How do I pick this worn out lock?

[Hazuma]

Basically, I'm trying to practice on a door lock in my house, and it's a pretty beat up thing. I counted the pins inside and there are 5, but the handle jiggles a lot and it all seems pretty loose and worn. I bought a cutaway 5 pin to practice on and I can pick that thing without much effort, but this door lock is just beyond me. I don't know the best way to go about picking a worn out/loose lock. Any help?

(Btw, the key for it still works fine)

[Hazuma]

I was thinking because it's worn, that the give to let the top pins rest on is already going to be pretty large...so I should apply less torque? Just looking for any guidance here...

[Wizer]

Sorry, we cannot help you with info on how to pick that lock, since the lock is in use.

If we tell you how and then someone trying to steal money from their work's office petty cash box googles this forum, we will have inadvertently given them the steps needed in committing a crime.

We pick locks for fun and for the challenge of it, but unfortunately many people in the general public see anything to do with lock picking as a criminal act, and we are trying to shed that image by not picking locks that are in use on soda machines, cash boxes, utility meters, cable company pedestals at apartment buildings, etc, etc, basically any lock that the lock picker doesn't own or doesn't have permission to pick, we don't pick, based on sound moral judgment.

Also, it is possible to damage a lock by picking it. Could drop a pin into the keyway, crush the springs, break the pick in the lock, or any number of other unforseen ways. When picked and rotated, small master pins can fall into the keyway which will result in possibly your key no longer working. It can also result in neither your key, the master key nor the control key working which will result in a visit from the locksmith who set the system up. In this case, the locksmith will notice master pins missing from the system and will know the lock has been tampered with and will know it was likely due to picking since even the person who has access to a control key does not posses the required tools to disassemble the lock.

You could also run the risk of being blamed for things gone missing if it becomes known that you pick locks in use.
People that see it happen might not feel so safe and when they can't find that diamond earring or misplaced power tool you could be the first thing that pops into their heads.
If something goes missing it is you that is going to get blamed whether you did it or not.

If you need this lock opened, please visit a local locksmith, they will be glad to pick it or drill it for you, for a small fee.

If you just need this one lock opened, this site is probably not for you, for you see we are not a technical support line for those times when someone is locked out of something.

But if you feel that you would enjoy lock picking as fun hobby, then we encourage all new comers to purchase or make some lock picks, find some locks in the junk drawer at your house, or purchase some at the local hardware store and read lots and lots of the posts here to learn the basics that you can then use to become a more competent picker.

As stated, do not pick locks that you do not own. This will save you future headaches and possibly save you some money (damages and rekey charges).

[femurat]

Well done Wizer

If you want to look more "official" You can also quote the standard answer by selecting the text and then pressing the "Quote" button.

Cheers

[Wizer]

Cool, but how do I quote just one sentence from a longer text?

[femurat]

You can select just the text you want to quote directly in the message body form. When you press the quote button it just add the [ quote ] and [ /quote ] tags around the selected text (without the spaces I added to show you how it works). You can try it yourself and see the preview, I'm sure it's easy if you see it in practice.

Example of quoted text!

Cheers

[Wizer]

select just the text you want to quote directly

Ah, I see... Thanks!

[nostromo]

Hazuma - If your door lock is that loose, even if you have keys that work in it, you should replace it. You might otherwise be facing what locksmiths like to call an 'income opportunity'.

Plus- you can practice on the new key in the knob, deadbolt or whatever while it is out of a door (and more comfortable to handle) before you install it. And afterward you'll have something to practice with.

There really isn't much value to practicing with an old lock unless you've practiced with good ones first, so that you know what you should be feeling.

The other guys aren;t trying to slam you (really!). They have faced the consequences of trying to pick a worn lock. While being manipulated the pins can rotate in or come out of the pin wells, springs can get crushed or even come out of the pin wells. You do NOT want to deal with this if you're new at picking or lock repair.

That said, once you get the worn lock(s) removed you will want to be very, very, very gentle when picking. Know that you are going to have to take the lock completely apart (good practice), replace pins and springs (and maybe cam screws/clips, etc) and reassemble the lock to be able to continue to use it for practice. There is nothing you can do if the pin wells are too worn or damaged.

Best of luck to you.

[Hazuma]

I don't think I needed that wall of text Wizer, most of the information on this site is handy for someone trying to pick a lock, and any information to pick a lock can help a criminal. The information I asked for is no different than the information in a general FAQ explaining how to feel for pins and such. I was just asking for any general advice on worn locks, if there was a different way to go about picking one. I was just curious. Besides, a criminal searching google for how to pick a worn lock? I'm pretty sure a worn door lock would be better off smashed than picked.

Just saying.

[Wizer]

Sorry, no offence.
The text I copy/pasted is a prototype of a standerd answer to new users that are asking about picking a lock in use.
Nothing personal.
Happy picking!!
-Wizer

[UtahRootBeer]

Wizer was pointing out that you are not just asking how to pick a worn out lock, you are asking how to pick a lock in use. in the forum rules, locksport rules, and every other lockpicking guidlines we DO NOT pick a lock in use. If you asked "i have a old lock that i replaced and now its sitting on my table how do i pick it?" that would be fine.