How do I pick a lock that has pins above and below?

[Kossi]

I have just recently started picking locks, and so far I have only really picked locks that has 3-4 normal pins. I have a file cabinet that I'm now practicing on, and it's really hard. After getting frustrated, I decided to take a look at the key to see how it looked like, and it has ridges on the top and the bottom.. What do I do? Do I just pick the ones above, then move the tension wrench up while I keep pressure, then pick the ones below? Im confused... What do I do?

[stratmando]

May actually be Wafers, you have to apply tension, Work on top pins, bottom pins, top pins, bottom pins, repeat til open, may need the Y type tension to turn, and allow access to both rows. I have done my Ford Truck a couplke of times,(Locked Keys inside)

[femurat]

Hello Kossi, I want to welcome you with a friendly advice: don't pick locks in use.

That said, I second stratmando hypothesis: usually file cabinets have wafer locks. Link here a picture of the key and one of the lock and we can tell it for sure.

Cheers

[billdeserthills]

Sounds like you need a different tension wrench, I don't know about your lock, but
I have a couple of the double sided tension wrenches, they leave the middle of the
keyway wide open

[Kossi]

Hello Kossi, I want to welcome you with a friendly advice: don't pick locks in use.

That said, I second stratmando hypothesis: usually file cabinets have wafer locks. Link here a picture of the key and one of the lock and we can tell it for sure.

Cheers

Why not pick locks that are in use?

This is the key, I couldn't really take a decent photo of the lock, but you'll probably be able to tell what it is https://imgur.com/a/9OL6x

[GWiens2001]

You don’t pick locks that are in use because picking can cause locks to break, especially with a newer picker.

Gordon

[stratmando]

Looking at the key gave me an idea of a Pick, would be 2 picks, attached like scissors, so you could go in and out, working on upper and lower wafers/pins at the same time?

[Wizer]

Those keys are cut funnily.You can not copy it with a normal cutting wheel, but you can code cut normal looking working keys with the code. Silca blank MLM1.
Kössi, don´t break your file cabinet lock, especially if its at your work.

[Kossi]

Those keys are cut funnily.You can not copy it with a normal cutting wheel, but you can code cut normal looking working keys with the code. Silca blank MLM1.
Kössi, don´t break your file cabinet lock, especially if its at your work.

I just bought four new padlocks instead

[femurat]

Well done. Enjoy picking your new padlocks.

Cheers

[Kossi]

Well done. Enjoy picking your new padlocks.

Cheers

Tough when my tools dont fit.. I have tried with 5 different padlocks now, but none of my tools fit... I have a Shouthord MPXS-14 set, and I have been buying all the locks that nearby stores sell but they all have some sort of thing blocking the keyway or they are just really tight :/ I kinda want to order some locks with bigger keyways to practice on, so if you have any tips id really appreciate that

[stratmando]

If they don't work on a Schlage or Kwikset, you will need different tools? May have to make your own from wiper blades?

[Squelchtone]

Well done. Enjoy picking your new padlocks.

Cheers

Tough when my tools dont fit.. I have tried with 5 different padlocks now, but none of my tools fit... I have a Shouthord MPXS-14 set, and I have been buying all the locks that nearby stores sell but they all have some sort of thing blocking the keyway or they are just really tight :/ I kinda want to order some locks with bigger keyways to practice on, so if you have any tips id really appreciate that

Could you show a photo of your picks next the one of the keyways of the locks they are not fitting into? perhaps your pick is hitting the 1st pin in the keyway?
Squelchtone

[GWiens2001]

Am suspecting that he is dealing with some of the tight paracentric keyways from Europe.

Gordon