Beginner lock advice

[Danbot]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and to lock picking. Just wondering what is a good way to go about practising. I went and bought some very cheap padlocks from a dollar store. The name on the package is "SECURE". I also have an old Master pad lock that I found in a box of things from years ago with no key. The problem I'm having is with the dollar store locks. They seem to have sticky plugs and it's very hard to get good tension on them. I'm wondering if I should buy more quality locks to practice on? Can I just lubricate the cheap ones? How do I get oil between the plug and the body? Am I setting myself up to learn bad habits?? I know this is a lot of questions, but nothing I've read so far seems to answer them. Any help is much appreciated!!

Thanks!!

[billdeserthills]

As a locksmith I always shoot a little lubricant into any lock I have to pick open, it will get inside just fine. You will need to buy a better grade of lock once you get the hang of picking the cheap ones

[Squelchtone]

As a locksmith I always shoot a little lubricant into any lock I have to pick open, it will get inside just fine. You will need to buy a better grade of lock once you get the hang of picking the cheap ones

+1 That's some good advice!

[1mrchristopher]

+2 on Billdeserthills' advice (+2, is that a thing?) WD-40 or Tri-flow will work just fine. I prefer a lock lubricant called Houdini, but just starting out, there's no reason to go for anything fancy, or hard to get ahold of. a lubed lock is almost always easier to pick, and like Bill, it's the first thing I do before ever trying to get a lock open. Definitely get yourself some better locks when you've got a little extra cash. It isn't really the season for yard sales, but I usually find 6-10 a year that way for cheap or free, without keys. Really cheap locks won't take you very far, because they are so poorly constructed that it's hard to tell what's going on, apart from is it locked or unlocked. I've got one "china special" (my nickname for any extremely low quality made in China object) which is drilled for 4 pins, has a key cut for 4 pins, but as near as I can tell only has 2 in it. It can be picked by jiggling the tension wrench!

[Danbot]

Thanks for the advice guys! I will lube up those cheapies and keep at them until I save up for a decent quality lock or two!

I think that is my biggest problem right now...not being able to really tell whats going on inside those locks. I do get them open, but cant tell how I did it! I try to get the tension right and feel for movement, but usually cant really feel when a pin is set. I think I over set pins because I don't feel the plug slightly move and I'm not sure if the pis stopped because its set, or because the tension is to much.

[app13]

As far as lubricant goes, you may want to stay away from WD-40, as it is meant to clean and not to lubricate.

[billdeserthills]

As far as lubricant goes, you may want to stay away from WD-40, as it is meant to clean and not to lubricate.

I've been using WD-40 for over 40 years and it works exactly as well as any other spray I have used

[cj101]

The problem I'm having is with the dollar store locks. They seem to have sticky plugs and it's very hard to get good tension on them. I'm wondering if I should buy more quality locks to practice on?
Thanks!!

I already dismantled some cheap padlocks you bought, to get the springs out of them as replacement. The springs are in 1$ padlocks the most precise components.
I started picking with such locks as well, but you won't learn much of them. Lubricants won't rise the quality either. If you ever saw the inside of such a padlock, you will understand why they open by just sticking around a bit (not even round pins, extremely rounded edges, loose tolerances, ...).

My advice: Buy a cheap mortice cylinder or euro cylinder (dependent where you live), with prefereably security pins inside. Such cheap cylinders have a much higher quality as padlocks, but can be still opened by beginners.
If security pins are inside, their typical 'behaviour' is ac cording to my experience much more exxagerated as in high quality locks, but essentially the same.
I learned picking mushroom pins from such a cheap cylinder lock.

[Danbot]

I will definitely invest in some better quality locks! I lubricated the padlocks I have and picked away at them on and off over the weekend. I am getting better at it!! I think I read on here somewhere that "Defiant" is a good cheap beginner lock to work on. I'll pick one up after Christmas!


Thanks again everyone!

[cheerIO]

I will definitely invest in some better quality locks! I lubricated the padlocks I have and picked away at them on and off over the weekend. I am getting better at it!! I think I read on here somewhere that "Defiant" is a good cheap beginner lock to work on. I'll pick one up after Christmas!


Thanks again everyone!

Stop by a ReStore in your area. It's a good place to pick up used deadbolts and cylinders real cheap.
http://www.habitat.ca/restore-directory-p5011.php?command=&cID=73

[Slar]

I am same as yourself. Just started off. I got 4 pin master excel (magnum I think they called in USA) and a no 3. Now I'll be looking for 5 pin one or maybe 140 which has one security pin. My choice in Ireland is very limited as all locksmiths are selling 3 circle dirt or some other amazing brands made in PRC ...

[jk2k5]

Question on the lubricant what is better way to go? Liquid or graphite? I use graphite powder almost exclusively when I can but I got that advise from a man who got his lock smith cert in the 80's and never used it as a profession. I can see that liquid is more likely to penetrate and got up into the lock as opposed to more gravity driven graphite powder.

[Danbot]

Thanks For the tip cheerIO. I found a few locks at the Re-Store! one is a Yale rim cylinder type lock that the picks I have don't fit well. I am going to make a pair of the Bogota pics today!!

Slar: good luck to you! hopefully you can find a good source for some nice used European locks over there!

jk2k5: That's a good question. Hopefully some members will chime in on that one with some good advice!

I've heard mixed reviews on the subject. I think the main complaint with WD-40 is the sticky residue it leaves as it dries out.

[GWiens2001]

Also be aware that some of the dollar locks have what I call 'melted spool pins'. They have a very strange feel to them, especially as they are frequently used with a plastic (Delrin) shell.

Here is a thread on taking one apart. They are quite cheap, as you would expect from a dollar store.

Gordon

[Danbot]

Wow! They sure don't make 'em like they used too! I wonder why they would bother with spooled pins?? Just to allow them to make bogus "security" claims on the package!?