Locks I've opened and tools I'm interested in

[Pickin 312]

I'm new to the hobby (less than a week) and thinking of getting a better set by Peterson. My starter set was a $25.00, 12 piece set with see through padlock. After experimenting with the see through lock for about 30 minutes the fun was gone. It was extremely easy to open. Since then I've moved on to opening locks around the house and my job. I've already successfully opened the following locks..."Atlas"deadbolt, "American" series 10 padlock, a "Great" door lock. I'm curious to know if these locks are generally easy to open for a beginner. My reason for upgrading my tools was an attempt at a Schlage deadbolt that broke 2 of my picks. I'm pretty sure these tools broke due to my lack of experience, but I'm not telling my friend (The homeowner) that. Please give me your opinion on the locks I opened and your thoughts on a Peterson set. I'm hoping to become skilled enough to one day open the locks sitting in front of me... Medeco 52-7 padlock, Medeco 52-5 padlock and a Abloy 231. Thanks for any advice.

[Devhad]

Well, you are about to get a whole bunch of replies from folks that will tell you it's never a good idea to pick the locks on your house for the very reason you have probably already realized. But anyway this is a great site and there are many very experienced people that have great advise. The reason you broke your picks is probably because of the spool pins in the Schlage. Don't be discouraged they are easily overcome with understanding what to feel for and practice. Do some more research before you damage any more picks, there are plenty of links on this forum for videos. As for the Medeco locks, good luck they are way out of my league so maybe we will both be there some day.

[WestCoastPicks]

I'm new to the hobby (less than a week) and thinking of getting a better set by Peterson. My starter set was a $25.00, 12 piece set with see through padlock. After experimenting with the see through lock for about 30 minutes the fun was gone. It was extremely easy to open. Since then I've moved on to opening locks around the house and my job. I've already successfully opened the following locks..."Atlas"deadbolt, "American" series 10 padlock, a "Great" door lock. I'm curious to know if these locks are generally easy to open for a beginner. My reason for upgrading my tools was an attempt at a Schlage deadbolt that broke 2 of my picks. I'm pretty sure these tools broke due to my lack of experience, but I'm not telling my friend (The homeowner) that. Please give me your opinion on the locks I opened and your thoughts on a Peterson set. I'm hoping to become skilled enough to one day open the locks sitting in front of me... Medeco 52-7 padlock, Medeco 52-5 padlock and a Abloy 231. Thanks for any advice.

I would hold off on the Peterson for now, they are more than you need right now. If I was to start again, I would first get an intermediate pick set, (sparrows, mad-bob, higher end southord), Practice on many different locks and figure out what style of pick I like (hook, diamond w/e) then get some files and some wiper inserts and make my own.

There is no point in getting pro tools till you've developed proper tension and technique. Making your own tools gives you the flexibility of having the pick you need when you need it, and being easy to replace. If you go and buy some nice Peterson picks now, you're just going to break them too. Save your money, spend it on locks. Make your own picks, all you need is $6 in files, $2 in sandpaper and free wiper inserts.

I haven't broken a pick in a long time but they still do bend after time. I have a few Peterson sets and a bunch of their picks, but I always find myself using picks I've made. Maybe I'm subconsciously saving the wear on my bought tools, but I would like to think it's because I can make a pick the the exact shape I want/like/need and don't care when it's time to lose it, toss it or give it away.

[Pickin 312]

Thanks for giving me what I believe is some sound advice. The locks I picked at home were all "junk drawer" and garage cabinet locks. Please understand that my next question isn't intended to finding the golden key (pick) for every lock, but how do you find out what is involved in opening your next lock? Is it all about practice, youtube, researching every lock maker, or is there any book or guide that gives you info on pins and any other safeguards that are inside the lock? I'm looking forward to any comments or info you can give me. Thanks

[jbrint]

It could be any combination of all the things that you have mentioned. Some people learn by doing and others can absorb information from different sources and then apply it as if they have done it forever. It really just depends on what kind of learner you are and then you practice and then practice some more.

Things start to make sense and you start to develop senses when picking a lock and then one day it all comes together and hard locks get opened and you start researching your next challenge.

Do some searching around in the beginners section and read about the lock pick sets that other have bought and what they progressed/migrated towards as their skills were developed. I'm still using the same Sparrows set I started with + some Petersons and custom additions. Most of them work for me and I just haven't had a need to do anything different. Now when shopping for sets its because I want to see what the other sets are all about.

