about homebrew(sort of)

[bman737]

obviously i am new, and the only lock is my front door, i will probably buy a #5 master lock, because i hear its easy. My question is, is it possible to pick the lock with a flat head(small, fits door) and a homemade pick9 of a double swivell, like in pyros vid). would this be a too great challenge as ive never picked a lock???

[cracksman]

First of all I'd like to say welcome to the forums

The short answer to your question...yes and no It sounds to me you have some reading to do. You can pick your door lock with what you have, but your probably setting yourself up for a lot of frustration, and probably a broken lock. You can order a cheap set of picks for about $15 that will greatly decrease your learning curve. As for the Master No. 5, I am personally guilty of picking on that lock (no pun intended) because its packaged by master as a maximum security lock, I'm quite sure it could take a bullet, but it does not stand up to picking that well. My advice is to by the cheapest set of padlocks (get a set of 2 keyed the same, and take one apart to see how it works). The same day I read an article on picking I was able to make a set of picks, examine a lock, and by the end of the day I could pick the lock reliably, the Master took me over a week- good luck

[digital_blue]

I'd like to add a couple things.

1) Don't pick your door lock, or any other lock you rely on, unless you're prepared to replace it if you break it.

2) I would suggest that you go buy a cheap deadbolt. Be sure to get the variety that's keyed on both sides so you have two cylinders for around the same money. The advantage to deadbolt cylinders is that you can take them apart and reduce the number of pins, then work your skills up to the full number (generally 5). This will give you a sizable advantage to your learning curve while promoting good habits and a better feel for picking.

Hope this helps. Happy picking!

db

[cracksman]

db, I'm worried when he says that the screwdriver "fits" the lock, there may be no room for anything else, like a pick Although deadbolts (like kwikset) are good learning tools, this guy still needs the tools to work with the learning tools. Another words rekeying may not be an option quite yet.
Bman if digital-blue is making sense to you then do it. His advice is sound and his knowledge is far beyond mine. If your a little like..huh? Order or make a set of picks-plenty of resources either way-cheap padlocks are the way to go to build confidence. Digital-Blue is giving you great advice, I'm not sure you are quite ready to grasp it yet though.
p.s. - the best thing u could do is prove me wrong

[digital_blue]

No, I agree about the tools. I just didn't restate because you'd already said it. I am of the opinion, however, that stripping out the pins on a deadbolt is a better way to learn than starting with padlocks. Let me explain why I think that.

For starters, the actual excersize of taking apart a deadbolt offers the opportunity for the neophyte to learn more about the workings of the lock. Secondly, I do feel that working your way up from only 2 pins offers the newbie the opportunity to really develop the feel of what is going on in the lock, and do so at a rate much faster than if they are to start with a lock with all its pins in it. I actually started with a couple deadbolts, but then did most of my initial learning on padlocks. If I were to do it all over again, I'd do it differently. When I did finally try the option of stripping down a deadbolt I found that my actual single pin technique grew exponentially.

So, yes, get better tools. That will help loads. But I still say the deadbolts are the way to go.

Cheers!

db