Having issues with first ever lock :s

[averagejoe]

Ahh, Tactical Goo, that is the stuff. Couldnt remember what it was when I posted

[IndigoChild]

Is this something real? I would have thought I heard of it by now. How would you acquire it?

[uperkurk]

WD-40!!!!

...

...

I only kid.

If some of the pins feel like they just cant be picked and keep coming down its likely a mushroom pin. Some pins not even a seasoned newbie can pick even after 2 days. A team of swedish lockpicks took a stab at medeco when it first showed up and it took them a solid 4 hours to pick it. Imagine if you tried picking it. It might take you a year of solid picking to finally get it open. All I am saying is you dont need to get snippy.

ha I'm not getting snippy, sorry if it came across that way, but I fail to see what other people could be doing that I'm not. I know for a fact that 2 of the pins inside the lock spring back down every single time no matter how much tension I apply.

If the pin is not binding then how can I get it to stay at the sheer line? I can only pick 1 pin at a time and I have to hold both pins at the sheer line simultaneously with 1 pick

[Altashot]

-I fail to see what other people could be doing that I'm not.-

Some people on here have a lot more experience than you do. I myself have been picking for close to 20 years. I am a locksmith and this is what I do. I've picked thousands of locks in my career, some of them I deemed unpickable too, only to try again later and finally pick them.

-I can only pick 1 pin at a time and I have to hold both pins at the sheer line simultaneously with 1 pick -


You certainly can hold 2 pins at the shear line with one pick. I do it all the time. There are picks that are designed to do just that. Experiment with different picks and get to know them better. Practice, practice, practice.

Take a deep breath, collect yourself and exert patience. Lock picking is not only about manual dexterity but also about mental stability. If the lock is pi**ing you off, you are not in the right mental state to pick it and... The lock wins. Simple.

Chill, enjoy the challenge and "keep on pickin' ".

M.

[uperkurk]

I completely understand what you're saying but even if I did finally manage to luck it open, it would take me another 2 days to do it again, not very efficient. I have used other picks such as rakes ect. If I could take the padlock apart then I could look inside. I'll try for a bit longer but if I get another padlock and I can pick it, I will deem this one broken and just bin it.

Besides are 20mins straight of picking you develop a severe finger ache which prevents you you trying for longer

[Altashot]

Sometimes you have to by lucky to be good and be good to be lucky.
Whether you skillfully pick it or luckily pick it, you picked it nonetheless. It wouldn't have unlocked of it's own. It's because you tried that it opened. The end result is the same, you win.
As for speed or efficiency, I don't worry about that when I'm just "playing". At work however, time is money, if it won't open after 20 minutes, for efficiency and economy's sake, I just cut it and sell a new one. It can take years to become truly efficient and fast at it. It'll come naturally. You also mentioned that you ache after 20 minutes...That tells me that you are doing something wrong. Either you hold things to tight or hold them improperly. It is not supposed to hurt, you should never have to strain any part of your body to pick locks, especially when you have it in hand. Work on your technique and find a way that doesn't hurt. Like anger, discomfort will make it all harder. You must be relaxed, not tensed. Lock picking, to many is a Zen thing, a state of mind. It brings on relaxation, calmness and refreshes a tired brain after a long day at work...Isn't that what a hobby is supposed to do?

M.

[uperkurk]

Absolutely, if only this hobby rewarded me by letting me open the dam thing lol. The only ache I get is when I am using the tension wrench. I hold the lock in my left hand and insert the wrench at the top of the lock with the pins being at the bottom of the lock, then I use my index finger to apply little tension to the plug.

My index finger is in about the 10 past position. Besides this is my first ever lock and I have not had chance to play with any other locks yet so once I do I will report back and see how it's going. If I fail to open any of them then I know I am doing something wrong.

[Altashot]

Try turning the padlock around with the key pins up. You can try top of keyway tension too. Use a vise if you can. Also vary you positions, like I said, it shouldn't hurt at all.

In the grand scheme of things, very few people choose to pick locks as a hobby. I know a lot more week end guitarists and wood carvers than lock pickers. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it. Consider yourself and the hobbyist and professional locksmiths on here as a "different breed" of people. I guess we like to complicate our lives, in a way, only to enjoy the rewards more...

M.

[uperkurk]

Just an update, I still have not managed to pick this lock LOL I know for certain that lock picking is not this hard. It's not like I'm trying to pick some advanced security lock like a medecco... This lock cost me at the most a tenner I think.

https://www.bigyellow.co.uk/boxshop/pro ... %20Padlock Here is the exact padlock I have although I sure as hell don't remember it being £13. As you see, no mention about security pins or anti pick or anything.

Totally pissed off now with this lock.

[GWiens2001]

If you are upset at the lock, it is best to punish it by tossing it into the 'naughty box' until you feel calmer, and perhaps have a bit more picking experience. Then it may not be so naughty when you pick it again.

I would suspect that a majority of the pickers here have a 'naughty box' with locks they have not yet picked. I would be amazed if the more experienced pickers did not have one, or at least are holding onto a lock until they get the chance to pick it.

Best of luck to you,

Gordon

[ARF-GEF]

Gordon just described what I think is the single best general to solution. Set the lock aside and wait. Try it, it works for me:)
Toss the lock away before you loose your patience, if you get too frustrated it will only hinder you.
Lockpicking is all about patience and concentration in my eyes. I too am lacking in both so it's very good way for me to practice them.

[phrygianradar]

I agree with Gordon, ARF-GEF, and all those guys. Put the lock away; that is called wisdom. You can, and will, come back to it later. I have (long ago, in a galaxy far, far away ) thrown locks that I thought were unpickable, broken things... Like it was stated above; this is a hobby, and it isn't easy. Patience and perserverance will pay off. When you do finally get that lock to pop it will be a sweet moment. And then you can lock it and pick it again. Or better yet; take it apart and see what was so evil about it! We are all anxious for your victory over this lock, but mostly, that there is something learned here. I haven't been on this forum for that long at all, but I have already learned quite a bit. Enough to know that I don't know a darned thing! The best lesson I have learned is to be patient and have a teachable spirit. The locks will open when they open...

[Wckedmunkey]

I too have an issue with my lock. im trying to pick an american.. evil little bugger. i feel your pain lol