Master Lock No. 3 Help

[parkourer]

Hey,

So I got my Master Lock No. 3 in the mail today . It is a commercial lock, and has a red stripe. I picked it in about 3 minutes. The thing is, I don't really know what i am doing. It works on and off. What i do, is i insert the pick in, and move it up and down while slowly removing it, trying to find the binding pins. Is this the right way of doing it? This works most of the times. All i know so far is that the first pin is the last in the binding order (I think). I also know it is easier to do this upside down.

Another thing: I can't seem to rake it. I have a feeling its because the pins are too uneven because the key looks like this:


Am i picking this the right way? Is there a way to rake this?

Thanks for any replies

Parkourer

[njcanderson]

I'm not sure what you mean when you say moving the pick up and down while removing it. It seems you know about binding order, have you read some of the beginner guides on this site, or the MIT guide? That would be a good place to start if not. There are some good illustrated guides that show you what's happening inside of the lock as you go step by step.

[GWiens2001]

Search for Solimon's Lockpicking Detail Overkill. Short and to the point, and an outstanding guide for beginners.

Some people seem to be able to rake a lot of locks, but the short bitting hiding behind the long one on your key would make this a difficult lock to rake.

Keep up the good work! Practice is the best way to get better.

Gordon

[parkourer]

I'm not sure what you mean when you say moving the pick up and down while removing it. It seems you know about binding order, have you read some of the beginner guides on this site, or the MIT guide? That would be a good place to start if not. There are some good illustrated guides that show you what's happening inside of the lock as you go step by step.

I mean moving the pick up and down trying while sliding it out to get lucky and set a binding pin. Yes I've read the MIT guide, but I don't get how to find the binding order. I usually start from the back, and go to the front, trying to get lucky

Some people seem to be able to rake a lot of locks, but the short bitting hiding behind the long one on your key would make this a difficult lock to rake.

Thanks for the advice, i will definitely check it out. But is raking in this case difficult, or impossible?

[KPick]

I'm not sure what you mean when you say moving the pick up and down while removing it. It seems you know about binding order, have you read some of the beginner guides on this site, or the MIT guide? That would be a good place to start if not. There are some good illustrated guides that show you what's happening inside of the lock as you go step by step.

I mean moving the pick up and down trying while sliding it out to get lucky and set a binding pin. Yes I've read the MIT guide, but I don't get how to find the binding order. I usually start from the back, and go to the front, trying to get lucky

Some people seem to be able to rake a lot of locks, but the short bitting hiding behind the long one on your key would make this a difficult lock to rake.

Thanks for the advice, i will definitely check it out. But is raking in this case difficult, or impossible?

Its possible parkour and by the way you are describing your picking it is possible that you are raking it open. SPP is when you push one pin up at a time in the lock until you feel a light stiffining or slight stop. push on every pin up and take your time on the pin. Dont just push it up quickly. Feel the pin and its feedback. Put heavy tension so you can get an amplified stffining of the pin. Patience and focus is the key.

[parkourer]

Its possible parkour and by the way you are describing your picking it is possible that you are raking it open. SPP is when you push one pin up at a time in the lock until you feel a light stiffining or slight stop. push on every pin up and take your time on the pin. Dont just push it up quickly. Feel the pin and its feedback. Put heavy tension so you can get an amplified stffining of the pin. Patience and focus is the key.

Thanks man, but finding the binding pin is kind of my problem. I can't really find the binding pin. Like either i'm finding it, and i don't know, or i've already set it by inserting the pick in all the way (happens a lot, that i set pins just by trying to get the pick in all the way). Have you ever picked a No. 3? What was your experience like?

[GWiens2001]

Here is where you can download Solomon's Lockpicking Detail Overkill.

The password is evva3ks.

It will answer your questions and only takes a few minutes to read. It is thorough, colorfully written, and easily understood .

Gordon

[njcanderson]

I'm relatively new to the whole lock picking hobby too, I have a few number 3s that I practice on for now. Make sure that you're applying appropriate tension, too much and all of the pins will feel stiff and too little and none of them will bind. You have to carefully push up on each pin to find which is stiffest, then you should hear a little "shnick" when the pin sets. You'll also feel it in the way that the cylinder moves slightly.

[daniel22747]

It took me a loooong time to really feel what is hapening in a lock. I mean really feel what is going on and know the binding order etc.

Keep practicing and sooner or later something will click in your brain and you will be able to really feel the lock. When this happens you ability to pick a lock reliably will go way up.

For the most part keep picking and just have fun with it. Also remember that while rakes and jigglers are lots of fun, single pin picking is the path to becoming a good lock picker. It is also the only way to open up most of your higher security and true high security locks.


I have also found that top of the key way tensioning gives by far the best feed back.