees, then the pins can drop into the empty keyway and jam the lock.

Yes, I did notice this happen on the garage lock.. Got it back together, but lesson learned.

[Riordian]

So yeah, I'm an idiot. Needed to turn the wrench more.

Successfully picked the garage deadbolt and the front door (and good idea about not doing that again) in... under a minute a piece. They're Kwiksets, and probably really cheap

However the garage door has a second lock on the door handle which I could not get! Weird that the deadbolts were simple (felt like there were only 3 pins?) while the handle wasn't (I think theres five in there, when i give up i can hear at least three fall back down). The handle lock is situated sideways though, which might increase the difficulty since there is not as much force downward to create a bind.

Yeah i will agree better go buy locks or padlocks
About the 3 pins you'd problably have set more by just entering you pick since door locks often have 5 or more.
TIP: You don't have to actualy unlock the door when you practice. Your goal is to make the plug rotate freely. For actualy unlocking a door I only suggest it for tests on tension wrenches to see if they will have enough force and are strong enough to unlock it.
Exersise: In order to get a better feeling of the pins just get your hook pick and insert it into any kind of lock (avoid front doors ) without applying tension with a wrench and just lift them one by one, or do a simple slow and gently rake across the pins. Remember not to much force... you just need to feel the pins.

[euphoricism]

Just got back from home depot - grabbed two master locks, one that seems to be a #3D which I got into within 45 seconds. Next one is a 141D which I'll try next. Also grabbed a cheap deadbolt made by a company called Defiant. It was dirt cheap, so shouldn't be too hard.

Getting into 3 locks (Front door, Garage Door, and the No. 3 masterlock) the first day I picked up a pick is an encouraging thought! :]

[euphoricism]

I bought those based upon my highly intellectual educated guess that the lower the model number the easier it would be to open

[MacGnG1]

master#3 is a great starter lock. havent worked on a 141D which is probably like the 140 which has some spool pins.

have fun and stick to the practice locks only

[barbarian]

Sounds like you are having fun !!

Try a bit more expensive deadbolt from Home Depot next. Look at the key through the plastic wrapper when you buy it (if you can) and try to get one that looks hard. Look for different levels of cut in the key and try to find deep cuts next to shallow. You can also take the lock apart (more fun) and put it together with the pins in different order.

[euphoricism]

after about an hour solid of tinkering with the 141 I got it open - but I'm pretty sure it was a fluke heh. Don't think I'm ready for security pins quite yet. Now im wondering if this deadbolt has them

[euphoricism]

It feels like the back driver pins, particularly 3, 4, and 5, are actually getting stuck in the bible. 1 and 2 don't seem to be doing that - is this because i'm pushing them too far upward? So less pressure?

[Riordian]

One of the advantages, as I say, of this hobby is actually knowing how safe you are, thought I don't recomend practicing at front doors or other doors, you are able to determine by your own skills how safe you are, this (I hope after a lot of practice and experience with locks and always consulting a locksmith) may come in handy when you wish to live in a safer home, thus beeing able to determine which locks are the safest.
Now about the high security pins, they are quite common on more expensive locks. As barbarian said, I agree when buying locks look at the key.
TIP: When you push up on a pin and feel the plug rotating backwards or does want to turn (the feel is on your tension wrench) you'll be most likely dealing with a high security pin.
I recomend: The above tip came from the visual guide to lockpicking DVD. I highly recomend it. All locks and instructions are animated, thus it is easier for the begginer to learn, understand and visualize the lock.