Lock picking

[kpp80202]

Has anyone here tried one of those lock pick sets from lockpickworld? They have see-through locks to help with practicing, which seems really cool. I?ve never needed to pick a lock, but it looks like a cool sort of physical and mental puzzle to waste time with.

[Tim K]

I have a couple. They’re a lot of fun.

[Wulf202]

The cheap sets will get you started. The clear locks are good for an introduction. Once you can pick them with out looking at the tumblers they're in the junk drawer.

There are many reputable places that sell higher end stuff.

Check out the sparrows night school sets if you want to get an all around practice set with decent starter tools.

[Irving]

Cheap locks can be had at a Habitat For Humanity Restore or similar as well. Install lock into a scrap piece of 2x4, tie the key to a piece of string or wire fastened with an eye-hook, and now you have a tidy little practice piece. Can put a bunch of locks in a row.

[00tec]

I have a cheapy set I got from somewhere. You're right, it is a bit of fun to learn. Actually picked a lock for someone recently that locked themselves out of a room in their house.

If I were to get more serious tools, I would look at covert instruments (LockPickingLawywer's company). Dude seems to really know his stuff.

My dad has one of the clear locks. They help to see the action if you want to start, but I found it more fun to find ways to defeat the mechanism without picking, as I could see the entire thing.

[XJ]

My credit card really hates you guys

[nighterfighter]

I have a couple of those clear locks, and man they suck. You can use the wrong key and still get it to open.

I found it way more fun to buy a bunch of locks from hardware stores and practice picking on those.

NEVER pick a lock you actually need to work or open....you can break a lock by picking it.



For those who don't live in Colorado, be aware of state laws on owning lockpicking devices.

https://toool.us/laws.html

[SA Friday]

A good set of picks isn't hat expensive, and I find the dimensionality and strength of the pick is really important.

Sparrow lock picks are your best bang for the buck. The Tuxedo set is the easiest to start with, but the Night School Tuxedo set is the best for the money for a starter IMO.

https://www.sparrowslockpicks.com/category_s/50.htm

[hollohas]

I have a number of things from Sparrow including cutaway practice locks. I'm happy with the quality and it's fun to sit and practice while watching an evening tv show.

[nighterfighter]

Also lock picking is pretty fun and easy to learn.

I've literally taught someone how to pick a lock while he was sitting in the passenger seat as I drove. You'll get the hang of it in no time.

[kwando]

https://youtube.com/c/bosnianbill

Follow that YT channel as well. People customize locks and send it to him for him to pick. I

[WETWRKS]

Was at game night and someone else was there with one of the c type storage unit locks and some picks playing with it. Took him about 10 minutes to pick it. I asked if I could try. Had it open in less than 2 minutes. He was surprised as I haven't ever tried doing it before.

[TFOGGER]

I've been picking locks since junior high school. It's a useful skill to have in my line of work(customers losing or forgetting to bring keys for a bike they left for service). I made good money in high school hanging out at a friend's tattoo shop next door to a bar and opening cars when people locked their keys in their cars and discovered that at closing time. I mostly use homemade tools but I have a couple of sets of commercial tools, along with some inexpensive tubular picks and jigglers. The practice locks are great for being able to visualize the process but once you develop a bit of feel, they quickly lose their challenge.

[HunterCO]

I pick locks all the time its a fun hobby and no I do not do it for criminal purposes. I have a quick pick that can get me into anything for the most part basic locks. However the lock picking lawyer on youtube blows my mind he can do things I cant even come close too.

[def90]

Lockpickinglawyers youtube videos are great, he goes in to how different brands and locking mechanisms work and how they can be picked.

[Gman]

https://youtube.com/c/bosnianbill

Follow that YT channel as well. People customize locks and send it to him for him to pick. I
...and don't forget Bill's friend;
https://www.youtube.com/c/lockpickinglawyer

ETA: Guess I should have refreshed the page before posting. ;-)

[TFOGGER]

Another good one, for general physical security as well as locks...https://www.youtube.com/user/DeviantOllam

[kpp80202]

Thank you everyone! Great info here, as always.

[DireWolf]

Didn't see it mentioned, but I like Southord for lock picking tools...

For learning, you may want to look at this set:

https://www.southord.com/collections/lock-picking-101-for-beginners/products/locksmith-school-in-a-box-st-23

Recently picked up a set of their new high-yield pics, which feel really nice but haven't had a chance to use much yet:

https://www.southord.com/collections/lock-pick-sets-max-031-inch/products/lock-pick-set-high-yield-m2000


One of my favorite sets was an older version of this one...

https://www.southord.com/collections/pocket-lock-pick-sets/products/jackknife-pocket-lock-pick-sets

Lasted for years before some dipshit room-temp-IQ TSA agent shaped like a beach-ball with legs insisted that she needed to personally close it up before returning it, and broke it in the process (sent the tensioner flying across the screening area at DIA, picks flew everywhere, all she wrote on that one...)

[BladesNBarrels]

Lasted for years before some dipshit room-temp-IQ TSA agent shaped like a beach-ball with legs insisted that she needed to personally close it up before returning it, and broke it in the process (sent the tensioner flying across the screening area at DIA, picks flew everywhere, all she wrote on that one...)

