What did you pick today?

[Luissen]

Darn! those images are killing my poor little netbook, and making me have to scroll to read

anyway, I decided to take on one of the Sargents Squelch sent me, and got one open... when I reset it, it was like I was beating against a brick wall again.

[Squelchtone]

Hi guys,

Please only post 800x600 or smaller photos if you are using the [IMG] tag, anything larger the forum will either crop on the right side or it will go off the screen. I occasionally go around changing massive images to [URL] tags, if you dont want your images changed to links, please make thumbnails or something that links to your huge version of the same pic.

Thanks
Squelchtone

[Luissen]

I found an old rusted out ABUS padlock in the mud next to the road. I let it sit in a jar of kerosene/brake fluid for an hour, then tried to pick it.

I ended up having to resort to TOK torque and one of my really long/shallow hooks to get it to pop.

the lock is an ABUS N 65/ something. I can't read it because its too worn the internals seem to work though.

[GWiens2001]

It is so nice when a poor, lost lock is given a new lease on life.

Gordon

[KPick]

I found an old rusted out ABUS padlock in the mud next to the road. I let it sit in a jar of kerosene/brake fluid for an hour, then tried to pick it.

I ended up having to resort to TOK torque and one of my really long/shallow hooks to get it to pop.

the lock is an ABUS N 65/ something. I can't read it because its too worn the internals seem to work though.

Care to post a picture of le old abus

[Luissen]

I found an old rusted out ABUS padlock in the mud next to the road. I let it sit in a jar of kerosene/brake fluid for an hour, then tried to pick it.

I ended up having to resort to TOK torque and one of my really long/shallow hooks to get it to pop.

the lock is an ABUS N 65/ something. I can't read it because its too worn the internals seem to work though.

Care to post a picture of le old abus

I'm going to give it a more thorough cleaning now, and I don't have a camera. I'll probably go on a photo-dump spree when my friend can lend me hers.

[KPick]

Cool! Can't wait.

[cheveedodd]

My first day picking!
Cracked a cheapo Chinese lock and a Master lock 3 with a homemade hook from a wiper insert. I couldn't wait for my Sparrows order any longer.

[GWiens2001]

And you will be more proud for opening the lock with picks you made! Kudos!

Gordon

[Luissen]

My first day picking!
Cracked a cheapo Chinese lock and a Master lock 3 with a homemade hook from a wiper insert. I couldn't wait for my Sparrows order any longer.

Congratz! Doesn't it give quite an amazing thrill?

anyway, here's a pic from my phone (which is a crappy phone that needs a cable I had to find to transfer the image)

http://imgur.com/HBSD15A

its an ABUS N-65/40, the grime was packed in so much on one side that I couldn't tell it from the brass, but another bath in kerosene and brakefluid, plus a scrubbing with some steel wool made it shine a bit more, though its still stained and pitted, with some discoloring. if I felt properly, I think it has 5 pins, and I'm pretty sure either the second or third pin from the opening is a spool because it sets inconsistently and the plug spins a bit more than usual.

[KPick]

My first day picking!
Cracked a cheapo Chinese lock and a Master lock 3 with a homemade hook from a wiper insert. I couldn't wait for my Sparrows order any longer.

Congratz! Doesn't it give quite an amazing thrill?

anyway, here's a pic from my phone (which is a crappy phone that needs a cable I had to find to transfer the image)

http://imgur.com/HBSD15A

its an ABUS N-65/40, the grime was packed in so much on one side that I couldn't tell it from the brass, but another bath in kerosene and brakefluid, plus a scrubbing with some steel wool made it shine a bit more, though its still stained and pitted, with some discoloring. if I felt properly, I think it has 5 pins, and I'm pretty sure either the second or third pin from the opening is a spool because it sets inconsistently and the plug spins a bit more than usual.

Thanks for posting that picture. Great picking. I myself can't wait until I get my first Medeco. (Slowly slipping into a tangent, once again). I want to learn more about picking locks open, and Medeco's are my arch enemy at the moment. Grr...

[phrygianradar]

Today I picked a tubular lock for a woman who needed to get into her storage unit. I had dropped my card off at the local storage units and I got a call as I was leaving my real job and drove right out to the storage units. These units all have tubular locks; they are all the same in that way. When I got there I showed the owners my license and went with the person to open the unit. At first I tried to use my tubular pick, but it was not working. I have some theories as to why it wasn't working, but no matter, it just wasn't. So I broke out a poker and tensioned the post and went to work at it. The minutes were so tense because there were three people who were waiting to get in standing right there talking and watching. Finally I got it open (even though it only took about 5-10 minutes, it seemed like an eternity), and they were all happy and it was such a cool rush. In fact they were impressed at how quickly I had gotten it open! I wonder if that feeling of being a hero wears off if you do it for a living? Anyway, it was very cool and I made a little bit of cash in the process. I went back up to the front office to tell them thank you for referring me and give them a few more business cards. The owner asked if I had drilled it out, and I said no and that I prefer non destructive entry if possible (although I had my drill at the ready just in case). He seemed impressed and mentioned that the other guy, who has to drive from a ways off, charges almost double what I charged and that he just drills the lock out and books. I get the fact that time is money, and I am not knocking him at all, but I think it is cool the person still has a lock that work. Her problem was that the keys to the lock were in a vehicle that was inaccessible (at a repair shop…). She was happy to be able to keep the lock to use in the future and the owner liked the fact that there were no metal shavings all over the place! Win, win! All that practice doesn't really prepare you for the feeling of being on the spot and having an audience…but it did help me get the lock open! Keep practicing everybody! I love locks...

[Luissen]

Today I picked a tubular lock for a woman who needed to get into her storage unit. ... All that practice doesn't really prepare you for the feeling of being on the spot and having an audience…but it did help me get the lock open! Keep practicing everybody! I love locks...

Picking with an audience is stressful, I know that much.

Today I went to an interest group picnic (non lockpicking related) and one of the attendees used to work for Sargent what are the odds of that? I showed him my shoddy wiper blade picks, had a few laughs and talked about our own experiences. during this time, I think I got a better feel for that ABUS padlock I featured in my last post, and I finally 'intentionally' picked the Sargent that Squelch sent me way back when. Life is good.

[silvfox1200]

I bought a lock on Ebay that was a type of a cross lock I think. It had a four way key with 12 pins. 4 on three sides. I have no idea what the brand is. There is no name on it at all.

I picked it today. which surprised me.

[GWiens2001]

I bought a lock on Ebay that was a type of a cross lock I think. It had a four way key with 12 pins. 4 on three sides. I have no idea what the brand is. There is no name on it at all.

I picked it today. which surprised me.

Picture? We might be able to identify it.

Gordon