1st 4 locks! WOW thanks LP101

[Jimy]

Hello!

Let me just say that I have the deepest gratitude for LP101 and the many helpful posters on this board for the instruction and encouragement in this amazing and exciting pastime!

I received my tools today, and within 20 minutes I picked 4 padlocks! The first one was an old brass Alpha. I tried scrubbing for instant gratification with no success. Feeling around with the short hook, the cylinder moved a little, then a little more, oh boy....a little more picking, then POP! Haha! I'm telling you, (other noobies) that is such a FREAKIN RUSH!!!! Wow.

After my jaw dropped wide open, then jumping around and yelling the word "yes!" and laughing my @$$ off, I got to work on a mid-size Master padlock. Stiffer pin springs, but got that one too. Then a large generic padlock. It was comprimised by scrubbing with a half-diamond. That's pretty neat and fast. Then I picked a generic "mini" brass padlock. It had a pretty small keyway, and I was wishing I had ordered a mini-hook. But my regular short hook fit in after angling and working the hook around the wards and underneath the pins.

I had to try a file cabinet lock, I assume a wafer lock. One push or two upwards with the hook and it opened. I finally have found a padlock that I cannot get. It's a round-shaped Hampton lock that the outdoor storage places recommend. I believe that it has security pins. I pick and pick, and when I release tension, I only ever hear one click from a pin that was set. Is there a trick to this one, or just spool pins?

Your All's Very Truly,
Jimy

[master in training]

well first of all welcome to the forum and conratulations on your sucess!! it always feels good to open a lock, especially a tricky one that has been causing you trouble!

anyway, down to business, first the usual checks... have you read the MIT guide, the FAQ's, stickies and seen the lock picing videos on http://www.howstuffworks.com (by your posts and success it sounds like you have, but its best to check).

after that, with your problems with the padlock, it could be a number of issues...
1. do you have a key to the lock, i.e. is it yours and do you know it works?
2. how much tension are you using? too little will mean pins wont bind properly, too much and the lock may "lock up" if it has something called a spool pin, you can search for a good description of these, but basically its like a normal pin with the sides cut out, a bit like this ---> )(
wow, that was a bad explaination...but anyway, search for spool pins!
3. you do know that you dont pick the pins front to back, or back to front or anything like that dont you? you have to look for the binding pin, set it and move onto the next bind pin. so although the pins go 12345 (1 being the front of the lock), they may pick 24513, if you know this, im sorry for being too obvious, im just checking!

i hope this helps a bit and doesnt confuse you even more!


~ Master in Training ~

[Jimy]

Hello,

Thank you, thank you. When that first cylinder turned a little then all the way, it's hard to describe how that felt. I now see why everyone recommends padlocks for a first pick, because that springloaded "pop" when it opens is so satisfying.

Yes I have read the MIT guide and crypto notes. The animated graphics on the howstuffworks site are astonishing. I have a lot more reading to do on this website, and I will re-read the above texts. I am planning to take apart a deadbolt and start with two pinstacks only and so on, and the other exercises that are outlined.

I only tried a lock with all the pins installed because I couldn't wait to just try the new tools. I have trouble determining what is going on inside the lock and the state the pins, so I never expected to open my 1st so quickly, let alone 4 different brands and a file cabinet to boot!

Yes the Hampton is my lock and I do have its key. When I scrub with a snake, none of the pins feel stiffer than others, so maybe I need more tension, But when I release tension I hear 1 click, I assume that pin has set. This lock is the round type (nomenclature?) that the key actually retracts the shakle (?) into itself. I noticed that when you begin to turn the key, the shakle moves further into the lock a little, then opens.

Best Regards and thanks,
Jimy

ps- All of the keys that I have looked at today have the #1 pin long, and the rest shorter, so that you must reach up behind it to set the #2 and on up. I suppose they do this on purpose to increase security a little?

[master in training]

i dont know what the type of lock is called, but i know the type you mean, i've never picked one though, it sounds like you need to improve your feel at picking, raking/scrubbing is unreliable, it is better to learn to pick in by pin, this will improve your feel of what is happening inside the lock, use a hook or a 1/2 diamond. then just practise practise practise!

your lock may have a spool pin in it, if this is what you hear clicking, the plug still turn a tiny bit, but this is because the pin has the concave part around the middle, if its a spool, to pick it you will have to use less tension, push the pin up then reapply the tension, it is a difficult thing to learn and you will definatly benefit from your plan to take pins out fo a cylinder and practise on that, sounds like you're well on your way to becoming a good picker

[Jimy]

Okay, I've now picked my 1st deadbolt and doorknob locks, both Kwiksets. Only took about 10 minutes for both. It seems that most locks i've tried have a ward in the keyway that impedes the hook movement just enough to lose the feedback of what is going on inside the mechanism.

On the Kwiksets, I lightly rubbed the pins with the half-diamond to find the one with the most resistance, then used the same tool to set each pin. Voila! I still feel ham-handed. Will I gain the touch by continuing to try different locks, or is there a preferred exercise I should practice?

Thanks again all for the help,
Jimy

[master in training]

read the MIT guide, there are excercises in it for developing your sense of feeling in your hands and improving your picking skills. if you're having trouble using a particular pick, try a different one, thats why they make different picks!

congrats on the kwiksets by the way, now get yourself something a little more challenging....

[toomush2drink]

Doesnt it just feel great when a lock pops ? I still get that buzz when i open one on a door in front of a customer im not sure many locksmiths dont. Keep practicing then go for something with spool/security pins in which will provide a whole new challenge and remember locks can make anyone feel stupid too when they WONT open