Getting last pin?

[W0LV3RINE]

I'm currently practicing picking on some basic padlocks, but every time I'm almost done, there is one last pin that I can never seem to get..
Any tips on how to get it?

[oORusHOo]

How do you know that there is just one pin you're not getting?

Does it turn a lot, but not all the way?

[Oaklandishh]

I agree with Rush, if there was really one last pin you weren't getting you could really easily just push that pin up and it would open. You are probably over-setting a pin or missing one earlier on? Also its possibly a false set depending on the lock.

[W0LV3RINE]

I was just assuming it was the last pin since that was always "jumping" back..
I'm a beginner so I don't really know if it is, I just guessed..
How do I check?

[MacGyver101]

If the last pin isn't setting it's almost certainly not a problem with the last pin: it sounds like you've not properly set at least one of the other pins. If you search around here there are several excellent guides to get you started.

[W0LV3RINE]

OK...
Thanks..
Any recommendations?

[MacGyver101]

Any recommendations?

The "NEW USERS PLEASE START HERE" thread in the Frequently Asked Questions forum is a good place to start. It has links to a number of good guides, including the LSI Guide, as well as links to some other great threads. (There are a bunch of "sticky" threads in the FAQ forum that are loaded with good starting tips.)

[Oaklandishh]

http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=10677 helped me a lot.

[Viggs]

Because you're just starting, you'll have a tendency to crank the tension and also overlift pins. It's much more likely that you're experiencing overlifted pins than unset (underlifted) pins. Try this... Every time you feel or hear ANYTHING in the lock, carefully take your pick completely out (touching as little as you can on the way), and re-test every pin for tightness. Slowly continue to work on whichever pin is tightest, withdrawing the pick EVERY time anything happens, and re-testing the pins from front to back.

Tiny click?
Take out the pick completely and re-test all the pins.

Slightest little shift in the tension wrench?
Take out the pick completely and re-test all the pins.

Bottom pin loses spring pressure?
Take out the pick completely and re-test all the pins.



If you re-test the pins and don't find anything binding, go back to the one/s you were just working on, and make sure they're lifted enough. Also... the best indication of an overlifted pin, is a spongy feeling when you test it. So if one of your pins is giving a spongy feedback, and none of the others are binding, just drop the tension off completely and start again. You have to do this delicately/analytically. Don't get frustrated/stumped and just start mashing things around in the lock.

[lock2006]

Single pin picking can take a long time, especially if you're new to lockpicking With this method
you try a constant tension and attempt to set each pin one by one, I usually use a hook pick.
The time consuming part is finding the correct order in which to pick each pin
in which the pins are not aligned perfectly
Also it can be difficult to find the correct tension
too much and the pins will bind and become overset
too little and the pins won't set when they reach their shear point
so just dont get furstrated it and keep trying good luck.