Please Stay Tuned For Lock Picking Home School Videos! If you have any topics that have not been covered and you would like to see me cover them please let me know below!
Really nice video! Finnally I opened a lock (FAB) I´ve been trying to open it for couple of weeks. I have one question, because, in this FAB lock there is really not lot of space - do you have some method how to recognize which hook to use? I mean this - you suggest to use deeper hook, but when there is no how to it put into (snake shape of key)? Is it (this advice) usefull for more locks than this? Or, do you have (in this video) choosen lock just to show what is going on in it (lock easy to pick)? Thank you.
Back to front is the easiest to learn. As you go, try to memorize the order of pin friction. Try to work in the order of most friction to least, per pin. Expect to start over again at least 5 times until you learn the friction order. Sometimes the pin shapes and side bars will fool you. But after getting the pin order, you can memorize the heights, and bypass false sets.
As a relatively new lock picker I would say this video is the best I've seen in explaining the difference between the feel of a set pin and unset pin. It is going to help me a lot as I improve my lock picking. I suspect I often overset pins and now I think I have a much better chance of identifying them. Thank you very much for making this video. 😁👍
The trick with the quick swipe through the bible under lighter tension to release overset pins without losing everything else was fantastic, thank you for that.
A great video all beginners should watch. As a novice, oversetting is definitely my most frequent problem. As you point out theres a feel to the process that you have to develop. Back to practice for me!
Very informative. I’ve been practicing on a master lock and my successes have been pretty random. I think I’m oversetting a lot and this explains at least part of what I’m doing wrong. 👍🏻
Be sure to check the LPL "LockPickingLawyer - Inside Perspective Series" series that contains 6 videos with cutaway locks that he published about 2 years ago. That should explain things very well and has superb video quality. I think the video about disk detainer locks may be a bit hard to follow if you don't understand the mechanism already, though.
Good picking I have been doing this out in my garage for two hours got peod and came back in the house. Now I have to go back and try again, thanks for the advice.
Hell I've been watching these vids all night and I still cant pick a real lock. Not the video's fault at all I just dont have the knack for this as a hobby.
Thank you so much! I just got into lockpicking, starting with padlocks, and oversetting pins is my biggest problem right now. Top of the keyway tensioning makes more sense, but I don't think my tools are the most appropriate for that, yours seems to have the right shape! Thank you very much for this video, I'll go and watch the others :)
I've been struggling with over set pins. I accidently developed a weird technique where I over set one of the pins and I'd back off tension and the lock would open. It works for easy masterlock, but anything with security pins isn't working. This should help me unlearn my bad habit. Ty!!
Wow! I would like to thank you, your videos have been - by far - the most helpful to me (probably many others) in advancing in this hobby. You really do explain this stuff very well.
Thanks for the videos i appreciate and respect the time you take to make these videos. Lock picking has become my "fidget spinner" after a long exhausting day at work its a good focus to help my mind stay calm lol
Thank you for this video. I only got into lockpicking a few weeks ago, and I've been trying to pick a 6pin cylinder lock for nearly 2 weeks. I finally got into it today because of this video. Thank you
Nothing worse than that mushy feeling pin that oversets without a sound. Then everything gets springy or an already set pin or pins drop. One of your better videos, IMO. Keep it up.
Great video! You present information in a specific and straight-forward way. I especially like how you describe your auditory and tactile sensations BEFORE, DURING and AFTER each scenario. If you can believe it, I am still stuck on a Master lock #3. I think this is primarily due to the fact that I don't understand or sometimes notice the feedback coming to me, which decreases the accuracy of the mental image I have to work with regarding all the components and inter-relationships going on inside the lock. Although the "sensations" you describe are qualitative, your description provides an excellent starting point on what I should be "feeling and hearing" and "why", on a much more definitive level. Yes, I am a biologist, and yes I tend to "overthink" things. However in the case of lockpicking, I can use my science training to my advantage, I just need to find teachers that "speak" my language. Lastly, I will close with the fact that I realize that there is an "art" to lockpicking, that cannot be approached scientifically. It has to be "felt", "sensed", and "experienced" thousands of times, and thousands of times again. Thanks for all the advice!
Thank you for the kind words, if you enjoyed this video I recommend you check out my Lock Picking Home School series, it has a lot of videos much like this one. If you are just starting I would not bother with a Master Lock No. 3, they are built poorly and are not great to learn on. I would buy a Kwikset lock and learn to progressive pin that also the Brinks 40 mm laminate padlock gives great feedback as well. You want to start off on lock that give obvious feedback because it will help you learn. Also, if you go onto eBay you can find some cutaway locks which are useful for you to teach yourself different scenarios. Just keep at it, pick a lock everyday, and you will be surprised where you are 6 months from now. There are so many great people in this community with many different backgrounds, it is nice to hear you are in biology, I work as a nurse in an ER.
@@HelpfulLockPicker Thanks for such a fast reply. I have the Sparrows' Night School pickset and cut-away practice locks and also the Revolver(non-cutaway). I have been able to pick the three cutaway practice locks from Sparrows, albeit not consistently. I thought I would move up to the Master #3 because of how ubiquitous it is and that everyone on these channels makes fun of it. I thought I would sail through it but I was quickly humbled. I saw BosnianBill pick it with modified, cat food can lids, zip ties, and even a and near broken bamboo skewer! I have been able to pick it, just not consistently and I have a lot of difficulty raking any of my locks. I watch a lot of videos and assimilate information quickly, just the practice part is looming large. I am going back and forth between cutaway locks and non-cutaways, to try to develop my "feel" for what is happening and to put a better mental image together. I hate to admit, sometimes I can't tell what pin I'm on (besides the first and last). I am going to invest in a vise and see how much that helps, however lock-in-hand training is important to me to be effective out in the field. My expertise is as a wetland biologist, especially freshwater macroinvertebrates. Tall respect to nurses, thanks again!
@@Raphaelo325 I will be completely honest with you my most used approach when opening up a Master Lock No. 3 is zipping. It works like a charm every time and no reason to take it any further. I highly recommend the Kwikset lock and you can add security pins as you go. Also check out my Progressive lock list in the video description but I do recommend you skip down to the Brinks because that is the first lock on the list where you actually get great feedback and it is a good experience for learning.
