Advice for lockpicking students.

by **yippeegollies** » 31 Jul 2005 18:31

I remember when I first started working as an apprentice I was told by the senior guys... "Don't go out and buy a huge pickset, it's a waste of money and 99% of them will end up not being used".

Of course I didn't believe them and promptly went out and bought a "SUPER DELUXE 100 ASSORTED PICKSET". Guess what...they were right. I settled on 2 or 3 favorite ones that I use for practically all pin tumbler locks. So whether you're buying or making your own don't think that you need every pick in the universe. You don't!

Also, when I first started learning, we were given a 6 pin cylinder with only 1 chamber loaded. Well, I picked that one tumbler cylinder in about 2 seconds and was real proud of myself. Then Frank (my boss) told me the purpose of the one tumbler cylinder is to practice feeling the tension and how it affects the pin you are picking. In otherwords, practice feeling what's going on inside the lock. Use as little tension as possible, (easy to say but hard for beginners to understand).
Next, load up 2 chambers and do the same thing. Then 3, then 4,5, and finally all 6 chambers. It sounds boring and tedious but trust me, it works.

Anyway, I hope these suggestions help someone. Thanks for listening.

Yip

by **Grudge** » 31 Jul 2005 18:38

Good advice yip!
Far better than most first posts which normally consist of "how u opn sodaz machinez wth paperz clpz?" ;-)

.
Welcome

by **pretender** » 31 Jul 2005 18:51

What Grudge said.

by **cracksman** » 31 Jul 2005 19:33

Welcome, I agree with the comment about picks. We should probably come up with a "most used" assortment of 5 or so picks. You would most likely have to make the Falles, Southords, yourself, but Peterson sells them individually....just a thought

by **vector40** » 31 Jul 2005 22:52

I'm afraid nowadays my SouthOrds are used mainly to stick into stuff for various weird and wonderful bypasses. I'm a Bogota junkie

by **devildog** » 31 Jul 2005 23:43

Can you really use the Bogotas as picks as well :!:

I thought that they were just some really, really good rakes.

by **vector40** » 1 Aug 2005 0:39

I gave up on trying to manually pick well. I just focus on being a savage raker now

But yeah, you could use the diamond for lifting if you want. Probably not ideal. Ray's made some hooks too if that's your fancy.

by **Chrispy** » 1 Aug 2005 1:21

Welcome to LP101.

by **eric343** » 4 Aug 2005 8:15

Solid advice!
Good post, you earn a gold star

--> * <---

yippeegollies wrote:I remember when I first started working as an apprentice I was told by the senior guys... "Don't go out and buy a huge pickset, it's a waste of money and 99% of them will end up not being used".

Of course I didn't believe them and promptly went out and bought a "SUPER DELUXE 100 ASSORTED PICKSET". Guess what...they were right. I settled on 2 or 3 favorite ones that I use for practically all pin tumbler locks. So whether you're buying or making your own don't think that you need every pick in the universe. You don't!

Also, when I first started learning, we were given a 6 pin cylinder with only 1 chamber loaded. Well, I picked that one tumbler cylinder in about 2 seconds and was real proud of myself. Then Frank (my boss) told me the purpose of the one tumbler cylinder is to practice feeling the tension and how it affects the pin you are picking. In otherwords, practice feeling what's going on inside the lock. Use as little tension as possible, (easy to say but hard for beginners to understand).
Next, load up 2 chambers and do the same thing. Then 3, then 4,5, and finally all 6 chambers. It sounds boring and tedious but trust me, it works.

Anyway, I hope these suggestions help someone. Thanks for listening.

Yip

by **skold** » 4 Aug 2005 22:21

If one had searched they would have found that info all over the forums.

by **Chrispy** » 5 Aug 2005 16:54

At least it's a better first post than "Wear can I get sum pickz from?" :wink:

by **n2oah** » 5 Aug 2005 17:15

eric343 wrote:Solid advice!
Good post, you earn a gold star
--> * <---

Thats a black star. This is a gold star:
-->*<-- :wink:

yippeegollies wrote:Next, load up 2 chambers and do the same thing. Then 3, then 4,5, and finally all 6 chambers. It sounds boring and tedious but trust me, it works

Yes, it does work quite well. I used this technique for the first couple of time I picked. You can also try the same thing with spool or mushroom picks and learn how to pick those.

by **Mad Mick** » 5 Aug 2005 17:51

devildog wrote:Can you really use the Bogotas as picks as well?

The Bogota rake is used as the name implies, but the other half of this wonderful tool is a modified version of the half-diamond. There is also a flip-side...notice the relief cut under the half-diamond point? This can tool can be flipped over and the tip can be used hook-stylie. :wink:

by **devildog** » 5 Aug 2005 19:28

But how well does it work as a hook/half-diamond vs. a quality standard pick (hpc/peterson etc.)?

by **cracksman** » 5 Aug 2005 19:50

I haven't used the Bogota, but from everything I have heard, studied, and seen, HPC, Peterson, even Falle, don't surpass the quality of these picks. In the end, a rusted nail that can freely manipulate each pin, is better then a gold plated anything that can't. I think people hype the Bogota not only because it is an exceptional rake, but that it can be used as a hook as well. In fact once I start getting a paycheck again.... I'll let you know for certain :wink:

Advice for lockpicking students.

Advice for lockpicking students.

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