Just received it. And even before I put any pins in , I was able to pick it. If only they all came that way . My problem with picking is "when" there are pins in the lock :)
Great stuff man I appreciate your video. Very informative and helpful. I came here because I also was curious about the long pin of the CI practice lock not needing to be picked. I appreciate you making this video and the helpful discussion in the comments too.
Yes - in a way. You can take out the screws on the top and dump out the springs and driver pins, leaving only the key pins in the plug. Then by unscrewing the actuator on the back, you can slide the plug out and look at it with the key pins still in it. You can even drop the driver pins in on top of the key pins once you have the plug out to look at how the pins interact. Of course you can pick it, shim it, and use a follower to remove the plug as well. I hope this is what you meant by your question and that I have answered it for you.
I can't find any information on this issue and I have the same practice lock... but anyway when I insert one of single longest pens and it is the only pen in the lock, it turns freely and no picking is required. Do you know if this is by design in real locks as well? To me it looks like pen number 4 in this video is the one I'm talking about.
Hi @TheFlyingZulu. I just pulled my lock apart and the longest pin they provide in the pack (which is a bit longer than the ones I have in the lock in this video) does in fact sit so close to the shear line that you don’t need to pick it. This does happen in real locks as well, though I can’t say how often the “zero cut” is right on the shear line
@@PickingPrincipals Nice thanks... it's funny because that actually makes it harder to pick for me... If push up on these zero cut key pins and they block the plug from rotating. lol
@@TheFlyingZulu it is definitely a security feature to put a really high cut next to a low cut so you get stuck oversetting the long key pin that you need to get past to set the shorter one.
@konstantkrash When I practice picking security pins with this lock I now use BOK tension since that warding blocks the key pins from the bottom anyway. Thanks for the comment
I don’t remember a video - but I’ve taken this apart and reassembled it many times. I’m happy to help. You can send photos, video, or questions to my gmail and I’ll help if I can.
How tight are you turning that vice! ;) The lock is made in china so don't be surprised by shoddy build quality. For me this lock has that gritty and spongy feel to it that I associate with cheap build quality. I practice on Abus locks quite a bit so maybe that has something to do with it?!?
@ca8632 Same here. It was one of the first things I got along with the Genesis set on Black Friday sale. I really like the Genesis but hardly use the practice lock at all.🤷♂️
What's that little box thingy you had there? I got this set and it didn't come with it - pins are all over the place LOL need to find a better way to keep this together than random zip locks.
It is on the way! I’m so excited. I just started last week and I’m actually a bit surprised how misleading this all is. I picked the trainer lock, no problem, then tried my master lock bike lock - also horrifically no problem. My front door was kind tough but your videos helped me figure it out. I am in Alaska and it’s cold. Though I don’t think any of those locks had safety pins. Or maybe I got lucky. The practice lock where I set the pins is really tough for me, but oh my god this is addicting. On another note, had no idea my dad was so into this. In another life he was a locksmith, so getting lots of help.
That’s awesome! It is scary how easy some locks are to pick, isn’t it!? Once you add a couple of spools into your practice lock, or better yet when you find one in a lock you didn’t pin yourself, and start getting counter rotation and definitive feedback, you’ll be even more hooked! Thanks for sharing - and how great that your dad was into this too. Maybe he’s still got some old locks around you can work on.
@sepheroth3373 It is the mini pinning mat part from Sparrows.ca. I got it as a part of the re-load kit. It’s a bit small, but works for what I’ve needed it for so far.
How does the turning tool help? I got the FNG from covert instruments. I feel fuckin stupid, not sure what im doing or how to use the the pick things and the turning one. Im not sure if i should invest more into it.
The turning tool is what allows you to put some tension or spin on the core and that makes the pins jam letting you feel with the pick which pin is stuck and needs to be pushed up. Each pin will jam in a unique order for each different lock, and once you get all of them to jam and push them up (by very small amounts) in turn until they stop jamming, you’ll open the lock.
