Newbie problems with Magnum lock

[saderax]

I am new to the art of picking and have picked up two padlocks, a Masterlock #3 and the cheapest off brand i could find (manufactured by Magnum, sold for $5.00). I make very little progress with either. With the Magnum I can often set three to four pins (I hear three or four distinct clicks when I ease off tension) yet the lock will not open. It is a very cheap lock so I assume that it has no security pins.

(As a side note, how does one determine if a lock contains security pins? Is it just something you know based on lock make/model or is there a technique for determining pin types?)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Buggs41]

Security pins can be placed in any lock.

With mushroom pins, you will feel the plug trying to counter rotate against your tension as you push the key pin toward the sheer line. This is due to the different diameters of the mushroom shape while at the sheer line.

The key to picking, is the tension used. You want to use ONLY enough force to make the plug rotate. Too much tension will cause it to bind.

Read the MIT guide over and over. You will be suprised at how much info is there.

Good luck!

[Mad Mick]

Do a Search for security pins, you'll find what you are looking for somewhere within the results.

Master #3 doesn't have security pins (unless they have just started to use them) The Magnum may have....don't let price fool you!

As a general guide though, if upon setting a pin, the plug rotates about five degrees and then comes to a hard stop, you can probably guess that this is some form of security pin...spool or mushroom.

As for your hearing clicks when releasing tension, there is the possibility that you have over-set one or more of the pins, causing the lock still not to open. As there are top & bottom pins, the point where these pins meet, is required to be exactly at the shear line for ALL pin stacks, to allow the plug to rotate. To clarify: you must push up on the lower pin so that the top of this pin is flush with the top of the plug, and the bottom of the upper pin is also flush with the top of the plug....confused yet?

Download and read the MIT guide. Read it a couple of times, then start to pick, whilst referring to the guide as needed.

HTH,
Mick.

[Mad Mick]

Aaaaaaaaaaargh! Buggs, my arch-enemy...

[Romstar]

Hey Mick. Did I miss something along the way? Since when did you have enemies?

Romstar

[CaptHook]

I think Mick has a "Bermuda Lag" that allows others to post replies before he does.......
Chuck

[Buggs41]

Second time now that I have beaten him.

Working on # 3 now.

[Mad Mick]

There is a serious lag, which causes planes and boats/ships etc, to lose track of time. So much so, that I have lost a full 24 hours in replying.

triangle!.....hang on, this thing makes a wonderfull soothing sound, kinda like when the moonies came through our local town centre... Sorry, wrong triangle.

[Ramble]
You know when you see a post and feel the need to reply?..so you do. In doing so, you try to give the original poster the best help that you can, only to find that some Buggs(er) beat you to it.....yet again!!! Heh! I hope no offense is taken here.
[/Ramble]

[Buggs41]

LOL!

No offense taken. Hopefully we BOTH helped. If there was any confusion, I will just blame you.