A slight rotation ... but nothing more!

[Nightshadow]

Hi!

Today I just got my first pickset and i went to a local store and baught a cheap and a more expensive lock ... they have five pins, but the expensive one also got some of these spezial shaped pins. Well, this evening was quite annoying, because i did not really succeed. Hope that i've not wasted so much money for nothing ... anyways. An hour ago i just got a little feeling and it seemed as if i managed to set some pins. I always get this really slight rotation, but after 2-3 pins there is no way to suceed any further. Do I have to do something different when some pins are already set? Like using more/less tension? I often don't actually know if i set the pins or if i just blocked them ...

And if someone from germany reads this: What are the best beginner locks to start out? I don't want to buy a 50€ training cylinder ...

Thanks!

[Exodus5000]

You're problem lies within those "Special" shaped pins you mentioned. Those are called security pins. When a security pin false sets, it causes the plug to turn a few degrees, just like you described. You need to look for the pin that when depressed makes the plug want to turn back into the locked position, and set that pin farther. Then continue picking if the plug doesn't open shortly thereafter.

[Quin]

Antyhing to do with security pins and you must use only the lightest of tensions and I do mean hardly touching the tension wrench.

Security pins are designed to set in the wrong place if the tension is too hard.

You need to work out which pins are the security pins. This is easy because, as you said, the lock turns very slightly when they "false set". Once you know which ones are the security pins you'll know which ones to pick with ultra light tension.

[Nightshadow]

, this is so hard ... i think i'll look for an even cheaper lock. Don't think i can do these already ... but thanks ...

[Eagerpicker]

Antyhing to do with security pins and you must use only the lightest of tensions and I do mean hardly touching the tension wrench.

I've actually had far mor success with a regular amount of tension. The trick is to imagine the picking hand as one end of a seesaw, and the tension wrench hand as the other. Let the security pin false set, allow the plug to rotate the few degrees that it will. Then put pressure on the security pin, making the plug -- and with it, the tension wrench -- turn back, creep back, ever so slowly. Maintain an even (or in fact slightly bigger) counterweight or counterbalance with your pick(ing hand). Then, as soon as the pin sets (breaks, rather), let the tension wrench hand "win": immediately increase the tension (slightly, of course) to keep the pin set at the shear line.

If you imagine the whole process as a miniature seesaw action, where the reciprocating motion takes place across fractions of millimeters, and the pin functions as a fulcrum -- you'll find that spool and mushroom pins pose no real problem. Note: I have no experience with serrated pins yet, so I cannot say if this method works there.

Good luck!

[zeke79]

Nightshadow, You should invest in a master no.3 padlock and a kwikset deadbolt for learning. The no.3 is one of the best practice locks out there as is the kwikset deadbolt. The kwikset has the option of easily removing pin stacks for starters. Keep after it, you WILL get better with practice.

[thertel]

Nighshadow, watch out for cheap locks. Many of them make up for poor tolerances by inserting spool pins in a majority of the stacks and even by adding serrated bottom pins. Keep it up, though, my first padlock was like that and it lead to being much more proficient at defeating security pins.

Thertel

[Nightshadow]

Hello guys!

Hell, i got a funny story to tell you. This morning i tried to pick my two locks and did not have success, so i decided to go to town and look for a cheap one ... i still have a little cold, so i could not hear quite well and i also felt a little sick ... well, i went into this store after getting out of my car and finally saw that it seemed to be for gardening equipment only ... i got like SOO angry and just went to find the exit ... and on my way i saw this little stand with a BIG key on it that sayd: "Key-Service"!
I felt so great and went to this older guy.
"Hi! I need a REALLY cheap lock!"
"Well, for a front-door, or a garden house?"
"No, for hmmm ... my room"
"Ok i got this standard ABUS for like 7€ and this no-name one for 5€"
"Well, do you also have one with only three pins or so?"
Then he was really looking at me in a strange way.
"Hummm ... no ... why?"
"Well, it's ok, guess i'll take the one for 5€"

Then he asked me these questions if i knew how to put it in and it seemed as if i turned out to be a real idiot ... well, ok, i finally got outa there with my lock and drove to my Hapkido lesson. And on the way i saw this yellow van, which had this commercial on it: "Opening- and Keyservice"!
That was what i'd call an omen ... can you say this in english? Anyways ... there were these signs everywhere:D

Well, whatever ... after hanging out with friends i finally came home and took the cylinder with me. I dicided to give it a try before going to bed and so i picked a little. I saw that it always rotated slightly and i again got like SOOO angry, because i thaught these would be security pins as well ... but ... all of a sudden there was no resistance anymore. Complete silcence for a few seconds ... my heartbeat only ... bom-bom --- bom-bom. I was paralized, could not believe what i saw there ... you know, i spent nearly 1,5 days in front of closed locks who did not even think about moving a tiny little bit over this slight rotation and BOOOOM! All of a sudden it was wide opened! It was so goddarn opened, that it almost seemed close to be closed again:D Well, i hope my screams of joy did not wake up the whole house.

Sorry for this long post, but this had to be sayd! Darn I'm so glad ... i really thaught that all this money was for nothing and that i was just too stupid ... but it worked ... i got it! It's such a great feeling ... better than sex ... well, not really*lol* good night ... it's about 1.10 in the morning here in germany.
Hope these locks won't haunt me again in my dreams ... last night it was such a horror. I dreamt that i picked a lock and did it, but the pins fell out, got bigger and bigger and fell onto my shocked body ... whoah ... thanks, so far

Edited by Chucklz for Language

[WhiteHat]

well done dude!

[CaptHook]

Congrats, feels good doesnt it.
Chuck

[Romstar]

That has to be one of the best posts I have ever seen about a first lock opening.

Keep it up, and soon you'll be opening a lot more.

Romstar

[Mad Mick]

Just keep off the 'shrooms, and the dreams will become less surreal.

Congrats on the successful pick.

That is the buzz that we all strive for with each new lock we are fortunate to encounter....like exploring a new woman. (or man for Reg, locksmistress & kabagirl.)

[Nightshadow]

lockpicking really got something spiritual*lol* whatever ... i now picked it for about 6 times, but i can't really tell what i did ... 'ill try to figure out what happens inside ...

[maldotcom2]

like exploring a new woman.

how do you mean? all i get is a dirty image

[Luke]

mmm Paris Hilton... or Jema Jameson... or Gauge