Tool Issues

[Master Gokuâ„¢]

I have a Majestic 8 pc. pick set with a few homebrew torque wrenches and 2 picks I made from an old pair of tweezers. My problem is I have only been able to use my snake rake and diamond tip picks with any success. Currently I am practicing on a circular Master Lock No 40 with varied success. I have opened it maybe 8-10 times today, but I have been trying for like 7 hours.

Am I not using my other tools correctly, or is it just that the locks I have tried are easiest to pick with those tools? I can get past most deadbolts on doors really easily, but padlocks seem to pose a bigger challenge to me.

Any advice?

[calvinism]

That lock has security pins. That mite be putting you off when using a shallower pick. Dont frustrate urself with security pins in the begging. Try more simple locks with all your picks untill you are cumfortable.

[MrMandelbrot]

I'd suggest following Digital Blue's method (found in the Pick Foo forum) which is to buy a simple deadbolt lock, remove all the pins but one and work your way up. As a beginner myself, I'm easily lost in a new lock. The best way to overcome it is to work your way up from 1 pin.
Best of luck.

[amlwchlocksmiths]

padlocks are easy,i find.

you need to push the the arm towards the lock and hold while you pick.to take some tension away.from the where your picking.and you may find you need a little more tension than you need on door locks.
after you hand raked a few times try picking the pins one at the time with the hook pick.when picking one at the a time,if the pin as no movement it is proberly picked,you will have to find out witch one/ones.that are not picked.
you will feel them move push up and ease of the tension a little to let it up.

i hope this helps