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by frostypicker » 23 Oct 2014 18:08
Hey guys, I just got my first set of picks in the mail today, and was stoked to try them out, but unfortunately I selected some really bad locks to practice picking with. More on that later though... Right now, some questions about the picks. My set is a SouthOrd Euro-Slimline, the beginner set recommended on this site in the FAQ sticky. I probably shoulda went for the standard set, but I figured if the smaller ones will also work on bigger locks, why deprive myself of being able to pick smaller locks too? Well, that's now kinda my problem. The picks seem a bit flimsy and the handles are really small (and my hands are really big), so every time I go to push up a pin I'm kinda bending the end of the pick without really meaning to. Although it could be the lock's fault the pins are so tough, they're all old and crudded up. Am I likely using too much force or is it normal for picks to bend a bit while picking? My second question about the picks is the handles. These picks are pretty small, which makes exerting force on the pins with them difficult, but what makes it worse is the handles are pretty much polished steel. Not much grip. Could I make handles for them somehow, or do something to add more grip? I'm kinda opposed to wrapping them with tape, because tape starts to come apart after awhile and then I'd be trying to pick with a sticky, adhesive mess. Could I dip them in plastic or heat-shrink them or something? And if so, what should I look for in terms of supplies to do it with? My third question involves training locks. I went out and bought a Brinks 161 padlock, before I knew it was a bad idea, so I'm setting it aside for later. I also have two old Master No.3's, but even after spraying them with lube they're so crudded up it's super difficult to pull out the shackle, even after I raked them open. So I'm definitely going to go out and buy a new No.3 or No.5 to practice on, but I wanna know about door locks. Kwikset seems to be the brand everyone recommends training on, so I was looking at them in the store today. Should I go with just a deadbolt, or a deadbolt/door lock combo? Also, the package doesn't have much info on it, but I've heard people on here say that it's a good idea to get a rekeyable one, so I can take pins out/add them in to practice. Are the deadbolts rekeyable, or do I need to look for a special package that says "rekeyable" on it? Sorry for all the question guys, but a huge thanks in advance to anyone who can help answer my questions. 
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frostypicker
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by buddykiller » 23 Oct 2014 19:06
i wouldn't suggest slim picks for a beginner. i used (and still have some issues from time to time with) way too much tension when i started and if i'd had all slim profile picks i'd have broken them for sure. i actually did end up breaking one in a no. 3. you'll need them before long though so i would just buy a standard medium hook (this is really the only pick out of my set i use anymore), once you learn tension control it won't be so much of a big deal.
as for door locks the best thing to do is research them on the internet before buying or just buy a whole bunch of used ones from a goodwill/restore/thrift shop or ebay. i've not seen a door lock that wasn't rekeyable but i'm kind of a noob soooo i could be wrong >_>
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buddykiller
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by frostypicker » 23 Oct 2014 20:10
buddykiller wrote:i wouldn't suggest slim picks for a beginner. i used (and still have some issues from time to time with) way too much tension when i started and if i'd had all slim profile picks i'd have broken them for sure. i actually did end up breaking one in a no. 3. you'll need them before long though so i would just buy a standard medium hook (this is really the only pick out of my set i use anymore), once you learn tension control it won't be so much of a big deal.
as for door locks the best thing to do is research them on the internet before buying or just buy a whole bunch of used ones from a goodwill/restore/thrift shop or ebay. i've not seen a door lock that wasn't rekeyable but i'm kind of a noob soooo i could be wrong >_>
Thanks the advice man.  Definitely think I would have been better off with standard picks, I dunno how big they are in person, but these slim line ones are so tiny I have to scrunch up my hand so that it looks like the butler's weird hand from Scary Movie in order to use them ha. Although I did have some pretty amazing success so far. I gave up on the Master Locks, these things are so crudded up I simply can't pick them, but I got bored and wanted to pick something so I grabbed the Brinks and started messing with it. I knew there was probably spool pins in it, so I used light tension and just kept working my way up and down the pin stack, feeling for a binder and when I found one, trying to set it by letting off the tension a bit and lifting on the pin best I could. I managed to set one or two,but couldn't get them all. After a few minutes of not setting them all, I'd reset the lock and try again. I tried picking that Brinks 161 for 2 hours straight, and after 2 hours, I finally SPP'd it. My first ever SPP lockpick! I'm willing to admit there was probably more than a fair bit of luck involved, but still, I'm pretty stoked about it. 
