cheap wafer lock from china

[racerboy59]

I bought this really cheap lock today from a discount store, and found out when I got home and tried to pick, it's a wafer lock. This is the first time i've come across one and I know it's supposed to be fairly easy but for the life of me I can't figure it out. I've used all picks available to me - diamond, rake, hook and ball, but maybe i'm just doing it wrong. Hopefully some of you could give me some clues.

[sfi72]

Thats a warded lock, try using a piece of bent wire, or a coat hanger.

[racerboy59]

ahh yes you're right. no wonder why it wasn't opening.

[racerboy59]

It still wont open

Are there any other tools I could possibly use to open these kinds of locks?

[Olson Burry]

Indeed. As an experiment you could try grinding/filing down one of the keys a bit like this (without the crappy paint skills):

And it should still work. This would also work for all other locks like that as well so it might be a useful addition to the tool box.

[racerboy59]

Wow nice. I'll give that a try tomorow.
Thank You

[Olson Burry]

Alternatively of course you could make something *like* that, using the key as a size gauge. Just needs to be a T shaped thing that you can put all the way in and turn to release the mechanism really.

Check out what a set of warded padlock picks look like.

[Bas2888]

Make a skeleton key like shown above.
When this still won't turn, try put some candlewax on the key and then you can see where it blocks and file that out... Repeat till the lock opens

[racerboy59]

I made a skeleton key, based on the original. It works but the strength of it is questionable. It seems to bend easily if not turned properly, but with careful operation it works. How do you know how wide the tip of the key should be?