What does having the key tell me?

[FreemasonAFAM]

YAHOO! Picked my first lock today. Yep, I'm a Newbie and what a rush to finally have actually picked a lock.

I have severe arthritis which is now spreading to my hands. Dr. told me to find something that involves fine movements of my fingers and hands to slow down the advance of the disease. Santa brought me a set of picks for Christmas. Picking beats any type of therapy and I can't believe it's this much fun!

Ok, ok, I do have a question:

What can I learn from keys that will help me pick the locks they belong to? I understand the relationship between the "bumps" on the keys and how they lift the pins depending on the height of the "bump" but how may I use that information when actually feeling my way through the lock?

Thanks!

[globallockytoo]

having the key will sometimes help you understand the length of each pin in it's chamber.

This would tell you how far you need to lift it to the shear line. You would then be able to determine the probable amount of turning pressure needed to "set" the pins.

[loki-aka]

Knowing the the locks pinning, by way of seeing the key can help one select the proper tool for picking.

For example, if you know chamber 4 has a # 6 pin (long) and chamber 5 has a pin #3 (short), you then know to select
a properly shaped hook tool to "reach around" pin 4 when you try to lift pin 5.

Keep practicing and you'll soon be more proficient at these 'puzzles" we call locks.
-Never pick a lock you don't have permission to open-

[le.nutzman]

Having the key tells you that you really don't need to be picking the lock to begin with.

[Josh K]

By looking at the bitting (cuts) on the key you can tell relatively how high or low the pins are supposed to be. If you have several deep cuts in the front it can be tricky to maneuver around.

[Wizer]

Having the key tells you that you really don't need to be picking the lock to begin with.

Hey..
I have keys to allmost all of my locks, because I bought them so I can pick them.

[darklighterz7611]

Personally i think you shouldn't really study the key, learn to solve the lock and uncover its 'personality' pin by pin. For me taking a gander at the key spoils half of the fun.

Having the key tells you that you really don't need to be picking the lock to begin with.

Kinda defeats the object of lock picking as a hobby or practising the skills of your trade. I hope you own these key'less locks

[Wizer]

I have that problem too.
I try so hard not to look at the key when I buy a new lock, but just one glanze tells me if first or last pins are high or low, if theres high-low combo in the middle etc.
I would rather have locks with no keys.

[inverseentropy]

You can get some really cheap locks on ebay if you don't mind not having the key! Do this if you really don't want to see the key and don't trust yourself to not take a peek at it. On the other hand having they key lets you actually use it as a lock when you are tired of picking it...

[FreemasonAFAM]

Thanks for the feedback everyone, lots of information to keep in mind as I continue to learn.

Cheers
Don

[globallockytoo]

Personally i think you shouldn't really study the key, learn to solve the lock and uncover its 'personality' pin by pin. For me taking a gander at the key spoils half of the fun.

Having the key tells you that you really don't need to be picking the lock to begin with.

Kinda defeats the object of lock picking as a hobby or practising the skills of your trade. I hope you own these key'less locks

In many ways I agree with this post. Not having the key actually makes you work harder to understand the principle of picking pin tumbler locks.

At the same time though, having the working key for the lock can help you to understand why it is sometimes necessary to choose a different tool to pick with (if you understand what I mean).

I think it is a part and parcel of the enjoyment of this hobby.