by pyrobeav_2005 » 3 Dec 2003 20:11
If you are interested in learning to pick my first suggestion is to find a document called "The MIT Guide to Lock Picking". It is authored by "Ted the Tool". It basically describes the workings of a lock and how to pick. It is mentioned in many posts so look around for a link. As for materials, go down to your local hardware store and by some welding rod and some hacksaw blades. Cut the hacksaw blades in half using shears and use the halves to make double ended picks(various pick designs are diagramed in the aforementioned guide). Note, when grinding the hacksaw blades, take care not to overheat the metal. after every few cuts dunk it in cold water so that it keeps its temper(Also, don't try to temper the hacksaw blades or they'll become brittle and break off in your lock!).Finally, I wrap a couple of layers of electrical tape to make a more comfortable handle. As for tension keys, take the welding rod and cut off about a 5 inch piece. Smash about a half inch of the end just flat enough to fit into your lock. You have to have a good flat surface to do this on, I myself use the flat area on our vice, but if in came to it you could probably do it on cement. Grind the sides down to the desired width and clamp the flat endin a vice with about an eighth of an inch still showing. Otherwise the tension key will move too much and will make picking harder. To temper, get a cup of cold water to dunk the metal into. Then, holding the tension key with PLIERS, heat the metal evenly over the last inch and a half of the key till it is glowing. Now dunk it in the water. Do this about five more times but now dunk it when it barely starts to glow otherwise you will be taking the temper out of it. You now have an extremely sturdy tension key. For versatility I take the other end and make a smaller key facing in the opposite direction so that I don't have to carry so many tension keys. Good luck!
The Beav