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frostypicker
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by frostypicker » 23 Oct 2014 21:44
Guess I can't edit my post after a certain period of time. Welp, I've been able to pick the Brinks 161-40001 padlock 5 more times since the last post, getting quicker now. I think the last one I did in about 10 minutes.
Bonus question: Where would I find specs for specific padlocks? I tried searching the model number so I can find out just what the innards of this lock look like, but haven't had any luck with Google.
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frostypicker
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by buddykiller » 23 Oct 2014 23:43
frostypicker wrote:Guess I can't edit my post after a certain period of time. Welp, I've been able to pick the Brinks 161-40001 padlock 5 more times since the last post, getting quicker now. I think the last one I did in about 10 minutes.
Bonus question: Where would I find specs for specific padlocks? I tried searching the model number so I can find out just what the innards of this lock look like, but haven't had any luck with Google.
congratulations on your first pick! feels good don't it? my first pick was a brinks full of spools as well. personally, i find spools to be easier than standards esp once you get the right amount of tension down. if it's a sealed core you'll have more trouble finding gut pics as somebody would have to route it out to get to the pins, but you might get lucky. the way i go about deciding on a lock or finding out what's in a lock is to check youtube picker videos. if i can't find what i'm looking for on youtube i turn to google. always start out using the site qualifier (i.e. "brinks 161 40001 site:www.lockpicking101.com") to restrict my searches to a couple different picking forums first, then if i don't find what i'm looking for i go ahead and remove the site qualifier and add extra terms such as guts, pins, spools, etc... sometimes the information just isn't out there unfortunately. when that happens i go in from the front with a slim profile pick and do my best to not to set any pins with the shaft of the pick, but sometimes the bitting just won't allow it. i did some googling around and found this thread on lp101 that contained this link to a youtube video with a cut out of the lock. it looks like your lock but i'm not positive.
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buddykiller
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by frostypicker » 24 Oct 2014 15:12
buddykiller wrote:frostypicker wrote:Guess I can't edit my post after a certain period of time. Welp, I've been able to pick the Brinks 161-40001 padlock 5 more times since the last post, getting quicker now. I think the last one I did in about 10 minutes.
Bonus question: Where would I find specs for specific padlocks? I tried searching the model number so I can find out just what the innards of this lock look like, but haven't had any luck with Google.
congratulations on your first pick! feels good don't it? my first pick was a brinks full of spools as well. personally, i find spools to be easier than standards esp once you get the right amount of tension down. if it's a sealed core you'll have more trouble finding gut pics as somebody would have to route it out to get to the pins, but you might get lucky. the way i go about deciding on a lock or finding out what's in a lock is to check youtube picker videos. if i can't find what i'm looking for on youtube i turn to google. always start out using the site qualifier (i.e. "brinks 161 40001 site:www.lockpicking101.com") to restrict my searches to a couple different picking forums first, then if i don't find what i'm looking for i go ahead and remove the site qualifier and add extra terms such as guts, pins, spools, etc... sometimes the information just isn't out there unfortunately. when that happens i go in from the front with a slim profile pick and do my best to not to set any pins with the shaft of the pick, but sometimes the bitting just won't allow it. i did some googling around and found this thread on lp101 that contained this link to a youtube video with a cut out of the lock. it looks like your lock but i'm not positive.
