Newbies first miserable attempts

[raimundo]

This is a post ive made before many times,

go light on the tension and go light on the focus and frustration,

watch tv while simply holding the lock lightly and with light intermittent tension (drop the tension after working the pick through the lock pins 3 time and start over, starting over is an absolute necessity) you must not keep tension on tight and never drop it because you are only binding the pins and frustrating yourself,

now while watching the tv, hold the lock lightly, tension lightly and move the pick like your just testing where the pins are and how high they will move without forcing them, pretend that you are just exploring the lock and not trying to open it, do this with only half your mind on the thing, watch that program, just explore the lock, and especially this, do not think about what you are doing, preconcieved notions of what you expect will get in your way. just lift a pin and then visit the next one and if you have visited all of them 3 times drop your light tension and start to do it again. No expectations, no intellectualizing the problem, just explore lightly and see what that brings.
then let us know in this thread what you find out.

[raimundo]

Oh, yeah,
one more thing, pay close attention to the tensor, it should not become stuck in the keyway especially if it touches the cylinder wall at the bottom of the keyway, if your tensor does not fall out of the lock when the light tension is removed, its stuck and possibly causeing a pressure between the plug and the cylinder wall, this will frustrate the picking. and on most locks, you are tensioning in a clockwise direction.

tensors at the bottom of the keyway must always fall out when released, if they do not, its binding. eventually this will erode a groove in that cylinder wall, this is not helpful.
may commercial tensors are sheet metal cut on a slitter, this leaves a rough edge and sharp corners, find some wiper inserts or sweeper bristles to get tensor stock that is not going to cause you problems.

[wakeboard1290]

Raimundo gives excellent advice. Understanding how a long works in theory is only half the battle. Getting the feel for it is the real trick, and this can only be accomplished by practice. I used to sit watching TV with my college roommates, holding a padlock and fiddling with the pins and tension. Without even trying, the lock would pop open. Its a great way to get a feel for the lock/pins/feedback without getting stressed out...

One other thing I would like to point out: Locks are intricate puzzles of very small, very very light moving parts. Unless the pins are full of rust or gunk, it takes very light pressure to manipulate them. Keep this in mind while fiddling with your lock.

Good luck

Ben