Been learning to pick for 3 days with not much luck.

[WillMclennan]

Can someone point me in the right direction,

iv tried 5 padlocks and the lock on my bedroom door.. only one of the padlocks I can open, one of them I push the pins up and no matter how little or more tension I apply, the pins still spring back. i wondered if my lock pics are poor quality... i have some really cheap ones that fit into a credit card altho i have a goso 24 peice set coming in the post so maybe that will work better?

Has anyone got any tips for me? thaks

[GWiens2001]

Use the search function to look for "Lockpicking Overkill" by Solomon - a member here. You will not find a better beginner guide. The password is EVVA3KS

The quality of the picks are not likely to be your issue. Knowledge of how the locks work, and what you are feeling and hearing when you are picking are more likely the issue. Very cheap locks can be either really easy to pick or very difficult.

If you post pictures of the locks, it might help.

Good luck,

Gordon

[WillMclennan]

There is a pic of all of my locks (exept one as it is on my flatmates cupboard door) the one on the left is the one i managed to open... rediculously easy i think it must be broken.. i meerly have to touch the closest pin to me

[Solomon]

I would strongly recommend you get some full sized picks. I got one of those credit card sets recently to see what it was like; just as I expected, they're really fidgety to use and your fingers get stressed out pretty quickly. They're ok for basic raking but the feedback from the hook is terrible and it's very awkward to control. I actually prefer the jackknife, and that's saying something. They're ok to carry as a "better-than-nothing" emergency set if you already know what you're doing, but they're the last thing I'd recommend to actually start learning with. I could only pick my easiest locks with them, and that was mostly raking. The hook is kinda ok for spools but it's very difficult to feel out normal binding pins with it, and because the handle is so tiny I found it to be an utter nuisance setting pins further back in the lock especially if they set quite deep. The wrench isn't ideal either.

If you're on a budget, look for the "9 piece advanced" pick set. It's £5 including shipping so you can't get any cheaper and the hooks are surprisingly good. They're comfortable to use, can tackle all but the tightest keyways, the feedback is great and I've yet to bend one. Handles are exra long which adds greatly to comfort too. The wrench that came with mine sucked but it's easy to make your own. I think they actually come with better wrenches now but I would still advise you make yourself an assortment to go with them. Wiper inserts are the best choice, all you need to do is bend and file. They look and perform identically to the wrenches that come with southord sets.

Good luck

[yono]

Use the search function to look for "Lockpicking Overkill" by Solomon - a member here. You will not find a better beginner guide. The password is EVVA3KS

The quality of the picks are not likely to be your issue. Knowledge of how the locks work, and what you are feeling and hearing when you are picking are more likely the issue. Very cheap locks can be either really easy to pick or very difficult.

If you post pictures of the locks, it might help.

Good luck,

Gordon

That's right(GWiens2001) SOLOMON " Lockpicking Overkill" is a lockpickers Bible that will surely improve you, give you an ensight in anlyzing and correcting your error in lockpicking. regards

[WillMclennan]

Thanks for all the advice guys! still practicing, have since received my 24 peice goso set so iv managed to pick 2 locks since learning some of solomons techniqes. still at a learning stage tho so got a long way to go!

[Solomon]

Thanks for all the advice guys! still practicing, have since received my 24 peice goso set so iv managed to pick 2 locks since learning some of solomons techniqes. still at a learning stage tho so got a long way to go!

Good stuff! I didn't notice the first time I saw this thread but I thought I'd point out that the laminated steel padlock you have there with the blue bumper on it is a warded padlock. You'll need to use different tools to pick that, but it's very simple to do with a piece of bent wire or ground down hacksaw blade. You can even file down one of the spare keys and use that. Check this thread out to see how they work.

[WillMclennan]

Good stuff! I didn't notice the first time I saw this thread but I thought I'd point out that the laminated steel padlock you have there with the blue bumper on it is a warded padlock. You'll need to use different tools to pick that, but it's very simple to do with a piece of bent wire or ground down hacksaw blade. You can even file down one of the spare keys and use that. Check this thread out to see how they work.

Ahh right! iv been puzzled by that lock for a while now, never been able to find out about it because I haven't known what it is called, thanks solomon
im dead proud of myself now as iv just picked my first "pick proof" cylinder lock.

[fgarci03]

what cylinder is that?

[WillMclennan]

Its a basta 5 pin chrome door lock

[WillMclennan]

Its a basta 5 pin chrome door lock

Its not chrome sorry, nickel plated

[fgarci03]

Why do you say pick proof?

I'm guessing it has spools?

[WillMclennan]

On eBay it says "anti pick" i know no lock is pick proof, below is what I brought. It has spools i think

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220876183809? ... 1497.l2649

[fgarci03]

I see.
Anti-pick means pick resistant. Probably you're right. It has spools.

Nonetheless it's a very good breakthrough. When I started, I couldn't pick spools untill a long time has passed. So congratulations on your achievement!
Practice a lot untill you can know exactly what's going on inside the lock. That's the important part!


Again, congrats dude