In the beginning its easy to get sucked into buying a bunch of stuff you may or may not need. When starting if it requires batteries or rapid motions then you are probably heading in the wrong direction. That's just my personal opinions and others may disagree.

Welcome to the forum.

[WestCoastPicks]

Thanks for giving me what I believe is some sound advice. The locks I picked at home were all "junk drawer" and garage cabinet locks. Please understand that my next question isn't intended to finding the golden key (pick) for every lock, but how do you find out what is involved in opening your next lock? Is it all about practice, youtube, researching every lock maker, or is there any book or guide that gives you info on pins and any other safeguards that are inside the lock? I'm looking forward to any comments or info you can give me. Thanks

The only thing that will help you attacking your next lock (or whatever lock you choose to attack) is practice. We can learn about how they work, and how they are picked and how other people say they feel and what to look for. But it's all useless information unless we actually pick up some locks and start picking them. The more we pick, the more we learn about the possibilities of what we might face, and how to deal with different aspects of picking. I could tell you that you need very light tension, and that spool pins will give you lots of feedback and serrated pins will give you minute feedback. But unless you know what that actually feels like, it's not really relevant information.

As for the right pick, I (and most others) do almost %100 of my pin tumbler lock picking with a hook. Few people use half diamond (weirdo's) and other various hybrid picks. But I would say a hook is the most common. It's nice to have all these other fancy picks, but they are almost never used. Maybe have a few rakes on hand just in case. IF you're doing this for fun, you'll want to SPP (single pin pick) vrs rake. But sometimes you just want to get in. But most competent pickers can get in to the majority of pin tumblers with just 2 or 3 different hooks.

I can tell you a few things now to save you time and money.

1. As stated above, there are lots of different picks and tools in this hobby. It's easy to blow a lot of cash on gear.
Most of it will be useless to you. Don't get caught in the trap of flashy metal and plastic (Easy for me to say, I spend way too much)
It is much better for your skill to spend the money and time on locks.

2. Find the right tension.
%90 of lock picking is tension. If you can solve your tension problems, the locks almost fall open (in comparison).
Just enough tension that the pins stay set and don't drop back down. Also make sure your pick fits the keyway nice, if you have to fight it, choose another pick. IF you're not dropping your tension wrench every now and then, you might be putting too much force on it. Also if you're not using the top of the keyway, you should start.

3. Make your own tools.
With the amount we need to practice, and how hard we are on tools when we are new. It only makes sense to make your own picks and tension wrenches. Even now I bend tools after time and have to replace them. But if you make your own the prospect isn't such a dreadful one. There has also been many times where I had to make a custom pick to get in a lock when I was first starting. Instead of Filing/sanding and reshaping a bought pick, you can just make a new one. It will also assure you will NEVER be without a pick. Since you would have the skills to make them.

Remember, no amount of money you can spend, tools you can buy or information you can consume, could ever teach you as much practical knowledge as practicing can. Find time wherever you can, cause if there is anything we know about gaining skill, it's the more hours you can put in to actually doing a thing, the better you're going to be at it. Even if you don't know anything about it, even if you don't have the proper knowledge or tools. Just doing it lots will teach you more than anything I or anyone could ever type.

I guess I'm saying... Just Do it? lol

[Joshua904]

I'm still new to this as well. I'd recommend watching YouTube videos, not because you'll magically have their skill, but you'll pick up on what to look for. I also second the motion that tension is key. It's real easy in the beginning to over tension. Really the only thing I have to add is buy single picks right now that are quality. Like mentioned, you can pretty much do anything with a couple hooks. Personal preference will come in later when it comes to half diamonds and hybrids (I like them). If you just need a kit, or want a small case to keep them in- check I to the sparrows tuxedo. It's cheap enough, good enough quality and perfect pocket sized case to be a fantastic beginners set. I don't have experience with southord... And stay away from the $10-15 Chinese 20+ piece sets.

Search eBay for "no key lock" or some variation of that. Lots of time you can find people selling a handful of locks and get them real cheap.

