Impossible Lock

[lukekowald]

Okay, this is going to sound a little crazy.

I've been picking for some months now... well enough time to be comfortable with three pins. LOL! However, this seems to be the problem. I bought some lock cylinders so I could rekey them to different combinations for challenges. I've not done any crazy keying... I've stuck to the standard Lockwood pin sizes.

In one of the locks I installed three stacks as a start point. This was fine. Not a worry in the world. Picked it many times. But, then I got up this morning, and decided to pick it so I could add another stack or two into it. And for all the money in the world, I can not get this lock open. Not even with a snap gun. And I can not explain it. Has anyone had anything like this happen before? Is it possibly that I'm using my own springs and pins from my LAB kit? Did it warp overnight somehow? I don't know. All I know is, I've never in my life had these seemingly "impossible", rage-enducing issues from a lock with three pins. Three pins! LOL!

[Big Jesse]

ive been picking for 8 years, and im stuck on a darn American Series 30 padlock. im downright embarrassed kid. so dont worry about it, we all suck when no ones looking... once in a while. just keep it it.

i new a guy, that spent 100 hours picking a Master 215. i thought he was stupid and should have moved onto something else. but guess what, he got it, and he got it down to where he could open it at will. i was very impressed. i personally dont have that dedication. but i want to. just keep trying.

no, brass doesnt warp over night. try top of key way tension, reverse tension, raking, do what you got to do to get it open and build that confidence up again, know its not impossible, then go back to single pin picking again.

[lukekowald]

I've been trying. I honestly don't get it. I mean, I was picking it last night. No issues with setting the pins or anything. This feels "different". It's almost like it's just not wanting to work? I'm baffled.

[Big Jesse]

well the good news is it IS NOT a dynamic object, it is indeed inanimate and mechanical in nature, but requires tension to be dynamic. once tension is applied, it my be appropriate to say it has 'potential energy', then once a pin goes from 'binding' to 'set', it has kinetic energy. im not a physics major, but dont let a puzzle the size of your thumb, defeat a 10 pound brain. just sit back, call it a few bad names, and go back at it. its not the lock that is different today, its you. its not the lock that is impossible, its your 'self defeating attitude'.
the lock is not winning, your just losing. stop that!

[lukekowald]

:p LOL! Thanks! This lock shall not win.

[lukekowald]

I managed to get it open. One of the springs was heavily compressed and deformed. :/ I think I put long spring on a stack which required a short? Not sure. Despite the fact I was picking it last night, I think in my haste today I must have knackered it up by over-picking (or raking and using a pick gun). I guess that explains why it felt "different". Anyway, I can relax now.

[lukekowald]

Random question. In anyone's experience, can having only one screw on the cam impact how the lock picks? I was using just one screw to hold the cam on to save the hassle of undoing two screws, as I am constantly taking the locks apart to rekey. And I figured as I'm only using them to practice on, this would be okay? But now I'm wondering if perhaps the second screw might help pull the plug ever so slightly more straight (even if it's just 1000's of an inch, every one counts)? Or is this not something anyone would worry about?

[Squelchtone]

Random question. In anyone's experience, can having only one screw on the cam impact how the lock picks? I was using just one screw to hold the cam on to save the hassle of undoing two screws, as I am constantly taking the locks apart to rekey. And I figured as I'm only using them to practice on, this would be okay? But now I'm wondering if perhaps the second screw might help pull the plug ever so slightly more straight (even if it's just 1000's of an inch, every one counts)? Or is this not something anyone would worry about?

This is a very common way of thinking for new pickers.. I can't pick this lock so something must be wrong and they search for a reason, such as a bent spring, a tight keyway, the lock picks they bought must not be that good, the plug is loose and the cam isn't on all the way, but usually the real answer is the new picker is new at this and just needs more practice. Going from 3 pins to 4 or 5 or 6 is a big step up, take your time with, keep practicing, and keep some simple locks handy as confidence boosters to know that you still got it, and can pick them easily, and then go back to a lock that is stumping you and keep practicing.

Most new pickers lean on the tension wrench too much, if your finger is turning white, you may be pressing too hard.

a photo of your lock cylinder and keyway would also help us tell you if you have started out on a well made lock or an average lock, I have seen well made locks with only a few pins in them put up a bigger fight than a fully pinned cheaper lock.

See the FAQ & General Info forum for instructions on how to upload photos.

Keep practicing and dont forget to take breaks when a lock is giving you trouble,
Squelchtone

[lukekowald]

Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly no master, and I have a long way to go. In reguards to my issue before, however, I was just super stumped by that. I keyed it myself, and picked it with zero issues many times... then all of a sudden it just wanted to go nowhere. :/ I have a reasonable amount of experience. I'm pretty good at 5 pin, so I bought heaps of these locks which are 6 pin, with an Australian C4 keyway to get more experience with them. I also have Mr. Wizards lock, but I get nowhere with 7 pin. :p That's a long way off.

[Squelchtone]

Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly no master, and I have a long way to go. In reguards to my issue before, however, I was just super stumped by that. I keyed it myself, and picked it with zero issues many times... then all of a sudden it just wanted to go nowhere. :/ I have a reasonable amount of experience. I'm pretty good at 5 pin, so I bought heaps of these locks which are 6 pin, with an Australian C4 keyway to get more experience with them. I also have Mr. Wizards lock, but I get nowhere with 7 pin. :p That's a long way off.

Oh nice, I wasn't sure if you were a total beginner.

You have a great opportunity with all those cylinders to pin them up 1,2,3,4,5 pins and have a nice set of progressively pinned up locks.

Happy Picking!
Squelchtone

[UnlockingBoredom]

I know how it feels to be new at picking and thinking a lock is mocking you by not opening!!!
I have been picking locks since Feb 16th, so just over 2 months and I had an American 700 5 pin lock that I could not open for some reason. I was blaming everything but me for it not opening.. I got a lock from marman that was 7 pin with christmas tree pins and spools and opened it in 14 and 19 minutes but couldnt open an American 5 pin in days... I was pulling my hair out, I tried to impression it to open it but broke 2 keys (probably out of frustration) and then went online and purchased the wafer breaker/bypass tool set to get into it.

Well the day before they showed up in the mail I posted on here that I was having problems opening the lock (just like you did) and then a few minutes later I got it opened (bidding turned out to be something like 2,8,1 5,4 or something like that) and I was either over setting the #2 pin or just not setting the #3 all the way. I now know that if I have a problem with a lock I will post here that it is an evil lock and has it out for me and I will most likely open it soon after

Glad to hear that you cleared your head and opened the lock....


Happy picking!