@@HelpfulLockPicker Thanks again for all the helpful advice! I will make it a point to find that Brinks 40mm and take a look at your progressive lock list. All the best!
Thanks much, this is very useful. I have been dealing with this issue. Finally realized I needed to use a deeper hook, or the tron or offset hybrid, to avoid oversetting with the shaft of the pick. So far, I have just had to start over every time. I shall practice your suggestion for recovering without all dropping all of the pins you've set. Very useful stuff.
Another excellent video! Thank you. While I enjoy watching the LPL, I find your videos have much more USEFUL information. One could watch the LPL all day and not learn HOW and WHY lockpicking works! Also, I was wondering if anyone has ever put together a series of charts or a computer app that would allow you to enter the make and model of a lock, and be able to pull up a list of vulnerabilities for that lock, (shimming, raking, tapping etc) as well as the best pick(s) and type of tension/tensioner for the lock. Also, rotation direction, whether or not the lock has security pins, and any other information which would help arm a lockpicker BEFORE they attempt to defeat a lock. That would be of great value and would save a lot of wasted time/effort! The Pareto rule would apply here. Only about 20% of the models of locks on the market make up at least 80% of the locks that lockpickers would need to be able to pick!
Rick Holt it’s because it’s practically IMPOSSIBLE to make each pin the exact same dimensions, this is where the binding order comes into play, usually the first binding pin is the one with the biggest dimensions, that way when you set it, you move onto the next pin that is the biggest out of all the unset pins, hope that makes sense.
Rick Holt I second that Underground. More expensive locks have much higher tolerances in manufacturing, making the binding order that much more important. But even then, they can’t make it absolutely perfect. Us pickers simply take advantage of the loose manufacturing tolerances.
@@Creativeanduniqueusername It's a question of price. In theory, you could make it much harder by producing all parts with far better tolerances. These locks exist, but every single part of the lock including the keys has to adhere to those better tolerances. The pins have to be much more precise, so they can fit into the more precise core and clear the housing when the key is inserted. There are locks like the DOM IX or System D that have teardrop-shaped pin profiles which even follow the curvature of the core on the shearline. On the lower end spectrum, you have pins that are tapered on both ends so they can be placed in the lock either way, which makes them far easier to manufacture, but also to pick. Sidebars can be precision-milled or cast. It's all about the price of the final lock and the precision required to manufacture proper keys.
@@graealex Wouldn't that also lead to issues where any wear on the key would cause it to stop working? I know just from rubbing against coins or whatever in a pocket, keys can get pretty worn; if you tighten the tolerances way up on the pins, a worn key may not work at all, right?
Thank You a ton HLP.. Im a newbie too and sitting at home because of the virus. This over setting is a issue with me too. I now have a totally new outlook thanks to you. Thank you again Brian.
I like raking with moderate to light tension to grab a false set and then leaning heavy into the tensioner for SPP'ing the final pins. This gives me the best of both worlds and allows me to determine via SPPing if I have overset anything before wasting too much time. Great video. Glad I found you. I am now a subscriber!
Thank you very much sir. I was pretty sure that this is what i have started running into. It was very helpful to me. Thanks again for making thses videos. It is very much appreciated and you do a great job with them! Have a great day!
I’ve been practicing on a front door lock that we didn’t get keys from the previous owner. I know it’s a very old lock but I get nearly no sound feedback. I had gotten it a handful of times but no consistency. I couldn’t figure out why I would get no binding pins and start over. After watching this I picked it in 30 seconds and I feel like I actually knew what I was doing instead of just persisting and luck. Thank you so much for this! Edit: Hours later and I haven’t gotten it again. The inconsistency makes me wonder if its the lock or me but I don’t have another lock with security pins like this to practice on.
Thank you for the kind words. I would be cautious regarding picking locks in use. You don't want to break them. Also, make sure you only pick locks you own or have permisison
Very good information. Do you have any videos on how to pick, or drill anti pick, anti drill Yale Euro locks, or similar locks used in PVC doors? Many thanks, Joe.
Pretty much a beginner here. I bought the Sparrows Progressives and the bitting on #3 is with the first pin low, then high. After having a lot of trouble opening the lock, I found that what you said about changing to back to front makes a big difference.
I stumbled upon your channel looking for the definition of a "false set". Wow. Although, I've been watching other popular lock picking channels, I've missed and overlooked the essential basics you're discussing here. NOW, I've got better understanding of what the terminology means as discussed on other vids and what I've yet to understand and apply :) I'm enjoying your practical step by step methodology in your basic videos that is now giving me hope that a no talent lock picker may someday attain basic practical knowledge ;) I'm looking forward to watching more of your vids to grow further. Great job, keep it up!
Thanks very much enjoy watching LPL and Bosnian bill ..but this is so much more Informative since I'm a Noob and I haven't even opened my first lock yet, but I'm sure this is going to be my new hobby, Love the community and the comments..
As a novice I can say with confidence that oversetting pins happens most of the time. I have learnt to back off the tension slightly and then I can hear the offending pin which is over set drop back down. Looking at the key profile helps , that way a deep cut in the key tells me which pin. has the “long travel”.
Thanks for this. I’m still just a beginner picking the Master locks. I can pick them reliably but most often, I’m over setting pins. With tension on, none of the pins are moving or giving any feedback. I’ll relax tension and hear a click but it quickly gets back to the the same state. If I’m persistent, I’ll hit the right spot and open the lock. If it’s getting frustrating, I’ll put just about any rake in the lock and with just the slightest touch open the lock. Usually, I’ll zip a snake rake or a bogata. Zipping with the hook never seems to work though. I’m using Sparrows picks with bottom of the keyway tension.
