Having trouble picking first padlock.

[ker-boom101]

i got a lock from home depot and its 30mm and has a black vinyl covering. its a master lock and the number is not written. i tried using this as my first lock to pick but i cant open it. i have made my own picks. i made a tension wrench out of a coathanger and dremel it fits in the lock. and i made my picks out of hacksaw blades. im a MAJOR MAJOr noob so i dont the names of the picks i made but ones like a feeler? and the other a bogota? im not too sure though. i put the tension on and jiggle the bogota and all the tumblers/pins are changed and when i let go of the tension all the pins go back to normal. doesnt that mean if i alligned all the pins the lock should open? and also maybe this isnt a good practice lock because on the cover of the lock it said it was precision pins so it is harder to pick. im sorry for the Noobiness but i will be very grateful if someone could help me out

[Title edited by MBI so it's useful.]

[freakparade3]

Welcome to the site! We are glad to help out newcomers. First off, padlocks are not the best to learn basic lockpicking with. It seems you do not know the basic things that need to happen to pick a lock yet. You can do a google search for the LI guide to lockpicking and it will help you out alot. Second, when you are first learning forget raking, get down the basics of SPP or single pin picking before you try to use a rake. SPP will open far more locks than raking will and make you a far more effective lockpicker. Third, get yourself a deadbolt lock and follow the exercise in this link viewtopic.php?t=10677 it will teach you to recognize each pin. Most of us here started with this exercise and none of us regret it! Happy picking

Freakparade3

[dougfarre]

Maybe you could take some pictures of your picks for us?

[Diphoration]

I don't know what the model of your padlock is but it made me think of mine when you described it, perhaps it's the same (the images are about 1/3 of the real size)

[LeeNo]

Your lock sounds like it might be a MasterLock #141.

I have one of those and it is KILLING me because the first pin is cut so deep and is the first setting pin.

If you are really interested in this hobby then I suggest you take the time to really read and understand the MIT lockpicking guide.

After that, read the forums and sort of get a feel to what people mean when they say "light tension" or "raking", etc.

I would recommend also buying a Masterlock #3 (the most generic Masterlock you always see, the medium sized lock with the blue plastic bumper). Those locks are so easily picked that I think you can shake a rake at one and stomp your foot and the lock will open

[ObiWonShinobi]

A lot of people have trouble with this one.

My solution is simple....to do....
but harder to explain....


Problem:

the pins in poorly made locks are not always perfectly aligned...
some will "bite" before others.. and you can only tensions some of the pins

imagine looking straight across the tops of the pins..
in a row... away from your eyes... some might be a little to the left or right
but you can only tell from up close

if the biggest pin.... or the one most out of alignment is closer to
the outside of the lock... it will hit first... and press against the side

but because that happens to be the direction you are turning....
it will bind.... and not turn any farther... making the other pins stay loose.


One possible Solution:

use the tension tool to turn the plug slightly sideways.....

imagine turning a pencil.... that is inserted into a soda bottle....
there is plenty of room.... and it can rock back-and-forth...
or it can rock side-to-side.....
although it can only spin around one axis for very far at a time....
(besides roll.... you have pitch and yaw....)

if the pin in the front binds first..... force the plug LIGHTLY away from
the direction you are rotating.... even a millimeter will help...
because some of the things keeping you from feeling the pins
are only 1/10 of a millimeter....

yeah.. sometimes even a piece of crap can be hard to pick....
But with enough Alien blood, you can open just about anything......

[ker-boom101]

your right diphote the look you put up is the one i bought. if it help ill take pictures of the lock and my picks i made with my dremel.(nov 30th was my birthday i got it as a present)[/list]

[ker-boom101]

the lock diphoration put up is the lock i have and im sorry put exactly is a deadbolt?

[Diphoration]

I'm only a begginer, I don't even have my set yet I'll be ordering it tomorow. But I've tried opening it with some paperclips / ballpenthingy(for the tension wrench) and even swap the paperclips for bobby pins. But I cannot get it open lol. I'm having a hard time fitting the paperclip when the wrench is in the hole is very very small.

And that said... It made me taught of something... How thick are lockpick tools? It looks to me that they are bigger then a bobby pin am I right or totally wrong? lol perhaps the slim line is better? anyway I have alot of question, sorry! =) and also, I took a look at my house Weiser Lock and the hole look very small also... =X Anyway! I'd like to know wether I should order standard or slim line tools!

Thanks alot~ =)

[Diphoration]

also, another thing that makes me skeptical about the size of the tool is because... on my lock the grove that match the sides of the key, you know the little carving on the side of the key... well the little grove is so big that I have a feeling a tool won't be able to enter it... is there any cases that somethings like that happen? or it's just a noob-feeling? =)

[LeeNo]

And that said... It made me taught of something... How thick are lockpick tools? It looks to me that they are bigger then a bobby pin am I right or totally wrong?

When you get your picks, you will be in heaven They are very thin. No thicker than the bobby pin but perfectly straight.

The 141 actually has a very large keyway. There is a lot of room to maneuver your pick. But they are very tricky because the pins are spaced far apart and loose and the first pin is cut very deeply and the second pin is cut very shallow.

You will really need to learn how to position your hook so that you are able to lift a single pin without slipping off it (the 141 pins have a lot of vertical travel).

This lock hates me! You can't rake it (at least I haven't been able to open it with raking). The pins are very lightly tensioned and have a lot of wiggle-room. Very hard to keep individual pins on your pick without disturbing other pins.

Good luck!

[wrrider128]

i dont think a master 141 is best. if i remember the 141 has one spool security pin in it, which makes it a little harder. i would agree with starting with a master #3 or 140( its like the 141 just easier) also i started off with homemake tools and for the tention wrench i would use the uniball pen cap clip. i learned by watching utube........ alot. to help with the 141 use light tention. look on youtube for a guy named bruno. hes legidary.