Using rakes in sequence

[talbuz]

When I first started in lockpicking, I encountered the books of the late David DeVal, who was an escapologist magician and locksmith. In one book he suggested that raking should be the first plan of attack on any lock (at the time referring mainly to pintumbler and wafer) and recommended using rakes in this sequence until the lock opens: double ball, single ball, diamond.

Raking is still one aspect of lockpicking I know I have a lot more learning and practicing to do. Do you agree with this idea of raking through a sequence of tools as a general approach, or using whichever pick one works best with?

Modern commercial pick sets like the southord one I have comprise so many different rakes...the ball rakes, half balls, snake heads and several variations of this, the saw rake, etc. Apart from using ball rakes very succesfully on wafers, I dont know whether specific picks ought to be used for specific locks. Can anyone shed any light on this please?

[barbarian]

The magician guy was probably looking for speed more than anything.

In the lock opening competitions, don't they often use rakes for the same reason?

[cppdungeon]

Well, that basically sounds like raking. the order really shouldn't matter though, there is no way to know what rake will work better on any given lock. Hooks always work though, for SPP

--Cpp

[talbuz]

Yes they do. I dont know if its good practice or a bad habit on my part, but I find myself using my S rake all the time, and my half diamond often instead of my hook.

[cppdungeon]

Thats interesting, because NONE of my rakes EVER work, and i totally cannot use a half-diamond. It think i had a bogota once that worked on one of my locks, but thats about it.

--Cpp

[Satan130]

Thats interesting, because NONE of my rakes EVER work, and i totally cannot use a half-diamond. It think i had a bogota once that worked on one of my locks, but thats about it.

--Cpp

I'm going to have to agree with this guy. if a lock has more then, say, 3 pins, then i could sit there all day with a pile of rakes and i would get no where fast. and if it has a security pin then it doesn't matter how many pins there are, it's not opening without some SPP.

Maybe their's something I'm missing(and there usually is) but raking seems a bit over rated to me.

[cppdungeon]

You can rake security pins, you just need light tension. The only lock my fauxgota worked on has a spool. Im getting some southord soon, so ill see if their rakes work any better.

--Cpp

[zeke79]

:) Yes they do. I dont know if its good practice or a bad habit on my part, but I find myself using my S rake all the time, and my half diamond often instead of my hook.

The half diamond has a definite place in SPP. When you encounter a lock that has warding so tight that you cannot get a hook under a pin stack deep in the lock because the warding does not allow access under the pin due to how far back in the lock it is, a half diamond is what I use to get a starting lift of the pin stack. I simply use the leading edge of the diamond and use simple insertion force to lift the pin stack either to shear line or if the shear line is higher than the total height of the top of the diamond I am then able to work a hook pick in under the pin stack which I was unable to do prior to the use of the half diamond. It comes in real handy as the angled leading edge allows you to just slowly push the pick into the lock which allows great picking control and by doing this the leading edge of the diamond accomplishes the lifting you were unable to do with a hook pick and allows more lift control than using a rake of virtually any profile.

If you look closely, even the falle safe set comes with a sort of diamond pick for accomplishing this exact task. They have a set of picks in the kit that appear to be a straight shaft with no hook at the end. If you look closely, one of these picks is a straight shaft with a half diamond style leading edge. This pick is used in the manner I described above and then simply flipped over and the smallest hook pick is used allowing you to lift the pin stack progressively through the hook picks until you reach shear line. The half diamond is one pick that should be in every set of picks even if your pick set is based solely on hook picks .

[ToolyMcgee]

When I first started in lockpicking, I encountered the books of the late David DeVal, who was an escapologist magician and locksmith. In one book he suggested that raking should be the first plan of attack on any lock (at the time referring mainly to pintumbler and wafer) and recommended using rakes in this sequence until the lock opens: double ball, single ball, diamond.

Sounds like he had a technique he was comfortable with for defeating the locks he picked most frequently. Do you remember if there was ever a situation where he suggested using a hook or half diamond?


For all you rake haters I think it can be an effective method for opening many types of locks. The proof is that people experience some level of success with it on all locks. Just like with spp it's an improvable skill. If you are having a difficult time developing a feel for one of your tools, then you could try using digitalblue's method to practice. http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10677 Why should it be unthinkable to learn the feel of a non hook pick this way? I don't think he says it translates, but I've used it to practice the limitations of different picks with success based on the same simple idea that if I couldn't open a lock with a tool I'd set my sights on testing, I'd break down the lock until I could feel and control the pick setting the binding pins, and then build it back up as it became easier for me to pick. Just like he discribes for a short hook. This method has it's limitations because rakes have limits. Keyway, key bitings, high security features, etc, but by testing a pick you should be able to discover these limitations and improve your effective use of the tool.

