[Request] Useful infos about euro-locks

[MoKuss]

Hey guys,

I was bored today so I was surfing on youtube, watching some videos and stuff. I wound a howto video about picking a lock. I was interested if I could do it so I started seaching for a lock at home. (I didn't want to practice on my front doors lock.) I found an euro-elzett lock:

In the lack of professional tools I made some for myself:

I found the keys of the lock either:

So I started to pick this lock. I've been doing it for like six hours(with some breaks ofc) with no success. Now I can easily pick the first two pins (i can see them unlocked by looking in the keyhole.) But I can't unlock the lock. Once when I released the pressure from the tension tool I heard 4 clicking sound, that I think means that I almost picked it.
I don't think it has any security pins, but I don't know.
What do you say? How hard is to pick a lock like this? How should I do it? Do you have any information that might help me succeed?
Here are some more pictures:
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/8772/keymarked.jpg
http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/5474/lockbottom.jpg
((My father doesn't really believe that I could pick this lock. And I want to show him I can.))

Thank you for your help!

[Squelchtone]

Now I can easily pick the first two pins (i can see them unlocked by looking in the keyhole.)

Are you quite sure you understand how a pin tumbler lock works? Normally it is not easy to see that you have pins picked by looking into the keyhole. A lot of beginners think that just lifting all the pins up or in a euro profile cylinder pushing them all down and making them stay down means that the lock will open, but remember, the hook pick you made is just a lifter to lift each pin one by one only as high (I keep saying lift up because in the states we lift the pins up, in Europe you push down on the pins), anyway, you only move each pin with your hook pick as far as the key would move that particular pin.

1. Bend your hook a little more, it is too shallow.
2. Insert pick all the way to the back of the lock, and pick the deepest pin, then that really high setting pin after it.
3. while you keep tension on those 2 deepest pins, take the pick out of the lock and dont touch the middle pins at all, don't lift them!
4. now, the pin you can see, lift that up all the way, and apply enough tension so it stays in place (the lock may open at this point)
5. if it didn't open, go in after pin 2 and 3 but only lift each one just a little. The lock should open.

These instructions will work fine for those key cuts, but probably not for other keys that are cut differently.

But I can't unlock the lock. Once when I released the pressure from the tension tool I heard 4 clicking sound, that I think means that I almost picked it.

This doesn't always mean you're almost there. Some pins may be set, some may be underset, and some maybe over set, but they'll all make clicking noises when tension is released.

Please take a look at the Locksport International Visual Guide, it will show you what's going on inside when you are picking: http://locksport.com/index.php/download_file/11/

Also, watch this, a member here made this CG animation of how a pin tumbler lock works, very good video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wtl2hmHZCLw

Here is an animation he made of a lock being raked with an L-Rake/riffle rake pick: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wemp-8WD9dY&feature=related

Keep at it!
Squelchtone

[MoKuss]

Thank you for your reply, I'll definitely try to unlock it this way.

[Solomon]

I'd say the bitting is pretty tricky on that one... pin 4 is probably causing problems as you only have a short hook, getting it set without disturbing pin 3 is definately gonna be tricky with that pick. You'll certainly be able to open it though, just keep trying... and take on board everything ol' squelch just said. Remember to take your time, focus on each pin and stay as gentle as possible with both your tension and pick pressure. The more you concentrate and adjust your technique according to the behaviour of the pins, the sooner you'll have it open.

Just pay attention to each pin one at a time and make changes to your tension etc according to what the pins feel like they're doing. Do your best to keep movements with your pick small, slow and controlled - that way you'll get a much better picture of what's going on inside the lock. Good luck, and report back when you get it open!