Losing the feel of the pins

[runningonthemoon]

Before I begin I just wanna say thanks, the site has been pretty awesome with information and pretty much everything i needed to get up and running.
Im using a basic 5pin from a door knob, generic brand name
I just started with digital blue's guide for learning (taking apart the lock and leaving a pin in to practice), and I was comfortably picking with 2 pins inside, I could tell which one was binding, moved it up, felt the click when it hit the shear line, and the rest was easy.
(Thanks for that practice guide btw)

My problem is when I add a third pin. What I usually do is apply heavier tension at first and lift them individually to figure out which is binding before i ease up the tension and start trying.
Maybe the tip of the pick isn't where it should be when I lift, but for some reason as soon as that third pin comes in I cant feel the pin coming up to the shear line anymore. I'll lift slowly and wait for it but I cant feel anything.

Following some guides I go back to 2 pins, figuring I needed more practice and I just didn't know how it felt yet.
But with 2, I can feel the solid click and comfortably unlock it in seconds.
Go back to 3, and suddenly Im bringing the pin all the way up and cant feel a thing.

Any thoughts or ideas that could help me out with this?

Thanks

ps. please let me know if there's another thread on this, I searched first but didn't come up with anything

[deception]

Sounds like the binding order is changing due to the extra pin.

[GeneT]

Keep with it. You can do a couple of things:

Try picking front to back (repeatedly). If the first pin feels springy, move to the next. When you find the binding pin, push it up until you feel firm resistance (don't worry so much about a great 'click'.

Proceed through the rest of the pins the same way.

If the lock doesn't open after addressing each pin, go back and feel the key pins. It's likely that one or two are set, but one is feeling very bound, Lift that one, gently, decreasing tension if necessary.

Repeat as needed. If you've over-set a pin, probing it with the pick may cause it to drop - that's a good thing, simply continue picking.

Perservere with the 3-pin setup, you'll nail it. It may just be an exercise in patience...

GsT

[runningonthemoon]

I got the hang of it by just picking and learning to feel the click after, thanks gene. currently comfortably doing 4 pins
Tried 5 but lost the feel again so guess I'll take it slow, gotta start somewhere.
Probably just a practicing issue, thanks for the help

[calvinism]

Remember when picking pins in the back of the lock its posible that the pins before them are stoping your pick from pushing them far enough to shear. Like a shallow number 2 cut infront of a 5 cut. Somtimes it helps to change to a pick with a deep hook.