Hello all I need some help :)

[Evarus]

hello all im from the UK and just started picking when i lost my bike lock key. I used an old allen key and managed to do it after 5 hours!. not very good i know but was my first try. I actualy quite enjoyed it and started trying other locks lol but none worked.

I would like to ask if anyone has any hand made old picks they can spare? i know its cheep but i really dont have the tools to make them myself and i am really straped for cash atm. I know i should probably wait but i dont get paid for 3 weeks gahhhh! and all that goes on the rent anyway. so buying powertools is out of the question rofl. i do have some files and basic tools but it takes so long trying to file a balde heh and my hands are going a bit sore.

Btw all the guides are great i just wish i had a way of making them myself

I will scan a pic of the allen key so you can all laugh

Thx alot guys for anyhelp you can give me.

Regards Alex

[wtf|pickproof?]

Hi Evarus!

Nice to see someone else who got hooked! You should be fine with some files. I make most of my picks with a chainsaw file and some sandingpaper even thou I own a dremel. It's a bit tricky in the beginning but you soon get the trick. I'd suggest sweeper-bristles as material as they only cost a bit of attention. There is also little material to remove which is a good thing(tm). As you mentioned there are several good tutorials out there. I'd sugest to start with a simple half diamond or a hook. You might consider to do some basic rakes (e.g. a snake) next. If you have some time on your hands I'd go for a bogota set and a king/queen set with ergohandles like raimundo does them on his bogota rakes. With some practice you should be able to open most of the locks with this basic set. Don't forget to make some tension wrenches. I'd go for windshield wiper inlays for those. You can use streetsweeper bristles too.

some links you may find useful:

A tutorial on the making of the magical/mystical bogota rakes:
http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=8205&highlight=bogota+tutorial

Some pictures of the bogota sets:
http://tinypic.com/73l4er.jpg
http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=7006&highlight=bogota+tutorial

If you need further inspiration this should make you happy:
http://www.lockpicking101.com/search.php

Have fun and keep picking.

[wtf|pickproof?]

Oh, and filling out your profile is considered good habit in this forum, as is searching before posting (which is what you did).

[Evarus]

may i ask exactly what sweeper-bristles are? i dont have a clue lol

[Santos718]

may i ask exactly what sweeper-bristles are? i dont have a clue lol

Street Sweepers and the trucks that drive around cleaning the streets. THe brushes that are under the brushs sweeping the floor, the little metal "rods", those are sweeper bristles. Cool

Hope that helps

[Evarus]

i live out in the countryside no chance of those around onlything i see is tractors rofl and there spikey things are too big

[Evarus]

ah found one of those spark plug, spark distance measuring guages seems pretty cool only problem its verywide lol oh well might as well give it a go lol. any other ideas would be sweet saw blades dont work very well i found unless a dremel is used =(

[Evarus]

ok just got a Master padlock (MasterLock No3) any advice on what type of pic to use? =) i finshed making my hook pick and will upload a pic tomorrow, it does not seem to be working so i think it might be to fat... anyhow im sure some one will say whats wrong once i have uploaded it.

http://www.masterlock.com/cgi-bin/prod_search.pl?product_number=3

basicaly one of these coverd in blue and black rubber

any recomendations would be cool thx

[cracksman]

Your lock should have 4 non-security pins. You will have to use enough tension to overcome the spring. These locks can be painfully simple, or a pain. If you have a key use it to read the pins. The keyway should be huge, I use the top of my tension wrench as a fulcrum for a hook pick, works nice.

Good luck

[Evarus]

this is what i knocked up last night at the cost of a few small cuts.

umm i think the hook it too long myself any advice. btw the lengh of the shaft is ok for what i use it on(also dont want to spend another 4 hours fileing grr)

[Santos718]

looks good

[musicmaniac414]

Do a google search for "Secrets of Lock Picking." It has extremely detailed instructions on all sorts of homemade pics.