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Lockpicking as a hobby is like being really into puzzle boxes. It's definitely loser nerd poo poo. One of the best aspects is that you can gut a lock and add new pins and turn it into a challenge lock for other lockpickers to try. It can get really creative.This post mostly focuses on single pin picking, but feel free to talk about other aspects of the hobby as a whole. As extensive as this thread turned out, there's so much I've left out. Is this legal? In most of the US/World, owning lockpicks is legal. They're tools just like a screwdriver or a hammer. Probably not a great idea to carry them while out and about because all cops are bastards and they are not required to know the law before making a bad day for you, even if you're 100% in the right and legal. It is illegal to possess lockpicks in Nevada, Ohio, and Virginia. It is illegal to conceal lockpicks in Mississippi... you know, like in your pocket or bag. Please check your local laws before getting into this hobby. So having said all that:  Thread Rule Do not talk about breaking the law. Do not ask for advice about breaking the law. Do not talk about trying to pick locks that are "in use". Do not try to circumvent this rule or try to e-lawyer it in any way. This thread is about Lockpicking as a hobby. How does lockpicking work? Let's focus on Single Pin Picking a typical pin-tumbler lock. There's a set of pins (typically 4-7) that keep the core from turning. A driver pin is stacked on a key pin and they are held down by a spring. If the key pins are pushed up into position (usually all at the same time by a key), space between the driver pin and the key pin will be lined up on a shear line, allowing them all to separate and the core will be free to turn. By putting tension on the core (with a tension wrench), you can attempt to use a lockpick to individually push the key pins into position. Because you're putting tension on the core, pushing up on a keypin can force it's driver pin into the set position that's then held in place by the tensioned core. Only one of the driver pins at a time will be ready to be picked at a time though, so you'll need to test each one and remember which ones you have picked or you risk oversetting the pin and may need to restart from the beginning to make it accessible again. This can be made more difficult by special types of pins called "security pins" that can have different shapes that can trick lockpickers into making them feel like a pin has been set, or otherwise make the lockpicking more difficult.  Typical Single-Pin Picking https://i.imgur.com/TrjGiV8.mp4 Single-Pin Picking with a Diamond Pick  Raking involves hitting all of those pins multiple times in quick succession in the hope that they'll set themselves properly. They are not precision tools and generally considered a low-skill attack. Works better on locks without security pins, and with less variety in pin heights. https://i.imgur.com/WzRnD9w.mp4 Zipping is similar to raking in that involves putting your pick all the way inside and then lifting upwards while pulling out quickly. It puts a lot of wear on your pick and lock so you really shouldn't do this. I'll VERY OCCASIONALLY do it slowly and without a lot of force with a hook just to try and unstick a pin, but it's never very successful. https://i.imgur.com/ITmAR9z.mp4 Common Types of Locks These are the ones that are common for hobbyist picking. Pin-Tumbler: Uses pins of varying length to prevent a lock from opening. Dimple: A type of pin-tumbler lock that uses the side of a key for bidding rather than the top edge. Wafer: Uses flat "wafers" inside instead of circular pins. Warded: Uses obstructions that prevent incorrect keys from entering and rotating. Very few moving parts. Disc-detainer: Uses rotating discs as locking components. Lockpicks A non-exhaustive list. Hooks
Rakes
Others
Proprietary
Metal Thickness Lockpicks will break because you're going to be putting stress on a thin piece of metal. But it can take years even with continuous use if you're not overdoing it. Standard is what you want most of the time, and then move to slimmer picks for locks that you just can't maneuver. Thinner picks can bend more easily if you need them too, at the cost of being more delicate.
