How fast do you single pin pick?

[CPLP]

Good luck then!

[jordyh]

Thanks, i'll need it.

[Omikron]

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.

...but when it opens it will be so deliciously sweet!

[scampdog]

not every lock is alike,youwork at it until it opens, using any method that of attack that works.

[qwerty125]

interesting.. never really thought about how i pick.. I'm still learning. I usually just pick in order although.. I've been having alot of trouble on locks that have a High / Low combination. Especially when the low pin are in the front.. the moment I try to set the pins in the back, I've already brought the first pin above the shear line... I'm still trying to work it out.. but I've yet to actually set all the pins in this one lock I have.. its a freakin crappy lock too.. I get owned every time i try.

[Rophuine]

I've found an interesting trick which works for cheaper padlocks, and is somewhere between picking and shimming.

Tools required: One hairpin (bobby pin), wax ends removed, bent straight.

1. Insert the straight side into the lock. All the way. As in, right to the back.
2. Withdraw it slightly. Push it towards the very bottom of the lock.
3. Now push it to the back again, and lift up towards the top of the lock.
4. Enjoy your newly opened padlock!

If it doesn't work, try reversing your up and down directions and trying again. I have opened unfamiliar padlocks in a second or two using this method. I have also encountered plenty of padlocks which seem impervious to this attack.

I believe this is basically accomplishing the same effect as shimming, only from the opposite end of the locking bar.

[Deathadder]

... im not exactly sure what you mean by that... are you sticking it in the keyway as in picking or in the bar as in shimming

[JK_the_CJer]

I can single-pin pick Masterlock #140s usually in under a minute (sometimes 30 secs), but for some reason Masterlock #3s (much easier I hear) defeat me everytime. I just cant feel the pins set in them.

[JK_the_CJer]

Sorry for the extra post, I don't see the edit button.

I just wanted to add that raking is not an option. Yes its amazing that some people (the locksport crowd) can get a lock open in .002 seconds, but I feel like I'm "cheating" when I rake. It reminds of using a brute force password cracker instead of writing an elegant exploit (computer security). Anyone else feel this way?

Also when people see me single pin pick and want to give it a try (inexperienced folks i mean), theres much less chance of my lock or picks breaking

[Octillion]

I just wanted to add that raking is not an option. Yes its amazing that some people (the locksport crowd) can get a lock open in .002 seconds, but I feel like I'm "cheating" when I rake. It reminds of using a brute force password cracker instead of writing an elegant exploit (computer security). Anyone else feel this way?

I agree! Raking is so brutish...

[skedone]

im getting better most uk yale ect front door looks, apart from yale x tech i have not had a chance to try one of them i can normally do in under 50 sec and soon moving down to about 10 seconds not bad considering i have one pick set and thats my jacknife (metal version) and that is it and i am still learning that is by means of single pick/and or raking .

As for the comment about raking being a bit brute force the enjoyment and fun comes in opening it via NDE methods raking or not, tho i do think that once u have bumped a lock the fun goes out of it specialy as my mate who has hard time opening lock with a key can do it first time LOL

also u kind of rake when u single pick any way (as in feel were pins are before tention then just after)

thats my 2 pence

i will post vids of me opening lock soon (just waiting for locksmith shop to give me new practice locks)

i can also post a complete guide on bumping including pics in pdf format if you think that it fits with the forum (tho i thought this was a locksmith hang out and a locksport hang out and bumping is niether)

[Octillion]

I admit that I'll rake along to feel a lock out at times, but purely raking open a lock never impressed me, that’s beginner stuff. If you want to open some higher security locks, your going to need to know how to control the pick more precisely.

[illusion]

To be fair, you CAN use raking on higher security locks, and it does become impressive since you'll need to have good tension control. Raking cheap locks is childs play though, and isn't impressive.

[Octillion]

I think the key here is we both used the word "some". Some higher security locks you can rake, others you can't. And torque control is always important in these locks, regardless of how you handle the pick.

I don't think this should be answered in the open forums, but it would be interesting to see a list of which high security locks can and can't be opened reliably through raking alone (reliably meaning almost always, not sometimes or if this…).

[Lokka]

[i]PS: Sometimes I even get mad :evil: :x 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).

yup!
And when it surprisingly works you get this "hah, K.O.!" feeling for a moment, but then get angry cause it doesn´t work any more at the next time.
This happens to me often, although i have opened only wery few locks.