raking v picking

[spider]

a few years ago i used to be able to pick locks with a pick. but after years of travelling and getting back into locks again i started of using a rake. Now when i use a pick to try and open a lock that i can rake open i can't do it. Even though i know what i should be doing with the pick i can't do it.
I know at the end of the day we all want to get that lock open, but it would be nice to pick it.
As i have read somewhere on 101 before don't get used to raking open a lock.
Anyone been in the same situation, where they have come back to lockicking and finding it difficult.

[SFGOON]

Stop raking, get in a good, patient state of mind, grab a lock and pick it as slowly as you can. Raking is a hasty technique that can sometimes reward frustration. Pin by pin picking WILL be faster once you get good at it, but first you have to learn control and patience.

[Eyes_Only]

Varying the amount of tension and keeping it light always works for me. But SFGOON is right, if it's been a while since you've been picking on a regular basis its a good idea to get familiar with the very basics to at least get your finger tips used to it again.

[helix]

....and go send tour rakes to a friend in another city for a
couple of months. Just keep the hook(s) and like the others say,
pick it as slow as you can.

[cracksman]

Be honest with yourself, I just spent 20 minutes picking a Kwikset I set up with 3 security pins I simply lost the touch for the lock, and thought my skills were better than they are. Once I re-aquainted myself with it, it was easy. The re-learning time is so much quicker then the original. Give it 2 weeks at an hour a day and you'll probably be better than you have ever been If not, well maybe you just suck In either case I would like to know how you progress so keep us informed

[spider]

Thanks everyone, will practice, promise

[jamesphilhulk2]

1) is a rake better than normal picks?

2) is there any point in me buying a pick set when i can just geta rake?

[raimundo]

Assuming that your goal is to open the lock, and that the lock is a known type that you expect to be able to pick, the fastest method is to rake for about a minute, then take the rake out, without removing tension, and feel it out with a pick.
Some locks are resistant to raking and for them, its picking that will get you through, but a lot of locks will just rake open so why make it take any longer.

[sublime progie]

yes there is definatly a point in buying a feeler pick you always want to have a feeler pick.

[jamesphilhulk2]

thanks for the feedback

[cracksman]

I'm not trying to be a wise-a s s here, but what is the difference between a regular pick and a feeler? I use my favorite pick because, for the lack of a better word it is a "feeler", I use it to read each pin. I am honestly curious...

[Chrispy]

A feeler is basically a shallow hook. The curve is probably about 20 degrees compared to a deeper hook of 60-75 degrees. It is used to 'feel' the pins rather than traditionally pick them. Which I suppose is why the diamond pick is more often associated with lockpicking. I use a half-round feeler to pick almost all the locks I come across, it is probably about 15-20 degrees curved. The SouthOrd set I have has a hook with a 80-90 degree curve which I have ground down a bit (had two of them anyway )

[vector40]

"Feeler" usually just means a hook pick or anything used to "feel" and pick individual pins.

There are also straight picks without any head, sometimes called "probes," which you can use to count pins or just poke around... but feeler usually means a hook.

[cracksman]

Yeah, one side of one of my picks is a "probe", I usually use it for "ghetto-repinning", when you don't have the proper stuff In fact Chrispy, I think you have one of those locks now, #002 if I remember correctly I was pretty sure you guys were using a small hook or diamond, thanks for clearing that up. It is kind of like talking to a person for an hour and forgetting their name, you don't want to ask because you should know it but you don't and you don't know how to bring it up, so I just asked