Whats the next step?

[Bump]

Padlocks are no challenge unless they are really expensive security or lever type.

The medium difficulty standard of cylinder in the UK is the Yale 1109 or similar, if you can pick one of these you are in the realms of novice instead of beginner. After that just try to get different cylinders from wherever and re-pin them when you have mastered each one.

As you get more experienced progress onto Legge or Corbin which usually have some form of security pins in them. There are others and then of course there are the 6 pin cylinders.

By the way, unless you are into Locksport I dont think it really matter how long it takes, I for one have never been impressed by the anoraks who video themselves raking open a lock with a stopwatch in the frame.

You haven't filled in your profile, you never know you might live near someone who can help out with practise locks.

[YoSoyPedro]

Hi

I've just started lock picking, in the same crazed way as ever other beginner, including the numb finger from hours of practise.

I can finally do a Masterlock 5 in 10 seconds (not raking) and I'm just wondering which lock would be a good next step?

thanks in advance

[YoSoyPedro]

Thanks for the replies -

How did you post above me, Bump? :S

The masterlock 140 doesnt look as intimidating as the no. 5 does.. lol

Bump, are you suggesting that it's better to progress on door locks (cylinder ones?) rather than padlocks? I picked my shed door quite easily earlier today, but my Yale front door just put me off completely, heh.

[TruLuV305]

how many pins does the #5 have? the #3 and #1 have 4 and they are easy as pie. so you might buy it only to pop it open in like 1 minute. the master #140 is nice becuase they pins are closer and its a little more finicky, but i think its also random because if you have the bad luck of getting that low back pin and high middle you just have to get the routine,

anyways, i went up to the #140 , if its even considered going up and it was a new challenge and a new experience as the pins were so close..

also a kwikset deadbolt is a beauty because changing up the pin config is very very easy, can be done in like 35 seconds, and itll give a new challenge each time.

i also like to make it as difficult as possible by purposely setting up a low back pin and the highest one available as the 2nd from back, making you get used to the nasty angle. i find alot of lock have this config.

hope this helps, im a noob too, i have only like a week with my pick but im picking everything and anything that locks, ooooh and maybe put some electrical tape on the picks so your finger wont hurt. or buy the grips.

[TruLuV305]

i would think that deadbolts are just a little more of a challenge because they can be repinned and they can help you learn to feel for binding pins and whatnot. also once you get to a certain level you can throw in a security pin and know what it feels like, ( and know where the hell it is) this will help in training you to be a better picker.

as for intimidating, i been popping locks left and right and today at the quickmart i told the arab dude that works there that if i can pick this little blue lock i get to keep it, so we opened it and that little crappy lock owned me, it took me like 30 minutes to open it up once, and i think it was mostly luck, it had a really low back pin, only 4 pins but it sucked! it made me realize quickly that im not that good. i mean at least i opened it but not how i wanted it . it was a master. but no number on it. weird.

how the hell did he post above you , he confused me all up.

[TruLuV305]

Oh i forgot to mention, i dont know how your getting used to picking, but try picking a deadbolt on a mount, its ALOT harder than having it in your hand, so once you think you have it , you might realize your technique is best in only the ideal situation.

[Shrub]

How has that happened??? lol unless the first post was removed for some reason

Anyway onto the subject, the yale 1109 i would truley state as a begineers lock and any begineer should be able to pick one no problem,

Cylinders are of course the best way to improve picking, you can swap the internals around and get many more brands and keyways etc than a padlock can, cylinders are also a lot cheaper and serviceable,

Start with the 1109's etc and then move onto the X5 and then progression is merely what you can get your hands on,

One last thing, DO NOT PLAY WITH LOCKS IN USE OR NOT OWNED BY YOU leave your front door and shed locks alone!

[Knows-Picker]

another idea for "real world practice" as I have heard it called, is when you are repinning a lock,add some damaged pins. I have a few that are really rough(failed attempt to make home made spoon pins. Took like 20 pins till I got it right...lol) and I throw them in my cylinders sometims for an "X" factor in locks. I have tons that look the same in many brands and ususlly repin like 15 at a time and then go threw them, that way I don't specifically remember which was pinned which way. The damaged pins will have the equivalence of alot of false sets. You won't know which pin it is and it will really cause you to have to "feel" things out. In real world lockout situations, you don't know what you are going to encounter, so it is a good ability to be able to feel what is going on in the lock, and this little wild card in about 1/3 of the locks you are picking will build up that ability in your picking skills list. Give it a try for about a week, and you will see the difference in your picking style.

[Bump]

Anyway onto the subject, the yale 1109 i would truley state as a begineers lock and any begineer should be able to pick one no problem,

I think thats what I said! Although I used the word Novice to differentiate between the picker of cheap padlocks and someone who has progressed a little. The original question was "What Next!"

[Shrub]

With respect your statement was a little misleading then as i assumed you was saying the standard yale was more a novice lock and not a begineer lock which isnt true, the yales cant be seen as anthing but easy simple locks for beginners,

I would not reccomend a noob go get a cheap nasty padlock to pick anyway as theres simply no merit in them but if so i would class them the same catogary as well, a begineer lock,

I also answered the original question of what next,

My post wasnt geared towards you Bump but rather the op as i assume you know whats what and know all this already, i was merely clarifiying for the op who may have got mixed up with varying statements,

To repeat my intention, go for cylinders, start with a replacement door cylinder like a yale or era etc then once re-pinned and re-picked over and over again move to a X5 or somthing,