Mountain Security Padlock

[PhR33k]

Hi guys, Im new to the whole lockpicking scene and I havent even picked my first lock yet. Well I dont have any equiptment as of now but I placed an order on that recommended $40 lock picking set you guys mentioned in another post last saturday and still waiting for it to come in.

Well what im working with now is an old diamond pick? idk if thats the correct term for it, it has a little mountain shape at the end of it. That, which i found, and a homemade tension wrench which is made out of some sheet metal.

Well I have some locks here but they are the masterlocks, brinks, cole, etc. Well So I went to WalMart to pick up a cheap padlock for me to practice on. It was 2 padlocks made by "Mountain Security" for like $7. That was the cheapest one they had/crappiest make. So I was wondering, is this "Mountain Security" lock a good beginners lock/does it have any security pins i need to worry about?

thanks =]

[freakparade3]

It's not a bad choice to start with. I usually recommend starting with a kwikset or mountain security deadbolt. Padlocks can be tricky at times. The plugs are pretty loose and it can make getting the right tension tough. As for security pins Idon't think you will have any of them in your padlock.

[FFVison]

I have a Mountain Security lock, but I found that it was actually fairly difficult for a newbie. I think this was more because it was somewhat difficult to feel the plug turn and so it was somewhat hard to feel the pins bind properly. I think that you might have a little difficulty with it. If you want a good lock to start with, I recommend this masterlock that is a laminated steel lock that has a sort of gray and black anti-corrosion finish. I like this lock. I think that it might be a bit too easy, but it gives a GREAT idea of how things work inside the lock. I think it basically is a Master No. 3 with an anti-corrosion finish. The other thing is that you may also have difficulty with some cheaper locks moreso than you probably should. Some locks are tough, not by design, but by the simple fact that they are just crappy, the parts fit together crappily, and they act all erratic and don't give you a good learning experience.

[xayandevorak]

Yes, those padlocks can be tricky, Most that i have came across, have a spring-loaded keyway. This makes getting the correct tension difficult. It's not anything like picking a regular lock, it takes a lot of tension to get past the spring, but a controlled tension to not make the pins bind so hard that they wont move.

[robert11]

It's not a bad choice to start with. I usually recommend starting with a kwikset or mountain security deadbolt. Padlocks can be tricky at times. The plugs are pretty loose and it can make getting the right tension tough. As for security pins Idon't think you will have any of them in your padlock.

true - its a good idea to start with these types of locks

[New-York-Locksmith]

using appropriate tension is always helpful in these types of locks

[bumber]

Also try to pick it counterclockwise, sometimes they are so hard to pick one way and then the other way is like 'WHY did I even buy this' easy.

And since the the keyway is kinda hard to turn you have to know when the pins are set so you can feel when to turn the wrench to open it...that might sound dumb but ive seen people sit with a padlock for 5 minutes trying to open it, and I would just tell 'hey just turn that thing already' and the lock would pop open.

When its time to open the lock it almost feels like your wrench has slipped in the keyway a little bit, and then you know its time.