Anyone can learn to pick a lock and this lock picking for beginners exercise will show you how to get started.
Follow the steps precisely and focus on each one of them very carefully. Patience and persistent is key to learning any skill and this is no exception when it comes to lock picking. The biggest piece of advice when it comes to learning to pick locks is to make sure that you are 100% ready to move on to the next step before you do, otherwise you won't get very far.
You will need the following tools for this lock picking exercises:
- Tension wrench
- Five pin cylinder
- Hook pick or feeler pick (small)
Any tension wrench will do, however the five pin cylinder and hook pick have some specifics you should look for. The five pin cylinder needs to be one that has removable pins and that can also be disassembled.
A Schlage is a great cylinder for a beginner to start out with because it is just difficult enough to be challenging to the beginner without being so difficult it is frustrating or impossible. If you don't have a Schlage the easier to disassemble Kwikset cylinder is a great substitute. Although, if you find the Schlage too difficult don't worry. You can start with the Kwikset and when you have mastered it you can then move on to the Schlage.
As you enhance your lock picking skills you will be able to pick more and more difficult locks. One thing you should look for, however, is a cylinder without security pins. Cylinders with security pins are more difficult, and while pickable, are not the best way for a beginner to learn.
As far as the hook pick or feeler pick is concerned make sure you buy one or borrow one. A Southord pick is an especially good store bought pick, but there are there are other brands that will work just as well. Avoid using safety pins or paper clips if you don't have a real hook pick or feeler pick. The reason why is it will only make learning to pick a lock more difficult, challenging, and frustrating. So, if you are reading this and thinking that a safety pin will do because you don't have a hook pick then pick up your keys, head to a hardware store, buy the pick, and then come back to the exercise.
Picking the Lock
Step 1Budget approximately 20 minutes for the first step.
To begin you will need to take the lock apart and remove every pin stack while leaving the first one in place. The first pin stack is the one that is at the lock's front. While disassembling the lock make sure that all springs and pins in chambers 2-5 have been removed and the chambers are completely empty. Now you can put the lock back together leaving just the one pin stack and you will be ready to start your lock picking exercise.
Now, take your wrench and apply a little pressure to the pin. You will quickly see that doing this will cause the lock to open right on up. Picking the lock with only one pin in place is very easy. The point of this exercise, however, is not to actually pick the lock but rather to feel the pin and know when it is binding. The way to learn this feeling is to make sure the plug is locked and lift the pin with your pick without applying pressure or tension of any kind. As you do this the spring will lightly push on the pin and you will feel the subsequent pressure. Keep repeating this exercise until you have the feel memorized.
The next step is to take the hook and lift the pin as slowly as possible while applying very light pressure to the plug. Be careful not to lift the pin too high or you will strike the shear line and the lock will open right on up. While you are lifting the pin, ever so slowly, pay attention to how it feels and how the feel is different from before. You can actually feel the pin resisting and being pulled across the chamber sides. Getting a good feel for this is important and it must be memorized. The reason why is that it is the same feeling you will experience later when in search for the binding pin. Keep practicing this exercise until you are sure you have this feeling memorized.
Continue applying pressure and increase the intensity. As you do this you can feel how the binding pin is more pronounced thanks to the increased tension. You have mastered step one when you can easily tell the difference between a binding pin and a non binding pin.
Step 2
You will need approximately 20 minutes for step two.
Now that you are an expert at detecting a binding pin you are ready to move to step two. This involves taking the lock apart yet again and adding an additional pin stack. This pin stack should be in position two, which is the second from the front and right behind the first pin stack that will remain in place. Adding this second pin makes the lock work correctly even though it does not offer much protection. However, a key would be necessary to open it because it still works as it should.
Keep in mind that during this exercise since there are only two pins only one will bind when you apply pressure. Some locks that are poorly made will have both pins binding to some degree but one will bind more. The pin that binds more should be considered the binding pin in this situation.
