What am I doing wrong?

[DrKickflip13]

After watching a few tutorials on youtube and reading a few guides, I decided to try to learn lockpicking in the event that I would be locked out of my house or anything like that. I went to Home Depot and bought a 4 pin Master lock thinking it would be easy to learn on.



I made my tension wrench and pick from a metal hanger by bending the shape, hammering it flat, and griding it to the shape I wanted them. Then I made a handle out of duct tape.

[img]
http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/2315 ... 508bt7.jpg[/img]

From the tutorials, I started by inserting the tension wrench (about 3/4 of an inch deep) into the lock at the opposite end of the pins and applied tension with my finger.



Finally, I used the pick to try to line up the pins but I can never get it unlocked. I tried setting each one individually and I tried "raking" it and tried just "jiggling" the pick around and try to get something to work. When I release tension on the wrench, I hear 2 or 3 clicks so I assume that I'm getting 2-3 correct pins but can't get the 4th. I thought maybe I wasn't getting deep enough into the lock to get the last pin but I compared my pick to the key and it definitely gets deep enough into the lock. This pic doesn't really show much but here...




I really don't know what I'm doing wrong and why I can't pick the stupid lock. I've tried using a lot of tension, a little tension, and everywhere in between. Anyone have any clue what I'm doing wrong? Thanks...

[DrKickflip13]

Meh...I messed up the Img tag for the closeup of my tools

[mh]

How does the inside of the lock 'feel' (as you can't *see* inside, of course) -
compared to the correct key?

Does it seem as if you have set all pins to the same height as the key would?

mh

[DrKickflip13]

Well...heres the key

I am assuming the 2 in the back need to go down just a little and the 2 in the front need to go down a lot. I have a hard time feeling the back 2 pins...but I can feel the front 2 just fine.

[mh]

With that key code, I assume that you set the pins correctly,
but that your torque is then too little to actually turn the plug, as there's a rather strong spring that wants to turn the plug back.

Unless your lock has spool pins that give you a false feeling of a set pin, but I always that that this lock does not.

[DrKickflip13]

Hm...on the back of the package for the lock it says
"Pin tumbler mechanism for additional resistance to picking. That probably means nothing because I've seen people on youtube pick the same lock as mine in under 3 seconds

[UWSDWF]

that sentence traslates to
"for added resistance to opening we put in a lock"

[DrKickflip13]

With that key code, I assume that you set the pins correctly,
but that your torque is then too little to actually turn the plug, as there's a rather strong spring that wants to turn the plug back.

Unless your lock has spool pins that give you a false feeling of a set pin, but I always that that this lock does not.

I tried putting a lot of torque on it when I felt it was set correctly and it didn't budge. Then when I released the tension slowly I heard 3 clicks. I guess I'm still not setting one of the pins correctly...

[cjames73]

are you feeling a 'slight' movement in your wrench as you set each pin?

[DrKickflip13]

YES!! This doesn't make sense to me but I tried putting tension counter clockwise instead of clockwise and I've picked it 4 times now. The key unlocks it in either direction so I guess my tension wrench is getting in the way clockwise or something weird is going on...

[cjames73]

now you have the feel for the lock, your opening times will get quicker so you'll soon be doing it in 3 seconds too.

[DrKickflip13]

lol the only problem is its a pain in the ass to pull the tension wrench counter clockwise. I can't really hold it in a comfortable position like when I do it clockwise but oh well, as long as it works

[DrKickflip13]

I broke my pick inside the lock now and I can't get it out =(

[cjames73]

try making some better fitting tools. with the right wrench you'll soon be picking clockwise
take a look at the stickies in this link for ideas
viewforum.php?f=4

[Squelchtone]

Bend the finger you are putting on the wrench handle and instead of pressing so high up on the wrench handle, bend your finger so it lands 1/3 to half way up the handle. You're probably applying too much tension since the leverage is greater with distance.

Another good method that works for me, is to pulse the wrench on and off, sort of like tapping morse code really quickly on the handle where your finger presses the wrench.

congrats on opening that lock, we've all been at the point with a No.3

Squelchtone

TOOOL Boston

ps. another thing I just noticed.. the wrench should bend 90 degrees right after it comes out of the keyway, your wrench seems to come out an inch before the bend. This will alter the evenness of the torque you are putting on the keyway/plug Think of a funny car starting from a dead stop. the torque in the engine make the car lift the left side off the ground because of uneven distribution. You'll always want your tension wrench to rotate the core on the most balanced central axis.