There are guides on what to buy, on how to pick, how to re-pin, assemble and disassemble locks, but usually separate. Thus I wanted to create a guide that will help the very beginners with their start.
NOTE:This guide applies to european cylinders, but can basically apply to most locks out there.
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So, you think about trying lockpicking, right? The first thing to do is to check your local laws and to be sure that possesion of lockpicks in your area is not prohibited. BE SURE to do this, you don't want to cause yourself troubles just because you wanted to start a new hobby.
Don't jump into it. Don't buy the first pickset and don't start right away with some half-info you glimpsed somewhere.
Take your time to carefully read these forums as well as tutorials on lock-picking. The more the better. One of the first ones you should check is the LSI guide to lockpicking, which is very user-friendly, simple and full of pictures. The next, more comprehensive one should be MIT guide. The MIT guide contains pretty much all the information you need to pick almost all non-security pin tumblers. For even more information on this subject, check The notes on picking pin-tumbler locks.
I know it is hard only to read about what you now really want to try yourself, but believe me, if this discourages you, lockpicking may be not for you. After reading all of this, I developed more of the will to try lockpicking, and still do it regularily. I believe the majority of lockpickers can tell you the same. So my advice is - read and understand the content of the wonderful guides I provided links to, and then decide what to do next.
So you have now read the MIT and LSI guide and you're still hot to continue? If so, you will need some picks, obviously.
Many people start with so called "cheap" alternatives like hairpins. Do NOT do that. It can eventually be very very hard for you to pick even the simplest locks this way and introduce the feeling that lockpicking is totally hard. It is NOT, when you have the right tools.
Get yourself a quality pickset. When you discover the basic mechanics of picking with these, then you can move on on homebrew picks and stuff. But not before that.
Now the thing is, where to buy and what to buy.
I'm gonna tell you what I did. I was not so sure about what picks are used often and what picks are practically useless.
While it is true that almost all pickers use only a few picks while there are hundreds of them in their possession, every single lockpicker has his own techniques. Someone likes single pin-picking, someone likes raking, for someone the half diamond pick handles better than hooks or balls, etc etc. For this reason, I bought myself a pickset that contained almost all picks I could ever need. The basic 9-piece sets usually contain the few most-used picks and are pretty price-friendly, that's true. But I must say that I am totally satisfied with THIS pickset. Buying from the sponsor of this site (www.lockpickshop.com), you get a 10% discount when typing LP101 into the coupon box. SouthOrd picks are well-made while pretty cheap. I would suggest getting an Euro- pickset, because the picks are thinner. Unless you press them really hard (which is wrong to do), they will last as long as the thicker ones, which you may be unable to push into the narrow keyholes of some locks.
I have bought the 22-piece C2010, because:
- the picks have the quality reinforced handles
- there are almost all possible picks you will need - from double balls to snakes and rakes, which are usually not included in the 9-piece or so sets, so it will last you longer (you can try the ball picks, raking, etc.)
- there are 7 tension wrenches, which is IMHO quite important. You will find that you will more often need a specific tension wrench rather that specific pick.
- for its contents, this set is not very expensive even when I will give up lockpicking someday
Some people may disagree with me, but this is what I've bought and I'm satisfied - thus I totally recommend it.
Okay, you have the pickset in your hand. Now you need a lock to practice on!
NOTE: DO NOT PICK ANY LOCKS IN USE!
Get yourself a practice locks that you will use only for picking. People who pick locks in use can and do damage the locks and have troubles with them. Seriously, this is the No.1 rule of every lockpicker. DO NOT pick locks in use.
I recommend that you take some basic 5-pin cylinder lock. The cheapest you can find. These usually have wider keyholes and no security pins and thus are quite easy to pick.
So now you have the picks, the lock and you have read the tutorials. Now you just need to practice. I suggest you look at THIS. That is the digital_blue's guide and it WILL help you on your way. You will learn to recognize the pin states and in no time, you will be able to pick the simple 5-pin tumblers.
I also suggest you learn how to assemble and disassemble the lock you want to pick. Seeing what's inside grants you a HUGE advantage when picking, so you know what's happening there. As for the euro cylinders, there are plenty of tutorials out there. The general info they contain can apply to most european cylinder locks. One that is particullary appliable to most locks is HERE. Disassembly and assembly skills will help you on your way to successfully picking and you will quickly realize that you usually dismantle the lock first, before trying to pick it, just to know what's inside (cursed curiosity
)After you can clearly tell which pins are in which state and pick these simple 5-pin tumblers, you can move on to locks with narrower keyways and security pins. But in this state, you will probably know what to do next
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I guess that's all I can tell you from my own experience. Feel free to ask questions if something is unclear. Remember, don't rush in it. Information first, only then come actions.
I hope this guide will help someone on their way to the delighted feeling of the turning plug after the last pin of the first picked lock set
