OK, this topic has strayed a bit but figured I'd follow up on the original post anyway. Just had the same experience, sorta - bought a couple of sets of picks, a bog-standard Kwikset deadbolt, tore it down to one pin and worked my way up to all 5.
Took a few days, couple of hours a day, but now I can consistently open it in under 30 seconds, sometimes much less than 10 seconds.
Great confidence builder, but the cylinder is incredibly sloppy and it takes a
lot of tension to keep the pins set, which in turn means I have to exert a lot of pressure with the pick to set the last pin or two. End result... my thumb is very annoyed!
Some stuff I've come up with to get past this:
1) Try a different grip. Given my index finger is fine but thumb isn't, maybe my "default" grip for this lock will help you. Couple of photos:
I'm a newbie so don't go thinking this is the "right" way to hold a pick - just something that might save your index finger. I'm lifting with my thumb in the first photo, middle finger in the second.
Since I've no idea how I'll end up holding the pick in the long run I monkey around with other positions to see how they feel - and to save my thumb!
(That's a LAB pick with the vinyl sleeve that came with the set. I don't think the sleeve does anything to help save my fingers - I stuck it on there as right now that's my favourite pick and it's easier to find that way. A bit of electrical tape would work just as well.)
2) Try a different lock. The cylinder on my office door (Schlage SC1 keyway) needs
much less tension so it's way easier on my fingers. Unfortunately the door's too big to take home with me so I've ordered a few practise cylinders (see the buy/sell/trade forum) and I'm hoping those will have tighter tolerances so not require as much pressure.
3) Build a practise board. Picking the office door felt different enough that I want to practise on mounted locks, not just locks in my lap, and it's something that'll give my thumb a break...
Maybe one or more of the above will help you too...
