Starting out, Pick set and practice lock

[matchew1579]

Hey guys,
I'm just starting out. Made my first pick set yesterday. I have a hook, a half diamond, a rake and a double ended tensioner. I will post pics when I get a chance. Will this be enough to get me started or is there another indispensible tool I should add to my set?
Also, I'm going to be getting some practice locks tonight. Are desk locks decent for beginning practice?

Thanks in advance, and thanks for such a cool forum!

[hurri]

Hey guys,
I'm just starting out. Made my first pick set yesterday. I have a hook, a half diamond, a rake and a double ended tensioner. I will post pics when I get a chance. Will this be enough to get me started or is there another indispensible tool I should add to my set?
Also, I'm going to be getting some practice locks tonight. Are desk locks decent for beginning practice?

Thanks in advance, and thanks for such a cool forum!

I think that the tools you have should be enough.You can test the picks on desk locks,padlocks or cheap locks...I'm waiting for your pictures...

[ericm115]

I would make two to three tensioners of different widths. One may fit in the top of a certain lock while another will not. I would also try to make them at least 8cm long starting out. I had problems when I began lockpicking that stemmed from me using tensioners than were too short. Learning to use the tensioner well will be as important as learning to feel pins and press them up. That's not an exaggeration IMO.

I would rather have four different, quality hooks than all the rakes, halfsnowmen, double sides balls, etc in the world (exaggeration). You can single pin pick (SPP) almost every lock that you will come across. A shorter hook and a slightly deeper hook and a narrower shorter hook will always be a wonderful asset.

Wafer tumbler locks (the kind on your desk more than likely) are not as much fun as pin tumbler locks (the kind on your front door more than likely) IMO. Wafer tumbler locks can be frustrating and stubborn sometimes and the wafers may not clearly set to a beginner. I think a cheap pin tumbler is much better. That being said, don't pick your house lock. Picking a lock can break it. I've done it.

Your best bet right now will be to go to WalMart and buy a $10 Kwikset deadbolt. Learn to disassemble and reassemble it. Go through digitalblue (db)'s guide for beginners. It really is the best way to start. viewtopic.php?t=10677 is a link to that beginner's guide.

It takes a while to learn how to "feel" the inside of the lock. Practice until you are frustrated, then practice some more later. Keep at it and read everything you can at LP101. Use the search function heavily, read all the "Stickys", and don't be afraid to ask questions.

You will improve quickly with dilligence. Post pictures of your picks next to something of a reference size (a quarter or a ruler or something) so we can see their size and shape.
One more thing... if I were you, I would immediately invest in a SouthOrd small hook and tensioner. They'll help you make better picks on your own in the future. I recommend these two (they are uber cheap and they'll sell to anyone):

<the short hook: SP-09>
http://www.southord.com/catalog.asp?cat ... owstart=70

-and-

<the long twist-flex: TW-03>
http://www.southord.com/catalog.asp?cat ... owstart=20

Good luck!


em

[matchew1579]

Thank you for the quick replies. And, Hurri, thanks for the docs, they were great.
I have sucessfully picked a deadbolt and handle lock. I feel (read as know ) that I accomplished this feat through luck rather than skill. The desk locks are indeed wafer locks. I think that if they are more challenging then I may start with them. They are both free (big selling point) and almost new. The office that I work in has recently retired a lot of office furniture and among the heaps of desk drawers and cabinets, there is a plethora of almost never used locks. I will be pilfering a few to "stock up". How can I remove the pins in these locks to begin with DB's guide?

[matchew1579]

How can I remove the pins in these locks to begin with DB's guide?

Please disregard this question, I am a fool and should be slapped for my lack of observational skills.

Anyway, onward and upward.

[matchew1579]

OK, Well here is the problem with wafer locks:
At the back of the locks I have (I do not know if this is a universal thing) there is a cylinder release pin. Often (I have picked these locks many times now) my pick hist the release pin and, SUPRISE, here's the cylinder. I have attempted to correct my picking technique by staying to the left in the lock to avoid the release pin, but, invariably out it comes. How can I lock the cylinder in the barrel?

[Squelchtone]

OK, Well here is the problem with wafer locks:
At the back of the locks I have (I do not know if this is a universal thing) there is a cylinder release pin. Often (I have picked these locks many times now) my pick hist the release pin and, SUPRISE, here's the cylinder. I have attempted to correct my picking technique by staying to the left in the lock to avoid the release pin, but, invariably out it comes. How can I lock the cylinder in the barrel?

don't stick the pick in so deep. the wafer holding the cylinder in should be last and the spring should be pretty hard to pull down on. pick the first 3 or 4 wafers using a snowman (double ball pick but half diamond works well too).. and before I pick a wafer lock, I get my mini mag light and see inside and count up the wafers.

But don't worry, I've done this too and the hard part is that in order to put the core back in the lock you have to pick that last wafer and hold it in place while you slide the core back inside. Always a pain, but its something you'll learn along the way.

best of luck

Squelchtone

[matchew1579]

Thanks to everyone for their help. I am really suprised by the amount of info here! I'm off to try my hand at another deadbolt. I am purchasing a Kwik dead bolt tonight. Yesterday, when I got home, I made a little lock mounting board. I have three wafer locks mounted in it and left room for a few dead bolts. I'm going to have the locks with different numbers of pins/wafers in them on the board, mixed up by my wife so that I never know what's in the lock.

[hurri]

Thanks to everyone for their help. I am really suprised by the amount of info here! .

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