Tools that open 99% of locks?

[d_Random]

I have have started a mobile car unlocking business. I still get calls about opening home locks and I am missing out on business and not making $$ that I could, I gotta pay the bills and feed the kids!

Can you suggest a few tools that can open 99% of locks? I need something idiot-proof so I can start taking calls for home locks now. I will buy from lockpickshop.com to support this site!

Thanks for your help!
Donny

P.S. Do lockpicking guns work? Do they open most locks?

[mseifert]

Unless someone knows better .. just about any 5 piece set (Diamonds, Hooks, etc..) has what you need to open most common door locks.. With some practice you can get them open in less than a minute .. If you want 99% with no practice .. A drill and a set of drill bits.. or a Sledge hammer works..

[MBI]

Unfortunately automotive locks are limited to discussion in the advanced forum.

[mseifert]

Unfortunately automotive locks are limited to discussion in the advanced forum.

He is looking for advice on tool/equipment for Home locks ..

[MBI]

Unfortunately automotive locks are limited to discussion in the advanced forum.

He is looking for advice on tool/equipment for Home locks ..

My mistake, thanks for catching that.
I read the first line and glossed over his second sentence.

Lockpick guns do work on many low-security household locks, but they can also destroy locks too if you don't know what you're doing with them. This is one of those questions that if you ask ten people you'll get ten different answers. Some swear by electric pick guns, manual pick guns or snappers because they can save you time. Others will just recommend regular picks as they'll get you through most properly-functioning household locks (with some practice) and they'll also cover you for lots of other locks too like wafer locks and many high security locks. Unfortunately none of them are an absolute guarantee to open 99% of locks, but all of them are going to require practice if you want a high percentage of success.

Personally I'm a fan of just learning to rake and SPP effectively. I've seen a lot of locks destroyed by people with pick guns of various sorts, but maybe I'm just squeamish and overly cautious.

[d_Random]

Unless someone knows better .. just about any 5 piece set (Diamonds, Hooks, etc..) has what you need to open most common door locks.. With some practice you can get them open in less than a minute .. If you want 99% with no practice .. A drill and a set of drill bits.. or a Sledge hammer works..

Thank you mseifert!
Can you recommend a 5 piece set on lockpickshop.com?

[d_Random]

Unfortunately automotive locks are limited to discussion in the advanced forum.

He is looking for advice on tool/equipment for Home locks ..

My mistake, thanks for catching that.
I read the first line and glossed over his second sentence.

Lockpick guns do work on many low-security household locks, but they can also destroy locks too if you don't know what you're doing with them. This is one of those questions that if you ask ten people you'll get ten different answers. Some swear by electric pick guns, manual pick guns or snappers because they can save you time. Others will just recommend regular picks as they'll get you through most properly-functioning household locks (with some practice) and they'll also cover you for lots of other locks too like wafer locks and many high security locks. Unfortunately none of them are an absolute guarantee to open 99% of locks, but all of them are going to require practice if you want a high percentage of success.

Personally I'm a fan of just learning to rake and SPP effectively. I've seen a lot of locks destroyed by people with pick guns of various sorts, but maybe I'm just squeamish and overly cautious.

Thank you MBI! You answered some questions for me on other threads, so I appreciate you!
Rake is is running the pick along the pins, right? And what does SPP mean?

[Squelchtone]

Rake is is running the pick along the pins, right? And what does SPP mean?

No offense man, but it sounds like you put the cart before the horse.. If you don't know what raking a lock is or SPP, you should not be offering locksmith work or house lock lockout services. And god knows the last thing customers need is yet another guy with a 24 volt dewalt drilling out Kwiksets and Schlages.

To answer your question, ANY Southord or Peterson lock pick set from lockpickshop.com will work fine, and go watch Schuyler Towne's 24 set of how to pick locks videos on youtube. They explain everything from raking to SPP. At least that will be a good foundation, but the only way to open 99% of locks out there is a year or two of practice. Lockpicks are not magical, they don't open the lock, your skill opens the lock.

Squelchtone

[MBI]

Single Pin Picking. It's what I prefer. Usually hooks or half diamonds.

In my opinion about all you really need to cover most circumstances (assuming you practice to gain some skill) is a couple good hooks and a few tension wrenches. I tend to use more variety of tension wrenches than picks. I wouldn't waste money buying a big set where 2/3 of the picks are things I'll never use, like ball picks, rakes and poorly designed key extractors.

But what I said about practice and what Squelchtone said REALLY applies. I wouldn't go out offering these new services until you read up on it and get a LOT of practice in both picking, AND how to fix, rekey and replace locks. At some point you will inevitably break one or have an already broken lock that will be blamed on you. Make sure your insurance covers you for that stuff too. If you just learn some basic picking skills and rush out offering residential lockout services you will get in over your head pretty quick.

[d_Random]

Rake is is running the pick along the pins, right? And what does SPP mean?

No offense man, but it sounds like you put the cart before the horse.. If you don't know what raking a lock is or SPP, you should not be offering locksmith work or house lock lockout services. And god knows the last thing customers need is yet another guy with a 24 volt dewalt drilling out Kwiksets and Schlages.

To answer your question, ANY Southord or Peterson lock pick set from lockpickshop.com will work fine, and go watch Schuyler Towne's 24 set of how to pick locks videos on youtube. They explain everything from raking to SPP. At least that will be a good foundation, but the only way to open 99% of locks out there is a year or two of practice. Lockpicks are not magical, they don't open the lock, your skill opens the lock.

Squelchtone

Squelchtone, i am just trying to learn. Thanks for the suggestion of Schuyler Towne videos, they are great!
I am ethical, I am not going to be drilling deadbolts, don't assume the worst please because I am eager.

[d_Random]

Single Pin Picking. It's what I prefer. Usually hooks or half diamonds.

In my opinion about all you really need to cover most circumstances (assuming you practice to gain some skill) is a couple good hooks and a few tension wrenches. I tend to use more variety of tension wrenches than picks. I wouldn't waste money buying a big set where 2/3 of the picks are things I'll never use, like ball picks, rakes and poorly designed key extractors.

But what I said about practice and what Squelchtone said REALLY applies. I wouldn't go out offering these new services until you read up on it and get a LOT of practice in both picking, AND how to fix, rekey and replace locks. At some point you will inevitably break one or have an already broken lock that will be blamed on you. Make sure your insurance covers you for that stuff too. If you just learn some basic picking skills and rush out offering residential lockout services you will get in over your head pretty quick.

Thanks for the insights MBI. My state requires certification (I recently found this info online), so I think I will look into commission referrals while I learn locksmithing.

[daniel22747]

With enough skill you can open just about any pin tumbler lock with a short hook and a couple tension tools (one for bottom of the keyway work and another for top of the key way). Lock picking requires lots of practice if you want to open 99% of all locks.