Geting my desk open...

[Generally_Nice]

OK, I did a rather stupid thing and locked my passport, about 3 months supply of contact lenses and various other things that I will no doubt remember about as soon as I need them, into my desk draw and lost the key (it's here somewhere I'm sure of it...).

Anyway, long story short, how do I get the thing open again? I am ordering some picks since I want to take up locksport anyway but they're going to take many months to arrive so I need to know how to do it with some DIY items since my passport is pretty vital. Also, and this is the clincher, I've never picked a lock before, just been reading a few of the guides in anticipation of the arrival of my picks. It looks pretty standard as locks go, it's a cheap college issue desk so nothing special, I just need some help. Of course, I could brute force it or cut through the bottom of the draw but where is the fun in that? Plus my college has a terrible habit of room inspections when I've done something bad in my room, the last one was when I'd been practicing an unorthodox method of filing called 'floor filing' in a mad panic to find my house keys (you see why I need lockpicks??). Anyway, thank you all so much for your time and I look forward to talking to you all soon when my picks get here

[globallockytoo]

please try and read the forum rules prior to posting silly stuff like this. If you want it open, call a locksmith or get a key cut to code from a locksmith. The code usually appears on the keyhole.

[Generally_Nice]

How is it silly? It's a genuine question, if you can't help then just say...

[tjweaver84]

Well first in locksport we don't pick locks in use or locks we don't own/have explicit permission to pick. This lock sounds like it meets both the criteria of locks not to pick. If it is a college issue lock perhaps they have an extra key somewhere.

[Generally_Nice]

I'm allowed to pick it, I did ask when going to look for a spare key (they didn't have) and they recommended I cut the bottom out of the draw which is no fun... It's in the room I rent of the college so I don't think it would be an issue anyway. This is defiantly going to be one where I need to get some proper kit isn't it?

And sorry for my above post to globallockytoo, it was rude and I apologize, long day and all.

[globallockytoo]

I'm allowed to pick it, I did ask when going to look for a spare key (they didn't have) and they recommended I cut the bottom out of the draw which is no fun... It's in the room I rent of the college so I don't think it would be an issue anyway. This is defiantly going to be one where I need to get some proper kit isn't it?

And sorry for my above post to globallockytoo, it was rude and I apologize, long day and all.

no offense taken. I suggest you visit your local locksmith and get a key made to the code printed on the front. This will be your cheapest option.

[globallockytoo]

better yet, almost all colleges have their own locksmith department. Usually the institutional locksmiths are there to do this stuff, often for free.

Why dont you contact the facilities management department?

[Generally_Nice]

I just took a look and there is no code, in fact it looks like the cylinder has been changed since it's a different color to the other parts. Do you have any other suggestions?

[Generally_Nice]

Ah, just saw the post. I have tried so I guess I could squeeze them to it again. Oh well, thanks again.

[tjweaver84]

Yeah you aren't going to get much advice on this as they don't want instructions for opening a desk to show up on search engines and it is a lock in use. I will say this though, most desk locks at least in the US are simple wafer locks and not hard to pick. As the room is rented from the college and it is the colleges desk I would keep on them to fix it for you. You never know if they are going to come after you for potentially damaging the lock or cutting the bottom out of the drawer. They may open the drawer or charge you a few dollars for a lost key fee.

[Generally_Nice]

That's OK, I understand and respect that, I was just guessing that it was probably similar to any other lock anyhow and there is no harm in trying. And yes, it looks like a standard wafer one to me, I'll see what the forums say about them. The guy actually said I was welcome to try and pick it if I could since they don't have any spare keys these days and getting a locksmith is expensive so having someone around for such eventualities was good to know, the joys of living in an Asian country huh?!

Still, looking forward to my picks arriving, I was hoping that my first try could be something useful, can't have everything

[tjweaver84]

Yes wafer locks are similar to pin tumbler locks. Some are hard to open some aren't. They pick the same way apply tension lift wafers to shear. Was it the building manager you talked to or just the front desk minion? They tend to have differing viewpoints as the manager is overall in charge and is the one who is going to decide whether or not to press charges if it ever got to that point. Imagine you sitting there picking the lock and they come to do one of those inspections you talked about but the guy you talked to isn't there but the guy in charge is. It wouldn't look good. I would talk to the guy in charge of the building before trying it yourself. It's already monday morning there so I would talk to him today if possible

[Generally_Nice]

I'll take a look, thanks for that. It doesn't look too hard, the key is (or was) pretty tiny so it can't have many pins.

And yes, good point, it was his deputy so I'd better clear it up with the big man. The head of security is also interested as well, apparently he's got up far to often at 3AM to let students back inside... I smell something good here... but yes, thanks for your advice, you seem like you've had a similar experience

[Squelchtone]

I'll take a look, thanks for that. It doesn't look too hard, the key is (or was) pretty tiny so it can't have many pins.

And yes, good point, it was his deputy so I'd better clear it up with the big man. The head of security is also interested as well, apparently he's got up far to often at 3AM to let students back inside... I smell something good here... but yes, thanks for your advice, you seem like you've had a similar experience

forget the pick set. get a set of jiggler keys for wafer locks. Or borrow someone else's desk key and jiggle it in your desk while raking the key in and out and also trying to turn it at the same time.

Also, just to reiterate what others have said, you said you need help with YOUR desk, and as you already gathered from other replies, it is not really your desk. Just because it is in the room you were assigned to stay in, and given a key to, doesn't mean it is yours to mess with, pick, take apart, reverse engineer, break, etc. We tell other university students this exact same stuff all the time, same goes for people who rent a house or apartment, just because you were given keys to the locks, doesn't mean the land lord also gave you an implied OK to be picking them or taking them apart for fun or during an emergency.

I hope you can appreciate where we are coming from and how we interpret every day situations when it comes to locks and keys and the meaning of "my door, my desk, my padlock, etc"

Best of luck,
Squelchtone

[tjweaver84]

Not so much experience in that but when I worked in the barracks in the navy the temporary people working the front counter would let all sorts of stuff fly that they shouldn't have. Then when the officer in charge came in and found out we would all get yelled at. It's a matter of the guys in charge get held accountable for things the subordinates let go but not much happens to the subordinates. The picking locks you own or have permission to pick means asking the person who you ultimately have to answer to if the lock is picked. If you rent you ask the landlord. At a college ask the people in charge of buildings. If they are just going to have the lock drilled or trashed in some other way they may tell you to give it a shot. But if they have a regular locksmith who opens them without destroying the lock in the process they may have you hold off.