First Day, need help.

[spuddbuddie]

Hey guys, this is my first day introduced to lockpicking. I have no school today, and I'm grounded for my grades, so I was looking into something I can spend my break on. I'm not a childish little kid that wants to learn to break into peoples houses or anything, I just want to get into lockpicking. I've read a couple beginners pages, and I know you have to lift each pin and lock it into place. I got picks already, but I'm a bit confused on the way you're supposed to pick the lock. How are you supposed to know if you clicked the pin in right? How do you start the process of picking the lock? Any help would be appreciated. Sorry, I didn't use the search bar, I didn't know what words to put in for it. Again, thank you.

[nails]

first... read the MIT guide and we will help u when u have done that

[nails]

go on to www.gregmiller.net and press lockpicking on the left side somewhere. he has a great guide that u should read first...
then search for pyros video of making lockpicks or u can just buy... the search butto is right above the log in/log out buttom

[illusion]

Read the FAQ section of this site AT LEAST... this has everything you need to get started.

oh yeah, and if I was in your shoes I would improve grades... lockpicking is my main hobby, but my schoolwork comes first any day. Then again it's your choice.

if you have picks then you won't need to buy or make them, so just go and get yourself a practice cylinder from your local shop/store. Get yourself the MIT guide (in the FAQ section) sit down with the guide and read it fully untill you feel you've got it understood. Once you know how a lock works, you need to dismantle the cylinder (search for how-to info) and leave only one pin inside - pick this and then add another pin. Keep going untill you have moved onto five pins. If you are having trouble remove one pin and work on that untill you feel you are ready to progress. You will be picking in no time if you follow this tried and tested methord. Get this methord down, and it'll provide you with a foundation to move up to other things.

Sounds hard, and will make you really angry at some points, but stick with it and you'll be flying.. it's worth it in the end

[spuddbuddie]

thank you guys so much, and illusion, yea grades are my priority, but i got a little too much into paintball, so my parents took that away from me, so I decided to find a new hobby to do, and also i did read the FAQ, and i already said I had my own lockpick set AND watched pyros video. but thanks for the help guys.

[nails]

no problem m8, im a newbie at lockpicking too and i get lots of help here ive just managed to a few open locks and often just with luck, but one thing that is mostly on my mind is practise, and if u read trough some topics, you will see them saying practise, practis, practise all the time
but right now im not gonna pick for a week or so, cause im waiting on my pick set that i ordered

power to the newbies !

[illusion]

i got a little too much into paintball

not suprising - fricking amazing to do it... just leaves open the question of how much 'a little' really was

power to the newbies !

power... newbies... isn't that a contradiction? An oxymoron even?

good to hear you're doing the right thing with school...

to fully answer what you asked:
you insert the tension wrench, and turn it gently, then you insert the pick and feel for which pin offers the most resistance - this is the pin which is binding. Set this pin and another pin will then bind, once again this is the next pin you need to lift. the plug will move slightly when you set a pin, and if you press up on a set pin it will be dead-easy to move it as a result of the spring no longer applying preasure. Starting from one pin and working up will help you sense for set pins, and build your confidence. The MIT guide better describes this, but that's the gist of it. All of this is based upon minute movement and at first you'll only notice larger movements, but after time you'll become accustomed to every smalll motion occuring inside the lock - then you're in business

means jack-all unless you go and practice it though... you can know all the theory, but you'll need to put it into action to make any use of it. Go practice what you read, ad it'll make sense in the end.

Good Luck

[spuddbuddie]

Thanks illusion! Yea that's the part I got confused on, - the part where you have to find the binding pin, but you cleared it all up for me. Today I'm going to ask my mom to take me to the local hardware store to pick me up a practice lock. I've read I should go for the Qwikset Deadbolt locks?

[illusion]

Hey, I'm glad I could help

Everyone here seems to recomend Qwikset... Since I'm in the UK I can't get them, but I'd reccomend you get one.

I must be waaay to keen on this site atm... well here's a thread from ages ago that will help you taking apart your cylinder: http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=103&highlight=taking+apart

small notes: a plug follower can be made out of an AA sized battery, or you can make it out of a piece of dowell.

and really make sure you pull the plug out slowly and inside a plastic bad, cos if not the pins really do go flying everywhere.

Last point... ALLWAYS make sure you have a both a pin inside the plug, and a pin inside the housing for each pin you want to put in... sounds obvious but I managed to do it about 3 times before I realised... it'll ruin your springs so be careful.

well I can't think of anything more you need... go practice

[spuddbuddie]

hahaha Illusion, Master of n00bs

[illusion]

hahaha Illusion, Master of n00bs

well my final proclamation to you is this:

fill in your profile

This will help you a lot, and you'll get more detailed replies about locks etc, because they change geographicaly... help others help you

[spuddbuddie]

done

[chopitup]

Do what I did through high school and pick locks under your desk while in class. It's win-win!

Of course I had a fairly understanding bunch of teachers... On second thought that might not be a good idea.