Lock Picking

[Crimson King]

Got my set, but A. I don't know which is a pick and which is a rake, and B. I am having some trouble with my first lock. It's a Brinks small one. I can't seem to apply enough torque to make the cylinder move at all. Any thing I can try?

 

[Tomkraven]

I use different tools for pick locking that i prefer. First one is a meat knife which is quite useful for the dents in it, also a long and thin nail. for other purposes i always carry a plastic bottle and couple of clips.

i could explain the use the plastic bottle if someone wants me to.

 

[AltF4]

CK:

Here, I found a picture of the exact set I have:

The left two are rakes, and others are picks of various shapes. (Actually, the middle "ball" one might be a rake. I've hardly used it.)

Also, I have a brinks lock and it's really hard. You don't happen to still have the packaging it came it do you? Or otherwise happen to know the serial number for it? You can look up how hard the lock is online if you know what lock it is. (It doesn't say on the actual lock)

I talked to one of the winners from one of the lockpinging competitions at Defcon, and he said to go to Lockpicking101.com for more information and questions. Apparently he's a leader or something there, but I never got his handle.

 

[Crimson King]

****! I threw away the serials this morning. I'll make sure to write those down from now on. I'll have to check the site. Thanks!

What is the website to look up the difficulty?

 

[OmegaXXII]

well why would I wanna lock pick? the only time that I might even fdo this is when my Room Door accidently gets locked and the key is in the same room, I've actually tried all sorts of methods such as using bobby pins, mini-flat-screw driver, a paper clip, but other than my room I find this very frustrating and I really don't see this as a hobby, but more of a disturbance instead, but then again this is just me.

 

[Crimson King]

Wow!! I picked my first lock! It was a 4-pin Masterlock. I showed my dad, he was so excited he made me try to pick a 5-pin Brinks on the shed. When I failed, I showed him how I picked the masterlock, and he did it on his first try. Now, he wants to keep trying new ones.

God **** you, Alt.

Have you ever read "Secrets of Lock Picking" by Steve Hampton? I found both E-Books online. In it, he tells you how to make your own tools, and completely discounts rakes. Have you considered making your own?

 

[Proud_Smash_N00b]

Are lock pick sets only available online?

 

[AltF4]

Congrats, CK!

I was so excited when I picked my first lock. In fact, it's still a thrill to pick a new pock for the first time. I just got a couple difficult ones that I'm working on and haven't yet gotten.

I'm SOOO close to this 5 pin Brinks. It has (from what I can tell) at least two spool pins. I'm still working out the technique for bringing it out of a false set. More info when / if I get it unlocked.


Smash Noob:

No, you can find them in a couple of places. If you happen to have a locksmith around, they will have one for sure. But I've even heard Home Depot carries them... but don't hold me to that. I haven't seen them there myself.

 

[Crimson King]

Remember, it's pretty much illegal to own a lock picking set in some jurisdictions. I did not know this until I bought mine, but just be careful.

Do you have that site to see the difficulty? I am sure it was an easy lock, but it was amazing to get it done. This brinks one is a killer because I am not sure how much torque to apply. The first pin has yet to hit the sheer line, so no idea what I am doing wrong...

 

[sHy)(gUy]

I need some help, im try to pick this door lock but cant seem to get it.

Im able to move the center part from its stationary position but the door still wont open. Like the hole turned but its still locked. Do i have to go the other way or keep trying to open it the same way? If i turn it back down it goes completly locked again.....

any advice?

 

[Proud_Smash_N00b]

Im not sure if it's true but I heard Schlage locks are harder than regular locks. Like locks from the company Schlage

 

[Mittenkiss]

I've always been interested in it, but never actually tried it.
Maybe I should try some time.

 

[Testament27]

to hell with teh brwal boards.


this is quite possibly the most informative thread on this site. props

 

[Crimson King]

Did you raise the pins past the shear line of the lock? Just moving the cylinder won't cause it to unlock at all. House locks are scary in how easy they are to pick, really. I picked my front door in a few seconds, and a few other places to show them how easy it was.