Hey thanks man, that was exactly what I was looking for.  My lock is actually a smaller version of that, a 4 pin, but the set up inside is the same. 2nd pin is a standard, the rest are spools. But I did go out today and buy the bigger 5 pin version for some 5 pin practice lol. I also went and got a new Master No.3 and a Kwikset deadbolt/door knob combo pack. Quick question maybe you can help me with...I was considering buying a Master No. 150, to practice on something with 5 standard pins, but I wasn't sure if it had 5 pins or if it was the typical Master 4 pin setup. People say they're harder to pick than the No. 3's and 5's, would that be because they actually do have 5 pins or is there another reason?
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frostypicker
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by buddykiller » 24 Oct 2014 17:50
frostypicker wrote:buddykiller wrote:frostypicker wrote:Guess I can't edit my post after a certain period of time. Welp, I've been able to pick the Brinks 161-40001 padlock 5 more times since the last post, getting quicker now. I think the last one I did in about 10 minutes.
Bonus question: Where would I find specs for specific padlocks? I tried searching the model number so I can find out just what the innards of this lock look like, but haven't had any luck with Google.
congratulations on your first pick! feels good don't it? my first pick was a brinks full of spools as well. personally, i find spools to be easier than standards esp once you get the right amount of tension down. if it's a sealed core you'll have more trouble finding gut pics as somebody would have to route it out to get to the pins, but you might get lucky. the way i go about deciding on a lock or finding out what's in a lock is to check youtube picker videos. if i can't find what i'm looking for on youtube i turn to google. always start out using the site qualifier (i.e. "brinks 161 40001 site:www.lockpicking101.com") to restrict my searches to a couple different picking forums first, then if i don't find what i'm looking for i go ahead and remove the site qualifier and add extra terms such as guts, pins, spools, etc... sometimes the information just isn't out there unfortunately. when that happens i go in from the front with a slim profile pick and do my best to not to set any pins with the shaft of the pick, but sometimes the bitting just won't allow it. i did some googling around and found this thread on lp101 that contained this link to a youtube video with a cut out of the lock. it looks like your lock but i'm not positive.
Hey thanks man, that was exactly what I was looking for.  My lock is actually a smaller version of that, a 4 pin, but the set up inside is the same. 2nd pin is a standard, the rest are spools. But I did go out today and buy the bigger 5 pin version for some 5 pin practice lol. I also went and got a new Master No.3 and a Kwikset deadbolt/door knob combo pack. Quick question maybe you can help me with...I was considering buying a Master No. 150, to practice on something with 5 standard pins, but I wasn't sure if it had 5 pins or if it was the typical Master 4 pin setup. People say they're harder to pick than the No. 3's and 5's, would that be because they actually do have 5 pins or is there another reason?
np  i can't say for certain because i don't own one, but from what i can find online the 150 has some spools in it and it is 5 pins, but i tend to find a lock with spools in it to be a slight bit easier than a lock with all standards. should be a fun pick for a while though. when you get the hang of 5 pins with spools you should pick up some americans, they're wicked hard at first but super fun. then once you work your way up to 6 pinners i suggest a master 410. i just popped mine for the first time today and it was a good pick, full of a good mix of security pins. i need to get some abus locks and some more americans.
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buddykiller
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by frostypicker » 24 Oct 2014 21:53
Right on man, the Brinks I just picked up today is 5 pins with spools, and the Kiwkset deadbolt is 5 pins all standard so once I can pick them well enough then I'll search eBay for an American. I also want to try out a Schlage, the warding on them looks really interesting.
The Master No.3 I just got today was a fun little pick, but I've outgrown it already haha. Took me a couple hours to get the hang of it, my slim line picks were having trouble exerting the force necessary to lift the pins. A drop or two of Quantum Hot Sauce (teflon-based fishing reel lube) fixed that issue and now I can consistently pick it in under 30 seconds.
