Wearing out a practice lock

[egimp]

Hello everyone,

I've recently decided to get serious about lock picking as a hobby. I've pondered it for a few year, but never got around to it until a few months ago. Anyhow, I've been practicing on 2 different padlocks (1 a Master Lock #1 and a cheap Fortress 40mm). The Fortress was pretty easy (only took me a few minutes of clumsily picking at it) and the Master Lock I finally cracked after a few days of tinkering.

I can now unlock both in just a few a few seconds each. I seriously doubt it's my skills as I stated, I've only just begun. Is it possible I'm wearing out the pins or something else in the locks?

Just wondering. Any help would be appreciated!

The Gimp

[fgarci03]

Hey and welcome to the forum!

As for your question. Do you mean "have you weared the locks already so that it's easy to pick them now?" or do you mean "eventualy wearing them after many times picking them?"

1st question - it's very unlikely that it already happened. Locks aren't usually THAT fragile. You just got used to those locks, so you can pick them really quick now.
2nd question - yes, it is not only possible, it's also a fact.

Locks tend to wear after much use with a regular key. By picking, you are stressing the lock even further and eventualy it will show signs of that.

That combined to the fact that new lockpickers tend to use to much tension and, as you said, "clumsily picking" (I suppose you've been raking it right?). It's just a matter of time!
Even experienced lockpickers wreck locks sometimes (that's why you shouldn't try to pick any lock in use).

My advice? Get some more locks to practice and learn all you can about them. Go to a local hardware store and buy 2 or 3 locks (different prices, so you can have easy and "notsoeasy" locks to practice - but not the expensive ones, you are just starting )

Disassemble those locks and learn about it. Re-pin them, completely trash them if needed! Just learn all you can about them.
And follow this guide. It will help you improve your skills!

Happy pickings!
Be safe!

[egimp]

Thanks for having me on these forums!

"I suppose you've been raking it right?"
I haven't been raking with these padlocks. I've raked on my desk lock and my file cabinet. I have the keys but where’s the fun in that?

On the padlocks, I’ve been using the half diamond and slowly pushing up on the pins. For the Master Lock, I start from the back and work my way to the front. On the Fortress, I start from the front, push up in 2 different spots and it opens up. It’s funny because I can feel whether or not it’s going to unlock just by the feel of the pick. I’m pretty sure I’m not raking, but like I said, I’m new to the whole scene. I plan to attend a meeting of the local lock picking clubs next month. Hopefully they’ll be able to see what I’m doing right/wrong!

Again, thanks for your words of wisdom. It’s nice to find a friendly spot on the internet!

[daniel22747]

I have found that picking a lock over and over again does seem to change its properties. Sometimes it may become easier to pick, at least for a while, but I have had a few lock become very hard to pick.

[fgarci03]

I’m pretty sure I’m not raking

Well, what you are doing is Single Pin Picking (SPP) and it's exactly what you should learn to do.
Read the guides around here. They will help you understand all there is to know about locks and how to defeat them.

I've raked on my desk lock and my file cabinet.

Those are usualy waffer locks, try one thing, instead of raking, try jiggling (look for it ) I find that even with a regular snake rake, jiggling opens small waffer locks much faster than raking. Or maybe it's me


And as daniel22747 said, picking many times changes the lock's properties, so becarefull on doing it on locks you want to use/are in use.

Be safe!

[egimp]

Thanks for the advice! As a noob, it's always good to listen to those with more experience.

Out of curiosity, for jiggling the waffer lock, would the proper pick to use be the one that has the circle on the end? I haven't figured out which picks are appropriate for which lock. As of now, it's all trial and error. Thank God I'm patient!

The Gimp

[fgarci03]

for jiggling the waffer lock, would the proper pick to use be the one that has the circle on the end?

No, that one is good for Single Pin Picking (from now on SPP) wafer locks. For proper jigling you'll need jiggler keys or picks. But what I'm proposing is that you jiggle a bit with a snake rake (the one that looks like a snake ) and see how you do. It works well for me on cheap wafer locks (like file cabinets and desk drawers) but it may not be so with everyone!

What picks do you own? It will be easier to help you if you can provide an image!
Meanwhile, this may help you!

[egimp]

Well, I just got back from the hardware store (what a life I live... hanging out at Home Depot on a Saturday night!). Unfortunately, all they had were Master Locks. Anyhow after spending about 10 minutes trying to decide which lock to buy a Master Lock #3. I got home and it took me all of 3 minutes to unlock it the first time. Now I can unlock it in under a minute. Sheesh! I spent more time deciding on which lock to buy than it too k to pick it!

Anyhow, I have the Southford PXS-14 pick set. Recommended for beginners like me.



What lock do you recommend to start off with?

The Gimp

[fgarci03]

First, You need to make a smaller picture. It's too big. And most of the pieces where cutted off.
About locks, it depends or you location (USA?)! But you can search the forum to find what you need (use the search function).
That is a nice pickset. I have a SouthOrd too (.

Ill' break it down from this image:

From left to right:

• Gonzo (or long?) hook, personally I just use it to pick extremely hi-lo pin combinations (if you stick arround you'll understand that )
• The next two are half diamonds, one medium and one smal (i think). Very versatile, used both to SPP and raking
• Double ball and Single ball, mostly used in wafer locks, although they work well in small warded locks (as a key, not as a pick)
• Short hook (flat top variant), some people call this a Gem pick but it's a different thing, I think it's the best go-go tool for most locks (it's a personal taste)
• Snake rake, I think you can find out what it's used for!
• Long rake (also called L Rake), some people even call it City Rake, don't know if it is correct. Both used as a rake or to simulate real key bittings. If you insert it in the keyway and use multiple angles it might work as the real key since it was (supposedly) developed to match a number of real keys out there.
• Batarang (SouthOrd calls this an S Rake), never used one, but heard they work pretty well. It has, however, a great defect... Breaks too easily. Only to work with extreme care. If you are rough in you picking IT WILL snap the tip off.
• Key extractor, self-explanatory!

As for the tension wrenches, the one with the weird bend is a feather touch, used for extreme light tension (as for security pins). The other are regular wrenches, probabily different sizes. I personally mostly use the regular ones and control my tension, but it depends on the lock and your style of picking.

For the pros out there, correct me if I'm mistaken

Be safe!

[egimp]

Thanks! Sorry about the pic. After I posted it, I realized how huge it was!

I'm very comfortable using the diamond picks and can use the long rake. These seem to be my favorite picks for now. I like the feather tension wrench as I feel it gives me
more control and a better feel.

I'm in the Michigan, just north of Detroit in the States.

Again, Thanks so much for the help you've provided so far!

[daniel22747]

The short hook is my fav for single picking, I think it puts less wear on the pins that a diamond.

The small half diamond is great for when you have very little room to work, like with a tradition keymark.

The snake takes some time to learn but once you get the hang of it, it is vfery usefull. (there are two really good method: the fast upward pull out and the the sloppy loose raking)

The L rake is ok, good general purpose rake and ok jiggler.

The batarang can be an amazing jiggler as long as you are gentle with it. A gentle up and down and move it around method.

South ord also sells some picks calle pagodas (I think). These are wave jigglers and are even better than the batarang.

[zeepia]

And those bagodas are poor replicas of Raimundo´s original bogotas. If you want the best go for the real deal or make them yourself!