Picking mushroom-pins lock with paper clips and screwdriver?

[whahahah]

Is it possible? Would it be very difficult?

I mean, people don't usually bring lockpicking set everytime they go out. So I'm curious about this, in the case that I got locked out of the house without my lockpicking set, and lockpicking set can't be bought just anywhere, could picking such padlocks with common tools such as paper clips and screwdriver get real difficult?

[Squelchtone]

[camelgd]

One of my favorite Star Trek- Next Generation episodes( just kidding- I don't know which one it is!) After you hit someone in the head with the 2x4 of truth, and there is no change, move on.
camelgd

[MrScruff]

Ah, I don't have that Picard facepalm yet! (I'm trying to collect the whole set)

Here's my personal favorite.

[MacGyver101]

Who carries paperclips and screwdrivers around with them? If you're looking for a more realistic way of getting back in when you're locked out without your lockpicks, picking your lock with a banana is the way to go.

[averagejoe]

But, but, but, it works fo Macgyver

[MacGyver101]

But, but, but, it works fo Macgyver

Wait a minute... who are you going to believe? Them or me?

[averagejoe]

So, your saying that the multi tool sold to children everywhere is a fraud? Macgyver defrauds children!

[MacGyver101]

Macgyver defrauds children!

Well, I have to amuse myself somehow after I've taken their candy...

[averagejoe]

Macgyver defrauds children!

Well, I have to amuse myself somehow after I've taken their candy...

-Watches as hopes and dreams of millions crumble and die-

[MrScruff]

Well, I have to amuse myself somehow after I've taken their candy...

Stealing children's candy using a paperclip and some dental floss isn't amusing enough?

[camelgd]

With a paperclip and dental floss you can make a catapault to sling you up on the roof- then just slide down the chimney!
Camelgd

[dls]

Who locks their house with padlocks anyway
What if you left the paperclips and screwdriver in the house

[Doctor Hexagon]

To the Original Poster:

It is possible.

It would be extremely difficult.

Even the act of improvising tools is difficult, let alone without the proper equipment and tools needed to make effective improvised tools.

[MrScruff]

Who locks their house with padlocks anyway
What if you left the paperclips and screwdriver in the house

I don't know about you, but I keep a really nifty multitool on my keychain. That way, if my paperclips and screwdriver are locked in the house I can just remove the multitool from my keychain, the same one that holds my house key, and use it to pick my front door!

(In all seriousness though, I am tempted to hide a set of picks somewhere on my property rather than a spare key. I know it borders on (or even is) security through obscurity but there's this easily excited part of me that wants to do it anyway.)