Feedback help

[Challenger]

I am new and struggling big time. I can pick a Master #3 but it's almost by accident. I get a click on a pon or maybe two but the balance of the pins being set is poke and hope.
I decided to make a training lock using a high quality deadbolt lock cylinder. I have the 5 pins covered with Allen set screws like those that can be purchased. I installed 2 of the 5 pin stacks and obviously it is easily picked however I get no perceptible feedback from the tension wrench and no clicking sound whatsoever. If I look at YouTube the clicks the lock picking posters all seem to get is unmistakable.
Any advice is greatly appreciated on how to get the feedback.
Thanks

[prevariikation]

Super cool that you made your own progressively pinned lock I'm relearning with digital_blue's lockpicking exercise and most of what I have to say is just an addon to it.

I'm still learning how to get good feedback. I'm training to rely less on clicks, since the dirty/overlubricated locks I have particularly don't like to click. Instead I'm trying to learn how to distinguish pin states by feel.

I practice splitting the lockpick into constant force and the tension wrench into variable force. So I'll intentionally apply too much tension, then press on each pin stack identically, and find the binding pin since it's the only pin that doesn't move at all. Then I shift to the binding pin stack, press with the lockpick, and just hold that force for a second, so I remember what it feels like to press evenly.

Now I gradually relax tension on the wrench, and once the pin begins to move, keep that tension steady. If I'm keeping lockpick pressure correctly, the pin should move slowly, and I should be able to feel a light grinding through the pick and the wrench that's the pin dragging against the chamber walls. When the pin stops, it may click or it may not, but I'll increase tension (to help "preserve" the current state) and return the lockpick to the neutral position. Then I use the pick to check the pin state before moving on or continuing to press the same pin stack.

I've gone from inconsistent picking on 4-pin locks, to reliably opening 5-pinners with a couple spools. Let me know if this is helpful; dunno if this actually addresses your questions!

[Challenger]

Super cool that you made your own progressively pinned lock I'm relearning with digital_blue's lockpicking exercise and most of what I have to say is just an addon to it.

I'm still learning how to get good feedback. I'm training to rely less on clicks, since the dirty/overlubricated locks I have particularly don't like to click. Instead I'm trying to learn how to distinguish pin states by feel.

I practice splitting the lockpick into constant force and the tension wrench into variable force. So I'll intentionally apply too much tension, then press on each pin stack identically, and find the binding pin since it's the only pin that doesn't move at all. Then I shift to the binding pin stack, press with the lockpick, and just hold that force for a second, so I remember what it feels like to press evenly.

Now I gradually relax tension on the wrench, and once the pin begins to move, keep that tension steady. If I'm keeping lockpick pressure correctly, the pin should move slowly, and I should be able to feel a light grinding through the pick and the wrench that's the pin dragging against the chamber walls. When the pin stops, it may click or it may not, but I'll increase tension (to help "preserve" the current state) and return the lockpick to the neutral position. Then I use the pick to check the pin state before moving on or continuing to press the same pin stack.

I've gone from inconsistent picking on 4-pin locks, to reliably opening 5-pinners with a couple spools. Let me know if this is helpful; dunno if this actually addresses your questions!

I've also been trying to vary the tension but im still not getting pins set properly most times. A lot of times I over set pins. FWIW the issue with the progressive lock I made was due to the fact that I cut the springs which made them jam. I put in new springs and it is great. I can do three pins and get good feedback. When I put 4 pins in I'm over my head.
One thing that confuses me is where to put the pick. I put it under the pins but I wonder if I should be attacking the pins from the side through the key cut that's to the side of the cut that has the pins?

[prevariikation]

I've also been trying to vary the tension but im still not getting pins set properly most times. A lot of times I over set pins.

At least for me, I overset a lot when I'm using too much tension and then increasing the pressure on the pick to compensate. I try to back off the picking pressure, keep it steady, and drop tension slowly. Then if I drop previous pins, I know that I can go up on the picking pressure to compensate for the higher tension needed.

FWIW the issue with the progressive lock I made was due to the fact that I cut the springs which made them jam. I put in new springs and it is great.

Nice! I've pinched a spring in the grub screw threads before. Picked really strangely.

One thing that confuses me is where to put the pick. I put it under the pins but I wonder if I should be attacking the pins from the side through the key cut that's to the side of the cut that has the pins?

I think it's just personal preference! Based on the pick and the keyway, I'm learning to leverage off the keyway wards, since I can't get through paracentric keyways with a hook. If a lock has like a KW1 keyway though, I can just go straight up.