key or driver pin? I am confused. Need help!

[thabrandnew007]

So a while ago I bought the Southord five piece set. I have played around with it but gotten nowhere. I was surfing the weba dn stumbled across this site and got back into it! I have a little safe in my room and was trying to open it. It seems to be a standard 6 pin lock kind of like my front door only it has no markingings. Try as I might I and getting nowhere. When I slide the pick from the back of the lock to the front I can hear all 6 pins dropping off the edge of my pick. If I apply a little tension and scrub for a few strokes and listen again, I only hear four pins drop. My question is whether I have binded the key pin or if I have actually set the first pin. If anyone knows and is willing to take me through this it would be wonderful!

I have been lurking around and seen that a lot of new-to-picking people have trouble with tension. So, being the person that I am, I tried to give less tension, still, same problem: only 4 pins dropping. I have also tried to ignore the sounds and keep picking but that gets nowhere fast. Anyways, I would love to get into this and ya gotta start somewhere!
~Thebrandnew007

[funky__monk]

you probly are geting the key pin... so you could try not puting so much pressure on the pick so you dont push the pins in quite so far.... or it could have security pins...

[thabrandnew007]

If the problem is that there are security pins, what should I do? I have never heard of them. Also, how hig do you want to bump the pins with the pick? I thought it didn't really matter.

[thabrandnew007]

Sorry, meant "hard"

[Santos718]

Well, your not really bumping, but lifting. If you try less tension and they drop, apply slightly more tension. You will know when a driver is set when the pin gives no force feedback. Turn the lock upside down, and if the pin moves, the driver is set, and continue on with the others. You will also feel the chamber slip when a driver is set, when it slips, don't tighten you tension until it wont move. When it slips, apply slightly more, sometimes less tension, to set the other drivers.

Good Luck

[thabrandnew007]

Hey! Thanks! I took the lock apart, figured out how it works, and on the second try I picked it! Thanks so much you guys! And it really is all about the tension! javascript:emoticon(':lol:')

[thabrandnew007]

WOW! You guys really helped! I can now pick my front door, back door, and deadbolts on both! It is sooo much fun! I have tried numerous times to unlock the front door and today has been the first sucessful atempt! The back door is a different story because I can unlock it in about 10 seconds! Thanks again!

[Santos718]

:lol: WOW! You guys really helped! I can now pick my front door, back door, and deadbolts on both! It is sooo much fun! I have tried numerous times to unlock the front door and today has been the first sucessful atempt! The back door is a different story because I can unlock it in about 10 seconds! Thanks again!

Well congratulations!!! But, I don't recommend picking any lock that is in use, i.e. your front and back door. You don't want to make a simple mistake that may break the lock. I suggest buying new locks, or getting old locks from a friend, neighbor, etc...

Once again, Congrats!

[thabrandnew007]

oi! Thanks for hte heads up! I think I will stop with those. I don't mean to sound know-it-allish but what exactly could go wrong?

[Santos718]

Pins can become severly damaged and not even the key will open the lock. Pins may get loose, or even get stuck in the chamber. Drivers may become severly damaged from binding to much with to much tension being applied.

Example:

After I was done picking a Abus 24/60 a couple of times. I decided to rake violently to see if I could destroy it..well lets just say, if the keyway wasn't so small, the pins would have fallen out. They are so loose it is unbelievable. the key still works, but has trouble getting into the lock.

you can read more about breaking locks here: viewtopic.php?t=8812

[MeRZHiN]

for one, you can break off a piece of the pick inside of the lock, wich then makes his way between a pin and the chamber walls. wich makes the lock unusable

[thabrandnew007]

holy moly. I am gonna stop. Dont want to pay fro a new lock. it was fun though! I am currently looking for the nearist hardware store I can stock up on locks from. Thanks a bunch you guys! I will now try to use the search feature more often. Thanks though!

[thabrandnew007]

Just to keep you posted--even you probably don't care, I found a bunch of locks in my basement. There is a Slaymaker 5 Disc Cylinder Rustless, a Rock brass padlock, and a Yale Y & T. I can get the Rock easily, the Slaymaker pretty easily, and the yale is impossible. Judging by the key, it seems to not be like a pin tumbler. Can anyone explain how to pick it?

p.s.
here is a picture of it:
http://www.charleslocksmith.com/Y&T%20with%20key.jpg

My key has a bunch more notches in it though...

[yippeegollies]

Holy crap! That padlock is older than me...and I'm old. Don't worry bout it, you'll never have to pick one.

If you really want to know though...it's what is known as a warded padlock. Got some metal pieces inside that prevent the key from turning unless there are slots in the key to allow the metal pieces to go thru the key as you turn it.

Although on close examination of the key it appears to have some differences in height of the cuts, so it may have a lever or two in there as well.

Yip

[thabrandnew007]

older than you eh? Just how old are you? I can't remember when I got it... I think you are right to not try to pick it. Is there anyone else here (on this site) who can pick it or who has tried? Can I hear about your experiences? Holy crap I sounded like a teacher...experiences...