Lock Holding Technique

[Stonebreaker]

For me it seems more natural to pick a lock while holding it with the pins with the pins at the bottom, but in videos that I've seen it appears that everyone holds it so the pins are at the top. With the pins at the bottom I have to use my thumb on the tension wrench as opposed to using the index finger like others do.

The MIT picking document seems to go along with the pins on the bottom idea:

The nice feature of a lock with the springs at the bottom is that gravity holds the key pins down once they set. With the set pins out of the way, it is easy to find and manipulate the remaining unset pins.

Although I think they are talking about locks that are on doors and not hand held.

Just wondering if anyone else holds the lock this way or if I should change my technique to the more popular one.

[femurat]

The direction of the pins in mounted locks depends on the country you live in. Let's say that in usa they're pushed up and in Europe they're pushed down by the key. But if you have the lock in your hands it doesn't make any difference: you're trying to turn the plug so any direction and position is good. So don't worry about this now that you're starting out, just keep the lock in the most comfortable way for YOU. With time you'll find nice to try picking the same lock both directions and upside down, so you have 4 slightly different experiences in a single lock.

Cheers

[Solomon]

I'm with femurat, do it whatever way is comfortable for you. I prefer picking with pins at the bottom aswell, but I do most of my picking in a vise so if the lock is designed to have the pins up top I try my best to do it that way. I pick padlocks in hand though, so I always do those with pins at the bottom.

[Stonebreaker]

Thanks for the replies, just wanted to make sure that I wasn't using a technique that might not be good in the long run.

[Raymond]

I agree with the previous posters. Learn and practice any way you wish. However, in the States, since we are not as strongly tied in with the Euro- style profile lock, our locks can be mounted both ways. (We consider springs down as up-side-down.) As a result, be prepared to pick either way. Key-in-knob levers are mostly sideways and I get a back ache trying to pick leaning over. Whatever ......

[BigRob40]

I try and pick my practice locks both upside down, rightside up, or while mounted in a homemade practice stand in order to get a " feel " for how the lock picks. I use a vise sometimes.. i also try several different picks on a new lock but usually revert to my favorite ones. I find that holding the cylinder in my hand causes it to ache after a bit but Im still learning so i may just need to use those muscles in my hands more .