Lucky she did not decide you were in possession of burglary tools and really screw up your trip.

https://i.imgur.com/ThIyN1p.jpg

[DireWolf]

Lucky she did not decide you were in possession of burglary tools and really screw up your trip.

https://i.imgur.com/ThIyN1p.jpgWasn't even remotely worried about that - had it escalated that far, the worst outcome would have likely been a missed flight and temporarily raised blood pressure...

Not trying to derail thread, but for the record, I've been involved in two significant 'disputes' with TSA over the years, both resulting in a TSA supervisor basically telling his...overzealous... employee, in no uncertain terms, to stand there and keep their damn mouth shut.

Another incident with an airport employee where a uniformed police officer had to get involved...end result? Officer telling airport employee to stand down, and a phone call with profuse apology later that day from the airport services manager.

Know the law/regs, be able to articulate them calmly & clearly (and don't be or look like a criminal), and it's amazing the amount of bullshit you don't in fact have to put up with from all the micro-tyrants infesting society like termites...

Back on topic - there are far more professions than just locksmiths who may have a legit reason to carry picks with them...just sayin.

[Little Dutch]

Didn't see it mentioned, but I like Southord for lock picking tools...

For learning, you may want to look at this set:

https://www.southord.com/collections/lock-picking-101-for-beginners/products/locksmith-school-in-a-box-st-23

Recently picked up a set of their new high-yield pics, which feel really nice but haven't had a chance to use much yet:

https://www.southord.com/collections/lock-pick-sets-max-031-inch/products/lock-pick-set-high-yield-m2000


One of my favorite sets was an older version of this one...

https://www.southord.com/collections/pocket-lock-pick-sets/products/jackknife-pocket-lock-pick-sets

Lasted for years before some dipshit room-temp-IQ TSA agent shaped like a beach-ball with legs insisted that she needed to personally close it up before returning it, and broke it in the process (sent the tensioner flying across the screening area at DIA, picks flew everywhere, all she wrote on that one...)

Southord is what I was coming in to recommend looking at. I have had my Southord MPXS-14 set for-friggen-ever. They are well made.

Back when I learned I had to use the MIT Guide to Lockpicking. Youtube has ALL the answers in half the time now.

[Grant H.]

Yet another vote for Southord.

My set goes everywhere with me.

[DenverGP]

Lock pick set and a nice practice lock from Sparrows.
https://i.imgur.com/y33aFs1.jpg?2

Started with the tuxedo set, and added some additional TOK tension wrenches, and some additional thin .015 picks and rakes.

The practice lock uses schlage keys, and is re-pinnable. I got the re-pinning kit which comes with pins and 4 different keys, along with spool pins and serrated pins.

After playing with several setups in the practice lock, I was able to pick one of the cheap Master gun cable locks. It's got a really tight keyway, which made it more challenging than a master lock should be.

Then my daughter in law brought over their stack-on "gun safe" lockbox. They said the batteries had died, and couldn't find the backup key, maybe they were inside the safe. This was my first wafer lock, and picking it took a couple hours for me to learn how wafer locks work, and dealing with picking both sides of the double sided key.

https://i.imgur.com/VtFZe9B.jpg?1

As you can see in the picture, the cheap plastic door on the battery compartment had fallen off, allowing the batteries to fall out, rendering the electronic lock useless.

And none of the keys inside were the keys to the safe, so they'll continue to try to find them.

[Little Dutch]

Lock pick set and a nice practice lock from Sparrows.
https://i.imgur.com/y33aFs1.jpg?2

Started with the tuxedo set, and added some additional TOK tension wrenches, and some additional thin .015 picks and rakes.

The practice lock uses schlage keys, and is re-pinnable. I got the re-pinning kit which comes with pins and 4 different keys, along with spool pins and serrated pins.

After playing with several setups in the practice lock, I was able to pick one of the cheap Master gun cable locks. It's got a really tight keyway, which made it more challenging than a master lock should be.

Then my daughter in law brough over their stack-on "gun safe" lockbox. They said the batteries had died, and couldn't find the backup key, maybe they were inside the safe. This was my first wafer lock, and picking it took a couple hours for me to learn how wafer locks work, and dealing with picking both sides of the double sided key.

https://i.imgur.com/VtFZe9B.jpg?1

As you can see in the picture, the cheap plastic door on the battery compartment had fallen off, allowing the batteries to fall out, rendering the electronic lock useless.

And none of the keys inside were the keys to the safe, so they'll continue to try to find them.

I'm laughing a little at the missing keys to the nightstand safe, but I am impressed you got it open with a pick set. That's not easy.

[kpp80202]

impressive!

[DenverGP]

Did it a second time just to make sure I didn't just get lucky.... 2nd time I got it by raking. The wafers are really rough, so don't get much good feedback. Had to alternate between top and bottom several times with the rake before I got it.

Hardest part of picking it (once I knew what the hell a wafer lock was) was trying to find a good spot to tension and still let me get a pick in there with any room to work.

Sparrows has a couple decent looking sets of wafer jigglers I might pick up, since these wafer locks are so common.

[walkerwv]

WHY ?

[DenverGP]

Because?

[walkerwv]

GEEEZZZ Hahahah

[DenverGP]

if you were asking why I re-locked it and re-picked it... I did make sure to remove all the contents, and locked the door in the open position before re-picking it. Just in case the first time was luck.
I'll probably re-pick it another 5 or 6 times to learn all I can about picking that style lock.