Pins won't set.

[GoldenLocks]

So I'm new to lockpicking and therefore don't have a lockpick set yet. For now I am getting along with crafted paper-clips which work quite well, despite what you may think.

I only have one padlock which, from what I can tell, must be a 5-pin wafer lock. It's an oldish thing I use for the back door, but it opens very smooth with the key in it.

I've been trying to pick it and it's very easy too expect for one problem. The pins won't set. I keep trying to get the closest one to set because I can see whether it does or not, but it won't. I think the problem is tension.

If it helps.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/29/dscf0114e.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/706/dscf0100d.jpg/

What kind of tension should I be using for this?/What should I be doing?

[MacGyver101]

I only have one padlock which, from what I can tell, must be a 5-pin wafer lock.

I can't say for sure how many pins it has from the photo, but I'm fairly certain that's a pin-tumbler lock, not a wafer lock.

I've been trying to pick it and it's very easy too expect for one problem. The pins won't set. I keep trying to get the closest one to set because I can see whether it does or not, but it won't. I think the problem is tension.

Just to check: what are you looking for, to tell you whether the pin's set or not? (I may just be misunderstanding what you're asking... but normally you can't tell if a pin is set or not by looking at it?) Have you opened other locks with those picks yet?

[MrScruff]

There's one thing you said that I have to comment on.

I keep trying to get the closest one to set because I can see whether it does or not, but it won't. I think the problem is tension.

You don't really get to pick the order pins set in. It's possible (and likely) that another pin further back in the lock is binding instead. You may have to set a few more pins before the first one will set.

[GoldenLocks]

I can't say for sure how many pins it has from the photo, but I'm fairly certain that's a pin-tumbler lock, not a wafer lock.

I feel stupid, I just realised this a few minutes ago.

Just to check: what are you looking for, to tell you whether the pin's set or not? (I may just be misunderstanding what you're asking... but normally you can't tell if a pin is set or not by looking at it?) Have you opened other locks with those picks yet?

I need to tell whether the pins are setting. I'm not hearing any clicks on any indication of anything setting.

You don't really get to pick the order pins set in. It's possible (and likely) that another pin further back in the lock is binding instead. You may have to set a few more pins before the first one will set.

Nothing seems to be setting though. This is the problem.

[deception]

What kind of feedback are you getting from the lock?

[GoldenLocks]

Does the cylinder have to turn at all when you put in the tension wrench?

[MrScruff]

Does the cylinder have to turn at all when you put in the tension wrench?

It might turn a little bit, I have a Master 530 that does this, but I don't think it's necessary.

Just remember that less tension is better. Somewhere in the range of a butterfly sitting on your hand to "did I even have my finger on the tool?". (That's my experience anyway, I don't know how the fancier locks work yet and this may not apply to them.)

[Andrew21]

Nothing seems to be setting though. This is the problem.

1-if the pins are too hard to move, or don't move at all, use less tension, at beginning, the most common error is use too much strength on tension wrench...
2-if the pick go down, but don't stay in a position, use more strenght on tension!

anyway i have one suggestion, change the pick, the tension wrench with paper clips is good, i use them often...
But the picks are horrible... if you don't want to buy picks, use an hairgrip for pick:
http://www.joygregory.co.uk/images/beauty_hairgrip.jpg
open at 90°
on the long piece (not the zig-zag one) remove the ball of plastic, then create an hook that's good for that keyway..

i started at the same way like you, but the pick with paper-clip was very bad... the hairgrip instead was very good for beginning!
a photo:
http://i54.tinypic.com/2j4cbp5.jpg
(i losed two of them, so now i put the hairs with chinese picks, to know where they are)
good luck with your lock

[GoldenLocks]

Does it work if I apply the same amount of tension as I do with the key?

Also my tension wrench broke.

[MrScruff]

Does it work if I apply the same amount of tension as I do with the key?

No, here's why. As I understand it anyway.

When you insert a key you are actually setting all the pin stacks to the correct height and the key keeps them there for you. You can freely rotate the cylinder because all the driver pins are correctly positioned above the shear line and all the key pins are correctly positioned below it; you require almost no force when turning a key because everything turns freely. When you pick a lock however, there's no key to keep the pins pushed into the right position, they fall if you let them go because there's nothing holding them up, so you have to "cheat" a little. That "cheat" is taking advantage of microscopic flaws in the pins and their chambers.

You apply a slight rotational force to the lock and determine which pin stack is binding at the shear line, then push the driver pin up past the shear line and let that slight rotational force turn the cylinder an almost microscopic amount so the driver pin doesn't have room to fall back down, it ends up resting on the edge of its chamber. Then your slight rotational force is enough to make another stack bind and you repeat the process, letting the cylinder turn just a little further each time.

What's important to remember is that these effects are happening on a very small scale and you need to scale your force accordingly. Like I said earlier, the amount of tension should be in the range of a butterfly sitting on your hand to "did I even have my finger on the tool?".

[EmCee]

...and if your tension wrench broke then, assuming the wrench wasn't faulty to begin with, it's a fair bet that you are using too much tension. Tension is the most important thing and getting it right is the most important and usually most difficult skill to acquire. Mr Scruff's description is good - basically, the tension is going to be much less than you can imagine (although it's not as cut and dried as that because for different locks and during picking of a particular lock, you'll be varying tension slightly. But start light, and that means lighter than you think.

Cheers...

[amlwchlocksmiths]

make a tension bar out of a old wiper blade,they have metal flat rods running in the rubber.
and make a pick out of a axesaw blade.(will need grinder of some sort)

try pushing the bit that opens,round bar thing. towards the lock it makes the tension less,so you need less tension while picking,and not too much just enough to turn it.

but if i was you i would get a normal lock,not a padlock to start with and a cheap one will be easyist to start of learning with.

and it will be pins in that lock