Intro / Perplexing Padlock Problem

[stkeesee]

Hi everybody. I've been practicing with my new pick set for about 2 weeks now, and the Kwiksets, Master #3, Hardware store Schlage deadbolts & door knobs are no longer posing a significant problem for raking or single pin picking. I can even rake the American series 40 padlock fairly quickly, although single pin picking it are still a bit outside the limits of my abilities.

My problem is with the $4.00 brass padlock I bought at Safeway. It says nothing on it except "HELPING HAND", and the key says nothing but "made in china". I've managed to open the thing twice in a week, both times completely by accident. Can get no feel from the lock at all. Has anyone else experienced a similar problem, or could anyone speculate on what might be the cause? The lock has a fairly strog return spring on the cylindar, and very weak springs on the pins. Also feels like the pins have a lot of slop in them, but I just can't feel anything set.

Any light you could shed on this would be appreciated.

[SFGOON]

The heavy return spring makes guageing the proper tension difficult, you should ALWAYS experement with tension, it is the key (no pun intended) to picking locks. Also, is the lock keyed low-high? this can also present a problem, although it sounds like you'd be able to deal with something like that fairy well

Every lock has it's own "personality" and the only way to consistently overcome this is via experementation, patience, and practice. Good luck and welcome to the forums.

[Mad Mick]

If it says "Made in China", you've gotta anticipate spools.

[sublime progie]

if it is the same lock i have it should be rediculously easy. it could be one of the little fish poo locks that dont like to be picked

[digital_blue]

I really don't think that those super cheap padlocks are good starter locks. The manufacturing is so poor that the feedback isn't really representative of most other locks. If you want to stick to padlocks, try picking up something a little bit better. Maybe a low-end Master or something.

I do think that a cheap deadbolt like a Kwikset or Weiser would be better still. This way you can strip out some of the pins and work your way up. If there is a shortcut to learning the skill of lockpicking, this is it. Start with only two pins, and pay careful attention when you are picking to what you are feeling. Only add the next pin when you can consistantly pick the lock with two pins AND you understand what you are doing when you pick it. Then move up to three, four, and five. By the time you've got this thing licked with 5 pins, you will be a much better picker than when you started.

Hope this helps!

Happy picking!

db

[treboR]

I agree about no name padlocks. I have several different brands of practice padlocks. The no name locks seem to be very inconsistant. They feel sloppy compared to the name brand locks. I have found that I can rake open the no names effectively but picking is inconsistent. I find that the name brand locks are easier to pick consistantly.

No name padlocks are usually easy to shim though.

[pretender]

It would not surprise me to find that the horrid padlock of death you own has a spool pin or two - read up on the fundamentals and see what your experiences yield.

[stkeesee]

Thanks for all the help / suggestions, everyone. It really doesn't feel like it has spools in there, at least I can't feel anything trying to push the cylinder back as a spool seems to when it is mis-set. I think I may just put the horrid little thing away for a while and come back to it later. I think I may stick with some name brands for a while. Thought I might try the American series 3105 next, but I'm afraid that might be a little ambitious.

Thanks again for all the help.

Steve