Lockpicking for fun and profit!

[bellicose]

I got into it about 6 years ago. Got a starter kit and see through lock, then shelved it. A few months later, I picked it up, late at night, set an old deadbolt lock in a vise, and just practiced for an hour straight. Got pretty good, and my wife didn't belive me. I took her outside, and picked our own front door in 2 seconds flat. Her jaw hit the floor. I'm a bit rusty now though. Need to practice again.

[DocsMachine]

TUbular lock can be picked (SPP) too, and there is some impressioning tool that works amazingly well on them.

-Oh sure, and that special tool that "LPL and Bosnian Bill made" is available too.

But, at least for the moment, I'm not necessarily interested in the ability to 'open every possible lock', nor have $2,000+ in tools laying about. My free time for this sort of thing (or much else, really ) is still, as always, very limited, so for the moment I'm going to keep my focus on cheap, easy and quick.

It is a great, relaxing outlet.

-Just talking to a buddy yesterday, and he summed it up nicely; it's my fidget spinner. Completely pointless and keeps my hands occupied.

And always fun to experiment making wired challenge locks and pass them along.

-I've seen several of those, both on BB and LPL, but I have to admit I don't get the 'point', really. I mean, it seems like it's just mixing in spools and serrated pins, and I'm given to understand that neither are any real challenge to an experienced picker. What am I missing, there?

Personally, if I wanted to make a "challenge" lock, I'd lean more towards the Stuff Made Here technique, and make some significant structural change to the lock. I do, after all, tend to fancy myself, justifiably or no, as something of a mechanical designer and inventor.

Thing is, I've thought of a couple ideas, only to see them in another LPL video, in a lock that was made in the 40s or something.

What I'd love to do- if I had the time- is make a 'challenge' core to send to LPL, that's just plain absurd. Like it takes a 2 to 3" long key, has like sixty-four pins in six rows, and is machined so that each alternate row can only be tensioned in the opposite direction. (Not sure if that's even possible, but row one can be tensioned clockwise, but not CCW, row two CCW but not CW, etc.)

It would be stupid and fragile for any actual real-world use, and fabulously expensive if actually manufactured- and probably prone to wear, glitches and breakage- but I think both he and I would get a lot of fun out of trying something like that.

PS: the LPU sub reddit is a great place to get info and support.

-Not a big fan of the Reddit layout, but I'll check it out. Any other resources out there that are noob-friendly?

Doc.

[DocsMachine]

I don't know what you'd call it. I've seen it in the pictures, a large round lock assembly, the part that usually is fitted to that shallow cone-shaped bezel, for use in a deadbolt. I think that'd give me more room to work than just the smaller core like you'd find in a knob or padlock.
I checked Homey Dee, and could of course get a ton, but the cheapest one is $30, and I'd be throwing most of it out.
Doc.

[XEMON]

The plug is the art that the key fit in and rotate (also called the core), sounds like that's what you need
Ill check if i have core laying around and send them your way. How many do you think youll need?

[DocsMachine]

I had in mind something like this. That gives me a lot more meat to try my little trick, although to be honest, I may wind up making the outer part from scratch. That means I'd just need the core- the part with the actual keyway.

I may just go ahead and pick up something like that- there's a bunch on eBay for less than $20 shipped, and whatever I get, I'd need a good key, the pins and springs, etc.

Stand by. I'm sure I'll have a ton more questions.

Doc.

[Alexndl]

Found LPL on YT during the pandemic and after watching several video decided to order the Tuxedo kit from Sparrow.
I do it as a hobby at home and see this hobby as solving a puzzle. Master lock are easy now... I have more fun with the Abus on the right side 5 pin core full of spool pin and a somewhat restrictive keyway. But also have a box of old lock I no longer use to practice on more than 1 lock (or you just get expert at picking THIS specific lock).

Found the Covert companion used in Canada for a good price (would not have paid MSRP). One of the member here pucked it up for me since I was not local to the seller.
I use this swiss tool to show people to not use cheap gym lock that can be combed pick and for the notch decoder. not a big fan on how to use the pick with this kit (will need more practice).

If someone want to give it a try dont buy cheap kit. Get one from a good company like:
Genesis set from Covert instrument,
Toxedo or spirit kit from Sparrow
There is also other good one from SouthOrd.

But even with many pick I mostly use a standard hook and turning tools.

[DocsMachine]

About half my current collection- almost all Masters. The only ones that have keys, are the ones shown.



The Master at the left still defies me, the U-Haul branded brass one at the far right I've only had open once, the little Master in the middle-right foreground is so teeny I haven't figured out how to manipulate it yet, at least with the tools I have.

My favorite so far is the brass Schlage at the right-back. That's the only one that seems to give me the typical 'click' feedback we see in an LPL video- it's still tricky to open, but gives good feedback. That one I'm borrowing, as it was a $100+ rekeyable padlock.

