first time- cannot pick for my life

[thehype]

Hi, i just got my pick set and tried it on a lock I bought last week. It's my first time although i've read tons of tutorials, I cannot open this lock. For some reason, i apply slight pressure and can set the first 3 pins, and can set the last pin with increased torque. But as soon as I set that last pin, the first pin pops up again and won't set again. Likewise, with slight torque I can set the last 3 pins, and with an increased torque as soon as I set the first pin, the last pin pops up and is un-pinable. Help! Sorry if my descriptions are confusing

If anybody has a good how-to website that I might have missed, please inform me

[thehype]

wow, i just opened it after 30 minutes of raking blindly. But I really would rather learn the technique of it using a hook

[cool-arrow]

Lock picking is a skill that takes time to develop. I would recommend getting a lock that you can take apart and remove pins. Remove all of the pins and start with just 1 pin stack in the lock. Pick it about 15 times then move the pin stack into a different chamber. Once you feel comfortable picking the lock with 1 pin in all of the different chambers, add another pin stack to the lock. Eventually you will be picking a lock that is completely pinned. This is the best progressive way to learn because it is a confidence builder and it will eliminate early frustrations.

[raimundo]

new picks have sharp edges, and the pickshafts are rough if you drag it on your thumbnail, get some sanding paper or a sanding dremel and try to take the sharp square edges off the pickshaft and pick tip. I mean the edges where the flat metal is cut through for the pick shape. If you can get these rounded and the shafts smoothed, you will not get picks stuck easily, and you will not have so much fine brass powder on your pick as you use it. You will also not damage the locks as much, locks are usually made of brass, steel cuts brass if it has sharp edges, if the edges are round and smooth, it wont do this as much and that will allow you to feel the lock, not the imperfections of the pick. Consider this and 'advanced' tip.

[thehype]

thanks. so can you explain why a set pin pops back out when I'm setting another pin? I read that all you do is try to set each pin, increase torque, set any pins left over, increase torque, and set the remaining pins?

[bumber]

wow, i just opened it after 30 minutes of raking blindly. But I really would rather learn the technique of it using a hook

I know it was said that this damages the lock a bit, also if anything it doesn't help you learn anything, if anything makes you worse. I dont know why pressing harder would make pins drop, you should almost be able to open it without changing the pressure alot if any.

[delocking]

It was only when I worked my way through the "Beginner's Lockpicking Exercise - by digital_blue" that I managed to pick my first lock. Although we use phrases like "light tension" you will only really discover what it is when you have broken your first few locks.

Also as already mentioned, sanding and polishing your picks will greatly improve the feedback and general feel of the picks.

Many of us have found that it can take days or weeks to break our first lock, but once the first one falls the others will follow. Don't let it beat you and when you have times when the lock is winning, have a rest an go back to it relaxed.