Hi @SemperFi_EDC_Guy - I’m a real Newb too. Welcome to the channel and to locksport. Thanks for the sub and the question. The pinning mat I’m using came from Sparrows.ca. It’s a bit small, but it was cheap and came with the reload kit. I think I might design and 3-D print one next so I have something a bit bigger (and branded with my channel name)
@@atticusgbOverall, I would say that the CI practice lock is better because it more closely resembles a lock you’d find in use and it is pretty versatile. You can also pin it without any additional tools, which for a beginner is quite useful. The Sparrows locks look and feel great and come with the keys to practice different bitting, so that’s a real bonus for them. I don’t think either is a bad purchase and you’ll learn from both.
@@PickingPrincipals I would like to dive into this. Haven’t made any purchases yet. Would you start with one of these kits, or just a general set of picks and some locks from the starting levels?
![[76] Covert Instruments Practice Lock Set Up](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/qCe_PAEB8rQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![[182] How I Practice Lock Picking](/img/1.gif)
Just received it. And even before I put any pins in , I was able to pick it. If only they all came that way . My problem with picking is "when" there are pins in the lock :)
It does get significantly more challenging with the pins in it 😂😂 Thanks for the laugh @fredflintstone1485
Great stuff man I appreciate your video. Very informative and helpful. I came here because I also was curious about the long pin of the CI practice lock not needing to be picked. I appreciate you making this video and the helpful discussion in the comments too.
Thanks Jacob! Let me know if you have any unanswered questions
Is there any way to take out the plug/part with the pins so you can see what’s going on?
Yes - in a way. You can take out the screws on the top and dump out the springs and driver pins, leaving only the key pins in the plug. Then by unscrewing the actuator on the back, you can slide the plug out and look at it with the key pins still in it. You can even drop the driver pins in on top of the key pins once you have the plug out to look at how the pins interact.
Of course you can pick it, shim it, and use a follower to remove the plug as well.
I hope this is what you meant by your question and that I have answered it for you.
I can't find any information on this issue and I have the same practice lock... but anyway when I insert one of single longest pens and it is the only pen in the lock, it turns freely and no picking is required. Do you know if this is by design in real locks as well? To me it looks like pen number 4 in this video is the one I'm talking about.
Hi @TheFlyingZulu. I just pulled my lock apart and the longest pin they provide in the pack (which is a bit longer than the ones I have in the lock in this video) does in fact sit so close to the shear line that you don’t need to pick it. This does happen in real locks as well, though I can’t say how often the “zero cut” is right on the shear line
@@PickingPrincipals Nice thanks... it's funny because that actually makes it harder to pick for me... If push up on these zero cut key pins and they block the plug from rotating. lol
@@TheFlyingZulu it is definitely a security feature to put a really high cut next to a low cut so you get stuck oversetting the long key pin that you need to get past to set the shorter one.
The keyway is so wide open that BOK is no problem at all on the CI practice lock.
@konstantkrash When I practice picking security pins with this lock I now use BOK tension since that warding blocks the key pins from the bottom anyway. Thanks for the comment
Im having problems putting this together. I did it exactly as covert instruments video says and the lock still spins freely.
I don’t remember a video - but I’ve taken this apart and reassembled it many times. I’m happy to help. You can send photos, video, or questions to my gmail and I’ll help if I can.
you can't use the long driving pins - only the short and medium ones.
just got mine too, pretty good, binds the chamber when I put it in a vice grip tho?? Strange
I don’t recall if I’ve had it in my vice or not yet. I’ll check that out tomorrow. If so, that’s too bad.
How tight are you turning that vice! ;)
The lock is made in china so don't be surprised by shoddy build quality. For me this lock has that gritty and spongy feel to it that I associate with cheap build quality. I practice on Abus locks quite a bit so maybe that has something to do with it?!?
@ca8632 Same here. It was one of the first things I got along with the Genesis set on Black Friday sale. I really like the Genesis but hardly use the practice lock at all.🤷♂️
What's that little box thingy you had there? I got this set and it didn't come with it - pins are all over the place LOL need to find a better way to keep this together than random zip locks.
