lock picking

Carol Reed

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Coolidge, AZ
Clever me locked 7 (sheesh) padlocks around some steel cables with the idea to store them together.

Dumb me lost the keys. :doh:

I learned that without the key numbers I am dead in the water without paying a locksmith to first pick the locks and then rekey them. Not!

But I would like to retrieve the steel cables.

So to make lemonade from this mess, I get the opportunity to learn how to pick locks. Watched a couple of YouTubes, but I would do better with some printed pictorial instructions. Anyone have any resources or advice?

Or to rephrase it, without admitting to any ill-spent activities, anyone have practical experience with picking padlocks?
 
Depending on the quality of the lock, some are easy to do, some are harder. Using one tool you'll need to keep the cylinder twisted to keep light pressure on the tumblers, then using the second tool push each tumbler until they hit their sweet spot, once all are aligned the cylinder should turn to open. Patience will be in order. ;) Bolt cutters may be easier or an abrasive disc in a 4" to 4.5" grinder.

Oh, and don't worry, once you're done, the keys will show up. :D
 
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Not much help here. I understand the principle and technique, but I never had the patience (or perhaps skill) to pick a lock. (I can open some locked doors with a credit card, though.)

...Oh, and don't worry, once you're done, the keys will show up. :D

Man, ain't that the truth. :rolleyes:
 
Had to open a file cabinet once, but that was a pretty simple lock type.

I'd agree with Darren, Bolt cutters or grinder might be faster.

If the keys are truly lost, the locks won't be much good even if you do pick them, unless you get really good at picking them.

What I usually do with padlocks is to use some wire to attach the keys directly to the padlock if I'm not actively using it.

Makes it easier to find the keys if they are kept together {Feel free to call me captain obvious]
captainobvious.jpg


Depending on the quality of the lock, some are easy to do, some are harder. Using one tool you'll need to keep the cylinder twisted to keep light pressure on the tumblers, then using the second tool push each tumbler until they hit their sweet spot, once all are aligned the cylinder should turn to open. Patience will be in order. ;) Bolt cutters may be easier or an abrasive disc in a 4" to 4.5" grinder.

Oh, and don't worry, once you're done, the keys will show up. :D
 
Carol, if you get really good, you could have a 3rd or 4th profession. I watched the head of security for a company where I worked open a locked desk as fast as I could with the key in my hand. If someone forgot their key at home, rather than go home to get it, Security would open the desk for them. The locks picked "instantly" in the movies are not that far from the truth, other than the actor sure wasn't picking the lock.
 
When I was a kid we used to lock the house with one of the old padlocks that you could just open with a bobbie pin and a wiggle. I don't know if we ever actually had a real key for it (also begs the question of how useful the lock was, but it was only held on by a couple of small screws anyway).

read this first: http://www.gregmiller.net/locks/mitguide/
read thsi second: https://www.cs.bgu.ac.il/~orlovm/papers/scrtlock.pdf
another useful technique here: http://www.gregmiller.net/locks/impress.html and here http://www.gregmiller.net/locks/makelockpicks.html

It is a fun hobbie, haven't played with locks in ~15+ years. Bolt cutters are indeed usually faster but not nearly as fun & satisfying :D
 
In some states, your not supposed to be able to order lock picks, without having a license. (think it is more true of the pick gun, then general picks)
A general pick set, can be found on Adafruit and from Kevin Mitnek in a business card form, to loose picks from several knife sellers (like BudK). Some come with instructions, some don't.
Or you can go to places like Instructables and learn how to make the picks yourself and the techniques for using them.
 
In some states, your not supposed to be able to order lock picks, without having a license.

As best as I can read it (legal mumble mumble) CA wants the seller to record all of your info about the sale but looks ~mostly~ legal to possess (requires further evidence of intent to commit a crime, I don't know what would be required in that state to constitute intent):
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=466-469
I wouldn't carry them around with me outside the house there...

Short overview by state: http://toool.us/laws.html - some are a little scary, as I read it in NV for example unless you are in business (mechanic, artificer or tradesman) that requires it merely possesing something as common as a pair of bolt cutters (or ?nippers?) could technically be considered intent to commit a crime. :eek:
 
Do you have any other padlocks that are the same that you have the keys too?

If you do you can figure out the distance between the peaks on the key, the pitch, then just make a pick for that peak pitch, and make a couple out of thin metal and you need the tool to put pressure on the barrel, it really is easy to do, I made some picks for almost the same reason that you did, I wanted to open a lock, but not bust the door or destroy the lock, as we knew the keys would show up. I picked my first lock in about 2 min, after you get the hang of it most locks pick very quickly. For the simple barrel locks in most padlocks it is really simple to do.
 
As best as I can read it (legal mumble mumble) CA wants the seller to record all of your info about the sale but looks ~mostly~ legal to possess (requires further evidence of intent to commit a crime, I don't know what would be required in that state to constitute intent)...

I think in California, the mere act of breathing can constitute intend. :rolleyes:
 
...Be interesting to see what is categorized as a lock pick, I have done it to a car with a coat hanger. :D

Depends on the mood of the cop. ;)

I actually helped a police officer break into his squad car once in Rock Springs, Wyoming. I provided the wire, but made him do the actual dirty work. (Wish I'd have had a camera handy back in those days, lol.)

I used to have a Mustang that I could unlock with a coat hanger about as fast as I could with the key.
 
Depends on the mood of the cop. ;)

And the state, but basically yes many of the rules are written so that pretty much any tool or .. non tool could be considered a burglary tool if the cop decides its so. Picks seem to be restricted in primarily two ways:
  • Holding yourself out as a locksmith without a license (it appears that lock picking tools are called out specifically in some of these laws and leads to some of the restrictions on ownership/use).
  • As "burglary" tools. Whats included here varies wildly by jursidiction.

In California the specifically call out:
picklock, crow, keybit, crowbar, screwdriver, vise grip pliers,
water-pump pliers, slidehammer, slim jim, tension bar, lock pick gun,
tubular lock pick, bump key, floor-safe door puller, master key,
ceramic or porcelain spark plug chips or pieces, or other instrument
or tool with intent feloniously to break or enter into any .. blabh blah blah

?Water pump pliers? really? (I had to lookup what the heck those were http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongue-and-groove_pliers, apparently I shouldn't roll my tool chest down a street in CA with intent).

Apparently screwdrives, vice grips, rocks! all count as well.
http://www.losangelescriminallawyer...ction-466-pc-possesion-of-burglary-tools.html
 
So being I reside in said state, I will not be reporting back to you how things go, lest this post is eyeballed by the constitutional revisionists with a periscope into my heart to determine my intent.

Or is it already too late? :rofl:
 
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