Having ridiculously hard time with picking

[GolGotha]

Hi guys. Lockpicking has recently piqued my interest so I made a tension wrench and pick (paper clip). I was doing alright with them. I was using the MIT Guide to lead me along. I was picking 2 pins extremely easily, but as soon as I put the 3rd pin in, my trouble started. Since then, I've gotten my actual set and I can feel around much better, but still have the same problem. It seems that either my tension is all wrong, my wrench is taking up a bit too much space in the keyhole, or I'm doing something terrible wrong. The MIT Guide is great for setting up lockpicking, but it's hard to go off of when you don't have any first-hand advice like "ease up on the tension" or something. I'm sure there has been someone with trouble like this at some point in time, so do you have any suggestions?

[GolGotha]

Oh, I also forgot to mention, this is on a Kwikset 665 Series lock.

[GolGotha]

Well, nevermind. I figured out it was my tension that was the problem. It was far too high. Thanks for reading!

[ToolyMcgee]

Wow, that's a first. A new member answers his own post in less than an hour by talking to himself using forum space.

I like ya already.

-Mcgee

[raimundo]

Look for DB's stickie on the 7 habits. read it.

[GolGotha]

Wow, that's a first. A new member answers his own post in less than an hour by talking to himself using forum space.

I like ya already.

-Mcgee

Haha, I should've just been more patient. Sorry about that.

Look for DB's stickie on the 7 habits. read it.

I just read them, thanks. I do many of them, but obviously applying all 7 of them is what makes the difference between a decent lockpicker and a grand-master locksmith.

[LockDFTR]

Way to go on figuring out your problem!

What a welcome change of pace. It's nice to see a new picker work through a problem by themselves. And by you showing initiative to learn, people on this site will be a lot more willing to offer guidance and help in the future.

As opposed to the normal noob question:

"help with picking this lock. I've tried nothing, and I'm all out of ideas!
Please pick this lock for me."

Keep up the learning, and good luck!

[ToolyMcgee]

Haha, I should've just been more patient. Sorry about that.

No reason to be sorry. I wasn't being sarcastic.

[GolGotha]

Thanks for the kind words, guys. Earlier today, I found a rhythm and was able to open the lock with all 5 pins in under 30 seconds. However, I was trying some raking techniques (to no avail) after which I had a really hard time opening the locks. I know I damaged one spring so I took that pin out, but I have still been having trouble. I also modified my tension wrench by heating it up and twisting it 90 degrees so it was easier to use, but I think that changed my tension groove.

So really, what I'm getting to is could have I damaged my lock through the raking? Or could that small twist in the tension wrench throw me off so badly? I felt great earlier and was changing the pins to make sure I didn't know what was where, but definitely had some big trouble later in the day. Just looking for opinions and all are welcome. Thanks.

[ToolyMcgee]

Yes, and yes. Did you remove the whole pin stack and all of the malfunctioning spring? The change you made to your wrench might be forcing it to bind against the wall of the cylinder, the twist itself could be catching on an outside part of the lock, or you might simply not be used to the new feel of twisted wrench. Check them all out. Can you still feel pins binding and setting, or are they springy and easy to move. It could also be wear on the lock itself. Does the keyway look to be heavily worn?

[raimundo]

if your tools are a bit rough, and you use heavy tension, one of the problems can come from eroding a groove in the cylinder wall at the bottom of the keyway, and another can come from scarring the pins and the drill holes that they ride in. learn to sand your picks so there are no sharp edges to cut the brass and use them with light feel

[GolGotha]

Yes, and yes. Did you remove the whole pin stack and all of the malfunctioning spring? The change you made to your wrench might be forcing it to bind against the wall of the cylinder, the twist itself could be catching on an outside part of the lock, or you might simply not be used to the new feel of twisted wrench. Check them all out. Can you still feel pins binding and setting, or are they springy and easy to move. It could also be wear on the lock itself. Does the keyway look to be heavily worn?

Yes, I removed all the pins and the spring, so I have a 4-pin practice lock. I think it may just be I'm not used to to the newly modified wrench, but I'll try to rule out any other reasons. It feels like it has changed. The 3rd pin is extremely hard to move (with little or no tension), but I think that's because the wrench is somehow in the way. I have changed the pins around and it's still the 3rd pin that's troublesome. Yes, the keyway does look fairly worn.

if your tools are a bit rough, and you use heavy tension, one of the problems can come from eroding a groove in the cylinder wall at the bottom of the keyway, and another can come from scarring the pins and the drill holes that they ride in. learn to sand your picks so there are no sharp edges to cut the brass and use them with light feel

I have actually been using a legitimate set of tools that I ordered so they aren't rough at all. However, I do think that wear may have had a part in all this since I've pretty much been playing with it for about 4 days straight - while watching TV, while sitting outside, while eating, etc.

[ToolyMcgee]

Kwiksets usually don't bind wrenchs, at least never for me... yet. It could be a mixture of scarring the pins and holes like rainmundo has suggested. It could be that because your keyway is worn down the tip of your wrench is pinching it up again the side of the keyway. If you can pick it open then take it apart and inspect it. My very first practice lock I tensioned so hard for so many hours in a row that I actually grooved up the pins like serrations in some spots and widened the base of the keyway so much I had to use a larger wrench to work on it, so no worries if you busted it up. It's pretty normal. Especially considering the many days you have been working on it for hours at a time can put years of wear on a lock.