CAN PICK 3 PINS BUT NOT 4; HELP PLEASE :)

[sassoldier]

Hi everybody,

I am new to lockpicking, can remove and add pins in a lock though. I can pick a 3 pin lock, but I have trouble picking 4. Suggestions anyone?

[melvin2001]

what type of lock is it? make sure it has no security pins or anything crazy like that.

other then that its "pick fu" time. feel the lock, try and understand what its doing and why. beyond that there isn't much we can do to help at this juncture... read everything you can find, work on your tension. try to tension from the top of the lock the middle of the lock and the bottom. try using less or more or "pulsing" tension.

most of all PRACTICE. nothing pops a lock open faster then experience. dont lose hope and try everything you can you'll get it soon enough.

[sassoldier]

Thanks mate, its just a cheap 5 pin lock. Only cost me 5 bucks!

[melvin2001]

cheap locks can sometimes be the hardest, but nothing is impossible to pick.

[JK_the_CJer]

I don't know how you have it pinned/keyed, but try changing it up. Either practice more variations of it pinned with 3, or make it a bit easier with 4. Generally if you use longer pins (not excessively though) in the back and key it so they progressively get shorter toward the front, it will be much easier. Or make all the pins the same length. Try to avoid lots of high-lows after one another. Of course when you start getting the hang of picking, include these, but for now try to make the lock as plain-jane as possible. Good luck!

[ComTech]

Try using VERY light tension, when just starting out in lockpicking, most people apply to much tension. Use light tension and light give and take tension. Keep at it, you'll get it.

[freakparade3]

Try lifting the pins with the pick without applying any tension. This should give you a feel of how they move. Apply tension and you should then be able to feel when a pin is binding. Push it up and repeat till it opens. Another thing I found for me I seem to pick better when I'm not looking at the lock. If you make yourself go be feel instead of trying to see whats happening in the keyhole it works better.

[noctaeon]

all of these are really good advice the only thing i would add that helped me learn to feel the lock... is putting it next to ya ear as you pick pin by pin and do it with ya eyes closed. and learn to know that feeling in ya hands and the sound of a pin sticking at the sheer line...it will be quieter when it isnt next to ya ear but you can still hear it a lil and hear feel it... i hope its making sense but all the others advice was really good i just wanted to add that if ya eyes are closed ya other senses are heightened.

happy picking!

[sassoldier]

To pick a lock do you have to lift all pins at the same time and apply small pressure on the wrench or can you lift one at a time?

[toufu]

buy a plug spinner and pick it backwards

everytime i got frustrated with a lock, i'd pick it backwards for fun...sure enough...all the pins would set...after this occurring many many times, i've been pursuaded to get me a plug spinner..too bad no mula at the moment

well yeah...for me it is anyways, it's easier to put tension on the opposite side and then use a plug spinner when you picked it.

[d_goldsmith]

buy a plug spinner and pick it backwards

everytime i got frustrated with a lock, i'd pick it backwards for fun...sure enough...all the pins would set...after this occurring many many times, i've been pursuaded to get me a plug spinner..too bad no mula at the moment

well yeah...for me it is anyways, it's easier to put tension on the opposite side and then use a plug spinner when you picked it.

Try this one, seems like a cheap effective way to make one.
http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=9096&highlight=making+plug+spinner

[JLennox]

To pick a lock do you have to lift all pins at the same time and apply small pressure on the wrench or can you lift one at a time?

You do not need to apply pressure to all of the pins at the same time, though you do need a constant torque. It sounds like you have not read one of the numerous guides. I read the MIT guide- dated, but adequate.

The idea is that the pins get stuck one by one. You can read a guide findable via the stickies on these forums for a more detailed description.

[FiapFiak]

Oh boy, i thought you were onto it until you asked that last question:

I think everyone convered what i was going to say...
JK with the pin heights...
As JLennon said, it's pressure always, and each pin at a time.

You might want to refer to any picking guide where you look for the "most stuck pin". Basically, apply tension, and then feel for the pin which is the hardest to move, and manipulate that one.

As well, be sure you are not making any false sets, with more pins, there's a greater chance you're doing this.

[lockjaw]

I am new to lockpicking, can remove and add pins in a lock though. I can pick a 3 pin lock, but I have trouble picking 4. Suggestions anyone?

I advise going back to three pins and making sure you can pick the cylinder pin-by-pin. If you can pick three pins (pin-by-pin) then you have some technique: you know something about tension and pin state. You will also know something about the binding sequence (i.e. the order in which the pins bind and are set).

You may be either missing pin 4 altogether. Try marking your pick with a line that gets positioned at the rim of the keyway when the head of the pick is directly under pin stack 4. How do you know when you are directly under pin 4? Pull the lock apart (or get an identical lock) and mount the pinned barrel/plug in a vise. Practise pushing each pin in the mounted barrel.