YES!!!! I DID IT!!!!!!! MY FIRST LOCK PICKED!!!!

[E1001]

I remember the first lock I picked, it was a super low quality warded lock, and I did it with a mangled paper clip when I was like 12. Then when I got serious about it and bought the basic southord set later on, I went down to my university's bookstore and bought a $5 padlock and sat around for a few minutes messing with one of the rakes and it popped open! It's pretty exciting. But there's a lot of truth to saying that you shouldn't pick a lock in use, because it really can damage it. I can't seem to open that padlock I bought for my first time practicing, I think I must have ruined it with my noob like picking style.

[Black Zero]

Yea my first lock was one of the cabinet locks when my parents locked one of toys in there when I was like 10. I just put a paper clip in there and wiggled it around and it worked. Most amazing feeling ever.

[Artkrp]

congrats!!!!

[larrymz3]

Good job!

[wolfie]

don't give up, keep picking it till ya can pick it blindfolded with yer toes =D

[djslacker]

OK, it's not my first lock picked, but I finally picked my first Best SFIC lock. It took 2 weeks of on and off with this particular lock. I still have a Best SFIC padlock that is still stumping me. I'm actually holding the core in my other hand with the tension wrench holding the core picked so that I can reinsert it back into the lock.

[cocel]

My first lock was BASTA bicycle lock. i picked it with paperclips and tension wrench. now i can open that lock in 2 seconds, just put the snake pick inside, and it's open : D

[Donald the Lesser]

my first lock was a master no 1, and was about 3 hours ago. I used a basic Southord set. This is so cool, I can get it once in about 20 minutes of trying with the hook.

Such a great feeling.

[ady1989]

Congrats! I remember when my first lock turned open - I sat there for a second thinking "what the heck? did I just pick it??". I was outside in the snow sitting on a chair by my back door with a large coat on haha. The best tip I can offer is work on the tension - it's ALL in the tension. Try picking with super light tension, JUST enough to bind the pins. That should speed things up quickly .

[m4m750]

The feeling of picking my first simple padlock was that I didn't believe I've picked it. I thought I forgot to close the lock before I started to pick it.

Then the real rush of euphoria came when I picked my first lock with security pin.

The choice of tension wrench is important too. Some give better feed back than others depending on the lock.

[Legacy712]

Congratulations!

As mentioned by some others, the force applied to the tension wrench is very important. Also some tension wrenches are flexible and springy (usually with a twist), while others are rigid. Try it with both, and see which you prefer. You may find you like to switch between the two, depending on the lock.

If you find you are bending your picks, you are probably using too much tension on the wrench.

[Clead]

My first one several months ago was a Master #1 padlock. I used a rounded hook I dremelled out of an SKS stripper clip, and a filed down 2mm allen key as a torque wrench. "Oh what a feeling!" I've done it many times since, but I'm still just fumbling around in there.

[dieatomkinder]

Well I got on here about 3 days ago and I did bunch of reading. Today my pick station came in and my 14 piece Southord kit. Over the last few days I bought a few locks from the PX area. Since I read about the light pressure etc, and having to back off to loosen up the cylinder and what not when doing some locks mu current running total is...

cutaway 5 pin - a couple of minutes
practice 3 pin - 2 or 3 minutes
Practice 5 pin - 4 minutes maybe

got back to my hooch and started tinkering with my padlocks
Master 993DPF contractor grade lock - not even 10 minutes
Master 575 - 15 minutes or so

I am about to try my Master 140.

I am spp picking as well, I just have been trying to do like in the newbie guide posting, and finding the pins, feeling for the binding pin and going for it. addicting hobbies.

[dieatomkinder]

I can now add my Master lock 140 to the completed list. I would by no means add it to the confidence booster pile though.

[lockeymoto]

I have done those sentry fire safes with a pair of scissors, they are not supposed to be secure, but fire resistant.