Help a n00b

[raimundo]

Jakko, the difference is salesmanship

[Jaakko]

I know how it works, but why would I slowly mess with one pin at a time, if I can just rake them all?

Because in locksport the object is not to open it fast, but just to open it. Fast openings are for Dutch Open

And if you are a locksmith, then I would understand the raking to some extent, but as a hobby lockpickers I don't understand why would you need to open lock fast. I hope you have legitimate purposes and you can verify it.

[malilaik]

Yes, I agree you need a technique, but isn't it the challenge to open it fast as possible? Or what?

[Afisch]

After you rake ope na couple padlocks, raking seems to lose its excitement for me. Its far more interesting to slowly open a deacant quality lock than to rake it around (not saying raking is skilless).

[malilaik]

I've got another lock. The problem is that I can't make the pins get "stuck". I push them down and they jump up again. I give really much pressure on the tension wrench and still nothing... what to do? Is this normal or what?

[hurri]

if you wanna learn, try to pick two different locks pin by pin with a tension wrench made from a wiper blade insert and a pick made from a hacksaw blade.
if you just wanna open a lock, use a bump key.

[malilaik]

The problem with bump keys is that one bump key doesn't work with every lock.

[LeeNo]

I've got another lock. The problem is that I can't make the pins get "stuck". I push them down and they jump up again. I give really much pressure on the tension wrench and still nothing... what to do? Is this normal or what?

Are you sure you are actually trying to set the binding pin?

[Stray]

Everyone seems to have forgotten one question... "malilaik what is that lock connected to...?" looks like a pine desk or drawer?"

[MacGyver101]

Everyone seems to have forgotten one question...

I don't think there's anything funny going on here. It looks like he's mounted the lock onto a custom lock-board: you can see the edge of the board in the third picture (left-hand side), and it's only a few inches wide.

[Stray]

You are probably right just looks like a piece of furniture it is mounted on. My eyes must just be playing tricks on me.

[LockDFTR]

Listen malilaik, if you are truly interested in the sport of lockpicking, take Digital_Blue's advice. He is here to help you. Read up on lock construction and theory. Try starting with some easier locks. And if possible, definitely buy/make some decent picks and wrenches. It will make the whole thing easier, and a lot more enjoyable.

And do not misunderstand what Jaako was saying. There is a place for raking in lockpicking. Speed competitions, actual lock out situations, etc... A good bit of the locks you will probably ever run into, you will be able to open by raking. But to pick a lock by lifting one pin at a time, that is the challenge. And to real locksporters, that is how to measure how far your skills have come.
If you wanna get a lock open, by all means bump it, shim it, whatever. But that is not locksport. Good luck and Happy picking

[hurri]

because you wanna learn to pick locks ?! everybody can rake but not everybody can pick pin by pin