I want to ask how hard is it to pick a lock with spools after you know the basics.
Knowing is differant to doing, if you know the basicis then the picking is the same, if you can pick the basic locks then you should be ok to move on but it will be a challenge,
You have already stripped the lock so before putting it bak together remove all but one of the stacks that contain a spool pin then re-assemble, after you have done that simply start again on the learning curve of learnign to pick the spools,
As said its mentioned a lot and i type a guide quite ften so if you want to have a look around for more info on the picking of them feel free, i apprechiate you didnt ask how to pick spool pins but i will give you a brief summery anyway,
To pick a spool pin requires careful control of the tension wrench, the very light and slight 'bouncing' of the wrench when picking a spool pin will allow you to lift the pin above the narrow part of the sides,
If you feel it set you simply let off the tension and lift the pin higher for the real set,
Another way is to find which are spool pins then reset the lock, once you start picking again lift the spool pins a lot higher than they need to be and then let them drop down carefully to the proper set, this almost bypasses the spool aspect of the pin,
To find a spool pin in the lock to begin with is as tiger said, basicaly once a pin is set the continual pushing of that pin will try to spin the plug back against the tension, this si the false setting of the pin and that one needs to be lifted higher, a fasle set pin will let the plg rotate slightly and then stop it dead with no other pin setting making any differance,
How do you pick a lock with really narow and curvy keyhole ?
You need to use slimline picks, the picks do not need or have to be under the pins as in vertically directly underneath, as long as you can push the pin in and feel it through the pick it doesnt matter how its positioned,
What this means is that you can slid the pick along one of the wards and come in from the side or other various ways you will find if you try to get the pick in there,
Obviously small tight keyways need small tools, dont try picking a lock with the biggest hook you have instead you will need a small hook for example,
What make and model is your lock? do you have a pic of the keyway? ive picked some very tight keyways and still got slimlines in enough to pick the lock, locks with keyways that tight are not that regular so yours may not be quite as tight as you initially think,
Do I have to just use less wide picks ( For example not the longest hook but only the half lenght hook ) ?
Less wide means thinner, a thinner pick than a slimline isnt neccasary, if you mean the height of the pick then yes, see above,
Or is there another trick ?
See above,
Or is it just practice moving the pick through the curves ?
Yes, everythign is practice practice practice, you are only merely treading where others already have so sit down, think about things and just try
Hope this helps,