Got my picks - harder than I thought!

[progrmr]

Not that I thought learning to pick a lock would be easy, but after reading the 'how long did it take to pick your first lock' thread I thought I had a chance!

I bought a really cheap door lock and a brass padlock. Turns out they are both 5 pin. Well I spent about an hour with the padlock and didn't get anywhere.

So with the help of my pliers/channel locks/various screwdrivers I disassembled the door lock so I could get down to just the lock. Then I took that apart, removed the pins and re-pinned with just 1 pin in the lock.

Of course I was able to get this, but I was VERY surprised at the amount of tension that was needed - next to nothing. If I put anymore on it I couldn't get it! Very enlightening exercise and I'm going to re-pin tonight with 2 pins and try to get the feel for it a bit better.

Tough first day - but hey, everybody's gotta start somewhere right??

[Varjeal]

Your on the right track, keep up the good work.

[Wolfman]

I would suggest you read "Easy Pickings" (a self teaching manual in the technique of lockpicking) by Charles Edward Remington III.

This book is very short and simplistic but contains ALOT of good pictures and information about picking. This would be a very good book for beginers. I'ed also suggest reading "The MIT guide to lockpicking".

oh yeah, you said you bought a "cheap copper padlock"? What kind is it? I find that the brinks 5 pin brass (copper looking) padlock to be machined very closely. They are a bit more chalenging then most cheaper padlocks. For the easyest padlocks to pick, go to a dollar General, famaly dollar, or a dollar store and buy a basic steel lock.

[illusion]

I would say read the MIT guide...

a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

[pinky]

i would say , practice , enjoy your picking and learn from this font of knowledge called 101, keep up the hard work, but most of all enjoy it.

[strangedream]

So with the help of my pliers/channel locks/various screwdrivers I disassembled the door lock so I could get down to just the lock. Then I took that apart, removed the pins and re-pinned with just 1 pin in the lock.

Disassembling locks is a good idea it helps you to get to know the internal workings of the lock better. Your definetly on the right track. May I also recommend "The Complete Guide to Lock Picking" by Eddie the Wire for beginners, its a bit outdated but it still applies the same basic principles.

[paul1982]

Like you have probaly read and heard so many times practice practise practise, once you have picked it a few times your soon get bored and move on to something else and be back to sqaure one again untill you gain enough experience that your open most pin cylinders rather quickly as your gain a feel. Lost count amount of lock and padlock ive bought for practising

[hot04wrx]

Keep up the good work and make sure you practice as much as you can. There are many videos that you can download and watch. The forums have alot as does limewire. There are also cheap cores that you can buy off ebay to help aid with your practice. Always have fun and keep it legal.

[conker]

practice is key, hahah get it... lame joke

but anyway, practice until you can't anymore... it took me about an hour to pick my first lock... i scratched it a lot too... hahha

but you're on the right track and know what you're doing.... all you neeed is time and patience now

and i did that too, just add a pin until you get to 5... good job figuring that strategy out

[SS454]

It was difficult for me too at first. And I still haven't gotten into any high-security locks. But I think it just takes a lot of persistance.

I usually just plant myself in front of the TV and go to it. It helps me when I'm not concentrating on it too much. Just relaxed, so you can get a feel for how the lock acts.

It also helps to not get too obsessed with your progress. If you've got 3 pins and it just isn't working, let the tension wrench go, and try again. Chances are, you were on the wrong track.

It's also good to take one apart. Get a dremel with a metal cutting blade and disect the lock. The Master padlock is a good one, because you can just grind teh pins down on the bottom, and the whole thing comes apart.

Actually, it's the same way I learned to play the guitar.