I really need help and i've been reading

[crazyhoboman]

Hey guys i've been trying lockpicking for a couple of weeks now and still no luck. After pyro's video i got inspired and bought the equipment needed to make any kinda pick i needed. My main problem is feeling the pins. When i try individually picking them i feel them being pressed down i even hear them clicking and stop when they do. But my problem is i don't know if it's a good clicking or a bad clicking. I.E. pushing down the pins too far. Also my picking order kinda needs help. I'm not sure whether or not to go in there and scrub and feel for pins that need a little attention or hit the first pin until it clicks and then keep going back from there. But my main problem is feeling for it when the pin clicks, i don't feel a release of pressure from the cyllinder when i get a pin and i kinda just hope i get it. That technique worked with my cheap 7$ deadbolt because i could kinda feel the pins since the springs were so cheap but now i feel i should go to higher lvl locks and the higher resistance confuses me. Please any information or advice that you can send me would be greatly appreciated. Also if Pyro reads this thank you so much for your open source video, if only everyone had that kinda mentallity.

[digital_blue]

I would advise you to buy another cheap deadbolt and take out all but one pin stack. Learn to pick it with that (should take you about 4 tries to be a master at that), then add a pin stack. Pick it a dozen times at least with 2 pins before moving on to 3. Follow this pattern as your skills increase and your knowledge and feel are expanded.

Hope this helps!

db

[sublime progie]

I dont know if you have yet or not but there is alot of valuable information in the MIT web page. i am not at my normal computer or i would give you the link but a couple seconds of searching for it will find it

[schoolglutton]

When I first was learning about picking I always raked the pins with a rake pick and then went back to pick the remaining ones with a hook pick that I could see hanging down. Since then, I've found a way, for me at least, that works a lot better. I saw it in a video, can't take any credit. You may find the technique something you like as well.

The first crucial part is your tension wrench. You only want to apply about a pound of pressure. Apply too much and you'll be there all day with sore finger. Those pins won't be able to find the shear line if their little pin lives depended on it.

Even though I don't rake very much anymore, I do use a rake pick, the one with a bunch of teeth on it. The motion I use is a little different. It's more of a rocking. I make sure the pick gets all the way to the back of the cylinder in the lock and then start a rocking motion. Imagine a sea saw going up and down and that's what the pick looks like. I have my fingers only touching the end of the pick and doing that sea saw motion as I go from pin to pin in a general region. Just remember, go easy on that tension wrench. This doesn't sound as sophisticated as working individually from pin to pin with a hook pick, but it gets the job done. Before when I was doing it the other way it could take me 15-20 minutes sometimes. This way has varied from seconds to only a few minutes for the cylinder to turn. Give it a shot and see if it works for ya.

[Chucklz]

A pound of force.... how far along the lever arm? I doubt that "light" tension is anywhere over about 3 inch ounces.....

[schoolglutton]

I hold the tension wrench all the way at the end, maximum leverage. I was guessing at a pound. I would say pushing on it until you can just feel the tension wrench begin to give resistance. One of those things you get a feel for after you get comfortable. I think that was one of my mistakes earlier on, pushing too hard on the tension wrench. I've read that's a common mistake.

[crazyhoboman]

Thanks a lot for the help guys, i've still been working on this kwickset deadbolt and if i can't get it in a few days i'll find a cheaper one to pick. When i'm raking i'll try out that see saw method you told me about also Schoolglutton. It also may be my pick doesn't have enough leverage in the back pins. I thought of that tonight. since i have homemade picks i'm not sure if i don't have a deep enough pick getting the back pick up as far as i need it to. I just find when i increase the height of the hook it doesn't slide past the pins like i need it to. I would show you guys a picture if this forum allowed me to. In any case i'll keep reading and trying and inform you of my success.

[schoolglutton]

Glad it helped. I almost forgot with that see saw motion you want to do it moderately fast. It's really making about the same kind of motion as a pick gun would.