How to prep a lock to be picked
Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:25 pmThis process should take maybe 10 seconds before picking, and the things you learn from it are worth the time being spent.
First thing if you have never seen this particular lock or bitting on a key for it is to put a short hook into the very back of the lock and rake forward listening to the pins drop. Count the pins so you know how many you are dealing with. Next flip your short hook upside down and push every pin into the very top of the plug, then insert your tension wrench apply good pressure and lower your short hook and slide it out of the plug. Pay attention to what the pins do with tension, do they bind completely? do they fall back down? slowly release the tension and watch the pins fall down, this can do two things, help you understand the binding order and also tell you a few things about the pins and springs inside of the lock. You will know if a spring is seriously damaged and you will be able to identify if the lock may or may not have security pins by the way they act when they fall down. If a pin gets really binded up with tension and is one of the last ones to fall as the tension is almost released take your short hook and push the pins up individually to get a feel for the spring and how hard it pushes back down. If it's a solid spring pushing back down then you may be dealing with security pin.
Next decide if you are going to impression a key or just work on picking and if that fails then you drill. If you are focused on picking only then spray oil based lube in the lock not graphite, then stick your pick in and work the lube around or use a blank for the keyway and slide the blank all the way in and out 5-10 times to move the lube up into the chambers. This helps release all of the dirt, grit and nasty stuff, also if you have damaged springs inside the lock the lube will help the pins slide back down using gravity assuming you are picking a lock facing up.
Lube is the biggest helper here. I hope this short bit helps people out that are having problems with certain locks, we know lube sucks to get on your picks but it wipes off easy and it keeps them rust free.
The reason I asked if you are going to impression a key is you never spray lube into a lock if you want to impression it. Locks are much easier to impression with dirt and crap in them. Always keep impressioning locks dirty and picking locks smooth and clean for best results.
LocFoc
First thing if you have never seen this particular lock or bitting on a key for it is to put a short hook into the very back of the lock and rake forward listening to the pins drop. Count the pins so you know how many you are dealing with. Next flip your short hook upside down and push every pin into the very top of the plug, then insert your tension wrench apply good pressure and lower your short hook and slide it out of the plug. Pay attention to what the pins do with tension, do they bind completely? do they fall back down? slowly release the tension and watch the pins fall down, this can do two things, help you understand the binding order and also tell you a few things about the pins and springs inside of the lock. You will know if a spring is seriously damaged and you will be able to identify if the lock may or may not have security pins by the way they act when they fall down. If a pin gets really binded up with tension and is one of the last ones to fall as the tension is almost released take your short hook and push the pins up individually to get a feel for the spring and how hard it pushes back down. If it's a solid spring pushing back down then you may be dealing with security pin.
Next decide if you are going to impression a key or just work on picking and if that fails then you drill. If you are focused on picking only then spray oil based lube in the lock not graphite, then stick your pick in and work the lube around or use a blank for the keyway and slide the blank all the way in and out 5-10 times to move the lube up into the chambers. This helps release all of the dirt, grit and nasty stuff, also if you have damaged springs inside the lock the lube will help the pins slide back down using gravity assuming you are picking a lock facing up.
Lube is the biggest helper here. I hope this short bit helps people out that are having problems with certain locks, we know lube sucks to get on your picks but it wipes off easy and it keeps them rust free.
The reason I asked if you are going to impression a key is you never spray lube into a lock if you want to impression it. Locks are much easier to impression with dirt and crap in them. Always keep impressioning locks dirty and picking locks smooth and clean for best results.
LocFoc
