I'm really, really bad at picking...

[dark_love52391]

Well, I've done hours of research, but I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed. I don't understand any of the terms, it's very confusing. The pin, hull, plug, plates, scrubbing, it's all so confusing. I've read and re-read a lot of articles. Right now I can't get any lock open.
I'm currently trying to open a simple lock. It's one of those little "diary" locks. Small, and you could probably break it with your hands. I'm very confused.
Any help would be apreciated. Thanks

[E-Mind]

get a cut-away practice lock (it is a lock that you can actually see the pins as you pick the lock) - and if you don't have one, get a lock pick set.

using the toque wrench - apply just enough turning pressure so that the plug (the cylinder that turns inside the lock) is not loose.

Then insert your pick (I would a half circle pick - i.e. the tip looks like a half circle) and just gently touch the buttom of the pins, one by one.

slowly apply more turning pressure on the torque wrench - and feel the difference of the pins stiffnese - you will notice that one of the pins is stiff and does not move up. If you don't feel that on any of the pins - apply just a tiny little more turning pressure (don't apply a lot of turning pressure, just enough to cause one pin to be stiff as you go over it with the pick).

When you get to that point - try pushing that pin upwards with your pick - if it is too stiff and does not move up - release just a tiny little bit of the turning pressure by turning the torque wrench in the opposite direction a few milimeters with your finger - do that while you are trying to lift that pin - until you hear a click.

When you hear the click - it means the pin has been set correctly and you can put just a tiny little bit more turning pressure on the tourqe wrench to cause another pin to become stiff.

Notice that after the click - the same pin lost its "springiness" and is very loose.

Make sure that when you lift the pin - you don't lift any other pins, and move the pin very slowly so that you won't lift it too high or the buttom pin would get stuck on top and you will have to release the turning pressure to make it drop back down.

As you might know - for every pin that you lift - there is a top pin and a bottom pin - you are trying to lift the bottom pin just to the right hight so that the "breaking point" between the two pins are at the same hight as the "sheer-line" - i.e. lined up with the circle of the "plug" so that the plug can turn (neither the top or bottom pins are blocking the plug from turning) - since you have several such pin pairs - each having a different length bottom pin - you have to lift each bottom pin to a different hight to align all of the pin pairs to that "sheer-line" so the plug can turn.

Just repeat the process outlined above for all the pins - you should hear a bunch of "clicks" as the pins are set - and gently apply a little bit more turning pressure after each pin - but not too much. You will know when you put too much turning pressure when the pin that is hard to lift - just does not move - release the turning pressure until it is easy to move up, but still makes a click.

Eventually when you lifted all the pins to the right hight - the lock would open as you freely turn plug using the tourque wrench all the way.

Don't give up - it takes practice.

Good luck!

[TOWCH]

That lock you're playing with is a warded lock and a crappy one at that. Get a Masterlock padlock, or even better a kwickset deadbolt. Get the cheapest one you can find.

[helix]

I just did a search for: diary lock.


http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=7978&start=0
http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=8280&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=diary+lock&start=0
Use the search button, dude.

I think that for the next couple of years, there won't be much
that you need to ask if you just do a quick search for it.

[The Wanderer]

I think that for the next couple of years, there won't be much that you need to ask if you just do a quick search for it.

I'm finding that there are few questions that I've had in the last couple months, that weren't already posted here somewhere. Finding the answer is sometimes more trouble than it's worth though. I haven't had very many "quick" searches.
I'm posting in the General Chatter section mostly. If it weren't for the Never Ending Story, my post count would be half the size it is right now.

[helix]

If it weren't for the Never Ending Story, my post count would be half the size it is right now.

Yeah, and for all the 'SEARH FOR IT!!! ....jees..' posts, haha