General Questions

[AustinK]

For starters, I'm 14 years old and have always had an interest in locks. about a day ago I stumbled upon the lock picking section at www.HowStuffWroks.com . I immediately got an old screwdriver and a paper clip and within 30 min I had it open. now it was time for the deadbolt. to my surprise I did it in about 10 min. I then found this site and saw how inexperienced pickers could damage a lock so with the OK from my parents I used a spare Deadbolt that was lying around.
My question is,
I know I got all 5 pins set because I hear the clicks, but I still have trouble getting it to unlock. there seems to be something in the way. I did a search on this site for "security pins" but couldn't get a firm understanding for it. I cant seem to consistently open it, its more like I just happen to push the right spot at the right time and it pops open. Any help on the matter would be great.

[digital_blue]

Hey Austin.

Listening for clicks can be very misleading. In all likelihood, you have overset a pin or two, meaning you've managed to push both the top AND bottom pins past the shear line. If it's a spare lock, see if you can convince your parents to let you take it apart and take out all but two pin stacks. Then pick it that way until you're comfortable and add one stack back in. Once you get back up to 5 you'll be well on your way to learning this craft.

Hope this helps. Happy picking!

db

[AustinK]

Thank you very much for that tip. I have successfully convinced my parents to let me do that (the hardest part) and have already tried with 3 pins and I think if I keep at it this way, I'll get a good feel for whats going on inside the lock soon. at first I did it with only 2 pins but I think that was a little too easy.
Once again thank you vary much!

[HeadHunterCEO]

real name huh

might want to go anon

[TOWCH]

For real.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=PLACERVILLE,+CA+95667&spn=0.028183,0.081621&t=k&hl=en

[TOWCH]

That's supposed to be a picture of your house. Feel free to make fun of me if you're wrong.

[TOWCH]

"I'm wrong" someone shoot me and put me out of my cell phone distracted misery.

[TOWCH]

Last time I ever try and be a smartass. I'm obviously not cut out for it.

[sentry]

lol "cellphone distracted misery"

I'll have to use that line

[AustinK]

I'm impressed that with just a name you could do all that! actually, your about 15 miles off, but still.
(Thanks Varjeal for PM'n me)

[vector40]

Listening for clicks can be very misleading. In all likelihood, you have overset a pin or two, meaning you've managed to push both the top AND bottom pins past the shear line.

Or underset.

[digital_blue]

Listening for clicks can be very misleading. In all likelihood, you have overset a pin or two, meaning you've managed to push both the top AND bottom pins past the shear line.

Or underset.

Yes, possibly, but I went with overset because he said he "knew" he had all the pins set because he could hear the clicks. I'm assuming that meant he'd heard a click for each pin, and an underset pin wouldn't click unless there was a security pin or something. At least, that was my train of thought.

db