Lock Picking 101 Forum
A community dedicated to the fun and ethical hobby of lock picking.
       

Lock Picking 101 Home
Login
Profile
Members
Forum Rules
Frequent Forum Questions
SEARCH
View New Posts
View Active Topics


Live Chat on Discord
LP101 Forum Chat
Keypicking Forum Chat
Reddit r/lockpicking Chat



Learn How to Pick Locks
FAQs & General Questions
Got Beginner Questions?
Pick-Fu [Intermediate Level]


Ask a Locksmith
This Old Lock
This Old Safe
What Lock Should I Buy?



Hardware
Locks
Lock Patents
Lock Picks
Lock Bumping
Lock Impressioning
Lock Pick Guns, Snappers
European Locks & Picks
The Machine Shop
The Open Source Lock
Handcuffs


Member Spotlight
Member Introductions
Member Lock Collections
Member Social Media


Off Topic
General Chatter
Other Puzzles


Locksmith Business Info
Training & Licensing
Running a Business
Keyways & Key Blanks
Key Machines
Master Keyed Systems
Closers and Crash Bars
Life Safety Compliance
Electronic Locks & Access
Locksmith Supplies
Locksmith Lounge


Buy Sell Trade
Buy - Sell - Trade
It came from Ebay!


Advanced Topics
Membership Information
Special Access Required:
High Security Locks
Vending Locks
Advanced Lock Pick Tools
Bypass Techniques
Safes & Safe Locks
Automotive Entry & Tools
Advanced Buy/Sell/Trade


Locksport Groups
Locksport Local
Chapter President's Office
Locksport Board Room
 

New Picker Excited

Picked all the easy locks and want to step up your game? Further your lock picking techniques, exchange pro tips, videos, lessons, and develop your skills here.

New Picker Excited

Postby lostyou » 3 Jan 2005 20:13

Hello all . I'm a new member from Colorado and I am 26 , I googled "how to pick locks" and now here I am . :D I'v been very interested in this hobby for a long time and I am ready to get started . My previous hobby was RC Cars (Radio Control) , that was wearing out my "pockets" after a while . I'm sure this will be a lot cheaper . I love to do things with my hands ; build stuff , take stuff apart , ect ... thus , I thought this could be a really good starting point to try something that I'v always wanted to do . Thank you all for having me as a member and reading my first post ... I am VERY excited !! I just got done printing the "Matt Blaze : University of Pennsylvania" tut , so I'll be busy with that and buying my first set of tools . Thanks again for having me .
lostyou
 
Posts: 2
Joined: 3 Jan 2005 0:16
Location: Thornton Colorado

Postby Wolf2486 » 3 Jan 2005 21:13

Welcome. Lock picking is a great hobby and I hope you enjoy it. Read the FAQ (on this site), the MIT Guide (site), and the howstuffworks.com guide. This should get you started. If you like making things then do a search for pyro's video on making picks. It is very good and very helpful.
Lock picking is an art, not a means of entry.
Wolf2486
 
Posts: 287
Joined: 15 Jul 2004 16:46
Location: Pennsylvania

Postby Mr Ules » 3 Jan 2005 21:19

welcome.
As a beginner I think you should go straight to making your picks out of feeler gauges. I suggest this material whenever someone asks about material. But, when you buy them, only use the feeler gauges which go from 0.500 to 0.800 mm in width. These are the strongest ones.
one mans trash is another mans lockpick
Mr Ules
 
Posts: 245
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 20:32
Location: Hamilton, Ont, Canada

Postby begginerlockpicker » 3 Jan 2005 21:43

I think that is kinda thick for a pick..In my opinion I think you should use .20-.40... :)
Good Luck and Happy Picking :lol:
It is always darkest right before it goes pitch black.
begginerlockpicker
 
Posts: 85
Joined: 17 Jun 2004 19:09
Location: Florida,USA

Postby Grudge » 4 Jan 2005 3:37

Welcome! Lock picking is exciting, nothing like the sound of that 'click' as the shackle springs open on a tough one.

One word of advice, don't rush your pick purchase too much. Look around here for info on picks sets and don't order from those 'spy' stores.
Grudge
Supporter
Supporter
 
Posts: 577
Joined: 10 Dec 2003 13:24
Location: Dallas, TX

Postby good_guy » 4 Jan 2005 20:13

hey welcome to lockpicking. i didnt really read what you wrote but saw that you were knew and decided to welcome you. trust me, all your friends will come to you when they are in a situation with a lock, and when you open it they go crazy... to me its sort of a confidence booster. lock picking is probably the only hobby you cant "quit" because you will always need it.
good_guy
 
Posts: 37
Joined: 9 Sep 2004 9:28

First five pin pick!

