picking a "master" lock with paper clips

[happygap69]

hey im trying to pick a "master" lock with just paper clips.
do you pros have any tips for me


thanks,
ben

p.s. its a bet so i can use anything but keys to pick it and i cant buy lock picks

{edited by Varjeal: email request edited due to LP101 rules.}

[Chucklz]

Search for a thread , or a link to the MIT guide. Learn how picking works etc there, and ask questions here of course. You probably will have to temper your picks, heat them up to redness, and quench in water. Email requests are not encouraged here, fyi.

[CitySpider]

hey im trying to pick a "master" lock with just paper clips.
do you pros have any tips for me


thanks,
ben

p.s. its a bet so i can use anything but keys to pick it and i cant buy lock picks

Tip Number One: Don't use just paper clips. If you HAVE to improvise, there're much better things to use, but none of them are nearly as good as real picks. Look into pen clips, hairpins, make your own picks out of some raw materials, etc etc.

[Hawk2064]

I believe the only lock you can actually pick with paper clips is a Display Case lock. I don't prefer paper clips, I'd rather use something like the long end of a tension wrench. All you have to do is push the last one or two pins down, leaving the first couple untouched (or slightly pushed in) and the lock opens right up. Actually that was the first lock I learned to pick.

[CitySpider]

I believe the only lock you can actually pick with paper clips is a Display Case lock. I don't prefer paper clips, I'd rather use something like the long end of a tension wrench. All you have to do is push the last one or two pins down, leaving the first couple untouched (or slightly pushed in) and the lock opens right up. Actually that was the first lock I learned to pick.

I've picked masterlocks and Kwiksets with two paper clips, just to see if I could. Wasn't a lot of fun. I wouldn't do it again.

[Hawk2064]

Maybe I will try that too.......

[Chucklz]

Ive had some experience picking with paperclips, its kinda fun to just say to someone, watch this, and see how far their jaws drop. You can probably do the actual picking without much trouble, but the actual opening of the lock is probably beyond the strength of the paperclips.

[pickmonger]

The sponsor of this site sells a cd called TheLocksmith. There is a section on using paperclips to make a lifterpick and a tension wrench.

The techniques of making the picks/wrench and opening a deadbolt lock are demonstrated in a video.

It seems that expert lockpickers can easily pick with paperclips if and when they choose to.

In fact it looks so easy that might one wonder if there is more than one pin in the lock.

[CitySpider]

It seems that expert lockpickers can easily pick with paperclips if and when they choose to.

I'm not an expert, but it's NOT all that easy. Doable, but by no means as easy as with a regular pick. Of course, I like that it's doable, because it shows how ridiculous it is to outlaw lockpicks.

I'm sure you're right; it was a "practice" lock with only a pin or two in it. Haven't seen the CD, but from how you described it, that'd be what I suspect, too.

[jonopaul01]

I agree with Hawk 2064 about the display case lock (also the first lock I picked) and needing only a paper clip. But I have found that when it comes to 4 pin locks you need a good set of hair pins or better an actual pickset. But the pro's of a hair pin is that hey are readily available (at least in my house), and can be used as a pick and tourque wrench.

[yungning]

have you guys ever used paper clips to pick? or you guys just think the paper clips no good?

i have that Locksmith cd which has one section teachs how to pick... it works on a Helping Desk 4 pin lock..

[CitySpider]

Not or. Yeah, I've used paper clips to pick, AND yeah, I think they're no good.

They work in an emergency, but there're much better things to use as improvised tools.

[jabial]

Not or. Yeah, I've used paper clips to pick, AND yeah, I think they're no good.

They work in an emergency, but there're much better things to use as improvised tools.

Wellllll... What?

[Anarchist Matt]

you need a good set of hair pins or better an actual pickset. But the pro's of a hair pin is that hey are readily available (at least in my house), and can be used as a pick and tourque wrench.

I agree woth this partialy but somtimes hairpins are a little too wide to get into the lock with a wrench and have sufficiant space to work with.

[repoman]

ive used paper clips on my front door locks the dead bolt and the handle one but on the dead bolt i had to use the file tip on nail clippers for a tension wrench its fun to do it like that just for kicks