Raking - it isn't blunt-force trauma. You still need finesse

[LeeNo]

First off, at age 43, I am a newbie at this. I found this hobby by some strange Wikipedia link. It made me realize I would really like to be one of those people that "knew" how to pick a lock.

So I began reading like crazy. And, unfortunately, watching YouTube videos

The typical "tutorial" or "How-to" video on YouTube goes like this:

• A person talks into the camera about how he is now going to show you how to pick Masterlock #3 & #5 locks
• If you are lucky, they will talk about what tool they will be using and they will hold the pick up to the camera
• They then proceed to ram the tools into the lock and spasm around for a few seconds
• Then they show you the open lock

Got that? Did you learn a lot? No? Me either.

Raking is very rarely a matter of sticking the rake in the lock with no tension, applying slight tension and then ripping the rake out of the lock as fast as you can while applying a little bit of upwards force.

The first lock I picked (a no-name Chinese small brass padlock) did open like that after about a 50 tries. Why did I try so many times? Because the dude on YouTube opened his lock like that!

But that technique has a very low chance of success for any given lock.

So how do you rake in a way that is most likely to open the lock?

The technique I have used to open several locks goes like this:

1. Slide the rake in slowly without a tension wrench and try to get a feel for if the pins of the lock are compatible with the spacing of the peaks and valleys of the rake. I you are using a snake, make sure that you feel every pin and that the peak isn't lifting multiple pins. If you are using an "M" rake (the jagged, lightning bolt-shaped rake), make sure the distance between peaks on the rake is less than the distance between 2 pins (otherwise, just use a half-diamond).
2. Once you have a good feel for the pins and are satisfied that the rake you have chosen is compatible with the lock, insert your tension wrench but apply no pressure.
3. Slowly insert your rake as if it was the key. Feel for that first pin to begin lifting.
4. As soon as the first pin begins to lift apply light tension with the tension wrench. Steadily apply more pressure as your rake passes each pin (but the keep the tension, overall, light).
5. Continue to very slowly insert the rake into the keyway. Be constantly aware of the pins as the rake lifts them. If you feel a binding pin, ignore it. You can't lift up on the rake like you would a hook to set the pin because, with a rake, you are likely to overset a different pin if your tolerance and control aren't nearly perfect. Just make a note of the pin that feels "scratchy".
6. When your rake has passed the last pin, repeat the same process in reverse - drawing the rake back out towards you. But make sure to raise the horizontal (in respect to the pin stack) plane of the rake a tiny little bit. Drawing it back out should be done with the same care and with the same attention to pin feedback as the insertion of the rake. Again, be aware of any pins that feel "scratchy"
7. Once the rake has been withdrawn, check for overset pins. A properly set pin will have an inaccessible driver and a key pin with no spring tension. An overset pin will be immovable. If you have an overset pin, release the tension wrench and start over.
8. If there are no overset pins, then repeat the insertion and retraction steps until the lock pops - each time raising the horizontal plane a tiny bit.

If all this sounds like it takes longer than SPP, it doesn't! The steps I am describing have enabled me to open several different types of padlocks (from no-name laminated locks to Master #21s) in about 5 seconds (not counting the initial pin feeling step).

A half-dozen different padlock models have been opened using this technique during the initial insertion.

If you can apply slow, steady forward movement with your rake and a subtle but ever-increasing light tension on the lock then many, if not most, MasterLock Padlocks can be opened on the initial insertion of the rake.

[Gordon Airporte]

It's always nice to see a guide like this, there are so many techniques where newbies need to be assured that they're doing the right thing.
If you want to get technical, I think what you described is known as 'scrubbing'.
What constitutes raking is pretty easy to keep track of: if you're manipulating more than one pin at a time, you're raking. Scrubbing is kind of a special case because you might only hit one pin at a time, but you certainly aren't giving them the care you would with Single Pin Picking (SPP.)
With the right (cheap, loose) lock and the right application of tension you can dart the pick in and out and have the lock open in < 1 second.

[josh0094]

heck if i had this to read then i would have picked my first lock in 4 seconds unstead of 5 minutes.

[ObiWonShinobi]

Wow, nice job of description from a self-professed newbie.

Someone suggested a newbie-helping-newbies section here a while back.
(sorry... I forgot who you were..)
This seems like it would make a nice sticky if we ever had that section.

So... how does it feel now that you are "one of the people who know how"?

[Afisch]

Nice guide. Alot of how easy a lock can be rakes relies on the pinning. Locks with high low combinations are far more difficult and take longer, especialy with an S rake for example.

I always found it was all about the tension. It's been a while since I raked my padlocks open, time to see if I still can I suppose.

[delocking]

Many thanks for the excellent guide, in the three months I've been learning I only ever managed to rake an Abus 60/40 and failed to rake every other lock I tried Raking now and again will make a nice change from SPP when I'm having one of those SPP off days

Btw .... good to see another newbie here who is a 40 something

[Squelchtone]

First off, at age 43, I am a newbie at this. I found this hobby by some strange Wikipedia link. It made me realize I would really like to be one of those people that "knew" how to pick a lock.

So I began reading like crazy. And, unfortunately, watching YouTube videos

Hi,

I think I ripped you a new one for talking about picking open your mailbox, over in the Picked Not Picked area.. I thought you were yet another 15 year old out to cause mischief and pick mailboxes and lockers.

But now that I've read this post, I can say welcome to the world of locksport and good work man.

you also get +5 for the hot pic of drew barrymore in stockings. mmmm tasty.

happy picking,

Squelchtone

[LeeNo]

So... how does it feel now that you are "one of the people who know how"?

