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I thought I would share some things I have learned so far as a beginner.
1. A cheap set of picks is OK to start with but get a better set as soon as you decide to keep going with this hobby. I just got my first set of "real picks, and because of the flex of the old picks, vs, no flex on the new ones, it's like starting all over.
2. DO NOT OVER TENSION. I was killing myself with over tension. Finally one day I literally just laid my finger on the tension wrench and had my first pick.
3. Practice every day Should be a no brainier but it is not something that just happens and then you can do it over and over. Nope. Not when you are new anyway.
4. Get different locks to pick (Get a master to pick at first). Went to my hardware store and bought some cheap china locks, still working on them. Bought 2 master locks. I can SPP both and zip open one also. They seem stupid easy now. But I have a dollar tree lock that is a pain and I still haven't opened it. The key way is very wide and any tension tool gets lost, leaving no room to pick.
5. Check your locks occasionally. Update on cheap dollar store lock I couldn't open. Took the time to find they key and guess what? I wouldn't open. I broke it trying to pick it. Check your locks occasionally, especially if you are having a real hard time picking it.
Yes yes yes to finding correct tension. The longer I work with a lock the more I subconsciously pile on tension, and my dollar store locks likely have bent pins from that. Especially because cheap lock pins can just be wire, cut to size.
Glad I picked up Brinks and Masters to take the stress of the learning curve and still function smoothly!
Edit: and it helped me a lot to get a couple of locks with "dead cores" (no spring tension returning the keyway back to the locked position.) With no turning force other than the tension tool, it was easier to tell I had a habit of overapplying tension.
6. Check your locks occasionally. No, I am not losing it. This is different than #5. While picking and using light tension, stop and apply some heavy tension once in a while. I have picked a lock twice now and didn't realize it until I put more tension on the core and like magic, it turned. When you come to that dead end, you might have already picked it and didn't know....
mikenflorida wrote:Where do you find locks with a dead core? Recommendations?
Used Kwikset and Schlage key-in-knob cylinders are cheapest for me, and don't typically have security pins. I do gut them and take out a couple pin stacks since I'm not up to 5 pins yet. I avoid Kwikset SmartKey assemblies since they aren't standard pin tumblers and require special techniques to pick.
There's a reclaimed construction materials store nearby, and if I can scavenge loose KIK cylinders, they only charge me ~$0.50/each. When I was getting started, if I couldn't find unpaired cylinders, I'd buy the whole deadbolt assembly, since it was still only $3ish.
I know there are padlocks without spring tension too, but I don't know if there are any without security pins. I got a two-pack of Master 570s and while they're fun they seem to have at least 2-3 spools and can't be dissassembled.
One reason you may be having troubles with the dollar store padlocks is that many of them have plastic bibles/cylinders. The plugs may be brass.
When they have the plastic bibles, they normally use what I call “melted spool pins”. They look like someone took a torch to a spool pin and melted all the edges. That is so the sharp edges of the pins do not destroy the cylinders too quickly. They also have a greasy feel when you are picking the pins.
Gordon
Just when you finally think you have learned it all, that is when you learn that you don't know anything yet.
Gordon, you made me real curious and I just cut one apart. All the driver pins, and one key pin, are melted spools, and since the metal body is used as the bible each pin stack has a super long spring (like 3x the combined length of the pins.) Thankfully somebody already made a video:
mikenflorida wrote:Where do you find locks with a dead core? Recommendations? Thanks.
Master makes a Dead Core Padlock, the 570, has 5 Pins, 4 are Spool. Aluminum Body. VERY tough to pick, at first, lightest of tension needed. Aluminum Body makes it nice for Practicing
#7 Take a break. I have been frustrated all day and can't pick anything. I realize I need a break (plus I am sick so that doesn't help). So give yourself a break once in a while.
#8 Try something different. If something isn't working, rather than keep on getting frustrated, try something new. A new tension wrench, a different pick, or even a new lock. Sometimes it's the simplest things.
#9 Ask for help. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Someone, if not all people in this hobby, have ran into the same issue as you and will help if you ask.
# 12 Make sure you understand how the lock actually works. Some locks have features meant to foil inexperienced pickers.
# 13 Remember that you may need to clean the lock or remove foreign objects or debris from the keyway. Also make sure that all the pins/discs/tumblers move. You may have a broken spring.
# 14 Stop looking for #10 and #11. They were never there.
Gordon
Just when you finally think you have learned it all, that is when you learn that you don't know anything yet.
