ARCHIVE 2003-2013 Introduce yourself HERE if you are new. :)

[andremichaux]

My name is Andre', and I am interested in picking locks and other useful things like it. If anybody wants to get to know me a little bit, send me a message!

[GSA_DENIED]

Just want to say hello to all the ELITE and NOT SO elite. My name is robert and I have just picked up locksmithing a few months ago. Lockpicking and Safe Openings have provided more challenge in my life than the Army. Oh yeah, I am in the US Army I am a 94Y (35Y) I am an IFTE Operator Maintainer, I work on missile systems and program flight software for the Kiowa Warrior, I have been in the service for 6 years now and have been to OIF 1 back in 2003 and my new unit is about to go again next year. Anyways, Picking locks and manipulating safes has been an adrenaline rush to say the least it gets me racing, which is a problem, because you need to be relaxed in order to pick, this I have found. I got started with an OLD MOSLER GSA safe that our commander told me to open it if i can without damaging it for one of his many inventories, so I begun my mission and actually opened this safe and found that there was a map of Fort Polk, La about 30 years old inside and a box of crayons, who knows, lol, but apparently this safe has been passed thru the unit year after year and no one called a locksmith or safe tech to open it even HQ had no combination for it, and so after that day i have been called upon by numerous people in my unit to open car doors. So here I am now at the mercy of the more experienced, I am enroling at Foley Belsaw and already have all my tools except tubular pick and all homemade. well talk to you guys later and look forward to learning more of the field of locks.

[psyk0s1s]

hi it seems that everyone has posted here to introduce themselves so i might as well introduce myself as well so HI

[Burly]

hello everyone.

[sveno]

Hello all,

I'm from Sweden, a beginner at lockpickning. I have managed to open a few combination padlocks, though.

[ronin26614]

Hello. Finally posting after having met you guys last year at DefCon. Great site. One day I hope to move to the "approved" group.

[Knowthebird]

Hello. Just looking around rite now.

[raZer]

Hey, this raZer - I'm new to the forums ... Just looking for a new hobby to kill my time and this seems to be a good idea. I've got some templates for my first picks made .. just need some files or a Dremel to make em TONS of knowledge here, can't wait to sift! Hello all!

[Bazza J]

hi my name is barry, i know nothing aboutlockpicking but i am trying to learn, i've seen some easy looking templates and vids on this site, thanks for the resorces

[skold]

Is it just me or is there more aussies on lp101?

[MrTom]

Hello everyone, I have been jumping in and out of this page for quite some time now, but now I have joined! May I take this opportunity to thank everyone so much for all I have learned already.

I am very interested in the way locks work, variations in locking methods and the engineering that has gone into making these devices. And the picking that beats these marvels we put so much faith into!

Thanks,
Tom

[Shrub]

Welcome to the site everyone,

A good start for you all is to click the picture in the post and have a look at all the links

Have fun

[fujcube]

Greetings to everyone.

I am a total novice when it comes to picking & bypassing locks but with the help of this forum, I have managed to open my first 2 locks. I was looking for something new and challenging and after watching a mate of mine butcher a lock with a drill, made my mind up there and then to have a go at teaching myself the art.

After a quick search with Google, I posted off a mail for some advice on tools from Devon Locks www.devonlocks.com Within minutes, I had received a reply and made an order. My picking/bypass set now consists of:

1 Set (x4) of majestic Broken Key Extractors
1 Set (x20) of Southord Padlock Shims (SPS-20)
1 Set (x22) of Southord Slimline Picks (C2010)

After receiving them in the post, the only lock that I could find was a Yale padlock (small brass type with the number 25 on it). Although it only has 3 pins in it, it initially took me 30 minutes or so to get it open by picking the pins. After some more practice, I now regularly pops open in approx 5 seconds.

Rapidly becoming bored with that, I popped into my local hardwarestore and bought myself another brass padlock. This padlock is from Masterlock, is rated as medium security and has the number 140 stamped on it. The packaging says it's a 140D.

Again, it took me approximately 30 minutes to make my first open with single pin picking. Am still working on this technique as it's still a bit of a hit or a miss.

After browsing the threads in this forum, I came upon a thread which suggested using the pick that looks like a small single-sided saw and very light tension. I gave this a go, and this now pops open in under 5 seconds with just one or two slight wiggles with the pick. I know that this isn't picking the lock as such, but i just couldn't believe just how easy it was to open this lock.

Anyway, I would love to hear from anyone in the UK who can advise on the most commonly used locks in the UK and the best tools for the job. My mate who is a self-employed handyman, regularly goes to lockouts and does ever single one with a drill. He said I am more than welcome to the work if I can become more profficient in the art of NDE.

Looking at my local hardware store, and my neighbours doors, the most commonly used locks appear to be 3 or 5 lever locks, euro locks on their PVC, and the good old Yale cylinder.

Thanks to everyone who contributes to this site. A lifetime of learning within these pages.

Regards
fujcube

[GarrettMT]

hey im new and saw the message to post here first so i read the first page and thought it was enuff... im not going to read all of them lol. i picked my first lock when ii was 5. i got in a fight with a friend and they locked the sliding glass door so i could not get back in to the house. i then spent 2 hours trying to find a way in with out ringing the door bell.so i picked up a screwdriver and opened the out side grage door but the one going in the house was locked and i could not open it. i then rang the door bell and when my mom opened the door i thought about why i dint hear here UNlock it first... then it hit me, lol my friend could not lock the frunt door from the out side. =). but thats how i got into it. years have past and all i have used were paperclips on cupboard and stuff. im pretty much a rookie at this and hope to learn more for the cd i bout on the link on this page. im thinking about open a smallon campus thing for my college. could be some fast easy cash. dont be shy now go ahead and talk it up with me and we can share knowldge.
PS. my spell is no good so sorry for any errors =)

[schlichtm]

Ive been interested in picking locks for a while, thought it would be something cool to know how to do. I read about locks for a bit earlier today and then i made myself some tools of of a paper clip and a thin piece of metal i found. I attempted to put my thirty minutes of reading to the test and tried a small lock. it worked. Now I think im all pro but im guessing the lock must be really bad if i can pick it. so thats why im here. my goal is to be able to pick the dead bolt on my front door