It makes me feel ignorant and humble but excited and motivated! I learned how to pick a cheap lock but an entire world of challenges has been opened up to me!

I love intellectual challenges and the thought of studying lock technical manuals and having to custom build tools combined with the patience and motor skills needed to attack more difficult locks is almost like anticipating a nice vacation I am so stoked that it will take years to become a practitioner who might be considered an "expert".

================================

Btw .... good to see another newbie here who is a 40 something

What is it about men and their toys? We will never "grow up" 100%!

================================

I think I ripped you a new one for talking about picking open your mailbox, over in the Picked Not Picked area.. I thought you were yet another 15 year old out to cause mischief and pick mailboxes and lockers.

Yeah, I remember that - and you were right. I shouldn't hadn't outta of done that. (and I haven't done it since)

But now that I've read this post, I can say welcome to the world of locksport and good work man.

Thank you sir! I, for whatever reason, am really drawn to this hobby and plan on applying my best efforts to gain proficiency and to share things I've learned with others.

you also get +5 for the hot pic of drew barrymore in stockings.

LOL!!! Are you Australian? Where else in the world would anyone call boxing-gloves "stockings"?

happy picking

You too!

[Trip Doctor]

Wow, I would have never guessed those were boxing gloves (although I see it now). I thought those were her knees. I'm guessing squelch thought the same.

[New-York-Locksmith]

Yeah I agree its a quite interesting description -

[Safety0ff]

So I began reading like crazy. And, unfortunately, watching YouTube videos

Seconded!
My first practice lock spits brass colored dust out of the place the shackle is inserted into due to ignorantly using the "youtube technique." I learned about the finesse of raking when I opened the lock upon insertion of the rake with light touch and tension.

Possible candidate for "A Beginner's Tour of LP101 TUTORIALS"? Well, in my opinion it is.

[FFVison]

Possible candidate for "A Beginner's Tour of LP101 TUTORIALS"? Well, in my opinion it is.

I would personally LOVE to see an LP101 Tutorials section. I still consider myself a newbie at lockpicking. In fact, I have been a bit busy with other stuff in my life right now and so I haven't been practicing picking much lately. But I would definitely like to see a tutorials section, as there are a lot of things that I have yet to learn. I realize that since picking is an ongoing process, I will always be learning, and to some degree, I will always be a newbie, but on a good day, I think I'm about on par with the average visitor of this site. Hardest lock I have picked is still my Master 532, though I have gotten pretty good at it. I still have a whole heap of locks that I have yet to pick.

Actually, before seeing this thread, I was hoping to see if I could find a good tutorial on raking. I learned to SPP pretty well, but my raking is somewhat less than impressive. I have seen some of these videos on youtube and they are little more than "I'm going to show you what I can do" type videos. I have learned a few things from youtube like putting a second tension wrench at the bottom of the keyway to prevent the other one from slipping, but these tips seem somewhat rare.

Ultimately though, it's hard to demonstrate exactly what to do without actually being there to demonstrate in person. It is very difficult to explain exactly what you are doing and exactly what it feels like. In the end, if you want to learn lockpicking, you are going to have to PRACTICE.

[Safety0ff]

"A Beginner's Tour of LP101 TUTORIALS"

I was referring to this thread. Which I originally found by perusing the links from the thread: NEW USERS PLEASE START HERE

[Beyond]

Whether slow or fast, the speed of the pick leaving the cylinder really doesn't matter. I mean, do pick guns or bump keys work on finesse and slow subtle movements? No. Yet they still continuously work, more so for the latter.

Raking is very rarely a matter of sticking the rake in the lock with no tension, applying slight tension and then ripping the rake out of the lock as fast as you can while applying a little bit of upwards force.

Very presumptuous, then again, you're watching YouTube for lock picking help.

That's not raking. You're comparing apples and oranges.

Also I'm not sure this is really a 101 tutorial.

When your rake has passed the last pin, repeat the same process in reverse

Really? Very slow?

The idea behind raking isn't it's speed but it's redundancy.

That said, you can approach it slowly and subtle yes, but that's not the correct way. The correct way is....well there is no correct way which is a big problem I have with this "tutorial", it projects to the reader that this is the correct and only way. More on this towards the end.

Drawing it back out should be done with the same care and with the same attention to pin feedback as the insertion of the rake.

Wrong.

You can rake at any speed and at any force. In fact many people, recommend that you vary the force of the pick when raking to allow the pins the chance to set.

In fact, to quote the Visual Guide to Lock Picking, the idea is to "emulate a hummingbird with a soft touch at a high speed."

And my main problem with this article is that it assumes that this method is correct for all locks. Different locks and pin set depths require different amounts of speed and/or force. Some locks can't even be picked with just raking. No mention of that here.

In sum, speed and force can be varied with successful results. Each lock and scenario requires different amounts of both. There isn't one "right" way to successfully rake locks, although if you apply the right tension and have a good understanding of what raking does you can increase your chances of it working. As with all topics in picking, you have to practice around and find out what works best for each situation. Practice pays and so does experience.

[LeeNo]

Raking is very rarely a matter of sticking the rake in the lock with no tension, applying slight tension and then ripping the rake out of the lock as fast as you can while applying a little bit of upwards force.

Very presumptuous, then again, you're watching YouTube for lock picking help.

LOL! I was suggesting YouTube vids aren't necessarily the best place to get your info. And you seem to agree. Yet YouTube vids DO show raking being done very fast and hard and crudelt. Ooooops! You have just created a paradox. In science, that usually means that the hypothesis was full of shit.

I said this worked well for the Masterlocks I've tried.

But thanks for allowing your wonderful personality to shine on this thread.

Turn out the lights pleas. kthnx.