Do you mean the small black box in the top left of the frame? That’s just the box that everything came in. Sorry yours didn’t come with one.
lol - just saw your other comment. You meant the pinning mat 😂. It (as you now know) came from Sparrows.
It is on the way! I’m so excited. I just started last week and I’m actually a bit surprised how misleading this all is. I picked the trainer lock, no problem, then tried my master lock bike lock - also horrifically no problem. My front door was kind tough but your videos helped me figure it out. I am in Alaska and it’s cold.
Though I don’t think any of those locks had safety pins. Or maybe I got lucky. The practice lock where I set the pins is really tough for me, but oh my god this is addicting.
On another note, had no idea my dad was so into this. In another life he was a locksmith, so getting lots of help.
That’s awesome! It is scary how easy some locks are to pick, isn’t it!?
Once you add a couple of spools into your practice lock, or better yet when you find one in a lock you didn’t pin yourself, and start getting counter rotation and definitive feedback, you’ll be even more hooked!
Thanks for sharing - and how great that your dad was into this too. Maybe he’s still got some old locks around you can work on.
Where did you get the thing to hold the pins after you take them out?
@sepheroth3373 It is the mini pinning mat part from Sparrows.ca. I got it as a part of the re-load kit. It’s a bit small, but works for what I’ve needed it for so far.
Unless you meant the pinning tweezers - same answer though
Does this kit come with that case to organize all the pins and springs?
No - it only comes with the little cardboard box. The other stuff all came from Sparrows.
@@PickingPrincipals nice im getting into the lockpicking scene
How does the turning tool help? I got the FNG from covert instruments. I feel fuckin stupid, not sure what im doing or how to use the the pick things and the turning one. Im not sure if i should invest more into it.
The turning tool is what allows you to put some tension or spin on the core and that makes the pins jam letting you feel with the pick which pin is stuck and needs to be pushed up. Each pin will jam in a unique order for each different lock, and once you get all of them to jam and push them up (by very small amounts) in turn until they stop jamming, you’ll open the lock.
It takes some practice, but you should get the hang of it pretty quickly
I was finally able to do it. Not with this lock but with the practice see through one.
Never thought I'd figure it out.
Congratulations! Well done 👍🏼
Newb here. What tray are you using? Im slowly building out my complete setup.
Hi @SemperFi_EDC_Guy - I’m a real Newb too. Welcome to the channel and to locksport. Thanks for the sub and the question. The pinning mat I’m using came from Sparrows.ca. It’s a bit small, but it was cheap and came with the reload kit. I think I might design and 3-D print one next so I have something a bit bigger (and branded with my channel name)
@@PickingPrincipals thanks!
@@PickingPrincipalsdid you like this practice lock or sparrow’s better?
@@atticusgbOverall, I would say that the CI practice lock is better because it more closely resembles a lock you’d find in use and it is pretty versatile. You can also pin it without any additional tools, which for a beginner is quite useful. The Sparrows locks look and feel great and come with the keys to practice different bitting, so that’s a real bonus for them. I don’t think either is a bad purchase and you’ll learn from both.
@@PickingPrincipals I would like to dive into this. Haven’t made any purchases yet. Would you start with one of these kits, or just a general set of picks and some locks from the starting levels?
Do you replace the driver pin with the security pin ?
Yes - I eventually replaced all 6 driver pins with security pins and it makes the lock much more challenging.
The trays are from Sparrows. I got them (with tweezers) as part of the re-pinning kit.
Can you turn it into a cutaway lock?
I don’t have a mill or any way to do that, but it is just a normal lock, so it may be possible.
As a successful and professional carjacker and home intruder I commend you for you continued advice and support for professionals like me.
Funny. I've watched the news at least once in the last thirty years, and it sounds like you're doing it wrong. Let me guess, you're under thirty?
Nah that’s a boomer comment