Skill level or lock issue

[jbearnolimits]

So I am new to picking. I have 3 clear training locks that I am able to single pin pick without looking at them in seconds.

But I bought a dollar tree lock (tool bench brand padlock). I can't seem to open it very well. I've managed to rake it open only about 4 times and never been able to single pin picked it open. The other day I broke my city rake in it.

I also bought a $6 padlock (hyper tough brand long shackle). I can single pin pick it so easily because even though it has multiple pins it's only the first one that binds. So push the first one up and bang, lock picked

You would think a $1 lock would be the easy one. But it seems like I can set pin 5, then pin 3, then 2... But then 5 drops. Even when holding higher tention I can hear and feel it drop. So is there a skill issue, or lock issue?

The key will not open it if you push it all the way in. But if you slightly pull it back (not past any pins) it will open the lock.

[prevariikation]

Might be dealing with melted spool pins in the $1 padlock. Especially if all the pins are the "melted" variety, you may get a number of drops as the true binding order slowly emerges. What happens if you keep picking after pin 5 drops?

(photo credit: GWeins2001)


My guess is the key may just have a shoulder that's too deep. I have a housekey where the cuts were made too far out, and so it needs to be pulled out slightly to align correctly.

[jbearnolimits]

What happens if you keep picking after pin 5 drops?

I have tried to pick the rest and go back to 5 but they don't bind. So I go back to 5 and set it again. But when I do pin 5 again pin 3 falls. Go back to 3 and 5 falls again. It just kinda loops like that.

[Squelchtone]

The answer is both. You're new and still getting the hang of it, and you bought a poorly made lock with so much slop inside that it's hard to feel what's going on. Resist buying the cheapest locks (and cheapest pick sets) you can find.. start on a Kwikset (not the Smartkey model), Defiant, Master Lock, Brinks, or Ace Hardware. They'll give you better feedback.

If you're breaking a city rake, then you're being way too rough with either the way you insert the pick, the way you rock it, or you are fish-tailing left and right as you insert into the keyway. Remember, the pick should glide straight into the lock like the real key would, it doesn't enter the keyway at 45 degree angles, that's how tools get broken.

Most newbies, myself included, crank on the turning tools way too hard, which makes it harder to lift pins, and leads to wrench tools and picks bending or breaking.

Which brand of picks are you using by the way? some steel will snap easier than others.

Hope you find this feedback helpful,
Squelchtone

[jbearnolimits]

Which brand of picks are you using by the way? some steel will snap easier than others.

Hope you find this feedback helpful,
Squelchtone

I'm not sure but I think Lsimt. My wife bought it for me off of Amazon. The strange thing about breaking the rake is it didn't snap or anything. I just started to slowly rock the tip upwards and noticed it was moving way too easy and didn't feel like I was hitting anything.

I think it's because it is a small keyhole so there really isn't room for bottom of the way picking. I think they tention wrench just pressed up against it and since I was already frustrated I didn't realize how much pressure I was putting on the pick.