One interesting one, not shown in that pic, is an import clone of a laminated master, and that's the only one I know where the key [locks it. That is, it's pinned so that anything turns the lock. You go to pick it, and just putting tension on the turning bar, turns the core and opens it. No pick anywhere near the pins.

But put a key in, and it absolutely will not turn. Tried two dozen different keys. None open it. But you can jam the file from a nail clipper in the bottom of the keyway, and it opens smooth as you want.

Doc.

[DocsMachine]

Any of you pickers use a book? Or did you mostly learn from videos and online tutorials?

I'm still of the old school, and tend to prefer physical books (you should see my collection of machinist and machine shop books I have some going back to 1918) and I'm wondering if there's one out there that's widely accepted as "the" book to get.

I ordered one from Deviant Ollam, who is apparently a picker of some note, and I've read a couple references to an MIT book, but that's about the extent of my knowledge. (The Ollam book is coming from overseas, I won't see that for at least another week or two.)

Any suggestions of other good books or reference materials?

Doc.

[DocsMachine]

Well, you certainly get what you pay for.

I'd been looking for two things: First, I was kind of interested in trying one of those clear plastic "trainer" padlocks, to help visualize what I'm doing with the picks. Plenty of references said they're really not for proper practice, and really are just a sort of "cutaway model". And that was fine, that's kind of what I need.

And second, I wanted a small case to hold the tools. The "Genesis set" case really doesn't hold much more than the basic set- it's really meant for just that small set of EDC bits. I've already gotten a couple of the thicker-handled Petersen picks, and plan to grab a few more- I have the .025" picks, and for some of these itty-bitty locks, I'm thinking I might grab a couple of .018" ones. It's a trick to stuff even just the two more in the Genesis Device case, so if I get any others, or bulky bits like CI's "ergo turners", it'd be nice to have some neat way to store them.

As opposed to the Tupperware bowl I have them dumped into now.

Poking around eBay, I ran across a package kit- a 17-piece pick set, a zippered case, and all three of the typical clear-plastic practice locks, all for a whopping $28 plus shipping.

Considering the good zippered cases I'd been looking at were around $40 all by themselves, I figured if just the case was any good, the rest was gravy.

The case IS pretty decent. Time, of course, will tell how long the zipper will hold up, but it seems of pretty fair construction, and had plenty of room for the included picks and everything I have so far.

The picks themselves actually look pretty decent. I haven't tried any of them, and don't know how flimsy they might be, but they're cleanly stamped, well deburred, and have nice, long injection-molded handles.

The transparent locks? Well, as I said, you get what you pay for.



The padlock has an iffy latch for the shackle- the brass detent on one side doesn't want to retract far enough. Fortunately (?) there's enough slop in the system to worry it open.

And speaking of slop, you don't actually need to pick it. Just a turning tool opens it handily.



So it's impossible to pick. Not impossible to open, but impossible to pick. You can't tension it without opening it.

The one with the big round body actually properly resists turning (haven't tried actually picking it yet) but thanks to the "lens" effect of the round, clear body, and the cast-in passage right over the pin channels (presumably to counteract shrinkage as the plastic cures) it's impossible to actually see the action of the pins.



You can see each end pin from the ends, and you can look under that channel and get a rough idea what the pins are doing- but looking over the top of that channel doesn't let you see the pins (it's a 'mirror effect' in the tubes, like seeing the side walls of an aquarium.)

I may try milling that side of the shell off, and seeing if I can't re-polish those faces.

And last, there's this double-ended thing (whatever the proper name is for them) that shows a nice, clear view of the pins...



And so out of the lot, is probably the best choice for a training/educational piece. (Ignore the high middle pin- I just didn't push the key in all the way. It does lock properly, and turn properly.)

You can see from the fit and shape of the pins this isn't a particularly close-tolerance tool ( ) but as I said, I basically consider these free gifts included with the zippered case.

Doc.

[DocsMachine]

Quick first impression- the picks are way too squishy.

The metal part is 'springier' than the CI or Petersen stuff, and there's only about 3/4 of an inch of it molded into the handle. The rest is just plastic, and a fairly flexible plastic, too, something close to soda bottle cap material.

I'm certainly no expert at this kind of thing, but to me, the overall feel is much too squishy- mainly, it seems, due to the handles. I may sacrifice one and try making a thin aluminum handle, or something.

Doc.

[Alexndl]

Have you check Sparrow website?
Just be carefull if which one you are on, there is one for Canada and one for the USA

https://www.sparrowslockpicks.com

They have some pick case for a decent price and some metal cuttaway practice lock.

https://www.sparrowslockpicks.com/en-ca/collections/lock-pick-cases

[DocsMachine]

Have you check Sparrow website? They have some pick case for a decent price and some metal cuttaway practice lock.

-I had been to that site, and did some light poking around, but I hadn't seen the cases. They've got some nice ones, and kind of just what I was looking for.

