Diffrent Clickings!!!

[job314]

i found that there is a certain clicking to a schlage lock and no clickin to a regular kwikset or standard lock when it reaches the shear line it just hangs and u can feel it loosened with no preasure: anyways the clicking of a schlage lock when it reaches the shear line should i keep pushing it up till the clicking stops or degreases, is that how it works?

[CaptHook]

Schalges are a little crisper than a kwikset due to tighter tolerances. And assuming you have no spools or other security pins, stop at the click, thats the shearline.
Chuck

[CitySpider]

My suggestion: stop listening, period. Do it through feel. Close your eyes and put cotton in your ears if you have to.

[Romstar]

I'm with CitySpider on this one.

Your ultimate objective should be to open a lock in the dark while wearing headphones. Or, in the burning sun on a scorching hot day in the middle of a downtown street.

Touch is your friend. Sound and sight are your enemies while picking. In normal usage, you would be picking at any time of the day or night in all weather conditions, and noise conditions.

The only thing you can rely on all the time is feel.

With that said, sight is only useful for identifying the lock and selecting the proper tools.

At least, that's my opinion.
Romstar

[CaptHook]

I think hes refering to feeling the pins click or snap when they break, thats what I was refering to. But just for my own curiosity, why would you want to ignore one of the five senses even if it is only useful some of the time? Yeah, you should be able to rely on feel.....mostly, but there are times when the sound of a click is helpful too. Learn different situations, learn different methods, but never disregard anything that may help you someday. Its like tools, Ive got stuff in my toolboxes I may never use....but someday I might need them. Should I throw them out and become too lazy to carry them around? And btw, most of the time when you get a loud set, if you didnt feel it, you werent paying attention.
Chuck

[Romstar]

Don't get me wrong CaptHook. Certainly using all of your senses makes a job easier.

However, when you really think about the job, you could very well find yourself in a position where sight and sound simply aren't there as far as the lock is concerned. Certainly you aren't licking the lock, and unless it's a malfunctioning electronic lock, smell isn't going to help either.

I've been in the middle of the boonies picking a lock at night, and you could barely have a conversation, the crickets were so loud. Sound wasn't helping then. The only light I had was a gooseneck flashlight in my pocket. Enough to see the lock and my tools. The only way it could have been worse would be if it had been in a storm.

I firmly believe that touch, is above all the MOST important sense you can train when it comes to lock opening. Close your eyes, breathe gently, relax and let your eyes unfocus. Concentrate only on your hands, and after a while they just know what to do.

That's still just my opinion of course though.

Happy picking,
Romstar

[Pheniox]

Don't get me wrong CaptHook. Certainly using all of your senses makes a job easier.

However, when you really think about the job, you could very well find yourself in a position where sight and sound simply aren't there as far as the lock is concerned. Certainly you aren't licking the lock, and unless it's a malfunctioning electronic lock, smell isn't going to help either.

I've been in the middle of the boonies picking a lock at night, and you could barely have a conversation, the crickets were so loud. Sound wasn't helping then. The only light I had was a gooseneck flashlight in my pocket. Enough to see the lock and my tools. The only way it could have been worse would be if it had been in a storm.

I firmly believe that touch, is above all the MOST important sense you can train when it comes to lock opening. Close your eyes, breathe gently, relax and let your eyes unfocus. Concentrate only on your hands, and after a while they just know what to do.

That's still just my opinion of course though.

Happy picking,
Romstar

AKA, Use the force Luke(not the author, but I couldn't help it)

[CitySpider]

But just for my own curiosity, why would you want to ignore one of the five senses even if it is only useful some of the time?

Ever heard that old chestnut about how blind folks have better touch, smell, and hearing? They can read braille, for heaven's sakes, and I believe some can tell when they're close to a wall because they feel the air compression.

This is the same principle, just not as extreme. If you ignore sight and hearing, you'll pay _much_ more attention to touch, especially when you're learning. I firmly believe it's not possible to focus as completely on touch when you're holding a lock up to your ear.

[Chucklz]

I never set out to listen when I pick. But, I never ignore sounds that I hear. I guess what I am trying to convey is that, in my experience, it is better to go by feel, but to not ignore what other information you can get.

[CaptHook]

I definately agree about the people missing one of the senses tend to be sharper on the others. I also agree that touch is the most important sense with regards to picking. I just dont want anyone to disregard a tool they are born with. And for the record....I personally do lick each and every lock I open, its sort of a ritual of mine.....
Chuck

[Romstar]

Chucklz, that is about the best answer I have ever seen. You don't rely on sound, you merely use what is given up. You said it the best so far.

No Pheniox, I didn't mean use the force. Although, if I had been thinking of it, I may have typed that up.

Oh, and CaptHook? If you're licking locks, you might not want to be telling people about it. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't let anyone see that, and I think you might want to find something better to be licking. Besides, if you're to the licking stage, you pretty much have the locks picked anyway.

Happy picking.
Romstar

[CaptHook]