Great video as always, but I've also read/heard that using heavier 'tension' can actually result in more rather than fewer overset pins, because it requires the picker to use more upward force on the pick; and when you finally overcome the binding resistance, it may cause the key pin to overshoot and wind up in the bible. I haven't done enough locks yet on my own to verify one or the other substantially, but I suspect I never will; it may just be one of those things where it depends on a great many factors, like the model of the lock, or even the individual lock itself, skill or reflexes of the picker, phase of the moon, etc. (kidding about the moon). But I have found that I have repeatably better results on something like a Master 141 if I go lighter rather than heavier. But again, it's only a sample size of two 141s for me, so YMMV. The 141s were a bit of a revelation for me, because I was a little dismissive of the "lighter tension" mantra..and yet it's got me opens once I heeded it. Then again, "lighter" and "heavier" are wildly subjective w/o an actual unit of measure like inch/lbs for standardized reference.
Great video i'm staring at a six pack of 1100s I was feeling a little intimidated until I saw your video this is the most useful information directed at a single series lock I have seen in one place at one time bringing many tips together at one time.Great video man!
Some locks are just harder to pick. I have a 5 pin lock which seems to have tapered pins, restricted keyway and pins 4 and 5 are really really close to binding at the same time. The pin 4 has very poor feedback and it has really deep cut in the key and pin 5 is zero cut (max lift). It's really really easy to overlift the pin 4 while trying to set pin 5 - basically if you feel pin 4 moving while setting pin 5, pin 4 is already overset. In addition, the lock is pretty scratchy so you have to reduce tension to get the pin 3 moving at all and it partially drops really easily when I try to set pins 4 and 5. I've succesfully picked this lock only once and I can set pins 1, 2 and 3 in maybe 5-10 seconds (pins 4 and 5 have zero feedback until 1, 2 and 3 have been correctly set) but pins 4 and 5 are really hard to set correctly. As a bonus, pin 1 requires pretty high lift and it has superb weak spring so it's easy to overlift and it has dropped while picking the rest of the lock.
When I menage to pick a lock in one direction, I usualy can't pick the same lock in other direction. So make a video with picking lock in both direction please and explaine what's may be the reason.
i just said you're very informative i do appreciate your approach and your monologe it helps a lot when you're learning to know the terminologythanks a lot
All great tips. I'm only 1 week in and I had bunch of these problems. I hate going low to high. I only have a standard hook and a hybrid hook by sparrows. (I don't wanna buy a bunch of tools if I can't master the simple ones) I hear their kickstart kit is all you need to learn to pick.
Honestly you only need a few picks and top of keyway tensioners and bottoms of keyway tensioners to be successful. To open 95% of the locks I work on I use my Peterson Hook1 Reach in 0.025" or my Peterson GEM in 0.018" All you need is a short hook and a medium/deep hook. I like to have the slightly thinner one for locks with a bit of a more difficult keyway. Just keep practicing and you will get there. If I were you I would save your money for more locks.
@@HelpfulLockPicker yeah I think I need some TOK tension bars. It would allow me to attack some pins from a steeper angle. Sometimes I can warp the pick side by side with the BOK tension bar, but I feel like that's bad practice. And makes manipulating the key pin not as accurately. And exactly I'd rather spend more money on locks. I have 3 practice locks from sparrows night school kit. And just a few master locks lol. It's either too easy or too hard. I need something more in-between
Maybe that's why I've been struggling so much. I only have a bottom tension wrench and wasn't aware there was a difference. Thanks for the video, that's a sub from me!
FYI you don't need a special wrench for top tension, although it may be more convenient. You can apply tension in the top of the keyway with a standard tool but you may find you can only tension in one direction without the tool falling out.
I'm quite new to Locksport but am slowly getting there. I still overset but not quite as much as when I first started. For me at least, oversetting often comes from the beginner's belief that you have to jam the pin all the way up to the moon. As I've progressed I'm developing a gentler touch and backing off more when I get a click or similar feedback, moving to other pins to test them. I can always come back if it needs a little more. As with all worthwhile hobbies, practice practice practice...
When I work on serrated pins often take that approach just lift a little bit and move on. Oversetting gets really tough when you start to work on challenge locks with serrated keypins with serrated bibles, those keypins love to stay overset and not drop back down. Lock picking is a fine art form and like you said practice is the number one tool you have to get better!
@@HelpfulLockPicker thanks for the quick reply. Though I'm still green when it comes to picking, I love gutting and building challenge locks. Lots of high/low, serrated things everywhere, threading the core and (where possible) the bible. I've started undercutting too. Varying the springs. Needless to say, I cannot then pick the monstrous frankenlocks that come out of all this!
@@bikkies it's no problem, I try to respond to the comments when I can. And also if you are ever interested in making a Kwikset challenge lock I wouldn't mind trying it out but I really do dislike serrated Bibles, I find it to be cheap trick LOL. I am a big fan of creative pinning.
@@HelpfulLockPicker strangely enough, I'm working on a kwikset clone at the moment. They're hard to get over here in the UK where it is all about Yales, euro cylinders & tight paracentric keyways. I vary my butchery and am beginning to think a little more intelligently about which mods to apply in combination with often homemade pins. If I can come up with something I'll send it over, more likely for interest & critique than just being an impossible pick. That's how I'll learn.
@@HelpfulLockPicker the Kwikset clone I'm working on should be finished soon. I'll be keeping the bible unthreaded as suggested here. Not quite sure how DMs work in RUclips, having never used them before here, but if you could please let me know your mailing address then I'll get this sent over to you in the next few days. It probably won't be very challenging for you but I'd be genuinely grateful for your critique on what works well and what you'd change. This would be the first challenge lock I've ever sent away so please be gentle with me :) Thanks.
Can you make a video on zero lifting pin and how to detect them from start ? Because they feel like they are binding right away although they should stay in the zero position. Very nice video dude thanks a lot !
When you say that you feel that the key pin is not loose respectively does not fall down if it's overset and that is how you detect it ... that only works in your upside down arrangement. Every door lock is the other way around...
Great video that explains important concepts that seem like they would be critical to any beginner tutorial, but they always seem to be omitted. Do you have a video that covers very basic positioning of the picking tool in the keyway? Most videos gloss over any details. You raise an important point here with the shank of the hook lifting pins that you're not trying to pick. I can see this happen with my Sparrows cutaway lock but I've never seen this mentioned in any beginner video before. Would be great to have a tutorial for positioning and manipulating the picking tool in different keyways, and what style picks work better for which.