Tension Wrenches In general, it's better to have a wider selection of tension wrenches than picks. You can pick most locks with a small selection of picks, but locks can have a variety of keyways that be difficult to hold on to and properly tension unless you have something that fits it comfortably. It's always good to have more options so you can snugly fit a wrench into any lock. Twisted Tension Wrenches Bottom of the keyway. Probably the most common type of tension wrench, as they're easy and cheap to make and get included in sets and recommendations.  Bars Top of the keyway. Thick/rigid. Gives more room to maneuver at the bottom of the keyway.  Ergonomic Typically a top of the keyway bar with a bend.   Types of Pins
These are the more common pins (though many here are not used commercially), and you can find far more varieties used in challenge locks such as these Christmas themed pins:   Want to see more?  There are many YouTubers who show off their knowledge and skill with lockpicking. LockpickingLawyer is arguably the most popular. His videos are more security minded and each adhere to the same structure. They tend to be only minutes long. LockNoob LockNoob shows off a wide variety of different locks. His videos vary in length from short to longer form. BosnianBill is now retired from making videos, but he's got a couple thousand available and many hundreds of those are of him picking challenge locks. His videos are less rigid in structure and longer than those of LockpickingLawyer. He's got a lot of great how-to videos as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBQVhgQ_3OQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JidZmCOcrZo I'd like to get into lockpicking. What equipment should I get?  Lockpicks Don't buy sets or kits. You're just going to be getting a lot of junk you'll never use. Most lockpicks are just small variations on the basics and you really don't need all that many to get into it. Start with buying the individual picks you're going to want/need. I recommend getting standard widths (0.025'') of the following: -Short Hook -Long Hook -Diamond -Optional: Some sort of rake, for fun. I like the Snake and the Triple peak. I think you'll enjoy single-pin picking more, but it can be amusing to rake open a weak lock. Maybe get a 0.015'' Short Hook as well for those small keyways. It will need to be treated more delicately than the standards. Examples:  Sparrows Short Hook Sparrows High Reach Sparrows Diamond Peterson Diamond Southord Classic Rake (Snake) Sparrows Triple Peak (without handle) Peterson Hook 1 (0.015'') Tension Wrenches I've said before you shouldn't buy lockpick sets, but you should get tension wrenches in small sets. Bottom of the keyway tensioners are usually pretty cheap. Top of the keyway aren't as cheap, but can also be more comfortable or give you more space to lockpick. This bottom of the keyway set from Sparrows, or any comparable set, will get you started. Go check out my section on Tension Wrenches if you'd like to expand on this.  Practice Locks (Don't) You really don't need transparent or other fancy practice locks. If you absolutely must get something, find a cutaway lock that you can gut and repin. All practice locks have the problem that they retain their "personalities" like any other single lock. Even if they're re-pinned, they still have the same pin picking order and you're really not learning all that much. On top of this problem, transparent locks easily deform. Easy-repin locks tend to cost quite a bit as well. You're ultimately paying a lot of money, $20-60, for locks that you're not going to use for very long. It's better to just get a bunch of mortise cylinders that cost like, 7 bucks each. They're cheap, easy to mix up and not remember their personalities, and can be re-pinned into challenge locks and economically mailed out to other members of the community. Carrying Case I like the Sparrows Sherman. It can hold many dozens of picks, wrenches, and tools and it's well priced. In my experience, the only thing it has trouble holding are my Ergo Turner Tension Wrenches, which are a bit too curvy to fit anywhere but they very small center pocket.   You might also like the Sparrows Comp Case, which doubles as a small work station. It's a lot easier to put picks away and grab new ones as you go. It does hold less than the Sherman though.  s_k_a_m_ posted:I really like this case for carrying picks/wrenches: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0044YGCA0 Locks The less you pay for, the better. This is the difficult part of the hobby, because unless you have a stupid amount of money to spend, you'll have to be thrifty. I've heard of people buying boxes of junk locks on ebay or getting locks that apartment property managers replaced and were otherwise going to throw away. You can always trade locks with others lockpickers. A lot of people just have them lying around with missing keys. If you need something to get you started, you can find a Master Lock 146D for 5-8 bucks. It's very easy to pick but great to start with and test new profiles on. It cannot be re-pinned. Mine is pretty silly as it has a pick order is 1-2-3-4. It can be opened just by pushing a C-rake into it. If you want something much more challenging, an American 1100 is a strong lock with security pins. If you can pick this, you graduate from a beginner to a capable lockpicker. They run about 20 bucks. This is one of the few locks I recommend buying just to have it around as a milestone lock. They can be gutted and re-pinned.  