First time picker. Paperclip. Filing Cabinet. 10 seconds.

[immax01]

Hey guys, I recently decided to pick up lock picking. I always thought it would be a cool thing to know how to do but until yesterday, i never inserted anything but a key into a lock. So for the past few days i have been watching videos and browsing LockPicking101. finally yesterday, after much research, i made a tension wrench and a pick out of paperclips. I dont want to invest in a real pick set just yet. Although i know paperclips arent ideal.

Anyway, i took my tension wrench and my pick, which i just bent the tip of the paperclip into about a 45 degree angle (small hook), i went to a small filing cabinet with a lock i have in my house, and i proceeded with inserting the wrench, then basically scraping the pins with the "pick" and to my amazement, 10 seconds in, the lock opens.

Is this lock Way too easy too pick? am i lucky? Am i a good beginner? Is it normal for a first timer to pick a cabinet lock in a few seconds? Oh, i then picked it about 5 more times, the longest taking about 2 mins.

Anyway guys i appreciate your suggestions!
Thanks.

[Safety0ff]

Locks on filing cabinets (especially wafer locks) are usually very easy to open (unless it's a quality lock of course.) In my opinion most of the locks that can be opened without having to feel out the pins (for ssp) fall into a category of locks that you don't really learn picking from. Personally the first lock that I learned to refine my technique was a defiant deadbolt. It's still an easy lock but requires a bit more awareness of individual pins.

This story reminds me of me, but moreso that my dad resorted to destructive entry on a filing cabinet lock to which we had lost the key and got locked (by me shhh! I was much younger then.) He spent atleast an hour hammering a screwdriver into the lock. A few years later I learned picking and tell him, "You know you could have opened that in a few seconds with paperclips right?"

[immax01]

Update: I have moved on to bigger and better locks. I have found a padlock in my house which i managed to pick a few times with paper clips, im still practicing with paper clips because i am waiting for a few picks to come in from Southord.com. I bought a small hook, a half diamond, a few more which i cant remember right now and tension wrench. I am now realizing that my original post about the cabinet lock was indeed a joke. that lock is a disgrace to locks. Can anyone tell me anything about this lock other than its 40mm hardened steel from Taiwan:wink: Is it a good beginner lock to practice on? I managed to pick it a few times, it takes me between a minute and 15 minutes to open it with paperclips.. ugh its really killing me to do this without real picks. cant wait till they come in!:
Thanks!


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[Safety0ff]

Reminds me of the one in this thread: http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=30684
Once you get your tools you'll be able to get much more feed back from the pick & wrench.

[linty]

filing cabinet locks are strictly ornamental, but it's a good way to get into a fun hobby.