Problems with standard pins

[sisk]

I've worked my way over the past couple months from the Master #3 that everyone says to start with, through Kwiksets and the like and random other kik cylinders, a WB padlock (clearly I'm following Bosnianbill's video on improving your skills, in case you hadn't guessed by now) through the Master 140, 150, and 570, up to American locks. At this point spools barely slow me down anymore and serrated pins only slow me down a little bit. I can confidently pick up an American series 1100 and have it open inside of two minutes almost every time. But then I went back to that humble WB with it's 5 standard pins and I can't seem to get it open for the life of me now. Has anyone else had this sort of problem? Any ideas on what could be causing it?

[Daltonj21]

You're probably over setting pins because you are used to have to used to getting multiple clicks or counter rotation ect. I think security pins are easier since they give so much feed back. I do recommend picking more than just one lock of a certain type. You will find some are easier than others.

[sisk]

I actually think I just found the problem and I feel like an idiot. It seems my touch on the tension wrench has gotten so light that I can pick a spring loaded padlock and not know it. I just picked the thing then spent the next 3 minutes trying to figure out why I couldn't find a pin that wasn't set right up until i got frustrated and put heavy tension on it. At which point, of course, it popped right open.

Doh!

[nine4t4]

Being too light with the tension can be just as bad as using too much pressure. I had it drilled into my head early on that the tension should be as light as possible. I used to watch the videos and be amazed at how their pins clicked. Mine never clicked, the only feedback that I had set a pin was the wrench itself. I didn't bind the pins, I just made one microscopically less smooth than the others.

I did the math once. Assuming the pressure is equal to the force of gravity of a quarter resting on your index finger (reading that in a lock picking book is what screwed me). I don't remember the numbers but 5 grams, 3 inches out along the tension wrench, worked out to about 10% of the torque needed to tighten those super tiny screws they use on the temples of eyeglasses. It's actually less torque than what's needed to turn a key, no wonder I had problems

Eventually, I started using more pressure and my effectiveness grew quickly.

Where the extra light touch comes in handy is with raking. Spools and serrated can be raked but you need to dance between no tension and where the first pin would just begin to bind. It's not an easy thing to do unless you started off using insufficient tension for SPP