WHY CANT I PICK LOCKS???!!!???!!!

[Romstar]

Oooooh oil in locks - you should see the replies I got when I suggested WD40!

I never knew about "Mazola Oil Parties" until I looked on this site!

Dear god, is the Mazola oil stuff never going to end? I know its hard to clean up, but for heaven's sake let it die. Please.

Romstar

[Sanith]

opening locks for the first time can be a challenge it took me about 4 days to pick my first quickset and even then it took a while before I did it again (part of my problem was lack of a good hook since i made my first picks). Also after switching pins around in the lock to get a feel for quicksets in general and putting them back in the original placement i found that I had a problem with the third pin not wanting to set and setting false alot. Another problem i found in tension you need very little tenison to pick a lock. I start with just enough to turn the cylinder at first and increase slightly when I have a few pins set. Finally, trying to pick the same lock for a hour or two with no success is fustrating and you tend to loose your ability to consentrate try picking in half hour sessions i find if i try to pick to long I just can't manage

[jayson44444]

I have one yale that i cannot for the life of me open by setting individual pins but opens with a couple of rakes Anyone else had this too ?

dont feel bad the kwikset on my front door is the same way

[scotto]

I'm not sure how many of you are actual locksmith types but I have many, many years of actual experience. I see a LOT of strange ideas here as well as some really good ones.
One thing that is very important besides practice is knowledge. KNOW your enemy. haha I've met a lot of other lock picking people at conventions and through work and I still learn new things. For every lock out there there can be a different style necessary to pick it.
Develope more than just one technique. By this I mean such things as light tension, heavy tension, tension at the top of the keyway, tension at the bottom, picking individual pins, raking, picking the wrong direction, and much more. If you're not having success with one style try another. Never get stuck in a rut. One thing I see is OIL and I HATE using any liquid lubricant. If you don't have graphite try the Medico spray lube. Goes in wet and becomes a dry slick.
One important thing I learned elsewhere that really helps is to close your eyes and 'see' with your imagination. Why stare into a keyway when you can't see anything past the 1st pin? "Use the Force, Luke."
Cheap locks can be harder than good ones. An American padlock can be a pain because the top pins tend to be tighter than the lower ones and you need the tension at the top of the keyway otherwise you're going to have a lot more trouble picking it.
Think picking is hard? Try learning impressioning. Then do it in the dark while holding the flashlight in your mouth. :^)

[Romstar]

All very excellent advice.

When I helped to write the amateur impressioning guide, I couldn't help by be amazed at people like Hank Spicer and a few others.

It took me a while to get that skill worked out, and while you never really forget it, you should practice it often.

Romstar

[scotto]

I never got to meet Hank. I've been out of active locksmithing for a while but I do know the people at TechTrain very well as Steve was one of my original teachers when we all worked together in the '80's. I LOVE the impressioning video he made. I even got to teach one of his impressioning classes at a trade show and had a blast doing it. They had booked him for two classes at the same time and I'd already sat in on his class to see how it went so I got to teach that one while he taught the other one. I was scared but it worked out really well. I did get to know Bill & Carolyn Reed pretty well too. I love lock work but I am now doing international installation for Nortel Networks. I've actually had to use my picking skill in the islands a few times. Sure surprised all my fellow workers. haha

[RangerF150]

I can't quite remember when i started pickin locks , about last summer or so , give or take....

Well im still at the same padlock i started with , i've tried many locks and had some success , but i've gone back to basics , cos i don't think i have quite figured it all yet ....

I do think it's worth doin , as i feel if i get that right im sorted

It ain't something you learn in a few days , get a cheap pad lock and serve your time on that .
Slowly slowly , no quickly quickly !

[scotto]

Hey Ranger, Put that lock down for a while, or throw it at the wall a few times. haha
Get some cam locks and other easy locks. Put them in a vice to hold them. (Padlock too) and just concentrate on the pick and the pins/wafers.
Get the feel for the pick against the individual pins/wafers.
One of the ways I was taught a LONG time ago was to get a mortise cylinder (ask a locksmith for an old one from his junk box.) and remove the tumblers for all but 3 holes and practice on that. Rearrange them, try again. Add another set back in and do it again. When you feel you've beaten that lock try another brand.
Some of the cheap doorknob with the plastic bodies can actually be harder for a beginner. They are more difficult to get a definite feel for.
One easy lock to practice on is a Kwikset door knob cylinder removed from the know. Hold it in your hand and pick all the time. Watching TV, hold the lock and pick it while you're watching the show. This helps you to develop the feel. Don't 'manhandle' the lock or your tools. Hold them like a doctor holding a scaple. If you have a light grip the pick will transfer feelings to you but if you grab it hard you lose the sensations.
Get a few locks picked and then go back to that padlock.
If you get frustrated at a lock, walk away for a few minutes, then come back at it.

