How long to learn?????

[yournightmare]

I know it's been asked before, but everybody's situation is different, so here's my story:

Ok, I bought a basic lockpick set about 10 days ago or so. It's got a tension wrench, rake, half-diamond, ball, and hook. http://southord.com/images/fullsize/PXS-05l.jpg

For at least an hour a day since I got the set, I'll sit there with a padlock and practice picking it while I'm watching TV or whatever. I have two different Master padlocks, one has a little protrusion in the keyhole that makes it a little more difficult to pick. Sometimes, I can pick them 5 times in a row, taking about 30 seconds or less each time. Then, sometimes I'll sit there for 20 minutes before I can pick it. I've tried a few other pin and tumbler around the house, like the deadbolt on the front door and a fireproof safe--I can't do either one of those.

When I'm picking, I can usually tell when I set the last pin. I'm sort of addicted to that feeling of setting the last pin and feeling the lock pop open like magic. It took me probably a week just to figure out how important the amount of pressure you put on the tension wrench is. The little book I got and the stuff I've read on the Web didn't really stress how absolutely important it is to get the proper tension. They all just kind of say "light pressure" or whatever and that's it.

But, I'm concerned with my inconsistency at picking locks. It seems like I should be better at it after 10 days, and it seems like if I can pick one pin and tumbler I should be able to pick them all.


NOW FOR MY QUESTIONS!!
So what should I do for practice, and how long does it take to get good at this thing? Also, my birthday is in a month and half, and I'm seriously considering asking my gf for a better set of picks--any suggestions?

Thanks.

[freakparade3]

It all depends on alot of different things. If you are frustrated just stop for awile, you will get nowhere like that. Practice everyday and do it while watching TV so you are not just focused on the lock. Also I recommend getting a deadbolt and practicing with that. It's easier to learn on them.

[JackNco]

10days isnt a long time and no once uve mastered simple locks they are not all the same.

after nearly 2 years picking locks I still get stumped.

Practice 3 hours a day for the next couple of months and see how u do. once u can pick all ur locks, then repin them.

Its not easy and theres where the fun comes from.

John

[yournightmare]

That's cool if it takes a really long time to learn. I play guitar so I'm used to trying to learn difficult things. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't a total idiot.

[FFVison]

Actually, I have 3 things to say really. The best way to get better is to just pick. I looked at that set you got and I would say that you got the major picks that you want to use anyway. Basically, you will see a lot of people using the snake rake to quickly open locks. I would focus more on using either the small half diamond or the short hook and find which of those 2 you prefer to use. The ball pick will probably be all but useless to you. They are commonly said to be good to use to pick wafer locks, but I haven't tried it. Some of the stuff I read says that they are all but worthless and the half diamond pick works better anyway.

Picking locks, like a lot of things is all about the feel. You can watch all the videos and read all the books, but if you don't practice, you won't be able to do anything.

Third thing is a note of caution. You said that you picked the locks all around your house. I'm sure if you read this forum for a reasonably lengthy period of time, you would know that you, as a rule of thumb, it's a bad idea to pick locks that you rely on. Today, I bought a Masterlock deadbolt. I didn't even know that they had deadbolts until today. The key looks ghetto as heck. If the numbers on the key tell the pin depths directly, they are 1, 4, 2, 1, and 1. Very shallow cuts. Anyway, as I was picking it, I turned the plug a full 180 and it got stuck. I thought I broke it, but it turns out that driver pins just popped through holes in the bottom of the plug, stopping it from turning further. I fixed this by using the handle of the tension wrench to push the driver pins flush with the shearline and it allowed the plug to turn further. Basically, you just don't want to try to pick a lock in use because if something breaks, you are screwed and have to hire a professional to come out and replace the lock.

So, I recommend that you buy practice locks. I would probably even recommend that you ask for, instead of a larger pick set, more practice locks, some vice grips for holding deadbolt locks or something along those lines. Incidentally, most of the time, I use my short hook pick and I have the SouthOrd 14 piece. I have been picking for probably about a year now, though I haven't done it much recently, but I am getting back into it. Keep practicing and you will get better. Oh, and BTW, if you ever get discouraged because you are having difficulty with a lock, just remember that I can guarantee that almost all of the people that come to this site have a pile of "not picked yet" and "picked on a fluke" locks. Have fun and welcome to the forum.

