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Static Picking

PostPosted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 3:40 pm
by chris
This might come off as a dumb question, but is there any advantage to static picking? Other than the obvious two hands free.

Example being: I have an American 5200 U.S. lock that I have been trying to pick damn near every day for the last year with no success.
I'd always held it in left hand and used TOK and was never able to get it open or even a false set. Today i get the urge to clamp that bitch in my vise, lock pops open on first attempt. I sit there in awe at finally opening the lock up, made my day i'll tell you that.
Any input is cool, just a question i had when the 5200 miraculously opened.

Re: Static Picking

PostPosted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 4:11 pm
by LocksmithArmy
picking static is about practice... it is a different feel when kneeling picking a door that it is sitting holding your door lock... so I practice static to better prepair myself for what i might find in the field

I find no benifit... is a bit less comfortable... so id have to say its less benificial...

Re: Static Picking

PostPosted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 5:09 pm
by HallisChalmers
The concept behind static picking of a lock is to try and replicate the act of opening a rim or mortise lock that is affixed to a door. In other words, in real life, you won't be able to manipulate a lock to accommodate your picking style.

Instead, your picking style will need to adapt to what the lock is affixed to - either a door, a gate, etc.

Now then, in normal circumstances, a padlock would be attached to a hasp of some kind, so some manipulation of a padlock is possible - thus making it easier to open. But opening a rim or mortise lock IN THE DOOR - is a totally different animal. That is the true method by which to gauge your skill.

You'll see some guys static pick their padlocks or rim cylinders positioned face up in their vise (under a light) - so it's easy to keep the tension wrench in the keyway by the use of gravity - and concentrate on the pins. But in a real life scenario - when picking a rim cylinder, gravity will work to drop that tension wrench out of the keyway - just as you're setting that last pin. Then you'll spend the next half hour, fumbling around in the dark - trying to find that lost tension wrench, cussing and swearing the whole time.
:chill:

So yes, there is a value in static picking - especially if you try to replicate a real life scenario. Go ahead and put that lock in a vise - but mount it with the keyway in the vertical plane. And turn off the lights and use a Zippo for a light source. All of a sudden, that lock that you could pick in your hand 8 times a day and 12 on Sunday - well, that little bastard just got a lot harder to pick.