Typical American 1100 pinning. Note that all driver pins are security pins of some sort, but even the key pins have serrations.  The important thing to remember with locks is that you will learn their individual "personalities" and then you won't be getting much better from picking them, even if you can repin them. You'll just instinctively learn, "Oh this one's pick order. 3-4-2-5-1." However, you can really stretch out the life of a lock if you have a bunch of them that look similar and are easy to mix up. If you have 10 locks that all look the same, it doesn't really matter if you have picked one of them dozens of times before. This page has some recommendations for locks to get you started, but I don't think it's worth buying every lock. The Reddit Lockpicking community has put together a list of locks organized into different difficulties. Stores, Companies Sparrows: Good product. Reasonably priced. Southord: Wide variety. Cheap. Great for trying out pick profiles at a low cost. Handles sold separately. Peterson: High quality product. Pricey. Owner is a bit of a shithead. Covert Instruments: From the LockpickingLawyer. Pricey. Very little variety in lockpicks, but has a lot of expensive/complex tools for niche uses. He's a bit of a shill, showing off tools made for professionals as if they're something a hobbyist might want, and just happens to sell them on his personal store. I don't recommend this seller for those who are new to the hobby. However, CI does have a couple unique pieces which are pretty good for hobbyists like the Ergo Turner Set (still pricey) 
Zesty fucked around with this message at 12:59 on Mar 5, 2024 |
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May 25, 2023 07:34
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I mentioned a couple cases above. I like the Sherman because it has SO much room to grow into. A tray can be as cheap or fancy as you'd like it to be. Super easy to 3D print if you have access to that kind of thing. You can buy things like the Sparrows Mini Pinning Tray Pair for 8 bucks. You can fit one of those in a pocket in a Sherman even. I use that. Or you can do something as easy as folding a rigid piece of paper, accordion style. It really doesn't take much.  Some lockpicking-specific tweezers would also be helpful, and those would run you another 8-12 bucks. Lockpicking tweezers have some curved tips which make it easier to grab pins.  I mentioned the American 1100 in the OP which can be repinned. Just keep in mind to re-pin a lock, you have to be able to open the lock. That lock will come with a key, but you'll have to keep the same key pins in the same order to use the key on it. I also mentioned a cutaway lock if you really needed something like that. There are some varieties from sparrows there where you can spend an extra couple bucks to get a different set of pins than standard. Spools, Serrated, or even "Check" pins.  You'll probably want a bunch of different pins to play around with that. Sparrows (again, I know, but they're pretty great as a resource) have something called a reload kit which is going to have a lot of things you would want. It comes with spools, serrated, and mushroom pins, along with some keys you can match up some pinning loadouts to which are good challenges for beginners. It's also going to come with a cheap plug follower that's the right size for the cutaway lock. It also has those Sparrows pinning mats mentioned above and optionally some tweezers. It's all an okay set of things to start with for... what, reload kit + cutaway lock is $24 + $23 + shipping. Just keep in mind the cutaway lock is going to have the "personality" problem I mentioned in the OP. You'll get used to the picking order on it, even if you're no longer looking at the pins in the little cheat window. That's always going to be a problem with having a single lock to play with. You'll eventually want to add mortise cylinders to your collection if you enjoy repinning locks. You can buy them for like, 7 bucks each. SC1 and KW1 are different keyway shapes. They're pretty similar but the keys are not interchangable. They do use the same size pins though, which are very standard and exactly the kind you'll get in the reload kit and anything else from Sparrows. You can put this off for a bit if you go with the cutaway and reload kit. This is pretty advanced, but I have bookmarked a spreadsheet here that organizes pin sizes for different brands. Everything you'd get from Sparrows is going to be 0.115, which is standard size as pins go. Here's a BosnianBill video about how to put together a lock. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5_W1FF0c90&t=8s and another on the reload kit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NpcTyJADqY&t=13s I do not care for the progressive locks he talks about though. It's a bundle which you'll advance out of. Zesty fucked around with this message at 00:38 on May 26, 2023 |
