Security Pins kicking my butt need some advice

[Denior13]

I'm a novice lockpicker and I'm moving up to security pins I have picked several locks with security pins but they still stump the hell out of me from time to time. I have the Advanced Pratice lock and it is easy for my to pick with 1 security pin in it but as soon as I step up to 2 security pins it owns me. I can still pick it but it takes about 20 mins each time with only 2 spool pins. When it comes to security pins my technique has been heavy tension to feel for the binding pin and work from there but where I have the problem is when I get a spool set and then try to set the 2nd spool it causes the other one to reset or I constantly get the key pin to bind and not drop back down from the sheer line. Just wanted some advice how some of you all have transitioned from no security pin locks to locks with them.

PS. my setup on the pratice lock is normal pin--spool--spool--normal

[GWiens2001]

Try setting the second security pin first.

Good luck,

Gordon

[Denior13]

Guess I was not clear enough I apologize. What I'm trying to figure out is what is the best wat to tell the binding order with security pins I know with the pratice lock set up I have now pin 4(reg pin) is the 1st binding pin then I cannot tell if pin 2 or pin 3 (both security pins) is the next binding pin. I know for sure it is not pin 1 (reg pin) cause that is my last pin. I have messed around with my pratice cut-away lock to get the feel but with the cutaway it is just too easy. I have tries setting it 4-3-2-1 and 4-2-3-1 but I just cannot get a good feeling on which one is the 2nd binding pin I'm beginning to think once you get into security pins it is more about the feel instead of binding order.

[Sinifar]

Practice is one thing, in the field anything can show up in any location. Get used to working this with a spool pin in any location, at random. That will make your practice more 'life like"... locks usually have four spool pins and one standard top pin as a set. Schlage deadbolts have been coming from the factory like this for the past few years.

Schlage F Line use a special "T" pin for a top pin, and these as well will cause problems.

Others use a standard pin first, three or four spool pins next and a standard pin last.

More complex keyways only increase your problems of working pins.

KNOW - there are things like the ILCO 1500BH pins which you WILL NOT PICK under any circumstances. We use these from time to time and stuff them in the worst places possible to stop bumping / picking / shimming / or any other attempt to work around the cylinder.

Not to discourage you but the industry is not standing still. We are working on making lock more secure.

Sinifar

[boggif]

Security pins can fool you by several ways such as making you think for example a pin is binding (while it would be another pin that just happens to have a serration at the shear line and the normal pin binds as long as this pin is not lifted). If you are not at optinum order, lifting a security pin might make one or more other pins drop. I just feel them all again to see if any pin has dropped and has to be relifted.

I'd suggest a simple practice: start with two pins (one normal), add one more security pin and so on. Feel it in constant order such as 1234 and lift any pin that binds clearly (or makes clear counter rotation). If it drops another pin, so be it. Start feelling them all over again and repeat the 1234 order, lifting unset pins again. Repeat until it pops open. Do not pick in random order unless you really feel what the order is, it might just drive you into a loop where you drop some pins alternatively and the loop never ends (or at least takes a very long time).

I'm not sure if that is the best method but that is what I used to learn security pins. After getting used to one pin type I started adding other tapes one by one (for example serrated pins).

[yono]

I remember someone said..opening a lock thru lockpicking is a sheer luck. However he said, the more you practice the more you get lucky. there is no standard rules for each individual.. for pins arrangement reflects each differrent approach. but one thing is common to all.. patience. keep on practicing.. later you will find that..lockpicking is just lockpicking. regards.