 

[Bowser King]

I wish I could pick locks



-Bowser King

 

[GoldShadow]

So I've decided to learn this skill and downloaded a couple books/ebooks in PDF format to read up on it. I'm going to report back when I get the proper tools and try my hand at it.

 

[Crimson King]

The Hampton books (I think the Art of Lockpicking and the Advanced Art of Lockpicking) were great. Try those.

 

[mimic_king]

Someone in my math class could pick locks. He bought a lock picking set from the internet and kept picking the same lock during class. The teacher got mad at him, but then something happened. The teacher needed to go to her daughter's school for something but her car keys were in some drawer. The drawer was locked and she couldn't find the keys for it, but luckily that lock picking kid was nearby and picked the locked on the drawer. From that day on, we weren't allowed to make fun of that kid in the teacher's presence, not that we would have a reason to anyway.

My friend got that same lock picking set and Im thinking of borrowing from him.

 

[The Executive]

OK, so I browsed a few related websites over the weekend and am now interested enough to look for a set of tools and go find me a pin-and-tumbler lock to mess with.

CK:

I'm assuming this is a decent set, since Alt seems to do fine with it. Is the $38 on the manufacturer site a good price? I initially thought it was a bit steep then realized that tools usable to break into houses and such shouldn't be cheap.

 

[Mith_]

I've always wanted to know how to pick locks. The "Thief" type class in video games has always appealed to me (except in world of warcraft, where I couldn't play a Rogue because of my horribad computer). Of course, I could never bring myself to use a lockpicking skill for "evil" if you will, but it would be amazing to know.


Anyway, I'm glad I've stumbled upon this thread full of useful info. I think I may pick up a lockpicking set from Home Depot so I can practice this. The only lock I've ever picked was a simple doorlock, where all you needed was a paperclip to push the button in to unlock it.

 

[hippochinfat!!]

Ah, so one might say you are the locks' greatest enemy.

 

[AltF4]

Hey! Glad to see some interest back in this thread.

I've gotten a lot better and consulted with some really good lockpicks since last I posted here. One guy I know is an actual locksmith for his job! He had some crazy tools and tricks. It was absurd. He said he has over $20k in tools and locks. Amazing.

I'll try to share what I've learned once I get some more time.

 

[Wikipedia]

I had to call a locksmith when my friend and I were in the middle of Utah on a road trip and he locked the keys in his trunk accidentally, and since it was an old beat up Honda, the pull latch to pop the trunk didn't work and so it had to be picked.

That guy saved our butts.

 

[Crimson King]

I've always wanted to know how to pick locks. The "Thief" type class in video games has always appealed to me (except in world of warcraft, where I couldn't play a Rogue because of my horribad computer). Of course, I could never bring myself to use a lockpicking skill for "evil" if you will, but it would be amazing to know.


Anyway, I'm glad I've stumbled upon this thread full of useful info. I think I may pick up a lockpicking set from Home Depot so I can practice this. The only lock I've ever picked was a simple doorlock, where all you needed was a paperclip to push the button in to unlock it.

Home Depot can not legally sell lockpicking kits... In fact, in some jurisdictions it's illegal to possess it without a license.

 

[RedPeppers]

"It's only illegal if you get caught........." This is one of those times I agree with that statement. If you're not gonna go burgle some place, I don't care if you own a lock picking set.

 

[AltF4]

From Wikipedia (take it for what it's worth)

In California, locksmiths must be licensed by the state] However simple possession is legal as illegal possession must be coupled with felonious or malicious intent.

In Utah possession itself is not a crime; intent to commit a crime is also required.Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and New York also require proof of intent, while mere possession is illegal in Washington, DC.

 

[Mith_]

I can see why possession is illegal in D.C. For the whole presidential security stuff, and other important government places located there.

I live in Georgia, so I need to check and see if it would be ok for me to own a lockpicking set.

