Lock Picking Technique

[krazy k]

Hi all. In my picking experience (which isn't much at all), I have found a strategy to pick locks that helps me the most. I was wondering if I can get some opinions on my technique and maybe some suggestions. When I pick a lock, I use a relatively good amount of pressure, so that it feels a little bit hard to push the pins. Then, I find pins that bind the most, and start pushing them up/down very slowly, until I feel a "click" and the pin gets lighter. I hear that people prefer light pressure, but I always use heavier pressure and pick each pin very slowly, because then you get quite a bit of feedback (and it's easy to find pins that bind that way too, because they're harder to push up/down). The setback on this technique, as I have noticed, is if one isn't careful and slow enough, sometimes it is easy to overset pins, and then you either have to play with the pressure, or just restart. Also, I don't think this technique works with mushroom/spool/serrated pins (another setback). I was just wondering if this is a good strategy. Thanks.

[Shrub]

Well you will find thats ok on the cheaper simpler locks but when you get to the better quality ones or if you come up against a spool pin you will find your method may not open the lock every time,

If you take a read at This you will find the techniques described on there are pretty much how most do it once picking for a while,

Picking a lock is like trying to get a lady into bed, you have to go gently and carefully listening to all the sounds and feeling all the moves, only then will you get the better quality ones to bed/open
A cheap slapper like a bit of rough and tumble and forced open

[krazy k]

I'll take a look at it, thanks.

[SFGOON]

You technique is exactly the same as the one I use. It's not very fast, but it works. It will also work great on spool IF you are able to allow the pin to push the plug backwards without losing tension on the other pin stacks.

[krazy k]

Good to know that a more experienced person uses the same technique, although I have not yet tried picking a high security lock (I need to get one). Can I buy spool drivers and just replace the drivers on a weiser or kwikset? Or do I need to buy a high security lock altogether? I would like to obtain a high security lock, but I think they are rather pricey (although I did not research that much). Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Legion303]

You can get Kwikset spool pins, or just go to Wal-Mart and see if they have the Brinks repinnable padlock with the spool pins (3 out of 5, and they make KW and Schlage models) for around $12.

-steve

[bpc293]

i want shrub to keep talking about that picking style i was liking that. could help my picking if i think like that.

[Krypos]

actually, what shrub was saying could perhaps help some of us in other areas other than picking...that thing about ladies...please expand.

but seriously...nice analogy. leave it to a brit.


hey guys! anyone notice that the [2,3] smiley is called razz? (anyone not familiar with matrices, [2,3] is the second column, third row)

what is razz? it looks kinda like happy- hey whats up?

sorta.

anyways...as for tension, a lighter tension can be much more useful IMO. with it you can use what ive been calling finesse in like 5 different forums this week. really, lighter tension is where its at i think, although it is harder to control, i think its kind of a star wars thing....

light side: cool powers, always seem to go with the flow, help people, soft.

dark side: aggressive powers, out of control, power hungry, hard

i think. hope i didnt geek anyone out there. (wait, is that possible here?)

[Shrub]

Hey come guys the best advice i can give you in the analogy department is to just get a lock yourself and try to pick it, its the trying and practiceing that is the fun part, once its picked you dont care as much until the need to pick builds up again,

I think razz is a cheeky little smilie, i use it when i want to use the one that msn has where its got its tongue hanging out, i love that smiley