newbie on brass

[Bishop]

I've been picking locks for a while but only Master padlocks with four pins and they've been easy. I always thought I was getting pretty good until I learned that there were harder locks to pick than these. I found the first lock that I can't pick now in a solid brass body Brinks shackle padlock. I think it has 5 pins and after repeated failures I searched on here without success and then found the Brinks product page. It said these locks have anti-pick pins, I assume they mean serated or spool but I've had a lot of difficulty with it. The closest I've come to even feeling a slight change from my picking was a single pick attempt when I raked the pins and the cylinder turned about an eighth of a turn and stopped. I've not gotten it back to that position and I fear this lock is beyond my skill but since I can't bust it open and practice on it, I don't know what's going on inside. How is it that I can tell which pins are security pins, assuming that the all are not, and is there any way to pick them that's moderately successful without tons of practice and feel? Any insight would be great. I've been trying with a half diamond pick, Southord brand and this lock is turning out to be exceptionally more frustrating than the Master locks and few doorlocks I've dealt with.

[rakemaster]

Most brinks locks have spool pins.
You can tell you have spools by the lock being able to turn a little bit as you found. so youre definately dealing with some spools.

You can tell which pins are spools by applying lite torq and pushing up on each pin. The spools will push back a little against your torq tool.

To learn to pick spool pins you really should get a rekeyable lock and try first with just one and then adding more and more as you get better. Brinks makes a rekeayble padlock. You also need a rekeying kit to take the top pins out to replace them with spools and nonspools.

The MIT guide and the crypto.com guide both talk about spools. plus search here. but you did that already right?

Rakemaster

[Bishop]

That's great, thanks for the help rakemaster. Still no luck with it yet but now at least I have a better idea of what I'm dealing with. I'll make this my next level of difficulty to master and soon enough I'll be into the advanced forums .

[quasar]

here in so frustrated I haven't been able to pick my silly four pin padlocks yet

[Inphenity]

i got this same lock as a practice lock the other day .. ive been pretty consistant with it .. sometimes i can pick it in under a minute .. this is a good lock to learn spool pins on

[Inphenity]

forgot to add .. when im picking this lock and i feel the spool push against the tension wrench i just ease up the tension and keep pushing down on the pin untill the wrench doest want to turn anymore then re apply tension and reset any pins that may have moved

[Wolf2486]

To pick spool pins you must first get the lock to the point where it has turned a little and most the pins no longer move. Once at this position, lift up on each pin until you feel the tension wrench move back a bit. This pin is the spool pin. Now you must lift this pin slowely while easing up on the tension. Eventually, the pin will set and either the lock will open, or you must set a few more, regular, pins.

[therobokid]

how do you pick a lock i have read the faq but could not find any thing. do you know any websites that i can go on that will get me started please, thx

[Wolf2486]

Do a web search (google perhaps) for the MIT guide. It is a great way to get started. Then make/buy some picks, find a lock (legally) and practice.

[Chucklz]

You read this FAQ AND followed the appropriate links?

viewtopic.php?t=1744

[Romstar]

how do you pick a lock i have read the faq but could not find any thing. do you know any websites that i can go on that will get me started please, thx

It would have taken you a day to read the FAQ section on this site alone. If you had followed those instructions, and obtained the MIT guide, as well as simply reading and examining all the material available on THESE forums, you would still be reading, and not asking this silly question.

You had the requsite intelligence to use Google, or another search engine to find this web site. You had the requsite intelligence to register so that you could post this useless question, but you apparently didn't have the required intelligence to simply READ and learn.

Now, people are right when they say there is no such thing as a stupid question, but......

When you have the answers right in front of you, and then you ask again we have to ask if maybe you might have a bit of a problem.

READ, read this stuff and try to understand. THEN, after you have tried some of it, if there are questions come back and we will see if we can help you.

Good luck,
Romstar