Decided to take a look and see if I could figure out why I was struggling to open the new lock I picked up. I am confident it is a pretty low grade lock as it is a master lock meant for a trailer hitch... As it turns out its literally just that I don’t have a tension wrench that gives me enough room to pick without oversetting and many of the pins are super rough with little to no lubrication. Looking to actually start lock picking as a career... still got a little ways to go I suppose.
Thank you for the kind words! I hope to get back into my series soon. These videos take a very long time to make but they are worth it. I really enjoy doing them.
Hi i was able to open a abus 65/50 2 times with some luck, but i did not really understand how i did xD how it shall feel if i had overset it. after this video and 10 h of practis im finnaly know how i do with the spools. big thx for this video who helped me !
Thank you for the kind words. I hope this video helps. If you haven't already, I recommend you check out my full Lock Picking Home School series, it has a lot of great info. Lock Picking Home School: ruclips.net/video/klElz25CsE4/видео.html
Good info for beginners, as always. I wish I had found this channel 6 months ago. I've been trying to learn by LPL and Bosnian Bill and they fo some pretty challenging stuff and it's no necessarily simplified sometimes (although I do love watching them pop open weird stuff) . Cheers brotha!
One thing I don't like about those is they have the SC1 keyway which I find is a bit tough for someone new. Are you using top of keyway (TOK) or bottom of keyway (BOK) to tension?
the new cheao masterlocks upgrade was to make the first pin easy to lock up and then make that first pin very shallow so you end up locking it trying to get to the other pins. but when you rake it, yur in in seconds
![[189] Close-Up On How To Pick A Lock With A Bobby Pin!](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xNV6FEY5Qv4/mqdefault.jpg)
![[189] Close-Up On How To Pick A Lock With A Bobby Pin!](/img/tr.png)
![[211] How Lock Picking Works: Learn How To Identify Set Pins](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/BcKhENjbrYA/mqdefault.jpg)
Please Stay Tuned For Lock Picking Home School Videos!
If you have any topics that have not been covered and you would like to see me cover them please let me know below!
8y⁷⁷⁷⁷777⁷⅞the
Really nice video! Finnally I opened a lock (FAB) I´ve been trying to open it for couple of weeks. I have one question, because, in this FAB lock there is really not lot of space - do you have some method how to recognize which hook to use? I mean this - you suggest to use deeper hook, but when there is no how to it put into (snake shape of key)? Is it (this advice) usefull for more locks than this? Or, do you have (in this video) choosen lock just to show what is going on in it (lock easy to pick)? Thank you.
How to pick smart 🔑
Where can I purchase this cutout lock?
Back to front is the easiest to learn. As you go, try to memorize the order of pin friction. Try to work in the order of most friction to least, per pin. Expect to start over again at least 5 times until you learn the friction order. Sometimes the pin shapes and side bars will fool you. But after getting the pin order, you can memorize the heights, and bypass false sets.
Thank you for sharing
As a relatively new lock picker I would say this video is the best I've seen in explaining the difference between the feel of a set pin and unset pin. It is going to help me a lot as I improve my lock picking.
I suspect I often overset pins and now I think I have a much better chance of identifying them.
Thank you very much for making this video. 😁👍
Thank you for the kind words and I am glad that it helped :-)
It's very clear. I agree
Liked , subscribed
The trick with the quick swipe through the bible under lighter tension to release overset pins without losing everything else was fantastic, thank you for that.
Thank you for checking it out
Thank you!!! You get to the point, stay on topic and speak clearly and intelligently. Good job.
5 stars on this one!! Great job explaining everything. I struggle with overset, newbie move though.
Thank you for the kind words and I'm glad it helped :-)
A great video all beginners should watch. As a novice, oversetting is definitely my most frequent problem. As you point out theres a feel to the process that you have to develop. Back to practice for me!
Thank you for the kind words and I'm glad it helps!
Very informative. I’ve been practicing on a master lock and my successes have been pretty random. I think I’m oversetting a lot and this explains at least part of what I’m doing wrong. 👍🏻
Just keep practicing everyday you'll be amazed how good you can get in a short amount of time
Thanks mate just subbed. I've been watching LPL and BB but they dont realy explain it in as much detail as you did.
thank you for the kind words and I'm glad it helped :-) thank you for the subscription!
Be sure to check the LPL "LockPickingLawyer - Inside Perspective Series" series that contains 6 videos with cutaway locks that he published about 2 years ago. That should explain things very well and has superb video quality. I think the video about disk detainer locks may be a bit hard to follow if you don't understand the mechanism already, though.
So many beginner videos don't even mention oversetting. This video helps a lot. Thanks.
Good picking I have been doing this out in my garage for two hours got peod and came back in the house.
Now I have to go back and try again, thanks for the advice.
Thanks for checking it out!
Hell I've been watching these vids all night and I still cant pick a real lock. Not the video's fault at all I just dont have the knack for this as a hobby.
Thank you so much!
I just got into lockpicking, starting with padlocks, and oversetting pins is my biggest problem right now. Top of the keyway tensioning makes more sense, but I don't think my tools are the most appropriate for that, yours seems to have the right shape!
Thank you very much for this video, I'll go and watch the others :)
TOK makes a huge difference. I wish you luck and thank you for checking out my videos!
I've been struggling with over set pins. I accidently developed a weird technique where I over set one of the pins and I'd back off tension and the lock would open. It works for easy masterlock, but anything with security pins isn't working. This should help me unlearn my bad habit. Ty!!
Wow! I would like to thank you, your videos have been - by far - the most helpful to me (probably many others) in advancing in this hobby. You really do explain this stuff very well.
Thank you for the kind words and I am glad they help!
Thanks for the videos i appreciate and respect the time you take to make these videos. Lock picking has become my "fidget spinner" after a long exhausting day at work its a good focus to help my mind stay calm lol
Thank you for the kind words! These videos are fun to make and I am happy they have helped many. This is a fun hobby and even a better community.
