amount of tension needed.

[MeRZHiN]

I'm windering what amount of tension you should put on your tension tool. I have searched on lots of different places for the answer, but i get different answers each time. One time i read you should apply as much as possible and the other time i read you should apply nearly none. Since you guys are mostly experienced lockpickers i thought i'd ask the question here . Or maybe it's just the new lock i'm using why it won't work

[stick]

The best answer is the bare minimum for the lock you're picking. Some locks will require more than others, and spring loaded locks in padlocks will require even more.

[MeRZHiN]

The lock i'm trying at this moment (ABUS 55/40) has a pretty large tension and it jumps back with some power when i just release the key when it's turned. I suppose it has 4 normal pins and that i just s*ck to hard at lockpicking to get it open. but i really don't know, can't even get it open by looking at the key! Any hints on this particular lock? And yes, i read the guide(s).

[Shrub]

There was a good set of examples on site for gaugeing this but i can not seem to find them,

You should not be bending the wrench is the main tip,
Otherwise, put tension on the lock and feel for a pin, increase the tension until that pin becomes hard to push up, the correct tension is in between the time it is very easy to push the pin and the time where you find you have to put pressure on the pin to move it,

As allready suggested you want as little pressure as possable but still be able to set the pins, if too less pressure the pins wont stay up, simple as that, keep going until the pins can be easily pushed up but are stopped from coming back down.

I havent looked myself but there may be a vid on site that shows you better what to do.

[stick]

Insert your tension wrench and put some heavy force on it, but don't bend it. Take something flat, and lift all the pins. Slowly release tension until you hear the last click. The tension you have at that point should be what you use, more or less.

[MeRZHiN]

By using your techniques i now know that i was waving between to soft/right/to hard. That means my problem is either:
- The lock is to advanced for a beginner
- My lockpicks are to big
- I completely s*ck at lockpicking
I personally think it's the second. My hook barely fits in

[MeRZHiN]

YEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I finally got my FIRST lock open, w00tw00tw00t!!!!!!!!! I love you guys sooooooooo much!!!!!!

[Shrub]

WELL DONE

A good tip raimondo gives out for determining the size of homemade picks is to compare your pick against the key, you need to be able to clear all the low cuts but still be able to reach the top of the key blade (higest cuts),

Its just all practice, practice, practice now.

[digital_blue]

Good work! Congrats!

db

[dwkbb]

Is there such a thing as having a lot of play or slop in a lock. I have worked on a couple of inexpensive door locks and found that I could not turn the plug the slightest bit or some of the pins would overset (I think). Or, perhaps, the holes are so out of line that one or more of the pin stacks wouldn't move at all. If I applied what seemed like no tension initially, raked a couple of times, and then put very little tension on, I could then set the rest of the pins individually. I really couldn't feel the first pin or two setting. Can anyone help me to visualize what is happening?

[cracksman]

I've noticed that a couple of times and assumed it was 1 of 2 things... Either 2 or more pins bound at approximately the same tension and when one went I wasn't adept enough to notice-and usually kept lifting it, or... as I found in several Kwiksets, the 3rd and 4th pin (or any 2 pins side by side) only needed a slight nudge to set, which a soft raking would do, but I had not noticed while picking individual pins. Of course after I picked them I was able to look at the keys to confirm my suspicions-you may not have that option. -just a thought, good luck

[dwkbb]

Thanks Cracksman. I'm probably restating what has been said before but it seems that when having trouble opening a lock, it's better to error on the side of reducing rather than increasing the tension.

[Shrub]

As far as my experiance goes all locks do turn a slight amount when turned, if yours are rock solid and dont move even 1' either way then i would say the lock is very stiff and needs lubricating, it may just be the weather youve had recentally and its siezed a few up.

As an associated note, quite often practice locks are ones that have been removed from somewhere for a new lock to be fitted, why was it removed? because it didnt work properly (probably) most newbies just then start trying to pick it and wonder why they struggle, strip the lock down and clean it, put it back together and you will have a lot more knowledge about the lock than before you started and will now find it easier to pick a clean lock knowing what you are supposed to be doing with the confidence that the lock is in fine working order.