Little help please

[rayman452]

Im new to lock picking, and was wondering if I were to keep doing this, would it be worth it to make my own pic. I currently am practicing on a kwickset lock, with only 4 tumberlers in, i managed to open it once. Im using a paper clip and a screw driver, and was wondering if theres an easier way to do it, since the paperclip just bends at times. Also, is there a way to force and keep the first pin up? Because the way I was trying to pick the lock was raking it, and attempting to get the first pin stuck, so I can see the rest of the pins. It worked sometimes, and when I could get it stuck, picking the lock was very easy. Also, with the torsion wrenches Ive heard about, it seems that a screw driver is the exact same thing, except the torsion wrench is angled to let you see more. Could that wrench be made from a hacksaw blade? And for making a pick out of a hacksaw blade, what type should I make first? the triangle one? (looks like (_____|===/\)

Thx,
Rayman452

[stick]

It's better to learn not to rely on vision when you pick locks, as it will only hinder you later on. As for making your paper clip stronger, you could try heating it up with a lighter and dunking it in cold water. Might not work, and you risk breaking it off in the lock, so be careful if you decide to try that.

You're right about the screwdriver/tension wrench comparison. Tension wrenches are simply smaller and allow for more manueverability, and yes, they can be made from hacksaw blades.

As for shapes for your first picks, I'd recommend a hook pick and a diamond.

[rayman452]

Thanks for that info, im gonna try and make a dimond pick, ill find a picture somewhere on the internet. A hook pic is a pic on a 45 degree angle, right? And if I'm 14, is it possible for me to get an apprentist ship at my local locksmith area? Would they teach me for free or I would have to do work for them?

[Eschatos]

*sigh*

[stick]

Pictures are readily available all over the place. Just head to southord.com and look at their pictures. As for your apprenticeship, you would have to 1.) be of the legal age in your area to be working, 2.) prove that you're interested in locksmithing, which is FAR different from lock picking, and 3.) be really, REALLY lucky. No sane locksmith is going to a hire a 14 year old stranger.

[rayman452]

Legal age in canada is just being able to show a social security number, and I figure if i walk in with my parents, they'd trust me a bit more. As for the locksmithing, how different is that from picking, and would i be taught picking within a month? I also managed to make my own pics today (YAY!), and I can so far pick a kwickset lock with 4 pins in it. Now another question with that is, I managed to pick the lock open, and then I couldn't close it. The lock was stuck somewhere, even when I turned the knob. I eventually pulled all the pins out, and I found some weird pins, which are about 1 or 2 millimeters thick. THere were 5 of those, along with the other pins, so 15 pins in total. Now how the hell do i get the lock to work again, or I just destroyed my first lock? Keep in mind all the pins are out, and I have no experience, and i only picked it with 4 pins in it.

[Peaky]

Read the MIT guide, then have a good look around the site for your answers using the search button, every question you have asked is answered many many times to newbes that have/are wasting valuble space by asking all the same questions.

If you cant be arsed looking dont bother posting

A few pointers are,

Dont bother with paper clips, or a screw driver, make the proper tools,

You can not learn to be a locksmith in years not alone a month, some say you are never a true locksmith,

Dont practice on locks that are in use,

An apprenticeship is basically on the job training, no one is going to teach you for free and no one is going to take on a 14 year old, you need to finish school before you start an apprenticeship,

Read the MIT guide along with the how stuff works site,

Use the Search button to look for your answers before asking.

[rayman452]

Ok then, what were those extra 5 pins then? Spacers? I just started, and if those were spacers, that would explain the extra force need for them?

[Peaky]

Have you even read my above post??

READ THE MIT GUIDE

READ THE HOW STUFF WORKS SITE

When you know how the lock works with what pieces, and what all the pieces are called and what you are trying to achive whilst picking a lock you will find that this question is obsolete,

If you still want it clarifying at least you can ask what a particular piece is for and understand the answer when you have some knowledge of what you are talking about.

I/we are not going to spoon feed you, we all have to use the search button at sometime.

[rayman452]

read the post...I've looked at the MIT guide many times, and it was the howstuffworks.com site which got me intrested on how easy it can be, if you have the tools and know what your doing. Anyways, I made my own torsion wrench, but im a little unhappy with it. I should be able to fix it later on though. I've made a half-diamond pick, which I feel is very good, since just a few minutes ago, I managed to pick my first lock, a kwikset deadbolt. Im gonna keep rearranging the pins and practice, but was wondering. Is a weiser lock too hard for a beginer? Would I be able to pick it with my torsion wrench and half-diamond? And again, what should the next pick I make be?

[Peaky]

I am not sure about a weiser but you should be able to pick it with your tools but if its got spool pins etc you will have great difficulty with any pick and should move on to some padlocks or anything else you can get your hands on,
A good second pick may be a snake pick or a hook pick,

A hook doesnt have to be at 45' it can be any angle as long as it has enough room to get at a pin behind a low pin,

Copy some of the templates off this site and see which you think you can make easiest and and work your way up to more difficult shapes,

With practice you will find that you need a pick shaped a particular way and then make one to do that type of lock,

Make a few differant tension wrenches and on some of them angle the sides of the part which goes into the lock then you will find it fits a lot more locks and with a better fit.

I take it that you now know what your extra bits are for?

[rayman452]

well, I didn't put them in, but just by guessing now, i think their used to make the pins a bit longer, so that one key fits all in a house. BUt I could be wrong...So ill go ahead and make a snake pick... And the weiser is a more secure one with spool shaped pins? Cuz I don't think as I can pick that eh...

[Peaky]

Yes you are mostly correct, well done, it will most probably have been a master keyed lock.

Yes if your weiser has spool pins put it away for a while and come back to it otherwise you will just get irritated and not open it.

Try some cheap padlocks as somtimes the sloppyness in them can make them difficult to pick,

If you decide to have a go at wafers, a half round pick may be of an advantage as well,

[rayman452]

Okey, I found a no name one, and it looks cheap. The part with the turny knob (is there a proper name for it? i wana learn the lingo ) doesnt even have an engraved "Locked", so im gonna give that a shot. I was looking at other posts, and they told newbies at this to stay away from warden. they said it was too easy, and you would learn a bad way. I also tried a pick, which is now my torsion wrench, on a apple server box in my house, and i ripped out the lock... I managed to force it back in, but im not gonna do that again...

Are master locks easy to open as my next lock? I have one of those i may be able to get. Or what other brand may be easy? After a 5 pin tumbler, what should i get to again? Because i dont want to work on security locks after my first pick...


THX THX...
rayman452

[stick]

It seems to me as if you've taken ever commonly asked question and put them all in this one thread. Absolutely everything you've asked is answered in very, very many posts throughout this forum.

As for the difference between locksmithing and lockpicking: there is one. Period. Find out for yourself what it is, or risk losing the respect of any locksmith you meet.