Hands down the best and most detailed technical lock bypass troubleshooting techniques your ever going to find on the web. Thanks.
thank you for the kind words and I'm glad they help :-)
Great info. I think this is one of my main troubles.
Always having to let up a bit to drop oversets.
I’ll put your tips to the test as I practice.
Thank you for the kind words and I wish you luck. Please let me know if it it helps :)
Just picked up the hobby and your videos although old have been very helpful thank you
Thank you for this video. I only got into lockpicking a few weeks ago, and I've been trying to pick a 6pin cylinder lock for nearly 2 weeks. I finally got into it today because of this video. Thank you
How is everything going now? I am a bit late to respond but hope your progress sis coming along well
Nothing worse than that mushy feeling pin that oversets without a sound. Then everything gets springy or an already set pin or pins drop.
One of your better videos, IMO. Keep it up.
Thank you for the kind words!
I think this may be your best video yet. VERY good job!!
Thank you for the kind words and welcome back? I haven't heard from you in while. I hope all is well 😀
Great video! You present information in a specific and straight-forward way. I especially like how you describe your auditory and tactile sensations BEFORE, DURING and AFTER each scenario. If you can believe it, I am still stuck on a Master lock #3. I think this is primarily due to the fact that I don't understand or sometimes notice the feedback coming to me, which decreases the accuracy of the mental image I have to work with regarding all the components and inter-relationships going on inside the lock. Although the "sensations" you describe are qualitative, your description provides an excellent starting point on what I should be "feeling and hearing" and "why", on a much more definitive level. Yes, I am a biologist, and yes I tend to "overthink" things. However in the case of lockpicking, I can use my science training to my advantage, I just need to find teachers that "speak" my language. Lastly, I will close with the fact that I realize that there is an "art" to lockpicking, that cannot be approached scientifically. It has to be "felt", "sensed", and "experienced" thousands of times, and thousands of times again. Thanks for all the advice!
Thank you for the kind words, if you enjoyed this video I recommend you check out my Lock Picking Home School series, it has a lot of videos much like this one.
If you are just starting I would not bother with a Master Lock No. 3, they are built poorly and are not great to learn on. I would buy a Kwikset lock and learn to progressive pin that also the Brinks 40 mm laminate padlock gives great feedback as well. You want to start off on lock that give obvious feedback because it will help you learn.
Also, if you go onto eBay you can find some cutaway locks which are useful for you to teach yourself different scenarios. Just keep at it, pick a lock everyday, and you will be surprised where you are 6 months from now. There are so many great people in this community with many different backgrounds, it is nice to hear you are in biology, I work as a nurse in an ER.
@@HelpfulLockPicker Thanks for such a fast reply. I have the Sparrows' Night School pickset and cut-away practice locks and also the Revolver(non-cutaway). I have been able to pick the three cutaway practice locks from Sparrows, albeit not consistently. I thought I would move up to the Master #3 because of how ubiquitous it is and that everyone on these channels makes fun of it. I thought I would sail through it but I was quickly humbled. I saw BosnianBill pick it with modified, cat food can lids, zip ties, and even a and near broken bamboo skewer!
I have been able to pick it, just not consistently and I have a lot of difficulty raking any of my locks. I watch a lot of videos and assimilate information quickly, just the practice part is looming large. I am going back and forth between cutaway locks and non-cutaways, to try to develop my "feel" for what is happening and to put a better mental image together. I hate to admit, sometimes I can't tell what pin I'm on (besides the first and last). I am going to invest in a vise and see how much that helps, however lock-in-hand training is important to me to be effective out in the field. My expertise is as a wetland biologist, especially freshwater macroinvertebrates. Tall respect to nurses, thanks again!
@@Raphaelo325 I will be completely honest with you my most used approach when opening up a Master Lock No. 3 is zipping. It works like a charm every time and no reason to take it any further.
I highly recommend the Kwikset lock and you can add security pins as you go.
Also check out my Progressive lock list in the video description but I do recommend you skip down to the Brinks because that is the first lock on the list where you actually get great feedback and it is a good experience for learning.
@@HelpfulLockPicker Thanks again for all the helpful advice! I will make it a point to find that Brinks 40mm and take a look at your progressive lock list. All the best!
I'm a professional Automotive Specialist but I find this stuff absolutely fascinating.
Thank you for sharing
Thanks I got the lock in my hand open before the end of the video 🎉
Thanks much, this is very useful. I have been dealing with this issue. Finally realized I needed to use a deeper hook, or the tron or offset hybrid, to avoid oversetting with the shaft of the pick.
So far, I have just had to start over every time. I shall practice your suggestion for recovering without all dropping all of the pins you've set. Very useful stuff.
Thank you for the kind words and I am happy to hear it helps :)
I am on my first month aft.er getting into lockpicking and overpin has definitely been a challenge, thanks for the info
Thank you for the kind words and I am glad it helps!
Another excellent video! Thank you. While I enjoy watching the LPL, I find your videos have much more USEFUL information. One could watch the LPL all day and not learn HOW and WHY lockpicking works!
Also, I was wondering if anyone has ever put together a series of charts or a computer app that would allow you to enter the make and model of a lock, and be able to pull up a list of vulnerabilities for that lock, (shimming, raking, tapping etc) as well as the best pick(s) and type of tension/tensioner for the lock. Also, rotation direction, whether or not the lock has security pins, and any other information which would help arm a lockpicker BEFORE they attempt to defeat a lock. That would be of great value and would save a lot of wasted time/effort! The Pareto rule would apply here. Only about 20% of the models of locks on the market make up at least 80% of the locks that lockpickers would need to be able to pick!
I am not sure but that would be a good list to have
It's weird how setting pins is even possible. As if they were constructed to be picked.
Thanks for checking it out
Rick Holt it’s because it’s practically IMPOSSIBLE to make each pin the exact same dimensions, this is where the binding order comes into play, usually the first binding pin is the one with the biggest dimensions, that way when you set it, you move onto the next pin that is the biggest out of all the unset pins, hope that makes sense.
