Are Schlage locks just plain tough or what

[Jorge]

I'm still a major newbie but, with practice, am getting just a tiny bit better. I still find it easier to rake the lock open than pick each pin individually. I find that locks like Kwikset and Defiant are much easier than Schlage. In fact, I'm stumped with Schlage 9 out of 10 times. Is there something special one needs to know to pick the Schlage.

Also, one last question. I can rake the lock open better than pick each pin individually. Apart from the challenge and sport of it, is there any reason not to work more on raking that individual picking. It seems that if raking is easier, why not work on that technique. Thanks for your help, guys.

[Spike666]

well raking is good and if it works on your locks go for it. try something new.
anyway kw and look alikes are usually only 6 depths and an easier keyway to work in also your raking. schlage c 5pin can have 10 depths and a mac of 7 so if theres a 2 behind a 9 your stuck.....pick for each pin and how (you) can feel and learn to recognize a long pin and sheer preasure. try another or re pin it to anew combo you may be more adept when you take them apart and learn how they actually work if you dont already. let us know and if you cant repin it get a locksmith to $5-10 if you have an orig schlage cyl. if its cheep get some good ones then it would be worth repinning.

[freakparade3]

A Schlage is a much tougher lock but it's not impossible. I suggest searching for Digital Blues beginners guide to lockpicking and doing the exercise. It will help you alot. Good Luck.

[Deathadder]

niiiice sig freak!

i loves it!

[freakparade3]

niiiice sig freak!

i loves it!

mjwhit made it for me. He gets all the credit.

[bedheadben]

Not to get off topic, but am I the only one who made my own sig?

Oh ya, and I would also search for lsiguide.pdf

It is a great intro for lockpicking, and it shows you a lot about how a lock like that could be harder.

[Eyes_Only]

Thats the nice thing about Schlage. They're about the only locks out for sale at your local hardware store that are of higher tolerance than the other locks on the shelves. Thats probably why you are having a hard time with the schlages but not the kwiksets or defiants, those locks are poorly made and have sloppy tolerances making it easier to pick. All the newer Schlages also sport two or three spool pins as well for added frustrations.

I've been picking for maybe 7 years now and once I thought I had reached a level where Schlages will no longer be a problem, but I had to go buy a Spool/Serrated pinning kit and load it up into my schlage cylinders. I'll have to admit, because of its better construction, they have now once again become a thorn on my side.

Keep practicing and you'll get those suckers open.

[WDPaladin]

but I had to go buy a Spool/Serrated pinning kit and load it up into my schlage cylinders.

Hey I saw a repinning kit that I just missed out from winning the bid on EBay. Is that the main source of finding repinning kits or would a locksmithshop sell them? All my local stores sell Krapsets and Slages with no spools or ANYthing beyond 5 pin garbage. So, EBay? Thanks in advance..

[jimmysmith]

the shop i go to dont carry pin kits for sell but they can get you one. of course since there is a middle man you will end up paying a little more but you will most likey find what you are looking for.

e bay is a good place to find stuff..

[RangerF150]

I got one Schlage, it's a nightmare to pick
Even with two pins it's a nightmare!!
I tend to give it a wide berth

[Exodus5000]

Raking can often times be very effective. The problem with raking however is that it requires very little skill and it's not effective on all locks. When I'm out on a job of course I run a rake through a lock a few times to see if I can open it quickly without having to do much work. This is for work though, the goal in locksports is to learn the most while opening the lock, those two goals aren't mutually exclusive.

[Exodus5000]

BTW - I make my own sigs too.

[beto]

I'm kind of a noob as well, been picking for 15 years but only recently took it up as a serious hobby -- so take my advice with a grain of salt there are much more knowledgable people here.

Those cheap 5 pin door locks I could always open, with a couple of paper clips if need be. Raking these didn't teach me much.

I once found a Master 140 with a deep pin #4 very difficult -- impossible to rake for sure. Once I got some better tools and began to really SPP it, I found that I could feel the pins setting, the spools jamming etc. It taught me a lot about tension and feedback through the tension wrench and pick.

Now raking is the quickest way to open that lock and SPP is just for practice.

My advice, sit in front of the TV with your worst Schlage and a small hook or half diamond and really get to know it, pin by pin. Once you can pick it easily, create errors in the picking process (jam a pin too far, add too much tension, too little, etc) and see what it feels like. This feedback and learning process will make your raking (or what I do is "pick" with a rake) a lot more effective.

[raimundo]

thats an interesting concept, like taking the plane up to practice stalls.

[bonez]

thats an interesting concept, like taking the plane up to practice stalls.

now thats an expensive hobby