The Lock Picking Thread

I got into watching LPL's videos when I was laid off during Covid. His kits had not come out yet so I got some picks from other companies. Ended up with a bunch that I had no use for. When I did get the LPL kit I found it worked well on just about everything. I've since picked up some other goodies from there which have all been useful. His practice lock is the easiest to repin I've found.

Are you using top or bottom of the keyway tension on that number 3? Most 3's I've encountered respond well to being raked with light tension.

 

Great practice lock, very easy to repin, has everything you need.

 

Seems I'm not the only one that needed time to fill!

I will say, immediately after using the set I purchased, I liked it so much I ordered a few more items a day or two later.

Only thing is they don't arrive until next Monday.

With that said, they've worked well on everything I've picked (only actual locks, no practice locks) with the exception of that number 3. My wrenches are too big to go TOK which is why I also placed an order for a set from Sparrow Picks.

Maybe I could try using my current wrenches up top and try my hand at raking so thanks for the idea.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHYpSERxcC4 Hate to break it to you, but they're crazy easy.

 

Fast forward a few posts; I picked the 140 easily.

I don't have comb picks so I did single pin picking which only took a few seconds.

But yes those picks are part of my order coming in next week!

 

Next thread up - how to jack a Tacoma, the EASY way.

 

Sparrows Wafer and Warded picks are pretty good too.

I got an SC1 Lishi tool to use with the CI practice lock, it is very easy, but gives valuable feedback about binding order, security pins, and what pins feel like when they're set. Shame they're so pricey.

Glad I found this place I just got my first Tacoma yesterday!

 

Ooh those look pretty cool.

Skipped over those when I ordered my TOK wrenches.

 

The case at our local Costco that has the $3000.00 Scotch has a wafer lock. My wife glares at me when I inspect it too closely.

 

when i was in 6th grade, i screwed around with 2 bent paperclips to unlock the thermostat and turn down the AC, during a detention during recess. The teacher left me inside the classroom to write 100 sentences of "i will not do ...." and i fucked around to make our classroom more cool in the spring.

 

I'm definitely oversetting the pins in my new locks.

My tension wrench takes up a lot of space working at the BOK causing my pick to push the pins too high.

I get either a real or false set through the first 4 pins but find it difficult getting to pin 5 and pin 6 without pushing up 1-4 too high.

These apparently have 5 spool pins and 1 serrated.

 

I bought some cheap low hook picks that I could grind to an even smaller profile with a dremal tool. Masters TOLO plastic locks are strangely more pick resistant than most of their other stuff.

 

I had bought a half diamond that I'm hoping comes in clutch.

Otherwise I'll buy a duplicate of something I have already and grind it down; just didn't want to grind down what I currently have.

 

The cheap picks didn’t have a handle, I just put some heat shrink on them. I forget what I paid, but it was probably about three to four bucks.

 

That's a great idea as I've got plenty of heat shrink available.

And yeah picks aren't pricey at all, just a matter of making a purchase worth it and loading up the cart if I'm really needing just a single pick

 

So one of my orders arrived; these are from Covert Instruments and it was an order for some comb picks, shims, and decoders.



I don't expect to use the shims really, but they'll be nice to have 'just cause'.

Another package I had been anticipating is the Abus 55/40.



Have to say, I am really digging the feedback this lock gives me. I can easily hear and feel pins setting, whether it's a false set or not. But what's really interesting is the counter rotation I get at pin 3 which tells me it must be serrated.

I honestly believe I'll be able to beat this lock with either a TOK wrench or smaller pick. I find myself oversetting pin 2 or 3 as I try to make my way to pin 4. Either that or a pin gets reset that I had already set. Rather than get frustrated, I'll wait until my other picks arrive.

Thought I'd come back to my other Master Locks and try a comb pick for the first time.

https://youtu.be/VPTa7PrBKdo

Took me an average of 10-15 seconds to single pin pick these locks and now it takes me but a second with a comb pick.

 

The comb picks, on the right lock are fun but a bit boring after a while. The only pick that made me feel cheated was the tubular lock impressioning tool. Being into bicycles in the 80’s, the Kryptonite lock was mythically impervious. Took the tool, grabbed the old bike lock and three seconds later it was open. Ditto a Citadel lock. I need to get that Abus. A lot of the locks I have are “mushy” about feedback.

 

Fuck me.

Picked my Abus 55/40 with my current pick set within a minute; showed the wife.

Go to the garage to try it again and no dice

 

Been there done that

 

Been there… what’s worse is a lock you can open but the binding order feels different everytime.