I've had raking come in handy plenty of times. Usually with an unfamiliar keyway, rusty mudpie lock, to speed a false set, or for the occasional times I'm caught without a properly fitting tension tool. Like magician DavidDeval I have a raking order I prefer. For your average pin tumbler it's half diamond, bogota. For single and double sided wafers it's half ball, snake. The size and thickness prefered depends on the available keyway space. I prefer spp with some style of a hook, but I practice regularly with the half diamond and bogota as well. I don't practice alot with the snake and half ball, but they don't see much use, and when they do it's similar to the way I use the half diamond. NOT sawing at the pins/wafers like a maniac, but gentle scrubbing to hopefully feel out and set the binding pins. I don't find it as rewarding, but I like to pick clean, brand new locks in hand sitting in my easy chair with my feet up, or vice/clamp mounted to my work surface.

When you pick locks in less than perfect conditions, ie. outside, in the dark, on an unmaintained lock, door mounted upside down, CW, CCW, or even behind your back you find out your limitations very quickly and you'll be glad for every pick in your case. Every method you've practiced.

-ToolyMcgee

[talbuz]

Good point Zeke. I use my half diamond for lifting but you seem to have a more clear intent and methodology there.

Tooly, about DeVal, in the same book where he talked about raking sequence, its true he had a much shorter explanation about SPP. However, he called that section Pure Lock-picking, and said: "It requires a fair amount of practice, and even more patience, but the rewards once you are the master of this are more than words can convey....Practice this and you will have a gem" Just writing that makes me want to go off and practice ...

As I can attest from my own lock-picking beginnings, as a magician one tends to be attracted to 'faster and easier', so something like SPP tends to not necessarily be the very first thing you think of practicing. Its noticeable in DeVal's books he puts a lot of attention on by-passing. He explains in detail how to make "the Rochdale Wizard" from a hacksaw blade, a very effective way to by-pass all pin-tumbler padlocks of that time, and filing cabinet locks. It was my first tool and I had loads of fun with it. Lock companies soon learned to put two locking levers, but still possible to find some older padlocks that can be opened in this way. Even some of the small brass padlocks sold in airports for luggage are still vulnerable to this 3-second method. DeVal also focused a lot on doctoring keys to make up collections of tryout keys for ward and lever locks.

[patrickson]

That s funny, coz raking usually works best for me.
I think many people does raking in an incorrect way by pressing the torque too much. Raking should be done with a very mild pressure.

Also, when dealing with an unfamiliar lock (ie: lock you pick for the first time) raking should be first thing to do (as long as opening the lock is the main objective). That is becuase raking works by mere luck and it depends highly on the lock. Cheap locks or padlocks can be opened by raking in less than 30 minutes, even for the first try!

Although raking is often considered not to be as professional as actual picking, it still worth the effort of learning it, since it can open most locks FAST.
So I would say: rake first, then pick : )
(as long as opening and not practise is the main objective)

(btw, merry xmas and happy new year to all of you!)

[raimundo]

I think patrickson meant that some locks will open in 30 seconds, not 30 minutes.
people disparage raking because they find it too easy. Well its a good tool, its picking, not bumping snapping, shimming, or impressioning.
If you think its too easy, get harder locks.

[mikitric]

I look at raking in the same way as you look at using a calculator. It speeds up the process for many and most calculations, but if you never learn the theory of doing arithmatic by hand, then none of the calculations will mean anything and there will really be no success in you getting things right.

Very similar, if you rake from day one without ever learning the theory and technique then whenever you get a lock by raking alone, then the majority of the time it will be by luck, and while a certain amount of satisfaction comes from this, you miss out on knowing that you knew exactly what the lock presented, and that you overcame it. So this is more of a sentimental perspective on raking.

Beyond that I think raking is awesome once you can understand what is going on. Sometimes you will come across high MACS and weird binding orders and if you dont know the principles of raking, then you won't know how to even rake properly in that situation. So my suggestion is to learn spp to understand and appreciate whats going on, and then use raking as your first approach for the sake of speed, using your knowledge of SPP to help overcome obstacles.

And good luck!

[mikitric]

oops, i meant "if you dont know the principles of spp" sorry for the spam

[talbuz]

Yep, words of wisdom!

My first incursion into lockpicking donkey's years ago was being taught to bypass a padlock with a straight pointed pick. So I kind of learnt the worst way possible - dead easy, lazy way out and no need to know what's going on inside. When I went into SPP, I soon found I needed to know whats inside and how it works, and it really alters your perception and appreciation of lockpicking then.

I agree entirely, learning spp is irreplaceable but raking is definitely the way to go first where speed is a factor.