Rick Holt I second that Underground. More expensive locks have much higher tolerances in manufacturing, making the binding order that much more important. But even then, they can’t make it absolutely perfect. Us pickers simply take advantage of the loose manufacturing tolerances.
@@Creativeanduniqueusername It's a question of price. In theory, you could make it much harder by producing all parts with far better tolerances. These locks exist, but every single part of the lock including the keys has to adhere to those better tolerances. The pins have to be much more precise, so they can fit into the more precise core and clear the housing when the key is inserted. There are locks like the DOM IX or System D that have teardrop-shaped pin profiles which even follow the curvature of the core on the shearline. On the lower end spectrum, you have pins that are tapered on both ends so they can be placed in the lock either way, which makes them far easier to manufacture, but also to pick. Sidebars can be precision-milled or cast. It's all about the price of the final lock and the precision required to manufacture proper keys.
@@graealex Wouldn't that also lead to issues where any wear on the key would cause it to stop working? I know just from rubbing against coins or whatever in a pocket, keys can get pretty worn; if you tighten the tolerances way up on the pins, a worn key may not work at all, right?
Thank You a ton HLP.. Im a newbie too and sitting at home because of the virus. This over setting is a issue with me too. I now have a totally new outlook thanks to you. Thank you again Brian.
Thank you for the kind words and I am glad this helps!
FINALLLY i got the lock i’ve been stuck on
I like raking with moderate to light tension to grab a false set and then leaning heavy into the tensioner for SPP'ing the final pins. This gives me the best of both worlds and allows me to determine via SPPing if I have overset anything before wasting too much time. Great video. Glad I found you. I am now a subscriber!
Thank you for subscribing and sharing!
what means SPP? :o
S ingle P in P icking. SPP
@@yasinhenfs4540
First week of lockpicking - this was incredibly helpful!
Thank you for the kind words and I'm glad it helps!
Looking back, I've totally overset pins in the past and just not been able to diagnose it. Thanks very much for making this video.
Thank you for the kind words and I'm glad this helps!
Thank you very much sir. I was pretty sure that this is what i have started running into. It was very helpful to me. Thanks again for making thses videos. It is very much appreciated and you do a great job with them! Have a great day!
I’ve been practicing on a front door lock that we didn’t get keys from the previous owner. I know it’s a very old lock but I get nearly no sound feedback. I had gotten it a handful of times but no consistency. I couldn’t figure out why I would get no binding pins and start over. After watching this I picked it in 30 seconds and I feel like I actually knew what I was doing instead of just persisting and luck. Thank you so much for this!
Edit:
Hours later and I haven’t gotten it again. The inconsistency makes me wonder if its the lock or me but I don’t have another lock with security pins like this to practice on.
Thank you for the kind words. I would be cautious regarding picking locks in use. You don't want to break them. Also, make sure you only pick locks you own or have permisison
Very good information.
Do you have any videos on how to pick, or drill anti pick, anti drill Yale Euro locks, or similar locks used in PVC doors?
Many thanks, Joe.
I do not personally. Check out boredlockpicker or russej02 (both run by same guy) he drills locks on his channel and may have a video
Thank you very much for your prompt reply..
I have subscribed to your channel.
Have a Great weekend. Joe.
This video was very very helpful and interesting, thank you so much!
Glad it was helpful!
Fantastic. Helped me identify several problems I've been having as a novice!
Thank you for the kind words and I am glad it helps
Tysvk 4 the clear, concise description & directions -- with awesome tips, no less! :D
thank you for the kind words and I am glad it helped :-)
Pretty much a beginner here. I bought the Sparrows Progressives and the bitting on #3 is with the first pin low, then high. After having a lot of trouble opening the lock, I found that what you said about changing to back to front makes a big difference.
Thank you for sharing and I'm glad that the video was able to help :-)
I stumbled upon your channel looking for the definition of a "false set". Wow. Although, I've been watching other popular lock picking channels, I've missed and overlooked the essential basics you're discussing here. NOW, I've got better understanding of what the terminology means as discussed on other vids and what I've yet to understand and apply :) I'm enjoying your practical step by step methodology in your basic videos that is now giving me hope that a no talent lock picker may someday attain basic practical knowledge ;) I'm looking forward to watching more of your vids to grow further. Great job, keep it up!
Thank you for the kind words and I am glad they help!
Thanks very much enjoy watching LPL and Bosnian bill
..but this is so much more
Informative since I'm a Noob and I haven't even opened my first lock yet, but I'm sure this is going to be my new hobby,
Love the community and the comments..
Thank you for the kind words and I am glad this helps! If you have any questions down the road feel free to ask :)
Thank you HLP. This vid addresses the hassle I`m having. Very good.
Thank you for the kind words, I am glad it helps!
Thanks, this saved me a lot of time
Thank you for the kind words
Excellent teacher I have learned very effectively from your videos thank you for the time and effort you put into all of this
Thank you for the kind words
Awesome, now I'll just flip the door upside down before picking or invert gravity to feel a lose pin for tactile feedback
Thank you for sharing
As a novice I can say with confidence that oversetting pins happens most of the time. I have learnt to back off the tension slightly and then I can hear the offending pin which is over set drop back down. Looking at the key profile helps , that way a deep cut in the key tells me which pin. has the “long travel”.
Thank you for sharing
Thanks for this. I’m still just a beginner picking the Master locks. I can pick them reliably but most often, I’m over setting pins. With tension on, none of the pins are moving or giving any feedback. I’ll relax tension and hear a click but it quickly gets back to the the same state. If I’m persistent, I’ll hit the right spot and open the lock. If it’s getting frustrating, I’ll put just about any rake in the lock and with just the slightest touch open the lock. Usually, I’ll zip a snake rake or a bogata. Zipping with the hook never seems to work though. I’m using Sparrows picks with bottom of the keyway tension.
Thanks for sharing! I enjoy zipping with a hook but it only works on easier bitting
Thanks this is very helpful!
Now I can get a new computer!
Thanks for sharing, just make sure you don't pick locks in use
Great video as always, but I've also read/heard that using heavier 'tension' can actually result in more rather than fewer overset pins, because it requires the picker to use more upward force on the pick; and when you finally overcome the binding resistance, it may cause the key pin to overshoot and wind up in the bible.
