Improving or Getting Used to My Locks?

[hbergren]

The title really says it all. I've been picking locks for about two weeks now and I feel like I've been improving, but I'm also slightly worried that I might just have subconsciously memorized the order the pins bind in on my current locks, and that I'm not getting better. Has this happened to anyone else? Any feedback would be appreciated.

[cyrano138]

Probably a little of both. Why not re-pin them?

[Darkness1569]

It is a combination of both for me, with every lock you open though you are improving your skill and getting better. I even bought a repining kit so I could at least make the pins different. but I have found that even buying 3 new locks a paycheck still leaves me with that feeling after a couple of days with the new lock, but if you get a couple of same lock then you don’t know which one you are picking and that helps a little for me. But I have only been picking for 3 months now so I'm still really new also. Enjoy!

[Buzo]

There's nothing wrong with knowing a lock. Its great practice any way you look at it. You still have to put the correct amount of tension on the plug, and be able to feel when the pins set. Having the feel for the pins will help you be able to quickly get through new locks you encounter because you will know what to feel for when trying to open it. I have around 30 different locks in my collection now and I pick them all on a regular basis even though I've picked them all 100 times and have the binding order memorized on most of them. Its also a confidence booster if you get stuck on a new lock when you can go open a couple of old stand-by padlocks just to remind yourself that you CAN pick locks.

[dauce]

SO I have this Masterlock No. 3 that I know inside and out. Its a confidence booster yes, but also helps me understand the subtleties of the inside of it - which in turn helps me visualize when I'm working on a new piece.

The only problem I find with this Masterlock is that it is growing boring, and there is a diminishing returns effect going on with me dumping more time into it. The learning-to-time-spent ratio goes down significantly after the lock is understood. The rate at which it drops varies from person to person of course.

[raimundo]

and then you wear a groove in the bottom of the keyway with your tensor and it suddenly becomes impossible to pick with the tension grounded in that groove.
see, it still has tricks to show you

[dauce]

and then you wear a groove in the bottom of the keyway with your tensor and it suddenly becomes impossible to pick with the tension grounded in that groove.
see, it still has tricks to show you

lol yeah I actually noticed a nice groove being made in my practice lock. Now that you mention it.