No experience whatsoever, need some help..

by **Bushido** » 26 Dec 2005 2:47

I read the MIT guide and all I learnt was how a lock operates. I understand everything about how I key opens a lock, how the pins move into the sheer line etc. etc. but I still don't quite understand how I can pick a lock myself.

I'm sitting here, in my room, with an ordinary Lockwood padlock (not sure how many pins it has, I can't see inside and have no idea how to check) and a high-tensile street sweeper bristle. I don't quite understand what the whole idea of applying torque is either and don't have the foggiest of what a torque wrench is nor what to do with one.

What I'm currently doing:
Well I grab onto the hoop at the top of the lock with my left hand, putting a finger inside the loop for opposing force, and applying a pulling force as though it were already open. Then with my right hand, I hold the pick (bristle) like a pen and hunt aimlessly for the correct pin to lift. I have no idea which one to lift, nor do I know where any except for the first are. I can easily lift the first pin to the sheer line but the plug doesn't twist at all, so I guess it's the wrong pin to start with. That's about all I can do apart from wiggle the pick around a bit and hope something happens, but the plug never turns..

I've picked 2 or 3 locks by prodding around inside but that was pure luck. I've never done it properly and would LOVE to learn how. Can someone give me a simple and brief explanation about the torque wrench and the technique to picking the lock please? It can't be too hard if there are hundreds of people here who can do it no worries, I just need it put simply for me :oops:

Note: I stress the word 'simple' as I have no experience and never seen it done in person before.

Thanks a trillion,
Bushido

by **stlbolt** » 26 Dec 2005 2:55

Hey it just takes time and practice, Did you make the pick out of the bristle? Assuming you did there is alot of info on picking your first lock and wat a tension wrench is and does..

viewtopic.php?t=10528

If you haven't read it.

Basically what a tension wrench does is apply pressure to the lock hoping that it will catch a pin, and that is the one you want to look for when your pushing up pins, I usually start at the back and work my way forward. You have to get use to the feel of pushing pins.. So when you feel one that is really easy to push and falls back down.. it most likely isnt it, so go to the next and when you find the right pin it will be kinda hard to push and the lock will move a little bit (most of the time). And you keep repeating the steps until the lock opens... That was pretty basic there is alot of other techniques just keep on reading and practice

Hopefully all the info was correct, correct me if im wrong

by **Bushido** » 26 Dec 2005 3:11

Hmm that just landed me back to the MIT Guide. I understood about finding the caught pin and pushing on it but I can't seem to find any other pins just by feel lol. Could you explain the tension wrench for me too? Not what it does, but what to use and what to do with it. Everything on the MIT Guide is too complicated for a total lockpicking noob like me.

I read somewhere that someone said to use a pen lid clip, putting it under the plug.. which really makes no sense to me. I'm not gonna get anywhere without knowing how the tension wrench works.

I never knew you needed anything other than a plain pick. And I don't understand how you could use 2 tools as well as hold a lock, when you only have two hands. Yeah, I know, I have no idea. That's why I'm formally asking for assistance. Your last post definately helped with the picking part but the wrench part still makes no sense to me. Please help me out :oops:

Thanks 473 trillion and 1,
Bushido ^-^

by **vector40** » 26 Dec 2005 3:15

Oy.

Okay, the torque wrench is a usually L-shaped tool that you insert into the lock to apply rotational force. That's the same kind of force that you'd use to turn a key -- except that it won't turn, of course, because it's still locked. But you apply pressure. The pins stop the core from turning, but they're not in a perfect row and they're not the exact same size, so actually it's only one of them that's stopping it. If you feel the pins with a pick, you can find this pin, which might be any one of them; this is the "binding" pin, and you can tell because it resists a bit when you push it up. (The other pins should just pop up and down against their springs.) Lift it up until you hear/feel it "set" (reach the shearline). Now the binding pressure is on a different pin, which again might be any one of them, so repeat the search, repeat the lifting, etc. Set all of the pins and the core will turn.

There you go. In a nutshell. Don't mess with the shackle; that will pop open by itself once the plug turns.

by **stlbolt** » 26 Dec 2005 3:19

Ah yeah there you go... haha, nice job.

by **Bushido** » 26 Dec 2005 3:22

Hmm,

Could I simply make one of these wrenches by making and cutting an L shape from another high-tensile spoke? I just made one and I haven't tested it yet.

by **stlbolt** » 26 Dec 2005 3:24

You could make one out of anything that is strong enough to turn the lock, Ive even made one out of a paperclip before... didn't last long but worked

by **vector40** » 26 Dec 2005 3:25

You can use just about anything that fits in the lock (while still giving you enough room to maneuver the pick) and has comfortable leverage. Most commercial tension wrenches are little more than L-shaped strips of metal.

by **Bushido** » 26 Dec 2005 3:38

Hey the pick wrench works great and I understand how it works perfect now, thanks guys

I can get the first pin up, so I guess at least 1 other pin is up too, because pin number one wont go up first. Now there's a new problem.. lol. My hand is KILLING ME, trying to get the last pin or two. I can't see it which doesn't help and I can't feel more pins. I can put in the pick until it hits something, which -might- be a pin, but with the tension wrench inserted, I can't get underneath it to push it anyway.

Sorry if I'm becoming a nuisance but I'm really determined to learn this here and now.

Once again..
Thanks 834'242'799'998'453.65114
Bushido ^-^

by **stlbolt** » 26 Dec 2005 3:42

Thats good! Keep up the practice, stay determined and don't give up!

by **vector40** » 26 Dec 2005 3:48

You're not going to learn it right now. Go to sleep. Tomorrow you can see about actually making a pick out of that bristle.

by **stlbolt** » 26 Dec 2005 3:49

vector40 wrote:You're not going to learn it right now. Go to sleep. Tomorrow you can see about actually making a pick out of that bristle.

lol... hopefully he makes one out of it...

by **Bushido** » 26 Dec 2005 3:54

Thanks Bolt, I wont give up.

Maybe a Locksmith lock is too hard to start with? I dunno what it is but I can't get it to open still. Maybe there's something I'm forgetting still.. hmm. Any ideas? Or am I just doing the right things but badly? =P
Thanks again,
Bushido.

by **Bushido** » 26 Dec 2005 3:57

I'm not going to bed it's only 8pm here in Australia. I don't have many tools.. nor a good working space. I have hand files but will I be able to make a pick out of a high-tensile steel bristle, using only a file?

Well, I'm gonna try lol.

by **Bushido** » 26 Dec 2005 3:58

EDIT:

I meant Lockwood, not Locksmith, lol sorry about that.

No experience whatsoever, need some help..

No experience whatsoever, need some help..

Who is online