sorry...not another bothersome newbie question....

[just-another-newbie]

im a newbie and just picked my first lock today by raking...but i don't know whether that was counted as lock-picing or beginner's luck. Do I have to pick the lock pin by pin and do i have to be able to see the pins popping up or something?

thanks guys...

[Picker_Level-0]

If the lock opens you have picked the lock so congradulations. When i started a few weeks ago i felt the same as you. But i started mixing it up a bit, so id add tension scrub to set a few pins then go in with the finger pick/hook pick and set the last few!! I think its more satisifying when you imagin ehwat you are doing and think right that pin isnt set then you push that one up and pop the lock opens. Its better cuz you know you have done it yourself. (i think they call the art of picturing what you are doing zen or something)

I`ll tell you what, i have a cheap £2 padlock and i figured that if you push a pick right to the back of the padlock you can feel a lever or some sort of moving part and if you push this it directly opens the bolt thats keeping the shackle down. Now thats nothing to do with picking the lock by using the pins but i think i was more impressed with myself for finding this stupid inperfection in the lock than i have been in some of my easy picking!!!!!!

The answer is whatever works, and if you are doing it for fun then whatever makes you happy!!!!

[just-another-newbie]

thanks for replying, but just another question so please put up with me for another minute...do you know a suitable tension wrench which i can get easily? I have already used a flat-head screwdriver but it dents the lock when i turn the plug...

thanks again for your great help...

[Picker_Level-0]

No the tensio wrench is a bit difficult to mimmic with such good leverage. I found that screwdrivers slipped out of the lock, the best i could do was find a small electrical screwdriver like the really really tiny ones and use that, even then its nothin like the real thing, anyone else a suggestion!?

[Scourge_Cooper_the_4th]

you could use one of those screwdrivers they use for glasses. they work pretty well but there are also hair pins(i use them alot sometimes) also if your dealing with a lock with a combination bring something to help you hear a little leaddrop in it then you know you got the combination.