I haven't done enough locks yet on my own to verify one or the other substantially, but I suspect I never will; it may just be one of those things where it depends on a great many factors, like the model of the lock, or even the individual lock itself, skill or reflexes of the picker, phase of the moon, etc.
(kidding about the moon). But I have found that I have repeatably better results on something like a Master 141 if I go lighter rather than heavier. But again, it's only a sample size of two 141s for me, so YMMV. The 141s were a bit of a revelation for me, because I was a little dismissive of the "lighter tension" mantra..and yet it's got me opens once I heeded it. Then again, "lighter" and "heavier" are wildly subjective w/o an actual unit of measure like inch/lbs for standardized reference.
Good instructions, good visuals
Thank you for checking it out
thanks sir this also my job in philipines,thanks for your tutorial,help me a lot.
Thank you for the kind words and I am glad it helps!
Great video i'm staring at a six pack of 1100s I was feeling a little intimidated until I saw your video this is the most useful information directed at a single series lock I have seen in one place at one time bringing many tips together at one time.Great video man!
thank you for the kind words and I'm glad it helped :-)
Awesome, you are a great teacher.
Thank you for the kind words!
Some locks are just harder to pick. I have a 5 pin lock which seems to have tapered pins, restricted keyway and pins 4 and 5 are really really close to binding at the same time. The pin 4 has very poor feedback and it has really deep cut in the key and pin 5 is zero cut (max lift). It's really really easy to overlift the pin 4 while trying to set pin 5 - basically if you feel pin 4 moving while setting pin 5, pin 4 is already overset. In addition, the lock is pretty scratchy so you have to reduce tension to get the pin 3 moving at all and it partially drops really easily when I try to set pins 4 and 5. I've succesfully picked this lock only once and I can set pins 1, 2 and 3 in maybe 5-10 seconds (pins 4 and 5 have zero feedback until 1, 2 and 3 have been correctly set) but pins 4 and 5 are really hard to set correctly. As a bonus, pin 1 requires pretty high lift and it has superb weak spring so it's easy to overlift and it has dropped while picking the rest of the lock.
Thank you for sharing
Great idea for the newbies... Keep up the great video work!
Thank you for the kind words!
When I menage to pick a lock in one direction, I usualy can't pick the same lock in other direction. So make a video with picking lock in both direction please and explaine what's may be the reason.
The binding order changes. Check out a plug spinner, this could be your answer
i just said you're very informative i do appreciate your approach and your monologe it helps a lot when you're learning to know the terminologythanks a lot
Thank you for the kind words and I am glad it helps :)
i can't believe you responded very cool
Great video!! I caught myself doing this and now I can have some tips to correct this. Thank you!!
Thanks for checking it out, I am glad it helps :)
All great tips.
I'm only 1 week in and I had bunch of these problems. I hate going low to high. I only have a standard hook and a hybrid hook by sparrows. (I don't wanna buy a bunch of tools if I can't master the simple ones) I hear their kickstart kit is all you need to learn to pick.
Honestly you only need a few picks and top of keyway tensioners and bottoms of keyway tensioners to be successful. To open 95% of the locks I work on I use my Peterson Hook1 Reach in 0.025" or my Peterson GEM in 0.018" All you need is a short hook and a medium/deep hook. I like to have the slightly thinner one for locks with a bit of a more difficult keyway.
Just keep practicing and you will get there. If I were you I would save your money for more locks.
@@HelpfulLockPicker yeah I think I need some TOK tension bars. It would allow me to attack some pins from a steeper angle. Sometimes I can warp the pick side by side with the BOK tension bar, but I feel like that's bad practice. And makes manipulating the key pin not as accurately.
And exactly I'd rather spend more money on locks. I have 3 practice locks from sparrows night school kit. And just a few master locks lol. It's either too easy or too hard. I need something more in-between
@@PDXJack87 I like a generic Kwikset and add security pins and change up the key bitting. It's a great lock to learn on
Maybe that's why I've been struggling so much. I only have a bottom tension wrench and wasn't aware there was a difference. Thanks for the video, that's a sub from me!
Thank you for the kind words and in glad the video was able to help :) let me know if you have any success and thank you for the sub
FYI you don't need a special wrench for top tension, although it may be more convenient. You can apply tension in the top of the keyway with a standard tool but you may find you can only tension in one direction without the tool falling out.
Great video. I think this has solved some of my problems. Thank you.
Thank you for the kind words and I am glad it helps 😊
Very informative. I just subbed and I’m going through your older vids little by little. Good stuff!
Thank you for the kind words and the sub! My Lock Picking Home School playlist has a lot of great beginner videos :)
Thank you, very helpful. Subscribed.
thanks for checking it out!
Very interesting, I get this program all the time thanks for posting. 👍🙂
Thank you for the kind words and I am glad it helps!
I'm quite new to Locksport but am slowly getting there. I still overset but not quite as much as when I first started. For me at least, oversetting often comes from the beginner's belief that you have to jam the pin all the way up to the moon. As I've progressed I'm developing a gentler touch and backing off more when I get a click or similar feedback, moving to other pins to test them. I can always come back if it needs a little more. As with all worthwhile hobbies, practice practice practice...
When I work on serrated pins often take that approach just lift a little bit and move on. Oversetting gets really tough when you start to work on challenge locks with serrated keypins with serrated bibles, those keypins love to stay overset and not drop back down. Lock picking is a fine art form and like you said practice is the number one tool you have to get better!
@@HelpfulLockPicker thanks for the quick reply. Though I'm still green when it comes to picking, I love gutting and building challenge locks. Lots of high/low, serrated things everywhere, threading the core and (where possible) the bible. I've started undercutting too. Varying the springs. Needless to say, I cannot then pick the monstrous frankenlocks that come out of all this!
@@bikkies it's no problem, I try to respond to the comments when I can. And also if you are ever interested in making a Kwikset challenge lock I wouldn't mind trying it out but I really do dislike serrated Bibles, I find it to be cheap trick LOL. I am a big fan of creative pinning.
