I finally feel the pins! But...

[snazzypadgett]

Okay, after a lot of time spent into working on crafting my pick and tension wrench, i FINALLY am pretty sure i felt a driver pin! It was springy and gave more resistance than i thought (which is good! )

SO, now that i can push the pins up, i'm having trouble finding the one that i need to start with--none of the pins are staying up. Yes, i'm using a decent tension rod (coat hanger with a flat end, turned about 80 degrees), and i'm rotating the tension rod CLOCKWISE from the bottom of the lock. I'm not seeing on any guides on the net what to do from here, I think I have the wrong impression of how this works--I'm thinking you just get your pick (mine's a paper clip at a 45 degree angle), rotate the shaft (for the binding effect, which btw, am i doing it right?), and just lift the pins upwards over the shear line.

Any tips? (sigh...)

Sorry, I'm such a noob

[melvin2001]

Hey, welcome to the site and such. Everyone gets this lecture so it is not directed at you necessarily...

first off always follow these simple rules:

1) Search before you ask, this makes life better for everyone because there are less repeat threads and we're not answering the same "what is a bump key" type questions over and over.

2) DON'T PICK LOCKS YOU RELY ON!!! This means if the lock is attached to a door, cabinet, vehicle, chastity belt, casket, whatever... unless it is there for the SOLE PURPOSE of being picked, DO NOT PRACTICE WITH THAT LOCK. You CAN and WILL break it... and then your in trouble.

3) DONT PICK LOCKS YOU DONT OWN!!! The only thing worse then breaking the lock attached to your sister's chastity belt is breaking a lock you don't own. Unless you are a locksmith or have EXPLICIT permission to pick a lock, with the owner understanding the lock may be damaged, DO NOT PICK IT.

That being said check out these places for helpful information on getting started.

The MIT Guide to lock picking can be found:

HERE

the LSI Guide to lock Picking can be found:

HERE

and check out EVERY link found on this page, they are all great:

HERE

[freakparade3]

Yes, you seem to have the basic concept right. Try lifting the pins without your tension wrench inserted. This will give you an idea of how stiff the springs are. Then when you add tension, you will have a better idea of which pin is binding from the difference in how the pins lift.

[Carrot]

Hi... I think that paperclips are not exactly the best material to be used as a pick. As another noob who was still using that not long ago , i find that they bend too easily and may give a false impression that a binded pin is moving.

Maybe you can try getting proper tools from your local hardware shop / locksmith / online and then reading the guides provided above.

Hope you have fun and enjoy!

[snazzypadgett]

Cool, so I've already read all three of those guides, (most of the MIT guide), and i think i'm ready for picking.

But I want to give in to buying a set so badly, I just don't know how I could get one. It's unlikely I can convince my parents to let me buy my own set (the 15 dollar five-set at southord looks great). And I can't find any locksmiths carrying sets local where I live.

UGH, has anyone been in this situation before? Should I try to make really nice picks with a grinder/sander? Even though I bet I'd make them VERY badly and slowly...

[Iceberg_Slim]

http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=10398


http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=17326

[m3ph15t0]

Yeah, drop the paper clip. Search around for pyro's pick making guide (video) it explains how to make one out of a hacksaw blade. My first one was made just like in the video. Actually my personal favorite material right now is bicycle spokes, mostly just because when I use a hacksaw blade I spend so much time grinding that it's just easier to use a bicycle spoke, especially for hooks. and this is the greatest tut of all time (in my humble opinion.)
viewtopic.php?t=10677
He says it takes like a week, but it took me way longer, and now I'm working on spool pins.