Beginner question regarding two padlocks

[Varyag]

Hi everyone. I just started this wonderful sport of lockpicking after reading up some basic stuff on the internet
Tools so far are improvised, a tension wrench made from an allied wrench and paperclip feeler picks.

Now, searching around the house I found three padlocks, one of which I picked easily (yaay) - the other two were too hard.

The locks are:
1. Tri Cirlce 261 (chinese) - small and as it turns out incredibly easy to pick. Opened it with a paperclip with little effort. It appears to have only three pins which basically makes it open whatever you do to it.
2. Tri Cirlce 263 (chinese) - much bigger and couldn't open it. It looks like its about to open but it just twists to an angle and stands there.
3. Burg Wacther Karat 217/30 (german) - same as above

Are these latter two too hard for beginners or something other than simple tumbler locks? They don't look too complex...

[UnlockD]

Looks can be decieving.
Keep at them though, I'm sure you'll get them.
Try making better picking items, it may help.

[Varyag]

Turns out the Tri Circle 263 has mushroom pins. Though there are plenty of videos of people opening them (some even without wrenches), just by raking.

@UnlockD: I would like to but I don't have the tools for the job. I was thinking of simply ordering a small SouthOrd locksmith kit but I'm worried that it would get opened at customs and I'd end up in trouble.

[UnlockD]

you in Canada too?
it sucks how it's semi legal here

[Varyag]

Nah, I'm in Europe, Serbia and I've no idea what the legal status of the picks is - and I've no one to ask. Well except a random cop

[Rickthepick]

tri circles can be nasty to pick despite their cheap appearance.

[poor paperclip picker]

Turns out the Tri Circle 263 has mushroom pins. Though there are plenty of videos of people opening them (some even without wrenches), just by raking.

@UnlockD: I would like to but I don't have the tools for the job. I was thinking of simply ordering a small SouthOrd locksmith kit but I'm worried that it would get opened at customs and I'd end up in trouble.

Those mushroom pins would be the reason why the cylinder turns a bit and then stops. This is called a "false set"

[Eyes_Only]

Nah, I'm in Europe, Serbia and I've no idea what the legal status of the picks is - and I've no one to ask. Well except a random cop

Yeah don't even bother asking a cop. If law enforcement over where you are is anything similar to what it's like in the US, they'll just "enforce" the law but don't know anything about it.

[Josh K]

Nah, I'm in Europe, Serbia and I've no idea what the legal status of the picks is - and I've no one to ask. Well except a random cop

Yeah don't even bother asking a cop. If law enforcement over where you are is anything similar to what it's like in the US, they'll just "enforce" the law but don't know anything about it.

+1. I've had them lay a knife on their palm to tell if it was "legal" or not.

Don't they know everyone's hands are a different size?

[Varyag]

Update:
Funny thing, I picked the german one (Burg Wacther karat 217/30 )with a hairpin pick and wrench but I cant pick the chinese one
I suppose being well made isn't always an advantage.

tri circles can be nasty to pick despite their cheap appearance.

Yeah, I think its the crappy quality working to their benefit

[Varyag]

Turns out the Tri Circle 263 has mushroom pins. Though there are plenty of videos of people opening them (some even without wrenches), just by raking.

@UnlockD: I would like to but I don't have the tools for the job. I was thinking of simply ordering a small SouthOrd locksmith kit but I'm worried that it would get opened at customs and I'd end up in trouble.

Those mushroom pins would be the reason why the cylinder turns a bit and then stops. This is called a "false set"

I'd ask how to get past them but I don't want to annoy people with noob questions. I'll just have to read up on it

[JustmeP]

Rake it, so it gets in false set, then get your pick and feel the pins, if you press "false" pin down you feel your tension wrench move (right of left depends on lock), loose up your tension en press the false pin untill it clicks. It takes a bit of practice. You can also spp with a minimum of tension... try and learn... it took me days to get those locks open in de beginning. ( i learned it on an abus 65/40 padlock ), good lock to practice on!.

Greetz

P

[JustmeP]

I c you use a paperclip, you have to put some more pressure on the pin with the spool/mushroom security. A paperclip wont work. ( not for me ). Try southord beginner set 14 piece. i learned a lot with this beginner set.

Greetz

P