How fast do you single pin pick?

[Dent]

Hey,

I am wondering how others single pin pick... when I first started picking this was described as a somewhat slow process, that you find which pin is binding by feeling with pick, then lift that pin to shearline, then find next, ect...

I am currently doing it like this:

rapidly lift each pin from front to back and then back to front with light tension and light touch.

If a pin doesn't feel like its binding then I move on, keeping going back and forth(but yet feeling each pin and with a short hook).

Then once pins are set, I keep trying to lightly lift them as I go from pin to pin back and forth until all are set....


This is just how I taught myself to pick, and it works well for top/bottom serrated, spools, mushrooms and everything in many types of locks I've encountered....


So I was wondering, is this normal for single pin picking(going from pin to pin to find binding and whatnot), or do you feel out each step(finding binding, lifting, checking others,etc?)..


Sometimes I try to discuss my technique or want to talk about single pin picking, but after re-reading some intro text I am wondering if I am raking or if its a hybrid, or if this is just how you are suppose to single pin pick.....

Thanks!

[vector40]

Infinity time.

[Octillion]

I do something similar, although as you pass by the pins it helps to remember which pins binded, and which pins need to be gone back to. But if I don't feel like paying much attention, going back and forth seems to work, just feeling out the pins as I go. And it's a lot easier to keep track of where you are by just moving over one pin at a time.

[Dartan]

I usually start at the front and work my way back. I find it's very easy to move on to the next pin that way (after lifting a pin, push back agains the next pin and then slide the pick down the pin)...wash, rinse and repeat as needed. And doing it this way I usually find that the middle pins bind first (the first pins don't bind at all and the last pins bind, but not as much as the middle). Of course, keep in mind I've only picked a handful of locks so far!

Dave

[CPLP]

I usualy do it like Dartan, I start picking the first pin and go till the back of the lock, then I come back and forth. Sometimes after doing it some times and it still don't open I tap the pins (it usualy saves me much time doing this). And I also use a lot of combined technics. It depends on the lock.

PS: Sometimes I even get mad when I can't open it and start doing all kinds of weird stuffs, gess what...it usualy is worthless...but sometimes it works (very rarely). Some other times when I'm really furious I even bend some tools so.......don't do this. I keep saying this to my self... but I never listen.

[Bahrg]

I usually start at the back, because Im not exactly sure how many pins my locks have. I put my hook all the way in and slowly slide it forward till I hit the furthest back pin. Then I start moving my way out looking for the binding pin. Then continue on to the first pin and repeat in an In n out motion I havent bent any picks or wrenches yet

[Omikron]

I usually start at the front and work my way back. I find it's very easy to move on to the next pin that way (after lifting a pin, push back agains the next pin and then slide the pick down the pin)...wash, rinse and repeat as needed. And doing it this way I usually find that the middle pins bind first (the first pins don't bind at all and the last pins bind, but not as much as the middle). Of course, keep in mind I've only picked a handful of locks so far!

Dave

This is the same method I use most of the time, although it's certainly not the best. If I were better, I'd be able to find the binding order in the lock and pick the pins in order. Unfortunately, I am not yet there. Still working on it, though!

[Dent]

Omikron(and others:

Why do you feel that way?

I ask because I started out trying to figure out binding order and then picking, and I then moved on to this method(going back and forth feeling and picking at same time)....

I'm just wondering why is "true" single pin picking better than this??? I haven't come across a basic pin&tumbler lock that I haven't been able to get with this method, no matter the security pins or tolerances...

[devnill]

for me, it really depends on the lock. IMO, its not right to use the same method for all locks. for cheap padlocks, i would just use a half diamond, or rake it with a snake, while with more difficult ones, i would use a hook, and go in order by which one binds first.

Sometimes i like giving the lock 1 or 2 rakes to get a few pins set, and pinish off the others, and fix the false sets.

[jordyh]

And here i was, thinking i could not single pick pin.
Seems i do it like all the rest.
Front to back, to front, to back, etcetera.
If pins bind, i check them for being security pins (having a bit of problems keeping tension on a normal level), and i start looking for binding pins.
From front to back, from front to back.

[Dartan]

for me, it really depends on the lock. IMO, its not right to use the same method for all locks. for cheap padlocks, i would just use a half diamond, or rake it with a snake, while with more difficult ones, i would use a hook, and go in order by which one binds first.

Sometimes i like giving the lock 1 or 2 rakes to get a few pins set, and pinish off the others, and fix the false sets.

You mention cheap padlocks. Out of all the locks I've picked, the cheap padlocks give me the most trouble (one cheap padlock I have yet to pick). I haven't tried raking it much (mostly because I have trouble with raking to begin with). Are you able to single pin pick the cheap padlock, or do you have to start by raking it first?

Dave

[CPLP]

Usualy cheap padlocks I come across with have big tolerances and are easy to pin pick them, also raking proves to be a fast method.
That is usualy why they are cheap... but some times even cheap ones are hard to pick.

[jordyh]

Usualy cheap padlocks I come across with have big tolerances and are easy to pin pick them, also raking proves to be a fast method.
That is usualy why they are cheap... but some times even cheap ones are hard to pick.

I'm having this little Tricircle padlock that is laughing at me at the moment.

[CPLP]

What about a picture?

[jordyh]

What about a picture?

Can't bother, and it's not like i want to boast about meh lil laughing padlock, i'm just saying that it's a tough nut to crack for me.

We all have our challenges, this one is mine.

Cheap thing, but aargh, so hard.