how long

[kodierer]

My first lock was a wafer filing cabinet. This took me somewhere between 30 seconds and a minute to pick. My first pin tumbler was a kwickset padlock. That is a housekey padlock for a kwikset. This took me a straight 45 minutes. After it opened I wasn't sure if I had or not. So I immediately said no way closed it, and opened it again after about another 10 minutes of picking. Then I knew I had done it. I could pick that lock in under 15 timed seconds by the end of the day. I picked that lock exactly 51 times before the day was over.

[c1187w]

My first lock was a cheap deadbolt that took about 10 seconds to pick. My first real lock was a 5-pin deadbolt and that took roughly a minute. It's a great feeling when that lock opens.

[flyfisher]

It took me 48 years to try! I am a "semi-retired" firefighter, was a Career Captain?Paramedic for 20+ years and have busted more windows and axed more doors than I care to tell. Out of sincere care for the VICTOMS of some Fire Fighters, I took an interest in trying to minimize damage, yet maintain a speedy intrance for Rescue, and or Extinguishing the fire.
I was going online to enroll in a well known Lock Smith School, and noticed this link. I am fairly dexterous with my hands and have a delicate touch after years of IV's and medical work. Igot to reading and picked up a paper clip and tried the lock on my file cabinet, which took all of 15 seconds. I had just hired a lock smith to replace it because I lost one key and he did not have a blank to duplicate it. I feel STUPID! I went to a suitcase type lock that had some tools in it, a bit tougher b/c I could not hold it still. Then the front door (with my home made pick) I'm Hooked! I of course have kept to my own locks so far, but will be checking with neighbors and co-workers for more subjects to try. I think this may be a worse addiction than flyfishing!

[crazy jake]

Grade three I guess, Slay Maker bike lock, use a hair pin

All most Forty years later 2004 I picked up a copy of The Backwoodsman, in it it showed how to make lock picks, so with a bike spoke and hammer & file I went to work, the first lock I pick with it was a lock call American B40, about 30 min. at first, the second was a Canadian tire lock not sure how long

Jake

[mike-z]

3 months about

[HKW]

It took me a good while (few hours) to finally pick my spare kwikset door lock with my southord 'beginner' kit. I do have a bit of trouble with the padlocks - the little keyway is tough at times. I work at a caterpillar dealership and have had trade-in machines that come in on the odd occasion with a padlock on one of the compartments. (or on the fuel cap) and have had some luck at getting a few off, but usually we have to get the bolt cutters or torch which is not good for my self-esteem!

HKW

[illusion]

Tricircle brass padlock, I raked this randomly at first with homemade tools... but this was my first lock. Took me a while to do this, but got it eventualy.

I then came across this site, bought myself an ERA cylinder, and just took all but one set of pins out and moved upwards from there. Took me about 3 days to fully do it, and learn pin-by-pin picking as I went.

[mike-z]

3 months about

when i said that i ment that it has been 3 months seince i picked my first lock it took me about 30 seconds to pick it

[Chrispy]

Lol, three months picking a lock? Now that's dedication.