 

[missedwithtruestrike]

ok alt, this may sound weird because i cant describe it well enough i dont think:
on the first page you have the 3 pitures of a lock, and it shows the key go in with the notches goin up, there is a door at my house where i have to put the key in with the notches (well, one notch actually, its a master key for the apt complex my dad runs) faceing down, so does that mean i would have to push the pins down instead of up? or am i missing something.
also, do doorknobs with locks in them work the same because my dad has shelves of doorknobs i could practice on than

 

[Mith_]

I'm pretty sure you'd have to push the pins down if you have to put the key in upside down, but that's just me takign an educated guess. Might not be correct though.

 

[AltF4]

MissedWithTrueStrike:

Yea, the orientation of the lock doesn't matter. If you hold a normal lock upside down, they you'll just have to pick upside down, too!

In fact, apartment complexes almost always use "Kwikset" locks, which are garbage in quality. They practically pick themselves. So those should be good to practice on.

Note that cabinets sometimes will not use normal locks, though. Sometimes they have their own kind of key and locking mechanism which may be bypassed easily in some other way, but not "picked" in a traditional sense.

 

[missedwithtruestrike]

good call alt, you were right kwikset it is.
on a slightly worse note: i dont know if i should pick this skill up, sure it could be useful...but im an evil guy...sometimes

 

[Mith_]

Lol if you are evil, that I'd say you'd be better off without it.
You could get into a lot of trouble stealing something with lockpicks.

 

[missedwithtruestrike]

Lol if you are evil, that I'd say you'd be better off without it.
You could get into a lot of trouble stealing something with lockpicks.

true...but there always is that time someone might need help. than BAM me to the rescue...as you can see im torn
im probly gonna do it anyway, its not like i havent been in trouble before.

 

[GoldShadow]

Woohoo! I picked my first lock today!

I picked up a tiny, cheap Master Lock.

I haven't found a lockpick set yet, so I a fashioned a pick out of a thin paper clip and a torque wrench out of a thick paper clip. Picked it three times so far. I'm going to try my room door next, and I'm still looking for a proper lockpick set.

The Hampton books (I think the Art of Lockpicking and the Advanced Art of Lockpicking) were great. Try those.

I got this book, haven't read it yet. Looking forward to reading it.

 

[Ja]

This sounds interesting, do you have any idea how much locksmiths make and how you become one?

 

[GoldShadow]

**** it, I picked the Master Lock about 10 times but I can't do it anymore. It's too hard to apply torque with a paper clip, and they get bent out of shape easily. I had this one good "torque wrench" but I can't seem to make another one like it. The thin paper clips also bend very easily, I can't make a pick that can last more than a couple tries.

 

[Crimson King]

GS, in the Hampton book, he provides a method to make your own tools. Honestly, I'd advise using those because the set I got is not stainless steel, but some cheaper metal.

 

[Adi]

This thread is making me regret giving my lock pick set to my friend =(.

 

[GoldShadow]

GS, in the Hampton book, he provides a method to make your own tools. Honestly, I'd advise using those because the set I got is not stainless steel, but some cheaper metal.

Thanks for the advice!

Like it said in the Hampton book, I got a couple makeshift tools.

I went over to Home Depot and picked up a cheap screwdriver set (to use as tension wrenches), safety pins, 6" needle-nose electrical pliers to bend the safety pins into picks, and diagonal pliers to cut the ends of picks (safety pins) so that they are just the right size. It came to a grand total of $12!

While I certainly don't have all the proper technique/pick-making ability yet, this is already working out much better. I can now consistently pick the first lock (the one I mentioned in my other post) in 10-15 seconds!

I'll continue to experiment, and try to pick my dorm room door next.

 

[AltF4]

I think I mentioned somewhere else in this thread, GoldShadow, but if you can find "Kwikset" lock they pretty much pick themselves. They're the cheap of the cheap brands. You usually see them in apartment complexes and schools because they're bought in large quantities. But they should have them at some regular stores too I think.