UGH... need to vent

[gouveia25]

I've very new to recreational lock pick. I have a few Locks that I practice on daily and its a very calming experience BUT I have two locks that just wont budge. One is a Master lock M15 and the other is American lock series 260, and the WORST part is my dad loves to bust my chops about it. I work at it ever day and go to my others when in need of an easy confidence boost. Okay rant over.

[DarkWoodPicks]

HI! I know the feeling. I have an American lock that I can't pick (found out later the core is seized..). What really sucks though is I have a Brinks lock that I've never opened. I can open just about anything but not this lock. Look at the biting on the key and try using tok and a deeper pick. I have faith in you!

[GWiens2001]

I've very new to recreational lock pick. I have a few Locks that I practice on daily and its a very calming experience BUT I have two locks that just wont budge. One is a Master lock M15 and the other is American lock series 260, and the WORST part is my dad loves to bust my chops about it. I work at it ever day and go to my others when in need of an easy confidence boost. Okay rant over.

is your dad a picker?

Gordon

[gouveia25]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. Also, my dad is not a Picker but my best friend and loves to bust my chops and the best way to shut him up is to pick it. As a side note I can tell this will turn into a lock collection.

[GWiens2001]

A good friend should bust your chops.

Now how you get back at him...

1. Buy another of the same kind of lock.
2. Disassemble it.
3. Remove all pin stacks except the very front one.
4. Make sure that there is no spool pin there.
5. Reassemble the lock.
6. Impress your dad at how fast you can pick it now.



Gordon

[greengrowlocks]

I've very new to recreational lock pick. I have a few Locks that I practice on daily and its a very calming experience BUT I have two locks that just wont budge. One is a Master lock M15 and the other is American lock series 260, and the WORST part is my dad loves to bust my chops about it. I work at it ever day and go to my others when in need of an easy confidence boost. Okay rant over.

When I first started picking I worked through Kwiksets and Masters 1,3 and 5 fairly quickly so went to the hardware store to get more locks. One of the new locks was the Master M15. I couldn't get it open for the life of me and was very frustrated as well. I researched the limited picking literature about the M15 online and "heavy tension" "counterclockwise" were mentioned a few times. Eventually a few months and countless hours later I was able to pick it counterclockwise. I used a plug spinner to spin it back. The day after that I picked in clockwise for the first time. I found that the most important thing was to be very accurate with your pick (ex. when setting pin 3 don't be touching pin 2 or 4) Also pay close attention to binding order. In my lock hitting shearline feels very faint on some of the pins. If you have time maybe make a diy plug spinner and try counterclockwise. Hope that helps but don't feel bad if you don't get it.

Good luck!
GGL

[jimylongs]

I've got to 2nd greengrowlocks, the tension on the M15 is tricky to work with. I wouldn't let that get to you, it's not the easiest lock. Also, Americans normally have the serrated and serrated spool pins, but I'm not familiar with the 260 series. I do know the serrated type pins take some time to get use to, but they end up being a blast. Don't give up, you'll get it

[Daltonj21]

I've very new to recreational lock pick. I have a few Locks that I practice on daily and its a very calming experience BUT I have two locks that just wont budge. One is a Master lock M15 and the other is American lock series 260, and the WORST part is my dad loves to bust my chops about it. I work at it ever day and go to my others when in need of an easy confidence boost. Okay rant over.

I personally use TOK when I able to. It's pretty rare that I use BOK.

I've always found the master locks like a little heavier tension. With that said, just make sure you are only picking one pin at a time. When I just started out it was easy to go through the lock lift the crap out if everything , but eventually I found out that picking a little slower was actually faster.

I know it gets said a lot but keep on practicing , eventually you will get it.
Goodluck

[gouveia25]

I don't want to assume its with everybody but I find picking very relaxing. I've never tried TOK picking.

[Jabs D]

I don't want to assume its with everybody but I find picking very relaxing. I've never tried TOK picking.

I find picking very relaxing, if I have had a bad day at work or I am stressed out, I will sit down and pick a few "confidence boosters" and hey presto I'm calm.

[Ralph_Goodman]

I find picking very relaxing, if I have had a bad day at work or I am stressed out, I will sit down and pick a few "confidence boosters" and hey presto I'm calm.

I think this is also perfect when you are trying to get into a lock that is giving you trouble. I like a couple of confidence boosts to clear my head.

Every once and a while it is good to reset with something familiar. Get back to the basics with a device you understand.

SPP that lock you know everything about in a few seconds, but really pay attention to the feel.

That is always my suggestion for these issues.

[gouveia25]

When I go back to a confidence builder lock sometimes I like to release the tension bar slowly to hear the pins slide back into place. I think it helps me visualize the inside of the lock. Once again I'm new to picking but really enjoy it.

[gouveia25]

I think there must be something binding because all 5 pins seem to be set with the M15 Masterlock.

[greengrowlocks]

I think there must be something binding because all 5 pins seem to be set with the M15 Masterlock.

Could be that something is over set. You could maybe try picking counterclockwise to see if there is any variance in the depths of the set pins and use that info to determine which pins are either under or over set. Not sure if you have the key but you could use that for reference too.

[gouveia25]

I do have the Key nice I didn't think of that.