newbie need help on picking

[Ethan500]

Hi All,

I just started praticing on picking locks. I've got two 5pins pratice locks, one with the standard pins and one with spool pins. I find that when picking indiviual pins, some pins might be harder to pick. (in other words, the 3rd pin is harder to set even though it has pass the sheer line.)

I am having trouble with setting the 3rd and 5th pins. Is this due to lack of experience and pratice or is there some techniques which I am missing.

Thanks for all the help.

Ethan

[logosys]

Hi All,

I just started praticing on picking locks. I've got two 5pins pratice locks, one with the standard pins and one with spool pins. I find that when picking indiviual pins, some pins might be harder to pick. (in other words, the 3rd pin is harder to set even though it has pass the sheer line.)

I am having trouble with setting the 3rd and 5th pins. Is this due to lack of experience and pratice or is there some techniques which I am missing.

Thanks for all the help.

Ethan

It's probably the hardest thing about lockpicking - you have to do it A LOT. If at first you don't succeed, grab a coke and try again.

Try easing up on your tension wrench, you might be applying to much pressure. Many times I have to remind myself that it takes a gentle touch not a heavy hand.

Hope this helps.

[funboy79015]

I suggest reading the MIT guide and the wealth of information about spool pins that has already been posted.

That should help you out.

[KamilM]

Practice, practice and one more time practice ==> it's work

[Ice]

Are they security pins by any chance... do they push the plug back? Sometimes it might help to "vibrate" the tension wrench when the pin crosses the shear line. Goodluck with it...

[Ethan500]

Thanks for all your advice. I have encounter another problem. Its a BKS lock, some of the lower pins are so short that the pick has no sufficient space to push the pin up so that the upper pin can past through the shear line. What is the best way to overcome this other than using rakes?

Thanks again.
Ethan500

[Guitar_J]

I don't understand what you mean... maybe i'm dumb...

you're having problems getting the pin up high enough to set? what is causing the problem? other long pins in the way?

[Ethan500]

Guitar_J,

Problem occurs on the 5th pin, the lower pin is much shorter compare to the other 4 lower pins. Thus, there is a greater distance between for the upper pin to travel in order to cross the shear line. However, with the different picks I tried (half diamond and hooks) there is not enough space in the keyway (in terms of height) for the hook to pivot or push the lower pin high enough so that the upper pin can clear the shear line.

I hope this helps.

Ethan 500

[skold]

hmm get lots more locks
keep trying though the smaller the bottom pins are the harder it gets, have you got a hook, smething like petersons gem is quite good but them high setting pins are annoying

[Ethan500]

Skold,


I did tried with the small hook, but the hook part is not long enough, with the big hook its too big to fit in the key way. I think BKS is a European lock. Guess I have to wait for my european lock pick set.

Another question, do you think the SO slim picks works better or if HPC has any pick sets for the slim type?

Thanks
Ethan500

[toomush2drink]

Sometimes you have to manipulate the hook pick thorugh the wards to the back of the lock for the 5th pin. I have to do this on a yale i practice on as its got a short 5th pin too, i deliberately pinned it this way to spice things up

[jason]

HPC make the 2000 series, stainless steel set. I wouldn't recommend them until you get used to picking as I find that I get a lot of feedback from them.

I have a "deep" hook made by Majestic which cost about £1.75 (excl VAT) it might be worth trying that. US lockpick sets seem to work OK for me on UK locks - just keep on practicing.

[benzy2]

Make your own. Follow the video by pyro and make a hook that is inbetween the one that is too big and the one that is too small. You can make a few variations that differ in size. If you do them right you should be able to get the right hook that opens the lock. If all else fails make your own tool.

[clayton1123]

I think your problem is the your turning the wrench toooooo hard and the pins are stuck so your pick can't push it up. Try a little lighter tension when you get too these last two.