How many times do you pick a lock?

[G-lock]

Okay, ive been collecting padlocks (mostly high security) for a little over a year now. I bought a goso pick set about 4 months ago as well as some rakes from sparrows but all i ever did was try to rake different locks open. Ive only been single pin picking for a month or so. In this time ive quickly picked all the locks i own that are within my ability. I try to limit myself to 2 a day but its kind of addicting...lol. i will re pick a lock until i memorize the binding order of the pins then its just no fun.
Now im getting to the point where it only takes me 10 minutes or so to pick my 2 locks for the day. Ill spend the rest of my free time repicking those 2. All the locks i have left are very hard to pick or unpickable. Such as, assa twin, mul t lock mt5+, abloy protec 1 & 2, kaba gemini, keso 2000s, medeco, etc. I have no friends that are into the hobby so im wondering what direction i should go in next? Ive picked like 40 different padlocks in a month...lol.

[OrMeanGene]

I personally like hoarding lol. Ill pick till theu break. I like keeping the easy ones with my unpicked locks. Gives that little confidence boost to help through the tougher locks. I really believe that helps.

Another thing you could try is getting several of the same locks to keep you from memorizing binding order. Example be get a dozen blue american 1100, and other similar, then mix um up and pick. Help avoid bad picking habits.

[billdeserthills]

I like to just pick it one time
& then I get my money & go home

[OrMeanGene]

I like to just pick it one time
& then I get my money & go home

Lol

[G-lock]

I personally like hoarding lol. Ill pick till theu break. I like keeping the easy ones with my unpicked locks. Gives that little confidence boost to help through the tougher locks. I really believe that helps.

Another thing you could try is getting several of the same locks to keep you from memorizing binding order. Example be get a dozen blue american 1100, and other similar, then mix um up and pick. Help avoid bad picking habits.

Not a bad idea, thanks!

[Robotnik]

I too will pick a lock hundreds if not thousands of times. It's great for refining touch and technique.

Personally, boredom isn't much of a problem for me due to picking style. Though it's somewhat counter to beginner recommendations, I don't pay attention to what order the pins bind in, and only give half a thought to which ones I've already set - I just find a bound pin, set it, and move on to the next (rinse & repeat). I never learn the binding order, so it's like a new lock every time

[FancyPants]

For the average lock, maybe a fifty times until I'm bored plus the occasional "I miss the feeling of you" pick after enough time has passed. I have certain go - to locks that I go back to after a long hiatus or when I feel like I'm having a bad picking day that I've picked far more times.

[kwoswalt99-]

Until I'm holding a pile of brass dust.

[GWiens2001]

Until I'm holding a pile of brass dust.

That's me all the way. And that pile of brass dust sure turns easy with the tension wrench, eh?

Gordon

[Eazy123]

I'll pick one lock anywhere from 1-5 times, then toss it in a drawer with my other picked locks and move on to one I have trouble with. When I get to one I have major trouble with, I'll pull one or two out of the drawer and work on them for a bit.

[cledry]

Once unless I pick it the wrong way and it won't spin with the plug spinner.

[TORCH [of KCK]]

Hmmm....
How many times do I pick a lock ?

Too many variables to say.
But, I'll sum it up this way.

I stop picking one when,
I'm no longer in possession because;
~ it's given or traded away
~ re-pinned & put in use
~ forced to do a salvage & recycle

[Ralph_Goodman]

Hmmm....
How many times do I pick a lock ?

Too many variables to say.
But, I'll sum it up this way.

I stop picking one when,
I'm no longer in possession because;
~ it's given or traded away
~ re-pinned & put in use
~ forced to do a salvage & recycle

I have pretty much the same experience.

The only thing that I would add is why I keep picking a lock.
- I cannot get it open.
- I can't get it open as fast as I would like.
- I can't tell why I am getting open (it seems to be luck more than skill).
- It gives me some confidence (like OrMeanGene said).
- I am trying to test it in other ways besides picking it (but I will pick it while it is still around).

If I do not understand something about the lock, it stays. (Until it breaks).