Hope this helps. It's difficult to translate experience into words for the masses.

[Romstar]

Hope this helps. It's difficult to translate experience into words for the masses.

You're doing pretty good so far. Keep it up.

Romstar

[scotto]

Romstar, thanks for the encouraging words.
To everyone else... I just joined this group and I hope I can help answer questions. I have picked some of the strangest locks available. I've picked a DUO lock and that was VERY hard. It takes a knowledge of the internal workings of the lock. I've seen references to Abloy locks here and I've never tried one. Single sided? Sure, they're a LOT easier. Double sided? I've been to training casses on them and I've NEVER picked one. (Haven't tried YET. Have an idea on how but I'm NOT telling HERE. hahhahaa) We all have our secrets! hahahaha Please read all previous posts before responding. If I can help anyone I will. And to all the rest of you out there... Keep up the good work and pick it like it's a real bugger! hahahahaahaha

[Chucklz]

When you put a lock in a vise, do not close the jaws too tightly, or you will deform the lock and make it extremly difficult to pick (technically if you apply just the right amount of force in the right way, you should be able to slightly expand the shear line, but at the expense of increasing friction between the plug and shell).

About holding a scalpel. Many people beleive that a scalpel is held in the same manner as a pencil. It is not, but the pencil grip is a reasonable way to hold a pick. I use it all the time. To hold a pick in the "right" scalpel way, one would grip the pick between the thumb and third finger, with the index finger along the top of the pick for stability and increased control. This is also a great way to hold a pick. It all depends on your personal preference so feel free to experiment!

[scotto]

Dear ChuckLZ:(and all)
EXCELLENT observation. Are you in the medical field?
Sorry, didn't explain the 'scaple' holding technique before.
The reason the scaple is held between the thumb and the middle finger is so that the index finger can "point" to the desired location. The same technique is used in scissors. The index finger points the way. NOT like they showed you in grade school so you wouldn't "hurt yourself".
One thing about using this technique while picking is so that the index finger, being on top of the pick, can "feel" the sensations of the lock and the picking experience better than just holding the pick in random fingers.
Technique is the whole idea here. NOT my technique, NOT their technique, but YOUR technique. And YOUR technique can only be found by PRACTICE and experimentation. I really love all the responses I've gotten so far here and I hope what I say is helpful. I grew up wanting to pick locks and this is a great place to learn. You GO! (everyone out there!)

[Chucklz]

I guess you could say that I am in the bio-medical field (Basic biology research/bioinformatics). As a scientist, experimenting is what I do.

I have found that I also enjoy round handled picks. They seem to lend them selves well to extended picking sessions, again borrowing from a medical field, they feel like dental tools.

[guard70]

Tri-flow is the lube that you want.

[master in training]

i'm looking for some motivation or for some help. so far i have picked 1 lock and its very easy but that doesnt count. i then have 1 Yale lock and one desk lock i dont know what type or brand and i cant pick either one. I've been picking the Yale one for 4 days not and i cant do it. its one of those external locks just to let you know.
Ive read the MIT guide and others but i cant figure it out. im trying for one pin pick at one at a time and not scrubbing. i cant do it!

UGHHHHH

wow, this seems to have gone off topic a bit!

im trying to put something back into this forum as i keep asking questions so... here goes!

for picking lock, the main things i would ask to make sure of are;
1.) what kind of picks are you using? if they are homepage, are the the right length etc, if not, have you tried using different picks from your set?

2.) when picking, how are you holding the lock, a vice or some form of clamp is easiest, but if you dont have one, you can do what i do, which is hold the lock between your thumb and index finger, you can then use your other three fingers to move the tension wrench, not the easiest of methods, but one i find works well. anyone feel free to correct me

3.) when picking visualise what you are doing to the lock, how far in your pick is, which pins it is manipulating etc.


i cant really think of anything else right now, you may have progressed a lot since you ade the first post, but in case you havent and if anyone else needs help, here are a few very simple pointers.

if this is any help to anyone please tell me, if im telling people utter rubbish, someone just delete the post or tell me or something!