Help with my PICK Feeling!

[Truck]

Before I posted this message here, I have read all of the lock pick tutorial websites. Right now, I am using hard long pin as my pick. I got the hard long pin from hobby shop; it originally used for trapping a RC touring car body. It is like a diaper pin but it is long. Anyway, the torque wrench I am using is a flatbed screwdriver.

I am successful to unlock with raking up and down with the pick, but this is not actual PICKING. I have problem to feel the upper pin stick to the shear line. I can't feel a thing. HELP, PLZ. I am getting real pick tools soon.

[CitySpider]

That's the first step: get real picking tools. The higher quality the better. I've found that real, good picks improve your feel more than anything except practice.

That's the second step: PRACTICE. What I suggest is getting a cylinder and removing all but two pins, and then just picking it over and over again. Use different picks, sometimes do it while you're just paying attention to picking, sometimes when you're watching television, whatever. Over and over and over again, literally five hundred or a thousand times. That's how I keep from getting "rusty" -- I have a Kwikset that I've picked so many times I can literally stick a rake in it and turn the plug, not even three seconds, but it keeps your hands from going dull.

[Chucklz]

At many hardware stores/ cheap junk stores you can pick up Rim cylinders that are sold as replacement cylinders for about $2 US each. You can rekey them, modify them etc, for a very inexpensive price.

[MHanft87]

Another thing I have heard is to take sandpaper and ruff up the pads of your fingertips. I have done this and it helps because there is little bits of skin sticking off from your finger and i guess they make it more sensitive so you can feel the pins better. Also use a light touch on your pick.

[Chucklz]

I dont know what to say to that, except just why? Unless you have rough callused hands, I pity your fingers.

[MHanft87]

To learn and get the feel of the pins.....thats why.

[Chucklz]

Its bad advice frankly. You can sand blast your hands, and its not going to do too much for your feel. The increased sensation you "feel" is due to sensitized nerve endings.

[salzi684]

I'm with Chucklz, I doubt if sanding your fingers will give you a better feel while picking. If you want to get a better feel, pay attention to your tension wrench while you are picking. I find it is far easier to tell weather or not a pin is set by the reaction of the tension wrench than what the pick is telling me. Also listen for the pins to click while you are picking. Both of these skills will get you farther than any amount of self mutilation.

[danreller]

Hi CitySpider,

What brands do you consider high quality? I began with SouthOrd and have had excellent results. I've read many other posts about more infrequent tools that are available which some members prefer. Which offers the best design, tactile response (felt through the handle design), durability ( I already see wear on my existing picks so I know there is a life limit), or ?

Thanks guy,

[CitySpider]

Hey Dan,

Get some Rytans. The good ones, with the ergonomic handles. If you could only get one, get a blue diamond hook. I've had both sizes of the diamond hook, both sizes of the diamond, and the black rake -- but I'm a minimalist, I only keep the picks I use, so I got rid of the two diamonds and the rake.

If you want to upgrade your entire set, and you're just as minimalist as I am, get the Rogan set. Or the Brockhage, whatever it's called. It has very, very little deadweight.

I have a question for you. Why do you see wear on your existing picks? Rytans especially are much LESS durable, they bend a lot more easily, that's three quarters of why they give better feedback. Thinner Brockhages are the same way. But I've picked a lot of locks with mine, and about twice that with my SouthOrds, and I don't see any wear.

Glad to see you're sticking with it.

Spider

[Eyes_Only]

I dunno if this will apply but Ive always found it helpful to close your eyes when practicing. That way all other visual distractions will be eliminated and you will concentrate much more on the sense of touch. Kinda strange I would give this kind of advice when my user name is eyes only huh?

[Chubby]

Truck said

Anyway, the torque wrench I am using is a flatbed screwdriver.

Unless I'm unique in my picking technique, all feed back that I need from pin tumbler locks comes via the tension wrench, that is why I have a dozen specific wrenches and only use at the very most three picks...

n00bs always assume that the picks are so much more important than wrenches, tsh, tsh, tsh!

*Mumbles to hiself! "flatbed screwdriver"....Sigh!*

[CitySpider]

And while we're learnin' ya, I'm pretty sure it's a flatHEAD screwdriver, as opposed to a flatbed. Also as opposed to a tension wrench.