Zipping Those Security Pins

[deolslyfox]

Everyone knows the attack of zipping into a false and then looking for the binders. It works and is a time saver especially if you are speed picking.

Zipping can be useful at the end of the pick as well. If your lock has several shallow serrateds that are giving you issues, especially over setting, try this ....

When you are at the point where everything you touch causes something else to drop, or when you think you have everything close but can't get a deep false set to run out the stack, stop picking and start zipping.

Just hold a steady light tension and place the pick at the back of the stack. Pull the pick forward quickly, with moderate pick pressure. It may take 10 to 15 tries but most times you can tap those pesky serrated pins home for an open.

Takes a bit of practice but worth adding to your black bag. I used this technique to knock off 3 American 1105s today, so I thought I'd pass it along.

[Comrade627]

Any trick that opens an American is a trick worth saving.

[Squelchtone]

um what in the heck is zipping? first time I'm hearing this term in locksport and I've been around a couple weeks.

do you mean raking to a false set, because that's what it's more commonly called.


Squelchtone

[Comrade627]

um what in the heck is zipping? first time I'm hearing this term in locksport and I've been around a couple weeks.

do you mean raking to a false set, because that's what it's more commonly called.


Squelchtone

Pretty sure that's what he means, it took me a second though. I got all excited about getting to look up a new technique. In his defense, it CAN make a zip-ish noise.

[hag3l3]

raking = moving your pick in a back and forth motion quickly front to back.
zipping = moving your pick from the back to the front in a singular manner.
the technique between these two very only slightly in application however bring about very different results.
raking is best accomplished utilizing your "S" rake picks and very light to light tnsion.
zipping is best accomplished utilizing the diamond or small hook pick and light tension.
hope this helps...

[deolslyfox]

Raking is generally done with a "rake" pick .... EG: City Rake, Snake Rake, "S" Rake, Bogota variants, etc.

Zipping is generally done with a hook pick. And instead of the "up and down wiggling motion" that is generally associated with raking, zipping is done while holding the pick level, with even pressure.

My favorite for raking an American 1100 / 5000 series is the Peterson #1 or the Peterson Gem, depending on what I happened to grab when I started picking the lock.

TIP: Raking is best done with a heavier (.025") pick. The lighter picks (.015") are more easily bent and are also prone to hanging up between the pins the warding ....

[GWiens2001]

Always thought of zipping was the same as the 'speed bump' technique. Apply light tension, put your pick in the back of the lock, and quickly pull it out while brushing the key pins. The binding pin will feel like a speed bump. You then pick that pin, and repeat.

Gordon

[deolslyfox]

The "Speed Bump" technique is applied moving slowly. Feeling for a binder. i think Dr Bint (Mike Gibson) coined that term in his phamplet "Lock Picking - Detail Overkill". You can find it on the web. If you have never read it, it is a good read. Only about 30 pages, but there is a TON of good information about the hobby and techniques. It is especially useful for the beginner.

Zipping is just pulling the pick out of the lock quickly ....

This is a great video from bosnianbill about attacking locks. Again, great for beginners. In the video he talks about / demonstrates "zipping".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... 2r07NN21vM

[Squelchtone]

Well I learn something new here every day, thanks for explaining it. turns out I already do this, I just never had a name for it, other than "pull the pick out quickly" =)

Thanks
Squelchtone

Here's the LockPicking Detail Overkill paper by Solomon, http://static.squarespace.com/static/51 ... d+copy.pdf I'll have to read this again, its been a while. there goes my productive afternoon

[deolslyfox]

I've been at this a week or two myself. There are a lot of variations on the same theme. Sometimes a small change to a basic technique makes the difference between an open and frustration.

Experience is the wisdom you get right after you need it. Success is the judicious application of experience mixed with just the right amount of luck.

The good thing about tips is that you can read and try them for free. If they work for you, you are ahead. If you don't like the tip you aren't out anything.

One thing I learned long ago ... " None of us knows as much as ALL of us".

I hope I never quit learning.

[deralian]

Yeah, I hadn't heard the term zipping until I started doing some reading of other people's techniques. There are a lot of things we do naturally that people have given terms to.

[Syl]

Here's the LockPicking Detail Overkill paper by Solomon, http://static.squarespace.com/static/51 ... d+copy.pdf I'll have to read this again, its been a while. there goes my productive afternoon

Thanks! I like this guy's writing style more than the other newbie guides that I've read so far.

the Peterson Gem

This is a little off-topic, but I've been wondering what exactly makes a gem a gem. Is it just a hook with a more triangular tip? Or, is there more than that?

[nite0wl]

the Peterson Gem

This is a little off-topic, but I've been wondering what exactly makes a gem a gem. Is it just a hook with a more triangular tip? Or, is there more than that?

The name "gem" is Peterson's name for that style of hook. And yes, it is basically a medium hook with a triangular tip instead of a flat or round tip. Both the height and radius of the curve and the tip shape are what makes it a Gem instead of 'gem-like'.