[Pickin 312]

Once again, I have to thank the responders to my post. I've been trying to pay more attention to the tension and have managed to open a "Master" Pro Series 6127 last night. Please let me know if this is a lock that's easily picked. My next attempt is an "American" series 2000 puck lock. Is this harder or easier than the "Master" I just opened? I ask these questions to find out if I'm developing any skill at picking. I appreciate all the advice you can give me. Thanks

[PowerHaus930]

I highly recommend checking out BosnianBill on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/user/bosnianbill He has hundreds of videos of all different types of locks and in most videos he disassembles the locks to show you what pins are inside. Here is a video that he posted of the Master 6127 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqO-53o ... D&index=37 He is very good about explaining things and has a lot of very good information in his videos. He also just launched a new website that has tons of information about locks and lock picking. The website is http://www.lock-lab.com

[WestCoastPicks]

Generally speaking, anything with security pins will be harder than regular locks. But locks are very different, there are locks without security pins that are very hard to pick. Anything master is going to be easy in general, American and Abus are going to be at least 5 pin with security pins. So will be harder. Things that really make locks hard to pick are things like very restrictive keyways, stiff core tension, counter milled chambers and security/more pins. And of course, the the more extreme the bitting, the harder the pick.

The only way to know if you're progressing is to move though locks. That's why I was saying save your money for locks. When you can buy a new lock, stick a pick in it, feel what kind of pins you're working with, how many and what pick you're gonna need. You're doing good regardless of how long it takes you to get it open. By the sound of it, you're already getting your tension under control. From here, I would say you just need practice. If you want an honest representation of your progression, you can chart time spent in locks and get an average over time to see how you are actually advancing. But even IF you're the slowest learner in the world, practice can only make you better.

[kwoswalt99-]

He also just launched a new website that has tons of information about locks and lock picking. The website is http://www.lock-lab.com

Wow, I never would have guessed. It looks like a pretty well put together website. The Master pro probably has spools, and the American has serrated pins. I personally think serrated pins are fairly easy, and I actually mastered them before spools, but the general opinion is that spools come first.

[WestCoastPicks]

He also just launched a new website that has tons of information about locks and lock picking. The website is http://www.lock-lab.com

Wow, I never would have guessed. It looks like a pretty well put together website. The Master pro probably has spools, and the American has serrated pins. I personally think serrated pins are fairly easy, and I actually mastered them before spools, but the general opinion is that spools come first.

True, the Master pro I got on video had spools for drivers. But it was almost like they weren't there. I've had others that didn't.
I mastered spools first. Just the way I progressed. Not consciously, just worked out that way. But it would make sense to start on spools, cause of the massive amount of feedback you get from them.

Then again, I was picking for years before I even heard of serrated pins so I probably didn't have a choice.

[Pickin 312]

Loading pictures onto this forum seems to be harder than picking locks!!! Anyway, now that I'm understanding what's involved with opening a lock without having the key a little better (THANKS to your help), I have realized that the rookie set of picking tools I started with are bent and making things harder. I tried to walk before I could crawl. Common mistake I'm guessing??? I think I'm going to take the advice of WestCoastPicks and make my own replacement tools for now. The tools I originally purchased look like I was trying to take lug nuts off my truck I say this because the locks I have managed to open are starting to be impossible again. I think that if I use the bent tension wrench and bent pick any further, I'll look harder for a key. Thanks again for all of your help. I'll figure out the picture thing later this week :roll Please send comments or advice.

[Mighty]

Hi Pickin,

It sounds like you've gotten one of those sets made of cheaper metal (with the wavy handles?). I tend to put quite a bit of force on my picks, but am still using the same picks after months of picking daily. I originally got the Southord PSX-14 set (around $35CA), and just use the hook for most locks (a slim hook comes in handy too for some Abus padlocks, but not necessary for most locks in North America). I really like the Southord picks so far, but the others people have mentioned seem to be of the same quality (sparrows, etc). I would just get a decent basic set, and possibly invest in a slim/european hooks. Top of the keyway tension tools have also been a great investment to me (I use the sparrows ones). You really won't need more than that, unless you're doing some very exotic locks.

Good luck!

[tpark]

He also just launched a new website that has tons of information about locks and lock picking. The website is http://www.lock-lab.com

Wow, I never would have guessed. It looks like a pretty well put together website. The Master pro probably has spools, and the American has serrated pins. I personally think serrated pins are fairly easy, and I actually mastered them before spools, but the general opinion is that spools come first.

My experience with Master locks is that regular master locks have no security pins, and the brass ones have a spool or two in them. The 930 locks that I have purchased in Canada have no spools, but other buyers in the US have reported security pins. American padlocks have serrated bottom pins, and the drivers will be a combination of serrated/spools. The spring in American locks is quite strong.