starting out

[textbook]

I bought a small five piece lockpicking set a hook, a diamond a basic rake and a ball rake and wrench. I know I should use the wrench, but still dont know how to use the other tools properly. I was recommended in my guide book to buy a pin tumbler lock and then take it apart using a clamp and practice. is this a good idea? And how would i practice

[Olson Burry]

You will need locks to practise on, it sounds like your plan was to practise on locks that are being used, considering you bought picks without owning any locks to practise on, which we do not do. If you are interested in the joys of this hobby collecting locks to practise on will be something to get good at.

I would recommend reading the LSI guide to lockpicking, you can get it from the link on the top of that page.

When starting out, sometimes it is useful to remove some pins from your practise locks to make them easier to pick, to get the feel of setting pins and work your way up to a full complement of chambers. There are many tutorials including one on how to re-pin locks available here

Happy reading!

[barbarian]

I would start with the diamond pick. Buy a cheapo deadbolt somewhere and take it apart. Look at home supply stores or second hand shops, yard sales or whatever. That way you can learn how the lock works inside. Put it back together with only two pins and try to pick it.

When you pick it, don't just try to jab the pick in and get it opened. Remember you want to feel what the pick is doing to the pins. That way you are learning to pick almost any lock, not just that particular one.

Then add another pin and do it again. Keep going till you get all the pins back in and then when you are good, you can change the order of the pins to make it like a different lock.

There are lots of tutorials here and scattered around the web.

The most common number one mistake is too much tension. If you bend anything, you are pressing WAY too hard.

[lock2006]

Just get a couples of master locks to pratice on like master #1 #3 or #5
next move on to kwikset or schlage, that would give you a good start
hope this helps.

[euphoricism]

What are the advantages of using a diamond over a standard lifter pick?

[l0ckp1cker]

What are the advantages of using a diamond over a standard lifter pick?

IMO It's a matter of personal preference.
I use the hook for raking as well and I have much better results with it then with the half diamond.
But the half diamond, because of it's shape, slides through the keyhole much easier as it doesn't get caught behind the pins like a hook does.

[textbook]

So you reckon a master #1 #3 or #5 or deadbolt would be the best to start out on? My guide from the lockpickingshop.com recommended a pin tumbler.

[l0ckp1cker]

So you reckon a master #1 #3 or #5 or deadbolt would be the best to start out on? My guide from the lockpickingshop.com recommended a pin tumbler.

Those are pin tumblers, but within pin tumblers there are many many differences.
You would want one which is easy to start and the Master #3 definitely is (don't know about the others as I haven't picked them yet).

[textbook]

ok, thanks dude. Thanks

[Viggs]

o you reckon a master #1 #3 or #5 or deadbolt would be the best to start out on? My guide from the lockpickingshop.com recommended a pin tumbler.

Instead of a master lock, I'd recommend that you go to your local hardware store and buy the cheapest deadbolt that they sell. I have two reasons for saying this:

1) The Master Lock has a spring return that you'll need to overcome to put torque on the lock. You'll need to use a lot more tension than normal, in other words. And that's a really bad habit to get into.

2) You can't take apart a master lock to remove pins.

The cheap deadbolt solves both problems (by having no spring return and free access to the pins).

[bumber]

What are the advantages of using a diamond over a standard lifter pick?

IMO It's a matter of personal preference.
I use the hook for raking as well and I have much better results with it then with the half diamond.
But the half diamond, because of it's shape, slides through the keyhole much easier as it doesn't get caught behind the pins like a hook does.

with the diamond picks you can slide them in and feel where each pin is because the way it pushs back...the pick tip drops so to say, and when you feel it drop then lift back up youve gone over the center of the pin.

[bumber]

o you reckon a master #1 #3 or #5 or deadbolt would be the best to start out on? My guide from the lockpickingshop.com recommended a pin tumbler.

Instead of a master lock, I'd recommend that you go to your local hardware store and buy the cheapest deadbolt that they sell. I have two reasons for saying this:

1) The Master Lock has a spring return that you'll need to overcome to put torque on the lock. You'll need to use a lot more tension than normal, in other words. And that's a really bad habit to get into.

2) You can't take apart a master lock to remove pins.

The cheap deadbolt solves both problems (by having no spring return and free access to the pins).

master lock #1&3 dont have this spring tension, you must have a #5 #15 #40 or #41 im sure there are more but I know the 1&3 DONT have this.

[textbook]

well i went to my local shop and apparently pin tumblers arent sold anymore here in japan. They can be picked too easily. They sell disc cylinders i think these keys which look they have dimples in them. I bought a deadbolt pin cylinder i think. Was that a good choice?

[-Diesel-]

Yeah, everybody knows that we do not do illegal stuff...

But why does everybody in every post always insist on it?


It's not like the FBI is watching us every second!

[Squelchtone]

Yeah, everybody knows that we do not do illegal stuff...

But why does everybody in every post always insist on it?


It's not like the FBI is watching us every second!

no, but ceiling cat is watching you.