Noob needing guidance

[amcutem]

Also, I really dont have any locks yet to practice on.

[raimundo]

someone told you about looking up picks on wikipedia, and I believe that he is actually refering to the lockwiki, which itself has a much smaller reference on the subject than it once did, much of the extensive information has been taken down. If someone else finds that I am wrong, let me know.

[pjcd]

Hope I'm not hijacking this thread, but---- I'm new to this and am having a bit of trouble picking my first lock, its a Master Lock No4, and I can't seem to open it, well not true, I get it to open once out of thirty tries, which means it's just dumb luck. I'm using a light touch on the tension bar and I can kinda feel the pins go into place, but not all the time. Do I just need more practice or am I missing something???


Thanks

PS: great site, lots of info, I have to say I find lock picking to be a great hobby.

[Doctor Hexagon]

It sounds like you're having difficulty with the binding order of the pins, or you're overlifting one or more pin stacks. If you're picking from back to front or the opposite every time, try probing each individual pin stack with your pick to find the stacks that bind more readily. If you're inadvertently overlifting a pin stack, you're binding a bottom pin at the shearline and will have to ease off tension until that pin stack drops . If you're causing Light tension is usually the recommended technique, but Master No.4's are a pretty forgiving lock from my experience. Try fluctuating the firmness of your tension while you pick.

If you haven't already done so, go through the Beginner's Tour of LP101 Tutorials read as much as you can. I recommend digital_blue's exercise to help really solidify what's going on in the lock in your mind as you pick it.

Above all else, practice! If something isn't working for you, try something different. You may be doing the same wrong thing over and over. I learned the most from failing to open a lock rather than always succeeding.

[amcutem]

Hope I'm not hijacking this thread, but---- I'm new to this and am having a bit of trouble picking my first lock, its a Master Lock No4, and I can't seem to open it, well not true, I get it to open once out of thirty tries, which means it's just dumb luck. I'm using a light touch on the tension bar and I can kinda feel the pins go into place, but not all the time. Do I just need more practice or am I missing something???


Thanks

PS: great site, lots of info, I have to say I find lock picking to be a great hobby.

Hello friend. I guess all I can say is be patient and don't let the small size intimidate you from understanding whats going on in the lock. Its actually pretty simple wen u get used to it and wen ur picking the same lock. Also, just becuz uve picked it once or twice, think that ur done. Pick it over and over until u know u can open that lock guaranteed. Then after that, scratch ur head and see if u can open the next lock.

I found that if i want to cheat, I would insert a rake pick and then a small hook for the remaininh pin/pins.

Goodluck my friend. I hope u post back wen u get use to opening one lock and explain ur experience as ur learning.

[pjcd]

Thanks for the help, I'll take the advice and see what happens.

Thanks agian.