picking padlocks

[mjkings]

I am new to lockpicking. I am doing pretty good. I have a Master and a Brinks padlock. When I try to pick them I can't get them to click at the shear line. I have used light, medium and high tension but they just spring back. What am I doing wrong?

[YouLuckyFox]

A few questions from me: Can you share what pickset you purchase? When I pick masters and brinks padlocks I like to use smaller/thinner lockpicks such as the Peterson Slender Gem or slight hooks made by Raimundo. Would be good to know what size picks you are using on the brinks and master keyways. You mentioned you're new to lockpicking, do you have a lock that you succeeded in picking recently? I'd like to know how that experience was different from your experience with the Brinks and Master. Are you using tension at the top of the keyway or the bottom? Top of the keyway tension tends to help uniformly bind the pins. Sorry for 20 questions, welcome to the forum.

[mjkings]

Yes I have a Sparrows beginner lockpick set. I have a Schlage doorknob lock that I am pretty good at. I like to use the tension from the top but it is hard on some locks. I can feel the pins but I just can't get them to click, they just spring back.

[YouLuckyFox]

An exercise that might help is to push the pins to the top, then put HARD tension and then take the pick out and listen for the pins to drop as you release tension. You should get at least one pin to bind and click down; somewhere in between is your mix of tension.

[mjkings]

I tried the tension from the top and was able to do it, Thanks

[YouLuckyFox]

Thanks for the update, glad you're making progress.