The tension wrench topic (How much pressure does the trick?)

by **falkman** » 12 Dec 2007 21:53

I have been lock picking on and off for about 2 years, and now I finally ordered a real pick set, due to my crappy quality homemade ones.

I'm practicing on a Master Lock #3, pretty common, and I have opened it about 5 times in the past hour, but the problem is... I'm not really picking it, I am picking it, but I'm just getting lucky with tension, if I always had the right amount of it, I could open it every time, but for some reason I never can get it just right, and when I do, its just sheer luck.

So just post what works for you for tension...

by **JackNco** » 12 Dec 2007 23:05

I have heard things like
"The amount of pressure you use to push down a keu on a keyboard"
And
"the same as putting in contact lenses"

But with the no3 push the plug back with your finger, make sure your tension wench isnt catching the front of the laminated body. and push till just before the wrench bends.

Hope that helps

John

by **falkman** » 12 Dec 2007 23:42

Eh, so to pick it you need to keep that plug pushed all the way back?

I'm raking, so its like impossible.

by **josh0094** » 12 Dec 2007 23:59

no thats not what hes saying. i think its okay to let it move a little bit. just be aware of the tensioner.

by **falkman** » 13 Dec 2007 0:16

josh0094 wrote:no thats not what hes saying. i think its okay to let it move a little bit. just be aware of the tensioner.

tensioner?

by **MacGyver101** » 13 Dec 2007 0:33

falkman wrote:tensioner?

He wasn't referring to a part of the lock... he was referring to the tension wrench. :wink:

I believe the advice was to double-check that you're not inserting your tension wrench too far, such that it's rubbing against the first pin (and preventing it from moving freely).

As for tension, lighter is generally better. Try opening the lock first (i.e., leave the shackle in the open, "unlocked" position) and then try picking the lock: you may find that you get slightly better responsiveness with some of the tension removed. (It's not going to make a huge difference, but it might help?)

by **falkman** » 13 Dec 2007 0:44

Ahh

I forgot, my pick wasn't going in very far, and I remembered I broke a homemade pick off in it last year... well, thats really my only lock that I'm allowed to pick atm, I'll buy one and tell you how it goes.

Although the lock won't open, I still can practice on the first few pins, and before I could never get them to get stuck on the sheer, now they always do, using you 'keypress' touch theory

.

by **CptedIV** » 13 Dec 2007 1:43

This is my first time lockpicking, I got a number 3 master and a few picks, and two wrenches. I got the lock open easy the first couple times, but then it got nearly impossible, and now I cant get it open at all. I also found a master lock with no numbers, just bumpy and black and silver, I got that one on the first couple trys, and can't anymore. I think the problem is the tension wrench I'm using being a little too small, because when I start to push up the pins, the wrench slips and falls into the groove in the bottom of the keyhole, making me lose all the tension. I tried just fitting the tension wrench into the groove it kept falling in and using it there, but I can't seem to open it from there either... What could I be doing wrong?

by **MacGyver101** » 13 Dec 2007 2:08

CptedIV wrote:. . . I got the lock open easy the first couple times, but then it got nearly impossible, and now I cant get it open at all.

Just to cover off the now-obvious first question: you don't have half a broken pick jammed in the keyway, do you? :wink:

CptedIV wrote:. . . the wrench slips and falls into the groove in the bottom of the keyhole, making me lose all the tension.

Ah. If your tension wrench is too thin, have you tried either inserting something else alongside your tension wrench (e.g., a paperclip or a second tension wrench) to help fill in the space and reduce the likelihood of it slipping? Depending on the keyway, that sometimes helps. (A good photo of that technique was recently posted in another thread -- but I can't find it off the top of my head, to credit the original poster.)

by **CptedIV** » 13 Dec 2007 2:43

No, all picks are intact and the lock opens easy with the key. Still can't get it, I found a better way of gettin the tension wrench in place by not putting it in as far as I had it... I can't get this lock with a hook, and thats really what I'd like to learn, the only way I can open it is with the snake. (The number 3, I mean.) As for the bumpy colorfull one, how do you find out what kind of lock it is, and why is it like that? Is it just for looks, or is this a tougher lock...? Thanks,
Ed

by **MacGyver101** » 13 Dec 2007 3:27

CptedIV wrote:As for the bumpy colorfull one, how do you find out what kind of lock it is, and why is it like that? Is it just for looks, or is this a tougher lock...?

I think I have one of those kicking around somewhere... if I recall correctly, it was sold as a "weatherized" version, with some sort of black enamel coating, rather than plastic or rubber. If that's the lock, then it's not significantly different than your #3... if you surf around the MasterLock website for a bit you should be able to find its product number.

by **CptedIV** » 14 Dec 2007 16:01

Alright, so I can pick through my bumpy lock, one crappy old schlage, and one number 3, and I got it down pretty good. So today I picked up a real fancy shiny Master Lock number 40. I can get all pins set but one... I think its the third pin in from the front of the keyway. Don't know where to go from here, my other locks seem so easy compared to this... I've tried raking from back to front, and front to back, then doing the same with the half diamond but always get stuck with the same pin???
Thanks,
Ed

by **MacGyver101** » 14 Dec 2007 18:01

I have a Master #40 that's a real pain... it has a difficult biting, and I would agree that the tolerances seem to be much better than my other Master locks. It took me a while to be able to consistently get it -- which was somewhat embarrassing for a 4-pin padlock. :-)

If anything, I'd recommend very light tension. (Far lighter than whatever you're used to using on your Master #3.)

Keep it up...

by **CptedIV** » 14 Dec 2007 20:07

Man, Im so close with it, I've been picking at it all day. I can hear the three pins drop if I let tension off, but still have the one not catching?! Some kinda trick to this?? I looked at masterlock.com:
2-3/4" (70mm) wide stainless steel body resists corrosion

Hardened steel shackle for extra cut resistance

4-pin cylinder helps prevent picking

Double deadbolt locking to guard against pulling

Key retaining feature ensures padlock is not left unlocked

Fully shielded design minimizes shackle exposure

Ideal protection against bolt cutter attacks

Doesn't sound like anything special, how come I can't get one pin to set? Its making me crazy

.
Thanks,
Ed

by **stran9er** » 19 Dec 2007 19:08

Woah this is really help!!

The tension wrench topic (How much pressure does the trick?)

The tension wrench topic (How much pressure does the trick?)

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