Different methods of Attack

[ConnerKent]

Hello community. This is my first post so if this has been posted on here I was not able to find it. I am working toward starting a business in the future years and have been honing my skill day and night. There are many ways to get into houses for an out all and I was wondering what is your guys method of approach? From my knowledge I would

1. If it's the bottom lock only and not blocked shim it.
2. B**** pick it with a rake.
3. Actually pick it if there's spool or serrated pins etc.
4. Impression the lock
5. If none of those worked drill it and change the lock.

Now I have been practicing picking for a year and am comfortable with this method on most locks except medecos which I am going to work on. Also I would hate to go to every house and say I have to drill and charge you so that would be my very last option.

Anywho do you guys have preferred methods or even different ones I haven't mentioned or thought about? I appreciate all comments and look forward to see what my fellow pickers do. Cheers!

[jimu57]

I was talking with a locksmith friend in CA about this last night. He rarely picks a lock any more. He does carry a small set of maybe 5 picks, tension wrench, and a broken key extractor. He will try to rake it, then bump key. If he cant open it within a reasonable amount of time, he will drill it. If its a cheap cylinder like Schlage or Kwikset or whatever, its not worth the effort to spend an hour trying to pick it. He needs entry quickly. Its a business and when people are locked out, they just want in. So, try everything to get in quickly. If you have to drill it, have spare plugs and just replace it and repin it. People will be more impressed with your speed in resolving their problem than watching you spend 20 minutes SPP a Kwikset.

[ConnerKent]

I was talking with a locksmith friend in CA about this last night. He rarely picks a lock any more. He does carry a small set of maybe 5 picks, tension wrench, and a broken key extractor. He will try to rake it, then bump key. If he cant open it within a reasonable amount of time, he will drill it. If its a cheap cylinder like Schlage or Kwikset or whatever, its not worth the effort to spend an hour trying to pick it. He needs entry quickly. Its a business and when people are locked out, they just want in. So, try everything to get in quickly. If you have to drill it, have spare plugs and just replace it and repin it. People will be more impressed with your speed in resolving their problem than watching you spend 20 minutes SPP a Kwikset.

Thanks for the reply! That's very true info man.. I get caught up in the excitement of picking it and like you said they just want in haha. I did forget about bump keying.... Probably because I never really use that teqniuque but will definitely get some more bump keys for my collection. I do understand drilling can be the most effective and quick method but it bugs me when I see locksmiths drill locks that can be picked or bumped in less than 5 minutes then charge for extra fees. That's what they did to my roommate when I was out of town on my apartment lock that I rake with a paper clip lol.

[jimu57]

True. One locksmith he knows might give it 2 or 3 rakes and then out comes the drill. The goal is to get it open as quickly and economically as possibly.

[ConnerKent]

Well whatever gets the job done ;P

[jimu57]

I like the Glock pick.