Having real problems sensing pins.

[zarbk]

I have a couple of padlocks and cylinders, but I'm really having problems on all of them sensing where the pins are, and single-pin picking. Just even sliding the hook or half-diamond in I can't tell whether it's between pins, or sliding off one, or stuck under 2. -_-

Is there some trick to this, I really sometimes get the feel for one and it snaps right open, but 90% of the time I feel blind in there.

[TANGO]

I suggest buying or borrowing a big padlock that has large pins and heavy springs. play with it for a while and you will notice the pins right away. Insert and push your hook in the cylinder downward and let it go. If the pick bounces there's a pin. Also when raking out gently you will hear clicks. those clicks are the pins you just raised and fell back down.

[freakparade3]

Get yourself a deadbolt and follow this. viewtopic.php?t=10677 It will help you learn the feel for each pin and the binding pin.

[cjames73]

as well as DB's beginners exercise you can file the tip of your hook so it's slightly concave, this will give you better feedback and stop the pick slipping off pins.

[le.nutzman]

I suggest trying this as it might help.

http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=19741

Some of it is being blind, more than anything, it's feel and sound. That's why having good visualization skills can help because you're building that mental picture in your mind.

[Emrys]

I think the Master No.3 padlock are the best to practice on. if you get a new one, they give you so much feedback. You can really hear the clicks relatively loudly from those things. Make sure you're using light tension & find the most bound pin and push it until it clicks. Then follow that process with the rest of them. Light tension really is the key. I hope this helps.

-Rob

[ObiWonShinobi]

SOME people have reported being able to pick BETTER when drunk.
Im not saying you should START drinking.... esp if you DONT.

BUT... if you ALREADY DO drink.... maybe you should try picking.
I mean... any time is a good time to pick really....

Now, anyone who knows me will tell you:
I would NEVER get drunk on purpose, JUST to pick a lock.
(ok you can stop laughing now guys,....really... I mean it...STOP!)
But if you gonna do it anyway, might as well be picking....

Unless of course you are at a rave or something...
Then you might hurt someone...
I've never been big on the whole rave scene anyway....
NOT that I dont like the music... I do...
But the lights and bumping into people might be a bit too distracting to pick.

If only there were a way to make everything you feel, feel like MORE.
I've heard that there ARE ways... but they might lead to brain damage.
So I REALLY WOULD NOT recommend trying them....
BUT..... IF YOU ALREADY DO.... do this.... on a regular basis....
you might as well try picking.....
and let us know how it works....

I already lost TOO MANY brain cells myself, I dont think its worth it
just to satisfy a mild curiosity...

[robert11]

I think the Master No.3 padlock are the best to practice on. if you get a new one, they give you so much feedback. You can really hear the clicks relatively loudly from those things. Make sure you're using light tension & find the most bound pin and push it until it clicks. Then follow that process with the rest of them. Light tension really is the key. I hope this helps.

-Rob

yes light tension on master no.3 padlock helps you

[Deathadder]

if you just lightly push the pick over the pins, without pushing any of them down, you should be able to feel the pick move over the pins by the slight resistance difference and by the pick moving up and down over the tops, if you do this for a while, you will begin to feel when you're over a pin and when you're not. Once you can feel this, push the first pin down (without looking at it), and try to push forward at the same time, you will notice it will not go forwards because the next pin is in the way. while pushing the first pin down, slowly angle the tip of the pick up, so it is slowly coming to the top of the second pin, while still pushing forward slightly. when you feel it come over the top of the second pin, slowly push the second pin down and repeat the process just explained, do this for the next X amount of pins you have, and then do the same thing backwards. When you can do this fairly easily, you will also be able to single pin pick fairly easily, by pretty much doing the same thing.

ps: whats up guys?