New picker needs some advice

[shredder]

Hi, looking for a little help here. Im new to picking and have been lurking here for about a week or 2. My pic set that is being shipped is taking much longer than expected to get here so I am basically using a homemade tension wrench and short hook from a hacksaw blades in the meantime.

I started off by buying some cheap padlocks, and was pretty successful in picking them pretty easily. I figured I was ready to move up to something a little better made but not too tough (no security pins). So i bought a Master lock No1.

Now after the first 30 mins I was able to pick this twice and was feeling pretty good about it. Then this is where my problem starts.

The next day I tried to pick it and for the life of me could not get it open. I must have tried for about 45 mins. I grab the key to open it just to make sure nothing is wrong and sure enough the lock won't open with the key either. I ended up jiggling the key a bit and applying pressure in different directions with the key in the lock and finally it did open. After I did this the key worked fine again and opened easily like it did when I first bought it. Anyway this problem has happened again since and resolved the same way.

I tried picking it again and still couldn't open it. I got frustrated and ended up using to much pressure and broke the end of my pick off : /.

One thing i did notice different about this lock from the previous locks I had was the spring tension. The first few locks i picked had heavy spring tension and this master lock seems to have VERY little spring tension. In fact I have to raise the pins almost to the top of the keyway before i can feel any spring tension at all. This makes it much harder to feel what's going on and I think is causing me to over set one of the pins a lot. Also if I lift a pin all the way to the top with no tension on the lock at all and remove the pick the pin doesn't drop back down. It just sits there loose, and if I shake the lock gently it falls back down.

Is this lock damaged? Should I just move on to another lock? Learning to pick on a "maybe broken" lock i figure is probably not such a good idea.

Your advice is appreciated!

[barbarian]

Sounds like it's broken. Could have damaged some springs.

I would probably switch to a different lock. This might be a good one to take apart or make a cutaway.

[MacGnG1]

i would suggest that you get an easy lock like a kwikset deadbolt to start off with. take a rest and read up while you are waiting for your real picks.

[PickFree]

From your description of having to raise pins very high and the fact that the pin sort of sits there without any tension, it sounds like you've damaged a spring pretty badly. I'd suggest getting something else which you can repin, that way if anything goes wrong you can fix it. Also try and be a little me patient and not apply to much tension and pressure.

Have fun.

[l618]

Something's got damaged, that's for sure. You probably have read the MIT guide to picking, try re-reading chapter 7.2, Zen and the Art of Lock Picking :p. Low tension opens locks, high breaks them.

[shredder]

Hi thanks for everyone's response. Yes I know light tension is the way to go. I think it was more to do with being frustrated and tryingfor too long. I will look at it as a learning experience. I'd rather break my own pick then one from a set.

Mac, I'm from Canada and I don't think I have ever seen a kwikset lock sold up here, maybe they are only in USA? I thought the Master No1 would be good lock to move on to and i was able to pick it a few times before it was damaged.

I honestly didn't spend much time with this lock and am surprised if my practice picking damaged it. For the most part I was gentle up until the end.
Live and learn I guess!

[barbarian]

In Canada Weiser is very common. Same as Kwikset.

Both owned by Black and Decker.

[MacGnG1]

In Canada Weiser is very common. Same as Kwikset.

Both owned by Black and Decker.

yea even the off brand is made by kwikset, just doesnt say "kwikset" on the lock or key, but does on the packaging