Postby longcanuck » 4 Jan 2005 20:55

Greetings All:

I too am new to lock picking, already posted my introduction in the General/ FAQ's.

Started with a disused but relatively new Weiser deadbolt. I removed two pins stacks initially for practice. Added the pins back in as I got the hang of things. It took me about a week and I'm back to the full five pins and I picked first time in about two minutes. (unable to pick it since, think I'll come back to it in the morning). Very happy though .

I have a quick question though. I have read the postings regarding the use of WD-40 as a lubricant. In my line of work (firefighter) the locks I may be picking will probably be well used and gummed up a little already.
Wouldn't a shot of WD-40 in the lock loosen things up a bit ? It does lubricate somewhat and it also acts as a solvent loosening up all the buildup of whatever may be in the lock.

Just a thought.

Hope I am posting in the right area. If not let me know. My knuckles do drag a little from time to time but I do learn eventually.
longcanuck
 
Posts: 12
Joined: 29 Dec 2004 18:01

Postby jason » 7 Jan 2005 18:14

There has been quite a bit about lock lubrication, I favour WD40 although I know that many in the US hate the stuff.

Powdered graphite just seems to get every where in the toolbox even with the lid on and kept in a ziplock bag.

I did look on the instructions on a replacement Yale cylinder (when I get really bored I read instruction sheets!) and Yale recommend WD40 as a lubricant.

If you're a fireman - just use an axe or the pneumatic cutting thingy
sledgehammers make excellent back up picks!
jason
 
Posts: 320
Joined: 9 Aug 2003 17:23
Location: London, UK

lock lube and firemans tools

Postby longcanuck » 8 Jan 2005 11:32

My favourite entry tool is the 14 pound sledge that we have on our truck, given time, it will open just about anything, although closing whatever it is after is usually a bit of a problem. When time is of the essence, that is the way I go. There are times, however, when a little more finesse and less damage is called for. That is why I started researching lock picking. I have encountered many situations where the ability to pick a lock rather than bash it to bits would be preferrable.

As for the WD-40, it couldn't hurt, and would make the picking go a little easier I think.
longcanuck
 
Posts: 12
Joined: 29 Dec 2004 18:01

Postby hzatorsk » 8 Jan 2005 11:50

jason wrote:There has been quite a bit about lock lubrication, I favour WD40 although I know that many in the US hate the stuff.


No... we don't hate it... we love fouling locks up with products that leave a residue... it is our only guarantee that the lock will continue to promote the collection of dust/dirt and result in a future callback to the same customer. :)

Any lock in bad enough shape to require WD-40 should be replaced once you get it open.

...imho...
hzatorsk
 
Posts: 696
Joined: 20 Jul 2004 11:15

Postby jason » 8 Jan 2005 15:42

well I've never had a callback for a seized lock, if the lock needs to be that heavily lubed to open it will get replaced anyway.

When it comes to lubing up, rather than spraying loads through that silly plastic straw - I put a squirt on one of my toolbox keys and run it in and out a couple of times - it also helps me to check that a pin hasn't stuck and kiddies haven't been playing with superglue
sledgehammers make excellent back up picks!
jason
 
Posts: 320
Joined: 9 Aug 2003 17:23
Location: London, UK

Postby Luke » 9 Jan 2005 8:09

Super glue is loads of fun to remove...
"I took the path less travelled by and that made all the difference"
Luke
 
Posts: 1138
Joined: 12 Jul 2003 6:27
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Postby jason » 9 Jan 2005 9:38

I use one of those little jewellers blowlamps, then the original key and then I hope and pray
sledgehammers make excellent back up picks!
jason
 
Posts: 320
Joined: 9 Aug 2003 17:23
Location: London, UK

the most stuck cylinders

Postby raimundo » 9 Jan 2005 10:51

I have found that the most seriously stuck cylinders are the ones where a top spring has broken and threaded itself past the top pin and into the space between the plug and the cylinder. these are very difficult cylinders to take apart even with a hammer and pin punch.
Wake up and smell the Kafka!!!
raimundo
 
Posts: 7130
Joined: 21 Apr 2004 9:02
Location: Minnneapolis


Return to Pick-Fu [Intermediate Skill Level]

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest