-Bottom Pins- catching

[xTakk]

Hey everyone, Im new to picking and have finally run into a recurring issue with the pins and need some coaching. First off, I bought the 1-5 pin lock training kit or whatever from southord, yanno the wooden pyramid thing with the five locks, anyways, from time to time the 'bottom pins' will stick at the shearline also, causing me to have to release tension and let them drop, and either repick or continue depending on how much bounce i guess i let into the plug and how many pins it dropped, but.. the real problem is, I dont know what exactly i need to do to remedy this, less tension or less height when i lift? Im using a std. tension and small hook pick (MPXS-14)

also i wanted to add, for anyone getting started, this kit is killer to learn on, I've had 3,4 and 5 in my pocket since i've gotten it, and really takes the pin removal work out of going back and forth between the locks, and, the option to jump between the locks so fast, helps work out the smaller kinks i've been having along the way

[raimundo]

the bottom pins are caught between the plug and the cylinder like something caught in a sissors. its called binding and only two at the most pins will do this at the same time, these are the pins that are taking the pressure for the rest of them. these are the pins to pick first.

your putting too much pressure on the plug, you are keeping pins up with too much tension, you should be trying to set the pins on the little step between the plug and the cylinder when the tensor disengages the pin collumn. work with some methods of light picking, some of these are rapid raking with whatever pick while applying intermittent variable light tension. Its been known to work on some locks. Why not try it for a change of pace.

[xTakk]

well, i know the top pins catch that scissor bit, the bottom pins were catching at the shearline when i lifted them also, wasnt sure if i was lifting too high or too much torque, i played with a rake pick for a few minutes though, and it kinda gave me a new feeling, even if now i think everyone should adopt the ' near none' standard for tension, but, all and alli think i just need more practice.. i eventually start jamming things around and lose all semblance of order as to what happened hah

[xTakk]

and i forgot, thanks for your suggestions

[bumber]

i eventually start jamming things around and lose all semblance of order as to what happened hah

Thats why people shouldn't pick locks in use...its way to easy to get crazy and break stuff.

[illusion]

Too much tension, and you're lifting the pin stack too quickly. You're lifting the bottom pin above the sheer line, and as the plug moves, it's getting trapped there. Lift the stack gently and feel for the movement the signals the top pin is set, then stop lifting. You'll feel the bottom pin drop down, and depending on whether it's a really long pin, you should be able to lift it and feel that it has become very easy to lift.

If you've found that you've trapped the top pin, then gently ease off pressure on the wrench **but not so much that both the top pins and bottom pins fall down** Gently feel the bottom pin slide away from the sheer line, and then reapply tension to lock the top pin in place. It sounds hard, and is n practice very hard. The benefit is that you don't have to reset all the pins when you start picking harder locks.

Give it a go - If you make/buy/plunder (joke lo) a cut-away you'll be able to see this happen and refine your sensory finesse.

[le.nutzman]

Too much tension, and you're lifting the pin stack too quickly. You're lifting the bottom pin above the sheer line, and as the plug moves, it's getting trapped there. Lift the stack gently and feel for the movement the signals the top pin is set, then stop lifting. You'll feel the bottom pin drop down, and depending on whether it's a really long pin, you should be able to lift it and feel that it has become very easy to lift.

If you've found that you've trapped the top pin, then gently ease off pressure on the wrench **but not so much that both the top pins and bottom pins fall down** Gently feel the bottom pin slide away from the sheer line, and then reapply tension to lock the top pin in place. It sounds hard, and is n practice very hard. The benefit is that you don't have to reset all the pins when you start picking harder locks.

Give it a go - If you make/buy/plunder (joke lo) a cut-away you'll be able to see this happen and refine your sensory finesse.

I'll agree to everything that's been said thus far, you're using entirely too much tension and overlifting. Something that I would further suggest on top of what's already been mentioned, instead of using that 1-5 pin training tower (I used to have one and found it to be completely unrealistic), go out and purchase a repinnable kwickset deadbolt, then using the deadbolt go through DB's first timer's guide on how to pick locks. I think using the suggestions that have been put before you in this forum and using a much more realistic lock, you will have an overall higher success rate.