Time to pick! Times to Pick!!

[forrest]

Ok, apoglogies in advance for asking a question I know has no "correct" answer... but I think the answers/discussion should actually be interesting so I'm going to do it anyway

- I suppose I should start by defining "picking" in my questions as pin picking, not scrubbing, electric picks, jigglers, rapping, or other techniques

a) how fast should you aim to be with different levels of locks (feel free to describe the levels differently, since I don't know a whole hell of a lot - ie. wafer, 4 pin, 5 pin, 5 pin w/ security, SPIF, medeco, others?) and should you get that fast or close before moving to the next level

b) go ahead brag! - how fast have you gotten on your best attempt - what technique?


... inquiring minds...


-forrest-

[CaptHook]

Depends on the person and on the lock. Can vary with the same person from day to day even.
I dont think you will get a "correct" answer as there isnt one to give, but here are some of mine:
Single wafers-a couple of seconds
Double wafers-a minute or so
4 pins (no spools etc)- 5-10 seconds
4 pins (w/security pins)- a minute or 2
5 pins (no spools etc)- minute or less (depending on alot of things)
5 pins (w/security pins)- several minutes - hour (again depends on alot of things)
6 pins- several minutes
SFICs- Control shearline -minutes Plug-several minutes
Medeco-never even touched one
Again, let me state that there are too many variables to talk about. But there are some very general times.
Chuck

[skold]

mine are about the same but i'm adding other's i like to pick

Abloy so far 1 hour and a half to 3 hours
BiLock 30 seconds - 30 mins
Medeco biaxial - 4 pins - 15 mins

[Chucklz]

One magical day I picked a Best 7 pin SFIC in less than 20 seconds. I wish I could repeat that time.

[skold]

i have never tried a 7 pin, but i was looking at getting a 7 pin boyd padlock

[jamesphilhulk2]

whats the highest amount of pins you can put into a lock

[stick]

Limited only by the design and size of the lock. There was a lock posted on ebay a while ago that had 3 rows of 7 pins, I think it was. Pin in pin dimple locks will have a total of around 14, I believe, in 7 stacks. There's cruciform (4 way) locks that have 4 rows of however many, probably 6 or 7, coming to 24 or 28 pins.

[cracksman]

I have a Master padlock No. 1 that I can pick
in a matter of 5 seconds, so I haven't bothered
with it or any low security padlocks. Yesterday
I came across it, spent 20 minutes, while watching
t.v.-couldn't open it

I had become used to using an entirely different
tension and technique on the locks I was practising
with. I think mindset is vey important, yet we never
discuss it here. I can't speak for locksmiths that earn
money at this, but as a hobby/sport person, I don't have
the pressure situation to pick a lock in a certain time,
because I have noone to compete with and no way
of creating an even playing field

It is a valid and interesting question though,
and in general I agree with the above said times,
although I have no clue on high security locks.

[Mad Mick]

Actually Cracks, mindset can be your best mate, or your worst enemy. Some of us are very comfortable picking alone or within the presence of friends/girlfriends/boyfriends/wives/husbands/children/colleagues etc., but add a total stranger to the situation and the adrenaline can make you pick as if you were wearing mittens. Working locksmiths are somewhat able to 'tune-out' to the distractions of impatient customers peering over their shoulders...to a certain degree. The more experience they get in the field, the more relaxed they become.

From a hobby-picking standpoint, if your personality/profession allows/requires you to comfortably interact regularly with complete strangers, you are less likely to buckle under pressure if picking at something like Toool or Defcon. However, if you are the type who has a small group of very close friends, works within a small circle of colleagues, doesn't go out and meet people much etc., then picking in front of strangers will probably leave you in the same state as 'the rabbit in the headlights'.

[Chucklz]

Picking in front of friends can be rough too, at least when its late at night and they are locked out (and youve had a few).