@@HelpfulLockPicker strangely enough, I'm working on a kwikset clone at the moment. They're hard to get over here in the UK where it is all about Yales, euro cylinders & tight paracentric keyways. I vary my butchery and am beginning to think a little more intelligently about which mods to apply in combination with often homemade pins. If I can come up with something I'll send it over, more likely for interest & critique than just being an impossible pick. That's how I'll learn.
@@HelpfulLockPicker the Kwikset clone I'm working on should be finished soon. I'll be keeping the bible unthreaded as suggested here. Not quite sure how DMs work in RUclips, having never used them before here, but if you could please let me know your mailing address then I'll get this sent over to you in the next few days. It probably won't be very challenging for you but I'd be genuinely grateful for your critique on what works well and what you'd change. This would be the first challenge lock I've ever sent away so please be gentle with me :) Thanks.
Another great video that will be super helpful for New pickers. :-)
Thank you for the kind words!
Thank you for the excellent video!
Thank you for checking it out and I am glad it helps
So helpful. Thank you.
Thanks for checking it out
Can you make a video on zero lifting pin and how to detect them from start ? Because they feel like they are binding right away although they should stay in the zero position. Very nice video dude thanks a lot !
Thank you for the kind words. That is a good idea. I will try to do one of those in the future :)
@@HelpfulLockPicker looking forward to that dude ! Thx
Nicely explained and demonstrated sir. Well done and keep up the excellent work!
Thank you for the kind words!
When you say that you feel that the key pin is not loose respectively does not fall down if it's overset and that is how you detect it ... that only works in your upside down arrangement. Every door lock is the other way around...
If its overset it is stuck and up high in the lock, binding has resistance, not binding is springy, set is loose and floppy
@@HelpfulLockPicker guess you're right. hope i have this sensitive feeling to detect this if necessary.
Great video that explains important concepts that seem like they would be critical to any beginner tutorial, but they always seem to be omitted. Do you have a video that covers very basic positioning of the picking tool in the keyway? Most videos gloss over any details. You raise an important point here with the shank of the hook lifting pins that you're not trying to pick. I can see this happen with my Sparrows cutaway lock but I've never seen this mentioned in any beginner video before. Would be great to have a tutorial for positioning and manipulating the picking tool in different keyways, and what style picks work better for which.
Thank you for the kind words. Perhaps this video would be helpful
ruclips.net/video/6jptkgSIYtY/видео.html
That was very educational.
Thank you!
From a beginner 👍
Thank you for the kind words. If you have any questions down the road feel free to ask. I am easy to contact.
@@HelpfulLockPicker
Thank you.
Decided to take a look and see if I could figure out why I was struggling to open the new lock I picked up. I am confident it is a pretty low grade lock as it is a master lock meant for a trailer hitch...
As it turns out its literally just that I don’t have a tension wrench that gives me enough room to pick without oversetting and many of the pins are super rough with little to no lubrication.
Looking to actually start lock picking as a career... still got a little ways to go I suppose.
Thank you for sharing
Subbed --> All Notifications.
I'm so noob, I need _all_ the LockTuber tips in my arsenal. :)
thank you for the support and I wish you luck :-)
Great tips and reminders, thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the kind words!
Most helpful information. Your efforts are appreciated!
Thank you for the kind words and I am glad it helps!
Great info as always!!!
Very nice video! 👍👍👍
Thank you for the kind words! I hope to get back into my series soon. These videos take a very long time to make but they are worth it. I really enjoy doing them.
Really good tips
Thank you for the kind words.
Keep up the good instruction
Hi i was able to open a abus 65/50 2 times with some luck, but i did not really understand how i did xD
how it shall feel if i had overset it. after this video and 10 h of practis im finnaly know how i do with the spools.
big thx for this video who helped me !
thank you for the kind words and I am happy that it helped :-)
Thanks for the info and technique!
Thank you for the kind words. I hope this video helps. If you haven't already, I recommend you check out my full Lock Picking Home School series, it has a lot of great info.
Lock Picking Home School: ruclips.net/video/klElz25CsE4/видео.html
Thanks
Good info for beginners, as always. I wish I had found this channel 6 months ago. I've been trying to learn by LPL and Bosnian Bill and they fo some pretty challenging stuff and it's no necessarily simplified sometimes (although I do love watching them pop open weird stuff) . Cheers brotha!
Thank you for the kind words and I'm glad it helps! I enjoy their channels as well :-)
HelpfulLockPicker that's because you are the LPL.
With some voice filters. I new it.
Very helpful. Great presentation
Thank you for the kind words and I am glad it helps!
Thank you 😊
Very helpful. Great explanations
Thanks for checking it out!
Great info my friend, just went trough it a little quickly but very nice 😄
Thank you for the kind words! I hope it helps 😀
@@HelpfulLockPicker it dose My Friend
Wow you respond to every comment that’s great
I will like and sub jus to support your excellence
I do my best to try to respond to everyone. Thank you for the kind words and subscribing :-)
Thanks that helped a lot
I am glad it helped :)
Good info
Thank you for the kind words and I'm glad it helps :)
Good info & important to keep in mind while SPP’ing 👍🏻
Thank you for checking it out and I'm glad it helps!
These are great, thanks
Thank you for the kind words
Great advice!
Thanks for checking it out
Great vid and information buddy. One of your best yet.
Thank you for the kind words, in glad it helps!
great vid, I always seem to struggle on small locks like how to hold them my current bugger is a lockwood assa abloy 4 pin 110/30
Thanks for sharing
@@HelpfulLockPicker On another note do you have a website or a POBox to send goodies to ?
Great advice and clearly explained! Ty :)
Thanks for checking it out
Great video. I've been struggling with a sparrow practice lock. It's all spools and I can't get any of them to bind.
One thing I don't like about those is they have the SC1 keyway which I find is a bit tough for someone new.
Are you using top of keyway (TOK) or bottom of keyway (BOK) to tension?
the new cheao masterlocks upgrade was to make the first pin easy to lock up and then make that first pin very shallow so you end up locking it trying to get to the other pins. but when you rake it, yur in in seconds
Thank you for sharing