At least for the moment, though, I need to be careful how much I spend. Partly because my current financial status is not particularly healthy, but mainly I don't want to just buy up hundreds of dollars worth of tools and gadgets- at least not until I have a much better idea of what it is I want or need.

Yeah, buying $30 in cheap import crap kind of runs contrary to that, but as I said, I picked it up mainly for the case, and partly for the plastic locks.

Doc.

[punkncat]

A fellow that I have done work in the low voltage field off and on over the years also runs a lock and key as well as a software company which created the program Medeco uses for their "wafer" (square) key. I always wondered why he did actual work considering the residual he gets from that software...he didn't have to.

I worked at a well known pizza joint for some years that had a locksmith next door. Super common for people to lock keys in the car for the shopping center in general and often the guy didn't even have to start his van. There were some interesting stories over the time I was there....one instance in particular, a lady had locked her keys in her car, came in and picked up her pizza, realized the mistake and called next door for him to open the door without asking price. He opened it in all of 30 seconds, $40. She balked so he opened the door, threw her keys back in, locked and shut the door and told her "now it's $80" and walked away....her husband was a "somebody" in town and it made for great people watching seeing that try to play out. At the end of it all, the guy got his $80.

[DocsMachine]

Yep. I've heard a dozen stories like that over the years. (One locksmith supposedly got sued- the client claimed some emergency, that the extra delay supposedly made worse. And in another case, the client said "I'll just call another locksmith", only to find out that one was the only one in town. )

Doc.

[Tarsun2]

my girl friend at the time always locked her keys in the trunk.
i knew how to use the wedge and air bag to open cars and actually got pretty good at it.
less than a minute i was in the car.

its amazing how far open you can open the door while still closed and locked.

we have a deadbolt on our front door. (right next to the door windows... lol)

no matter how strong the lock, theres always another way in.

the difference between breaking the glass or just walking in is that one is trespassing and the other is breaking and entering. (correct me if im wrong).

ive blown peoples minds by using a card to open a locked house door. And thats pretty basic stuff there.

[XEMON]

If you pick a lock to get in it is still "breaking and entering" (I am not sure about opening an unlocked door).
Also note "breaking and entering" is not a charge in every states. In California it doesn't exist, it is separate charges "burglary" (or intent to), "trespassing", and "vandalism" if there were property damages; and there is another one if you have tools (that can be a brick, a hammer or a set of picks).

PS: i am no lawyer, take it as "that guy on the internet said"

[Chuck E Ducky]

Flipper0 can replicate your remote from the next car over. You can lock back up it after you clean it out. Don’t leave anything in a car you don’t want taken. In LA they are just smashing windows and grabbing stuff out of cars parked on the street. Even cars stoped in traffic with people in them.

[Tarsun2]

i should add to that.

i have, what some would call, an addictive personality. and by that i mean, im easily addicted to things.
i tend to other think and over research things.

my work keyboard was replaced a few times before going down the rabbit hole and ordering a keyboard with cherry red mechanical keys. i had no idea prior to this that there where different keyboard keys.

ive briefly looked into locks and then felt myself spiraling. i dont have anything that valuable though.
the lock would be worth more than the thing it was locking...

always found it fascinating though.

[Millar156]

I've been dabbling for several years now. My in-laws clean out foreclosures for the bank. Fist step in that is changing out the locks. They've found it's much easier and usually faster to have me pop a lock than to potentially destroy a door/frame trying to brute force their way in. Given time I can pick most locks. The exceptions are very dirty/corroded locks and this American padlock I've been fighting with for the past several months for practice. It's been very enlightening to learn how easy it is to get into something you thought was secure.

Edit to add...

Yes, I've had more than a few visits from law enforcement in the course of changing locks for the bank. All have been surprisingly friendly. Most likely because criminals tend to not pick the front door in broad daylight.

[DocsMachine]

my girl friend at the time always locked her keys in the trunk.
i knew how to use the wedge and air bag to open cars and actually got pretty good at it.

Back when I was in school, a buddy of mine had an old VW beetle (I'm not that old- the car was damn near an antique even then ) that he insisted on locking each time we got out. As if anyone would have wanted to steal it. Or that we had anything actually worth anything in it.

But, he was constantly locking his keys in it. One time, we got a wire coat hanger and some pliers, and got it open. Less than an hour later, he did it again- with the coat hanger and pliers in the back seat. We got a second hanger and pliers, and got it open again.

I think I eventually convinced him to not bother locking it- low crime small town- unless he had something actually valuable in there.

It's been very enlightening to learn how easy it is to get into something you thought was secure.

-Yep. Locks, as has been said, only keep honest people honest.

In LA they are just smashing windows and grabbing stuff out of cars parked on the street.

-The latest is even if there's nothing in the car, they'll still smash the window, reach in and trip the trunk lock, and go ransack that, with the assumption that the driver may have put the groceries or valuables there.

Doc.