Very frustrated.

[beefyboy69]

Ok now, im trying to make lock picks and tension wrenches and stuff because my order for lockpicks is going to take approximately another 9 days to come.l made this.. http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4639/picture0022xa.jpg and this http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4298/picture0030tu.jpg a better shot of my "half diamond pick" http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/6978/picture0016cd.jpg and i cannot for the life of me pick a lock. i tried for at least 3 hours today, heres my choices of locks... yes, my front door is a Schlage so i went more for the cheap padlock. now , what was happening is, i would insert the tension wrench and the pick and push each pin up, by then looking in with a flashlight, the bottom pins were not visable, if i loosened it a bit, they drop back down with a click, i tried using little force with it and then it just did nothing at all. please tell me what i am doing wrong. http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4984/picture0047no.jpg and http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4819/picture0053jj.jpg


{db edit: changed IMG tags to URL tags due to oversized images}

[digital_blue]

First things first. You would be far better in the long run to work through the Beginner Lockpicking Exercise I posted in the Pick-Fu section of the site (it's a sticky, it's not hard to find). Otherwise, you'll just have to keep poking and prodding your way through it.

As for the pick, I'd say for a first attempt, that looks pretty darn good. You've got the shape sorted out nicely. I'd have preferred you made a small hook to start with, but it'll do none the less. The only thing I can tell is that it desperately needs more sanding.

Cheers!

db

[beefyboy69]

Db always saves the day! thanks a lot man. now... to find this post

[wtf|pickproof?]

First of all, don't pick locks you rely on! You can seriously damage it and won't be able to open it even with a correct key.

I agree on sanding you pick. Make it as smooth as you can get it.
Here is a guide on finishing picks:
http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=10398&highlight=grit+water

It seems to me that the short end of your tensio wrech is quite long.

hope that helps

[Gundanium]

You have some pretty nice tools there, images are kinda blurry but got the point accross. Anyways, seems like you spend more time working on the tools than learning the techniques of picking locks, I would suggest reading up on techniques, basic ones, like learning more about which pin binds first and how much tension to give a lock.
I would also suggest going to home depo, true value, or something like that, buy a door knob with 5 pin tumbler and deconstruct the lock, you'll learn how to take it apart and then you can learn to repin the lock, go down to about 3 pins.
I'm not sure if there is a topic on how to disassemble a door knob and put it back together or how to repin a lock, there probably is, but i'll tell ya how just incase.

Once you get the lock out of the door knob;

There is usally a C-clamp thiny on the back of the lock, if you have strong thumb nails try to pry it off, if not, find some needle nose plyers, and *carefully* take the clamp off, you don't want to damage it.

Then,

It helps to have a plug follower, which is just a half inch (size of the lock plug) to slowly bring behind the plug as you scoot it out, you want to avoid the springs shooting out, if they do oh well, just hope you didn't lose any.

You can also use like a small screw driver or something to hold the pins in.

then just take two sets of pins out and the spring, then put the plug back in (don't spill pins out of the plug) and put your C-clamp bolt thingy back into the lock.

A door lock costs about $9.99 - $14, buy cheap.

I'll post some pictures of later and make a more clear example of those later, but I hope that helps ya!