Finding that binding pin...

[oovgroov]

Hey All,

First off, a big hello! Long time lurker, first time poster. Was introduced to lock picking as a youngin from my dad. Only recently I've got the bug and can't seem to get enough of it.

I've been successful at picking a variety of standard locks found at the hardware store (Kwikset, Schlage etc) but it still doesn't seem very "scientific" to me. In other words, in many ways, it seems random in that I'm not able to distinctly figure out the binding order like some of you all so proficiently talk about and demonstrate on video. For me it's just randomly searching by pushing up on the pins until I find a "sticky" one that sets and on to the next. Sometimes it seems to me that one pin binds first, and then the next time it's another pin and then it feels like they both are binding. I guess my question is, what techniques do you guys do that helps you find the true "first binder"? I've had some success with the "speed bump" method, but even using that it seems that two (sometimes 3) pins seem to be stiff vs the others.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[LockPickViking]

Big hello to you aswell

It was like this for me aswell when i started out. The more experience i got the more feel and control came with it. So i would recommend just practice alot, and be conscious of what you are doing

[mseifert]

Practice and feel what you are doing .. Be extremely aware of the pin you are touching .. Picking is just as much about the mechanical movement of pins as it is about the feeling that is present.

[oovgroov]

Thanks for the help and encouragement! (I can use it). I've found some great posts that helped me better understand for others that might be struggling with the same issues:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=60413&p=460427
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=61967&p=457206
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=61391&p=452685

One of the big "ahh haahs" was that too much tension can cause multiple bindings and that you have to find that sweet spot of tension to determine the true "first binder" as I like to call it.