First Pick A Success?

[Jeremiah767]

ha ha!, hello, my name is Jeremiah, and I am a noob, and today for the first time, using nothing but two paper clips(one shaped as a torque wrench and the other shaped as a pick) I picked my first lock. Huzzah!

[Jeremiah767]

hells yeah, I did it the second time in half the time, I must say I have a new found respect for all of you people who do this as a hobby, it is truly difficult work, my gratitude extends out to the good people who made this website, I don't care what anyone says, locking picking is great!

[Gadgetman728]

I was introduced to locks & locksmithing by way of, a rekeying kit, 1 tensioner and 1 HPC hook pick. This was in 1974... I was 14 yrs old, and my parents just bought an old fasoined hardware store. A salesman gave me a five minute tutorial with the pick in "Raking" a lock open and how to re-key Kwiksets for customers. I've taken one 4 hour class in Dallas for rekeying Kwicksets & Schlages.

We finally closed the hardware store and I found I like being self employed. I recently moved to a small town with NO locksmith, but there is a guy with a car opening gig. The drive to the nearby metro is too far for an ordinary job, So I'm taking the Foley-Belsaw course through the mail, hoping to start a small business out of my home.

I've been a member here for a few weeks and doing a lot of reading before posting. Thanks to the great forum here, I've created 2 snap guns 2 double tensioners and five picks, with different luck on different locks.

I'm really amazed at how easy and gratifying it is to make my own picks, and they work. I'm sad to say I have a ordinary Kwikset tylo that being very difficult indeed, although almost all my other locks have fallen prey to the new guy with a lock pick.
I hope to do a lot more reading here and might even post every now and then, have a great day all, Thanks for the great site - Gadget

[GPGT1]

I put the pick in and pulled it out and the lock worked, I wasn't even a locksmith at the time, just an alarm tech, the smith was trying to show off so I gave it a shot. you shoulda seen the look on his face after he couldn't open it in 5 minutes, priceless.

[raimundo]

Its like girls, it dosent work if you try too hard.

[T2k5]

I got my kit yesterday and it took me less than 10 seconds to open an Abus 55/45. The locks are pretty old so I think it's only because of that and bad craftsmanship. The lock opens if I SPP the bottom pin and lift the other pins with the pick's shaft at the same time. Same goes for another 55/45 lock, which has a different key.

They are so bad that I can actually "pick" them by lifting all the pins at the same time with the straight side of a pick-shaft, let them set / false set and then release the tension just a bit so the false ones drop into set position. Well at least I learned not to buy Abus locks in the future.

For now, I have also had success with a cheap Sang lock. I can rake/snake it easily, but have only succeeded to SPP it twice. Gotta keep trying and learning more.

[GJarrett]

Before trying to pick a lock I researched and did things like surf this site and then bought a basic pickset and started playing. But I did the recommended newbie breakin period step of removing pins and working up to five pins. [hey I just noticed using "breakin" is a sort of play on words LOL]

Once I got to five pins I was able to then take my front door lock and pick it in less than two minutes. I don't know if that's fast or not. I'm trying with other locks now in a vise and having variable results... I've picked a Reliant deadbolt ( I think that's a brand that Lowe's or Home Depot sells) and it's taking what feels like quite a long time, but I'd guess it at about 5~7 minutes.

I'm new and know it so I guess it's just a matter of practice, practice, practice. I haven't gotten around to other locks yet and want to get good learning how to "feel" the pins in the ones I have.

[jacknife]

bout 3 mins...then had a friend re pin it about a week ago and i jut got it open today

[Duo 9]

My first was a minute and a half. Wow, right? Unfortunately I suspect it was a horrible lock or something because there is no way it should have been that easy unless I was super lucky or something...

[Sleight of Hand]

My first was a strange happening, at the time I had my picks for a long time but gave up on them, so one day I decided to try this unattached door lock. I started picking it and got it unlocked in like 6 mins. I was very happy, it refueled my desire to pick.

[lbreevesii]

first lock I ever opened was on a lockbox that I used to keep a .38 in. I just did it for fun. Used a paper clip and hair pin. Took me about 5 seconds. Next one was the desk drawer right under it. took about 30 seconds.

[thewizardofal]

The first lock I pick was a lever lock on a file type box,then a warded lock. I's hooked by the end of the day I had picked every padlock,lockbox,doorset,and deadbolt,in and on my house every thing I could find. Now when I goto a house for real estate co's and Im the only one there if I dont have any calls waiting I pick all the door locks just for fun, rare it happens, I like to stay on my game.

[Adam6man]

I did my first one today took me like 2 min with a pen clip and my sisters bobby pin. Now I can do it in like 5sec I think it’s a really bad lock though all I have to is rake it a few times. It’s a Fortress 40mm, can’t wait to get a pick set and do some harder locks.

[Guthrie89]

my first lock took me about one hour... i did it at school during the italian literature lesson with home made picks.

[mattyboyskates]

The first time that lock poped open i felt so happy! lol