advice needed

[banks]

please can someone help me after completing my 2 day course i have bought myself some locks to practice with, one of which is a ZONE rim cylinder. is there anybody who can help me with tips on raking this lock i have no problems opening it with a HPCelectric pick gun but really want to learn how to rake or single pick them. any reply would be helpful thanks

[UWSDWF]

wow... chillax

2-day Lockie course is not enough but thats another subject... read my obligatory welcome message and you'll find what you're looking for....

Welcome,
For all thoes new to the site and lockpicking, LP101 is a great place to start.
Take a look at the new users section, first and don't be afraid to ask any questions just remember to try a search before posting.

If you're looking for locks to pick, buy some but, DO NOT PICK LOCKS YOU RELY ON
I repeat DO NOT PICK LOCKS YOU RELY ON, they can and will break, then your house/car/safe/chasity belt is vulnerable or unable to be opened (think: emergency situation).

Cheers,
UWSDWF

[Kaotik]

Single Pin Picking (SPP) will be your best bet to learn first. Raking is very easy, just insert tension wrench and rake pick, pivet the pick up and down moving it in and out at the same time - applying various amounts of tension may be needed.

Raking works on some lock without having to SPP the pins that didn't set with the rake, but most of them require it. So, you see why I say learn SPP first?! It will train your sence of feel better for figuring out what's going on inside the lock as well as idenifying what pins are in the lock.

[toomush2drink]

So a 2 day locksmith course is available that doesnt teach you how to pick locks without electric picks ? Its crazy as some locks wont go with the pickgun but do go by hand. the uk locksmith training thing is a sad state of affairs

[banks]

you say a 2 day course is not good enough, After completing my course i am now more than capable to open many locks now i.e.

WAFER LOCKS
RIM CYLINDERS
PADLOCKS
2+3 LEVER LOCKS
BULLET LOCKS

I have also learnt how to open most 5 lever locks aswell i.e.
FORTRESS
LEGGE
INVINCABLE
CHUBB E SERIES

PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT YOU MEAN...........

[globallockytoo]

you say a 2 day course is not good enough, After completing my course i am now more than capable to open many locks now i.e.

WAFER LOCKS
RIM CYLINDERS
PADLOCKS
2+3 LEVER LOCKS
BULLET LOCKS

I have also learnt how to open most 5 lever locks aswell i.e.
FORTRESS
LEGGE
INVINCABLE
CHUBB E SERIES

PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT YOU MEAN...........

Wow, I'm thrilled for you. 2 days and you're an expert. Good Luck!

[banks]

im no expert thats for sure but one thing i have discovcered is lock picking is all about knowlage and procedure not luck.......

[lockey1963]

what pick did you learn to pick the fortress with ? the legge , the chubb E series ?

[ComTech]

The best thing I can tell you is keep practicing, it take a while to develop the feel that you need. I have days when I can pick all my practice locks fairly easily, then other days I can pick about 75% of them easily, and have problems with the other 25%.
I'm getting better, but sometime I just have an off day.
When I practice daily, I do much better than if I only practice once a week.
I think tension wrench's are more important than the picks. I think most people on this site will tell you, It just take practice and more practice.

I have to go practice now.

[banks]

It is fact in my eyes that if the tension you are using is not perfect you are fighting a losing battle too much and its all over...... and as for picking the 5 lever locks i purchased a curtain wheel pick from A JAM locksmiths with different wires to suit . great tool

[toomush2drink]

you say a 2 day course is not good enough, After completing my course i am now more than capable to open many locks now i.e.

WAFER LOCKS
RIM CYLINDERS
PADLOCKS
2+3 LEVER LOCKS
BULLET LOCKS

I have also learnt how to open most 5 lever locks aswell i.e.
FORTRESS
LEGGE
INVINCABLE
CHUBB E SERIES

PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT YOU MEAN...........

Well thats all very well and good but my point was the course didnt teach you how to hand pick.

Now imagine its a dark cold night and the battery on your pickgun has gone and its a zone lock but you cant open it.......... After your all you are now "more than capable" to quote your own words.
Do you see what i mean ?

You have a lot to learn as you will discover, courses only teach a few basics and opening locks is only a small part of the job.

I was pointing out the state of training in this country not having a dig a at you personally

[banks]

the lock i was having problems with is a ZONE rim , This lock is giving me trouble i was given very good training on my course in the procedures of single picking ,raking and bumping i.e

securit yale bird rims i do not have a problem picking i was trying to say that the only sucess i have had with the zone is with the pick gun..

just wondered if anybody else found the same problem ?

[Shrub]

The Zones are good locks but easily picked, they have spools,

You shouldnt have an issue with hand picking these especially after being shown the methods and techniques,

[banks]

shrub, please let me know how long you would spend trying to pick it before you would try a different method

[UWSDWF]

i'm not shrub but a standard pin tumbler lock with spool pins shouldn't take too long. The trick is getting a feel for the spool pins and once you figure out the technique you use to defeat them it becomes way easy.... infact i've heard some say it's easier then regular pins in some locks

there should not be a situation where a lock with any spool pins needs anything to open it other then picking, unless the lock is damaged and that is something you should know how to feel for/ identify right away.