[yournightmare]

FFVison, thanks a lot for the reply. I think I'll take your advice and get my gf to buy me some practice locks instead of a pickset. I think I'm just going to order a couple of nice feeler/hook picks and tension wrenches instead of getting a whole set. I really really like the hook pick, it's by far my favorite. I really don't like using the rake, and I don't feel the pins as well when I use the half-diamond. The ball pick I just converted to another tension wrench.

I'm just absolutely addicted to this. I LOVE the feeling when you set the last pin and the lock turns. I don't know why, it just feels really cool.

[unlisted]

I'm just absolutely addicted to this. I LOVE the feeling when you set the last pin and the lock turns. I don't know why, it just feels really cool.

You got the "bug"

Use it only for good, young grasshopper.

[yournightmare]

I don't have an edit button for some reason. On my last post I meant to say I'm going to buy the feeler/hook picks and make the tension wrenches. I tried making a couple of picks out of a hacksaw blade but they sucked really bad.

[unlisted]

I don't have an edit button for some reason.

Only Mod/Admin have the "power" of the "edit" button. I think there is some sub forums where you can edit your own post, but not this one..

Heck, I can "edit" any post in here, but I am not supposed to.. so I will leave it as is.

Don't worry, I've made errors in my pre "powerful" days, just type another reply, as you have.

[headshot tM]

It takes a lot of practice to master 'every' lock. You may be able to pick some simple locks, but others require different techniques.

I suggest buying/downloading the movie "Lockpicking for the new Millennium" it is an excellent movie, and it's far easier to learn from this rather than a book.

Also you mentioned something about how you don't know how much pressure is 'light pressure' well:

Maximum Pressure = 1 oz

Light Pressure = .5 oz

Super Light Pressure = .25 oz

Too little Pressure = 0

- From Lockpicking for the new Millenium

[JackNco]

hmmmmm, im not sure u could really quantify something like tensioning a lock quite as simply as that.

A lot seems to be about personal technique nd don't forget about dealing with security pins and bouncing tension.

John

[digital_blue]

In anyone here actually able to gauge precisely .5 oz of pressure with their finger?

[JackNco]

you mean you cant?

[FFVison]

Another thing that I would recommend is this: not all locks, even if they are the same make and model, will be able to be picked the same. The whole method for picking locks is based on the premise that there are certain flaws in the manufacturing process of the lock. For example, a specific pin in one lock might be slightly less cylindrical than a corresponding pin in another lock with the same make and model. The pin could be slightly smaller or larger leading to the lock binding the pins in a different order or with different tension. And these are just what happens with the pins themselves. The holes in the plug also are subject to these variances as well. The pins also vary in length (big shock there ). So, one lock will have different length pins sometimes making it easier or tougher to pick (not to mention, it means that you need to use a different key). When there's a long pin, immediately followed by a short pin (from the opening of the keyway being pin 1 then the numbers increase as they go toward the back of the plug), it makes it harder to reach the short pin without over-lifting the longer pins with the shaft of the pick. Then there are special "security pins" which are an attempt to thwart picking attempts by causing the plug to "false set."

I do recommend watching as many videos as you can on the topic. I do like the Lockpicking for the New Millennium video, though I think that it's easily digestible and you can probably just benefit from renting or borrowing it. It does a good job of helping to build a visual picture of what's going on when you pick a lock, though it is more of a video to teach you basics and a few small tricks of the trade. It shows you how to do impressioning, for example. Other than that, this video is good for a few viewings, and teaches the basics. I do think that you should check it out.

[bumber]

In anyone here actually able to gauge precisely .5 oz of pressure with their finger?

After seeing this post I ran into my room and grabbed my digi-scale and my "normal" tension pressure is in those ranges so i dont think too many people are off by much...