I have the fever

[Stevo]

Ok, so I replaced the dingy, dirty hardware on my front door with a brandnew Kwikset handle and deadbolt. I watched with rapt attention as the locksmith at my local hardware store repinned the cylinder.

As soon as I got home I thought to myself, that was just so easy. If I'd had the pins and stuff on hand I could have easily done it myself. A short internet search led me to the MIT picking guide and there I was 20 minutes later making my first wrench and half-diamond pick, each made from an eight penny nail.

I took the deadbolt lock apart and removed all but 2 pins, mastered that then moved on to all five. I've mastered that lock picking the pins one at a time going either way. Takes me about 20 seconds I'd guess. Scrubbing is still a mystery to me. I need to work on that technique if I want to get faster. Anyway, I'm hooked. Anywhere I go, I find myself sizing up locks, wondering how hard they would be to pick.

I found a Master #3 padlock around the garage and have actually struggled with this lock quite a bit. The springiness and "play" of the cylinder might be throwing me off. I've managed to pick it a few times only after considerable effort using moderate to heavy torque. I actually find myself using the pick like a lever to push the pins into place. Is that a bad habit that a beginner would do well to avoid? Does anyone use firm torque with a Master #3?

My fingers are sore from the rather poor handle that duct tape wrapped around the end of an eight penny nail is.

I figure that it is time to buy a real set of tools now, and I'll likely go with the first recommendation in the FAQ.

Great site here. It has been fun and informative exploring it.

[Quin]

Nice first post Stevo. Welcome aboard the best LP forum on the net!

[frostbyte]

The only master #3 i have is more rust than anything else, so it's not a good comparison, but with most padlocks I find one or two strong elastics strategically placed can help out with having to use too much tension.

[Exodus5000]

Best new guy post ever. Welcome to the forums stevo - you'll learn fast and be picking harder locks in no time.

[Cman22]

Nice post. I would definately get a pick set, it helps ALOT! I got my set at Southord.com. If you get a southord set i'd get one with the nice handles, they have a nicer feel. Anyway with the #3 as well as any other lock a common mistake i make is to much tension. Try going real light on the #3. Once you figure other what pins to pop you'll pick it in no time every time.

Cman

[Stevo]

Weak is my pick-fu...

...but progress I do make.

Oh what a difference professional tools make! My SouthOrd kit got here and it has helped me a lot. I have fallen in love with the snake pick. I can scrub with it or use it like a poor-man's hook.

I now "own" the kwikset front door lock I have been practicing on. I can scrub it most times now. Never takes me more than a few seconds. The Master #3 padlock is now a much easier open. A bit of WD-40 and the new tools have made that one a cinch. I've learned to get a better feel with less tension. I play with it while watching tv. My wife just loves the little clicking sounds.

Hehe.

So now I've moved on to the next challenge... <cue ominous music>

this lil' f***er:



Its inverted as shown and attached to the unused strong box at work (don't worry, im the boss/owner). Only four pins and you can even see the first driver hiding there. Oh how i've struggled with this one. Something about how the wards are laid out. I keep snagging my pick on them and having trouble even identifying pin states. Maybe there is a security pin in there somewhere? Oh, this one has been a . I've gone at it on and off for the better part of 2 hours. I'll likely spend my lunch hacking at it tomorrow.

Anyone recognize the brand or type?

[Stevo]

Just thought of a question:

Do you guys mostly place the torque wrench in the keyhole on the pin side or on the opposite side. Up until now I have been putting the wrench away from the pins and still had room to operate the pick, but on this new lock the only place that really works is snugged up against the first pin. Otherwise I can't get my picks enough "breathing room" to operate. They tend to run into my wrench.

Any thoughts there?

[Jow]

re: wrench

it may be time to expand you wrench collection. as there are many different keyways you also need many different wrenches to fit them. do a search around theres plenty of different ways to go about making them and many materials to use....

[Stevo]

I did a search on the SG logo and I'm guessing it is an older Sargent and Greenleaf. The logo does not match exactly, but maybe its dated?

I'm getting the idea from reading up on the SG website (www.sglocks.com) that if this lock is indeed a Sargent and Greenleaf that it will be... how should we say this... substantially more resistant to picking than a Kwikset.



Perhaps I should practice on something else first.

[Varjeal]

That is indeed an S&G lock... pretty sure there's five pins and no security ones. If it's been installed upside down like that for quite awhile you may want to lubricate the lock...you may also have a collapsed spring that's giving you trouble.

There's nothing particularly difficult about this lock (all things being equal) so have a go at it.

[Stevo]

Got it!

Just four pins and no security pins. Once I figured out where to put my wrench and how to negotiate the wards I had it. The 4th pin was a pretty deep set while the 3rd was quite shallow. It took a hook to get around the corner on that one.

I picked it within a minute on my last go of it. I've learned much from this lock and will contine to pratice it until I "pwn" it.

But its time for a new lock, right? I'm eyeing the deadbolts on the front door at work here. Looking at my key I can see that they are Best, seven pins, and there are master keys for them. I would guess that there are no security pins.

Would this be a good Next Step? Any special advice for this lock?

S

[Chucklz]

A BEST SFIC is not a good step at all. The locks have two shear lines (operating and control) are masterkeyed as you stated, and can really be a pain. They require a different touch, and can be confusing when you are just learning. My advice is to buy a Schlage deadbolt or mortice cylinder (seeing as you already stated you have a Master #3 and some Kwiksets). As a general rule, never pick locks that you actually need for security in the forseeable future, just in case you screw it up.

[Varjeal]

I agree completely with Chucklz...you definitely don't want to be working on your business door locks just in case.

If you want the feel of a "real life" type of picking, install a lockset or two or three into a 2 piece 2x4 stand and have a go at that instead.

[Stevo]

If you say that Grasshopper is not yet ready for the Best, then he will endeavor to enrich his knowledge through the study of the Schlage.

Interestingly, the Best headquarters are just a few blocks south of me so I'm not surprised at all to see those locks on the door. And I do have one door that I could "screw up" without screwing myself. It will be a challenge for a later day.

You can keep the RL stuff. Lying on my stomach to pick that S&G lock on the strong box was real enough for my aching joints. I'll go back to putting locks into my vise and then sit comfortably again.

Thanks for the advice everyone! I'll keep you posted.

[Chucklz]

Best Access systems close to you... you say? Maby you could swing a factory tour from them. You would sure learn alot just by walking through.