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May 26, 2023 00:29
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They're lock type specific and cost 70 buck each. You would probably want four to six of them for decent coverage but could get as many as 25+ for most lock types. There's little to no European lock coverage. Then what? Hundreds or thousands of dollars spent just so you can easily decode the key needed for a lock without taking it apart? Slightly easier picking instead of just learning to lockpick? What's the fun in that? They're for professional locksmiths to save a little time on the job. They're not tools for beginners. They're not going to make you a better lockpicker. Let's take a step back here. LPL makes videos all the time showing off how good lishis are and just happens to sell all types of lishis on his personal store. You can do the math on that. Zesty fucked around with this message at 14:28 on Jun 2, 2023 |
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Jun 2, 2023 06:46
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Decoding, yeah. I don't know about guaranteed success. But definitely a lot easier because you don't need to rely on feel and know-how as much.
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Jun 3, 2023 01:22
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Guest2553 posted:I was able to regularly defeat simple locks without security pins, which (spookily) included the house I rented at the time. House locks typically don't have security pins. The reasoning, I imagine, is that destructive entry is easier, faster, and doesn't have any negatives that lockpicking will fix. It's going to be a B and E charge anyway. I highly recommend you don't lockpick locks that are "in use" for fun, whether they're yours or not, because you can damage locks in ways that are difficult to recover from.
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Jun 5, 2023 05:05
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Nenonen posted:So how does this work in Mississippi? Is it like you have to open carry them like guns? Yeah, lockpicks strapped to your back, thighs, or full on bandolier should be acceptable. Really though, effectively illegal in Mississippi. You're either "concealing" them by keeping them in a case, or cops can see you have lockpicks and will harass you anyway. I live where it's absolutely legal to own lockpicks and I don't bring them out of the house because I just don't want to risk any sort of talk with the cops over them.
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Jun 5, 2023 05:09
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H110Hawk posted:I finally braved their very still 2007 website and think I have a decent cart setup to get going: If I notice coupon codes, I'll let you know. Southord tends to let me know about sales more than any other company. If you haven't brought all this yet, it is A LOT of items, many of which I don't think you'll get a lot of use out of. But that's okay too if you're cool with that. I collect a lot of picks myself because I enjoy the collection of them. Those images in the OP of the Sherman case is my personal collection. Monstrum XXL? Had to look it up. Sounds like a condom brand.  First thing I noticed was that it had SIX rakes, which seemed like a lot, and then I noticed there were even more hooks in the top middle there. That's a whole lot of hooks. I do like the tension tools it comes with though. I feel like it might be doubling up on some sizes you need, but it's always good to have a wide selection of them. If you find you do have duplicate tension wrenches, you can feel comfortable modifying them into comfortable angles. I'm not a fan of progressive locks, which I explained in the OP (or maybe it was my second post)
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Jun 5, 2023 05:17
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Twenty Four posted:I found this thread from Pragmatica's monthly "check out these threads you might have otherwise never seen" anouncement post. It's not the first thread I found and enjoyed that way either, so, yeah I like those posts. It seems like an interesting rewarding hobby that once in a blue moon might save you or someone who you know in a pinch. Probably someone you know, because if I had lockpicks and somehow locked myself out of the house, they would probably be locked in the house, lol. Maybe something to keep somewhere else. I really like the way Sparrows does business, for the most part. That kit looks pretty good. Basic pair of hooks, and two different rake methods along with a basic tension set. The bag is kind of small but uhh, it's fine if this is all you're going to have for a bit. I'd imagine it'd be cheaper if you bought it all individually and then got a better case to expand into if that's your plan, but for now it's all about right for the cost. Actually, my complaint about it would be the picks don't have their typical sparrows-style dipped handles.  Southord Short Hook (0.025'') Sparrows Short Hook (0.025'') Peterson Hook 1 (0.015'') Here's a few different handles for anyone to consider. I left it on high resolution and tried to get the image at an angle so you can get an idea of their girthiness. I don't have many of the options southord offers because I only use their store to buy a bunch of cheap picks. The Southord one without a handle here is typical for any lockpick from anywhere without a handle. Very small, feels delicate. May be uncomfortable for you. Sparrows are pretty thick compared to the other two. Rounded. Feels kind of like rubber. You get pretty good feedback on all the little clicks and bumps. Peterson handles initially feel like cheap garbage plastic. But when you're lockpicking, they give VERY good feedback. Zesty fucked around with this message at 05:32 on Jun 5, 2023 |
