Question for the veterans

[jedidiah]

Hello to all,

I recently ordered a set of lock picks from the lock pick shop (they came in a very timely fashion, I might add) and I have been charging away at any locks in my house. I can tackle the front door, the dead bolt, and the filing cabinet with ease. However, at this stage of my endeavors I am unsure as to exactly how I should be attempting to improve my skills? I have read all the FAQs and guides I can find. I have the CD that lock pick shop sells. Although I can open these locks without too much frustration, I am not sure that my technique is flawless or even acceptable? What are some specific skills I should be cultivating? What are some ways to improve so that I feel more in control of the situation as I pick a lock?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

-Jedidiah

[SFGOON]

If you're opening deadbolts this quickly, you are either some sort of lockpicking savante or you have faulty deadbolts. I still have problems with some of the more secure brands and I've been practicing for ten years.

The next step for you would be to get a padlock with security pins, like a master 140. they're cheap, widely available, and really frustrating to pick. I have a hard time doing it without my profile picks. The clicncher is that if it weren't for one or two security pins, those things would be a joke.

Still not challenged? Try something with a severly restricted keyway. Brinks has a line of padlocks out with some very narrow paracentric (wiggly) keyways that make life a genuine pain. Also, lever locks can present a very unique challenge when you get used to pin tumbler locks.

As far as developing "the feel" goes, that is something that comes with practice, and technique is something that you have to develop for yourself, some have fingers like cucumbers, and others, like myself, have girl hands. What works for cucumber will not work for girl hands.

You seem like a smart guy, we're excited to see what you'll bring to this forum. Good luck to you.

[Buggs41]

I am a VETERAN. Persian Gulf 1991, USN.

Pertaining to your question, Practice is what you need. Yes, you are able to open locks. That is great!

Now, you have to really focus on ' HOW ' you made that lock open. Learn from the feedback it gave you while picking it. A stab in the dark is just a stroke of luck. Anyone can do that.

Pick this lock many times, and each time, try to focus on what is happening 'inside' the lock. From there, you will learn.

[SFGOON]

I'm a Veteran too, but of war. A one-sided rout is really just good, clean fun. I almost felt sorry for the republican guard, almost.

[vector40]

Pick more locks, jedi.

Just that

[Buggs41]

I really, really want to reply to that.....


But, I can't do it on this forum.


May all our hero's come home safely!







We now return you to your regularly scheduled post reading.....








.

[digital_blue]

Random poking is fun for a bit, but you will need to develop the feel. Go back to one pin and don't leave there until you can consiously lift it until you feel it hit the shear line. Then move up to 2 pins and repeat, but do not increase your pin count until you are confident with what you are doing.

That should do it.

db

[Greatbob]

What I would suggest is Breaking open a lock and looking through it, Just take one that is on a door or something, tear it out, take off the half circle clip on the butt of the plug, pull the plug out and look at the pins, springs, holes, the metal.


Inspect it, spray it with lubricant and smell it, eat the whole thing if you like

[raimundo]

Try puttin one finger on the interface between the core and the plug, you can feel small hits here better than anywhere else, things that are difficult to see can be felt clearly, when the fingertip is touching both parts. use the second or third finger, not the one you are using to hold the pick.

[SFGOON]

Buggs, I didn't mean to mock you - the first Gulf War WAS one of the most lopsided and morally righteous victories in military history, so good job. In the current Operational Environment, we don't really know where the enemy is, and that makes security something of a nightmare - there's not a whole lot we can do to protect our people, just shoot back when they try and hit us. My apoligies for the paranthetical tangent but I do want to make it clear to all how much I repsect Buggs for what he helped accomplish. Sorry if I came across as condecending.

[Buggs41]

SFGOON, I knew what you were saying. And I did not take it the wrong way. Thanks!

While writing that post, I had many thoughts. Most would have passed the line. What you read, was my self censored last attempt at posting it.

[jedidiah]

Thank you to all.

I have been mucking about today with all of the locks in question, lockpicking's rewards are certainly equal to its challenges.

I am, however, dubious as to my status as a savante. The deadbolt in question is a castle guard. As to its quality, I am unable to testify knowlegeably.

I would also note that I have found the pick shaped like this:

/|
/ |_____________
/________________

to be extremely useful in furthering my feel for the insides of the locks I am picking. I can feel it "hook" a pin and then manipulate that pin with a very good idea of how my actions are affecting it.

Does anyone have suggestions for brand of lock to purchase for practice?

I bought a padlock from the dollar store and I am able to pick it in under thirty seconds with great consistancy. This is in no way a testament to my abilities as a lock picker, I assure you.


Again, thank you. I am continuoulsy impressed by the level of helpfulness and expertise on this forum.

-Jedidiah

[vector40]

Is that a 90-degree bend on that pick, jedi?

[jedidiah]

yes, the formatting this site places on posts made my ascii art look rather absymal.

|--/ |
|-/ |_________
|/____________


is this pick not appropriate for general use?

[digital_blue]

Sounds to me like you've been picking locks with your broken key extractor. Whatever works I guess.

db