I'm really thinking about picking up some thicker Peterson picks, just a short hook, a standard hook and maybe a bogata (my set didn't come with one) to make picking pins that require a little extra oomph a bit easier. I'd also be really nice to have picks with handles, these SouthOrds are really tearing up my fingers after a few hours. I also really need a top keyway wrench, cuz there's really no good place to put a bottom keyway wrench into a Brinks lock.
But yeah thanks for your help man, I tried searching Google but just could not find any info about specific lock specs, I don't know what voodoo you're using haha but I appreciate it. Btw, where do you get your American locks? I didn't find many on eBay, and the hardware stores by me don't carry them. Also I know that Master bought them out and I think they started putting their crappy cores in them, so I'm not sure which ones are pre-Master.
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frostypicker
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by buddykiller » 25 Oct 2014 11:17
frostypicker wrote:Right on man, the Brinks I just picked up today is 5 pins with spools, and the Kiwkset deadbolt is 5 pins all standard so once I can pick them well enough then I'll search eBay for an American. I also want to try out a Schlage, the warding on them looks really interesting.
The Master No.3 I just got today was a fun little pick, but I've outgrown it already haha. Took me a couple hours to get the hang of it, my slim line picks were having trouble exerting the force necessary to lift the pins. A drop or two of Quantum Hot Sauce (teflon-based fishing reel lube) fixed that issue and now I can consistently pick it in under 30 seconds.
I'm really thinking about picking up some thicker Peterson picks, just a short hook, a standard hook and maybe a bogata (my set didn't come with one) to make picking pins that require a little extra oomph a bit easier. I'd also be really nice to have picks with handles, these SouthOrds are really tearing up my fingers after a few hours. I also really need a top keyway wrench, cuz there's really no good place to put a bottom keyway wrench into a Brinks lock.
But yeah thanks for your help man, I tried searching Google but just could not find any info about specific lock specs, I don't know what voodoo you're using haha but I appreciate it. Btw, where do you get your American locks? I didn't find many on eBay, and the hardware stores by me don't carry them. Also I know that Master bought them out and I think they started putting their crappy cores in them, so I'm not sure which ones are pre-Master.
southord has a bogota style set i wanna get called the pagoda set. if you do get some peterson picks remember to polish them before using otherwise you'll not be able to feel a thing, at least this is what i understand from reading and watching several reviews of peterson picks. other than that they make great picks and i'd like to get a set of them. i've tried to pick my american with my BOK wrench to no avail, i'm convinced that they require TOK. i made mine from the steel out of a rainx wiper, it's a bit wider than normal and required a LOT of filling to get right width. i copied the prybar's tip and it seems to work pretty well though i'd like to get a set of prybars anyway as they seem to be more stable. right now when i pop the american the wrench wants to unseat it's self. as for google-fu, i just use qualifiers and if i'm looking for lock specifics i look for forum posts, they tend to be the most informative or have links to what i want. i was able to get my american 1105 on amazon. from what i understand, master is only compromising a couple models of american locks not all of them. i'm unsure of the date of manufacture as the code on the back doesn't seem to follow the known coding system (the code on mine is 0354ad in case somebody more knowledgeable can provide further information). i have disassembled it and it's got 4 serrated drivers and one sporratted (serrated spool) driver, however, master placed the sporrated driver on a low cut pin stack so yea it feels like a normal serrated driver when picking. after more practice with it i'm going to rearranged the driver pins so that the sporrated is on a higher cut pin stack.
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buddykiller
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by RedHoodJack » 8 Nov 2014 0:36
It can be useful to cut the handles off of supplied picks and make your own. Fimo is a good material, very easy to work with and allows you to customise the handle to what feels right for you.
People have different styles and techniques and the standard handles supplied generally don't work for me. Once you have a handle you're happy with, create a mold and then it's a simple task to make more handles.
As well as making handles more specific to your hands and style, theres loads of funky colours to allow you to make your set aesthetically pleasing personal.
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