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Jun 5, 2023 05:29
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I'm glad people want to get in the hobby, especially if you were inspired by this little write-up. If possible, let me try and save you a little money. I did quite a bit of research before I got into the hobby and I still feel like I made some unnecessary purchases. Happy to offer any advice I know anything about.
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Jun 5, 2023 05:40
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s_k_a_m_ posted:I don't have much to add, but I really like this case for carrying picks/wrenches: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0044YGCA0 I like those roll-up cases, but I haven't tried any of them. Do tools fit snugly in that?
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Jun 5, 2023 05:43
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Wouldn't know more without knowing what it is.
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Jun 5, 2023 13:01
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I’ve seen those. I want one just to try it out but I don’t need four slightly different angles of hooks bundled together.
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Jun 14, 2023 17:41
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Southord has a 25% off sale until July 24th. Code: LIBERTY23 I use Southord to buy really cheap $2 picks of all kinds of profiles I'd like to try out. They're obviously not amazing quality but there are SO MANY varieties. I haven't tried their more expensive stuff yet. Zesty fucked around with this message at 03:30 on Jul 3, 2023 |
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Jul 2, 2023 14:23
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That American 1100 is a satisfying pick. Did it with a Sparrows Tron and a comfortable ergo wrench.
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Jul 9, 2023 09:47
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SouthOrd Labor Day sale through the 5th. 20% off select items. LABORDAY23 Wish some of the other sites would have as frequent deals. I just don’t need much from SouthOrd. Zesty fucked around with this message at 19:54 on Aug 31, 2023 |
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Aug 31, 2023 19:43
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They aren’t durable, they’re expensive, and they’re outgrown super quick. Considering you’re already playing with a good lock, I’d say you’re already past any utility they might have.
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Aug 31, 2023 20:55
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Zesty posted:That American 1100 is a satisfying pick. Did it with a Sparrows Tron and a comfortable ergo wrench. I gutted this lock today.  Compared to American 1100 example in OP:
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Oct 1, 2023 07:32
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I want these tubular lockpicks but can't find them outside that $70 set. Kind of want the dimple rake too, but ugh 70 bucks is way wayy too much. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC0RxzXozB4 LPL is always trying to sell me poo poo and he might even manage it if he wasn't hiding things away in bundles. Edit: As soon as I posted it, I found the wrench on sparrows. I can use a broken pick with it. Zesty fucked around with this message at 09:55 on Dec 7, 2023 |
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Dec 7, 2023 09:49
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I don't know how to put together a door but that's a nice lock. Very hard pick. Big beefy key, just like you want.   A quick google search shows that that KIK cylinders are not all the same size and won't fit all the same.
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Dec 18, 2023 09:24
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Got a new American 1100 in my stocking. 
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Dec 25, 2023 13:08
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I was really into the ergonomic tension wrenches, but now I’ve just been enjoying some straight top of the keyway tension wrenches. If you really get into the hobby, you’ll find you need more variability in tension wrenches than picks.
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Feb 25, 2024 15:31
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