One of the good ole "I DID IT!" topics...

[Badmonkey005]

I originally gave up on trying to pick locks. Then I got a new lock where I took out 3 of the 5 pins and practiced.

With two pins it was discustingly easy to pick, I did it quite a bit though for good measure.

Once I put a third pin in it, it actually took a little bit of effort. But it was still extremley easy.

The fourth pin added a new level of difficulty. I would find myself having to start over many times before I could pick it. Finally I got pretty consistant.

I added the fifth pin and the hair pulling began. It took a lot of practice, but I am not able to pick the 5 pin lock on a semi=regular basis.

I don't know if the lock was just a really easy one or not. I even practiced raking, which was a succesfull attempt on many ocasions.

What is the next step for me?

~BM005

[illusion]

hmm... put the big botom pins next to little pins so you have a high-low-high-low pin combination which means you will need to work you way around the big pins to reach the small ones.

hmmm.... security pins would give you a challenge... spool or mushroom pins added to your lock will throw some tricks into it and you'll find yourself pulling your hair out once again.

[Badmonkey005]

what are spool pins and what are security pins?

though I suppose I should search the forums

i'll do that now, lol

[illusion]

spool and mushroom pins ARE security pins.

I'll et ya search cos I can't be arsed I'm afraid.. plenty of info

[Badmonkey005]

bah, the search feature is horrid, so many results and they all suck

I did see something about serrated pins though... so I don't know what spool pins are and I dont know what serrated pins are

[illusion]

type them into google image search and se if that drags up any pictures...

[Aqua]

I guess this is what you are looking for:

http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=8177&highlight=security+pins

There was a thread somewhere with a link to some great photos and drawings of security pins in different brands of locks... but i can't find it right now. Mabey i'll take a look tomorrow (4:17 am. over here )

[illusion]

I think you mean this Aqua... http://www.crypto.com/photos/misc/lockpins/

it's 3:23am in the UK right now....

[Aqua]

Thank you illusion - that is the one

N.

[Badmonkey005]

those pins scare me

Most of the little blips siad that vibration or snap guns have better success...

but that would be the lazy way =D

How often would you see one of those in a lock anyway?

[illusion]

security pins -

in the UK almost every Yale cylinder made recently has them.

many padlocks have them - especialy Chinese made ones.

in deadbolts....

mushroom and spool pins are very common - at least in the UK.

it is worth practicing with them because they are a whole new challenge

[Badmonkey005]

*shudders and goes to buy a lock with security pins...*

[illusion]

imagine instead of having just learnt to pick a lock it's another situation...

if picking a basic lock without security pins is like riding a bicycle then picking security pins is like riding a unicycle.

they are both the same in a way yet they are both different, and take some practice...

or something like that... having raging insomnia recently

[Badmonkey005]

yeah I understand. Insomnia, lol - poor guy.

Something tells me that picking security pins is going to be exponentially harder than regular pins.

[illusion]

no.. they are just different... and take some practice.

they will make you feel you have set them and only when you think you've set them all - then you turn the plug a bit and it'll stop....

they are there to trick you, but with practice you'll learn how to tell where they are in the lock, and also how to correctly pick them... try "bouncing the tension" wrench a bit with your finger as you lift security pins - it'll help them to bounce to their right place