| How do you pick locks? | | | | used with double sided wafer locks. |
| The art of lock picking requires lots of practice | | | | Also, high tech torsion tools exist which sit over |
| and patience and even after adopting those two | | | | the lock face allowing the user to see a display of |
| things you still may not be able to grasp it. | | | | the amount of torsion applied. This aids with the |
| Locksmiths define lock-picking as the manipulation | | | | process of feeling when a pin has set. |
| of a lock's components to open a lock without a | | | | The torsion tool is just as important, if not more |
| key. To understand lock-picking, then, you first | | | | so, as other tools in the set, but is often |
| have to know how locks and keys work. | | | | neglected and is rarely represented in fiction. |
| The methods used to pick locks varies from lock | | | | For avoidance of doubt, it is not possible to pick a |
| to lock but each will require a set of picks or a | | | | pin/tumbler or wafer lock without a torsion tool, |
| specific pick for the chosen lock. Specialized Safe | | | | even with the use of a pick gun. |
| locks will require specialized picks which can cost a | | | | Picking with a pick gun. |
| small fortune as many have been hand custom | | | | A manual pick gun (or Snap gun) is used in a |
| made. | | | | similar way but usually has a "trigger" that creates |
| 'Raking' is a term used when a pick is operated in | | | | an upward movement that must be repeated |
| a back to forward motion, raking the waffers or | | | | rapidly to bounce the pins to engage in the sheer |
| pins of a lock. | | | | line of the lock. only when the pick gun has |
| Rake picks | | | | engaged all 5 or 6 pins in the sheer line will the |
| These picks, such as the common snake rake, | | | | lock open. |
| are designed to 'rake' pins by rapidly sliding the | | | | Pick gun |
| pick past all the pins, repeatedly, in order to | | | | A traditional manual pick gun that is used by pulling |
| bounce the pins until they reach the shear line. | | | | the trigger.Often seen in movies and in the tool |
| This method requires much less skill than picking | | | | box of locksmiths, manual and electronic pick guns |
| pins individually, and generally works well on | | | | are a popular method used today for quick and |
| cheaper locks. | | | | easy ways of opening doors. The higher-end |
| When the pins are excited they bounce all around | | | | electric pick guns are usually made of aircraft |
| the shear line and with the skillful application of a | | | | aluminum and hard steel. The pick is operated by |
| torsion tool this is the easiest way to pick a lock. | | | | simply pressing a button that vibrates while the |
| This is also how beginners begin. Advance rakes | | | | normal tension wrench is being used. A manual |
| are available which are shaped to mimic various | | | | pick gun (or Snap gun) is used in a similar way but |
| different pin height key positions and are | | | | usually has a "trigger" that creates an upward |
| considerably easier to use than traditional rakes. | | | | movement that must be repeated rapidly to |
| Manipulation is when pressure is applied to a lock | | | | bounce the pins to engage in the sheer line of the |
| by using a tension tool which binds the lock pins | | | | lock. only when the pick gun has engaged all 5 or |
| up so you have some guidence of what pins to | | | | 6 pins in the sheer line will the lock open. |
| manipulate first. Usually The pin that is most 'stiff' | | | | These operate on the same principle as Newton's |
| is the pin you would manipulate first bringing it | | | | Cradle. They transfer sudden upwards energy to |
| inline with the sheer line of the cylinder. | | | | the bottom pins which communicate this to the |
| Half-diamond pick | | | | top pins causing those pins only simultaneously to |
| Perhaps the most basic and common pick, this | | | | jump. A pick gun is used in conjunction with a |
| versatile pick is included in all kits and is mainly | | | | torsion tool and the only skill required here is |
| used for picking individual pins, but can also be | | | | learning the timing. |
| used for raking and for wafer and disk locks. Each | | | | Wiki- Lock picking |
| of the ends of triangular 'half diamond' of this pick | | | | Lock picking is the skill of unlocking a lock by |
| can be either steep or shallow in angle, depending | | | | analyzing and manipulating the components of the |
| on the need for picking without neighboring pins, | | | | lock device, without the original key. Although lock |
| or raking as appropriate. A normal set would | | | | picking can be associated with criminal intent, it is |
| comprise around three half diamond picks and a | | | | an essential skill for a locksmith. Lock picking is the |
| double half diamond pick. | | | | ideal way of opening a lock without the correct |
| Torsion wrench | | | | key, while not damaging the lock, allowing it to be |
| A traditional pickset. Torsion wrench, "twist-flex" | | | | rekeyed for later use, which is especially |
| torsion wrench, offset diamond pick, ball pick, | | | | important with antique locks that would be |
| half-diamond pick, short hook, medium hook, saw | | | | impossible to replace if destructive entry methods |
| (or "L") rake, snake (or "C") rake.Often called a | | | | were used. |
| torque wrench or a tension wrench, a torsion | | | | Lock picking is only made possible by unavoidable |
| wrench is a tool used in picking locks. Typically | | | | mechanical machining errors in the fabrication of |
| shaped like a letter "L" (although the vertical part | | | | locks. |
| of the letter is elongated in comparison to the | | | | The move towards combination locks for high |
| horizontal part), it is used to apply torsion to the | | | | security items such as safes was intended to |
| inner cylinder of a lock, in order to hold any picked | | | | remove the weakest part of the lock: its keyhole. |
| pins in place, while the other pins are shifted. The | | | | In normal situations it is almost always easier to |
| tension wrench is then used to turn the inner | | | | gain access by some means other than lock |
| cylinder and open the lock. | | | | picking; most common locks can be quickly and |
| Despite its popular name, the tool provides | | | | easily opened using a drill, bolt cutters, padlock |
| torsion, not tension. A tension wrench would be, | | | | shim, a bump key or a hydraulic jack. The hasp, |
| by definition, a tool that stretches something. A | | | | door, or fixture they are attached to can be cut, |
| torsion wrench would be a tool that twists. | | | | broken, unscrewed or otherwise removed, |
| Some torsion wrenches (called "Feather Touch" | | | | windows can be broken etc. Therefore a lock |
| wrenches, among other names) are coiled into a | | | | that offers high resistance to picking does not |
| spring at the bend in the "L", which helps the user | | | | necessarily make unauthorized access more |
| apply constant torque. Some users, however, | | | | difficult, but will make surreptitious unauthorized |
| maintain that such wrenches reduce torsion | | | | access more difficult. Locks are often used in |
| control and the feedback available to the user. | | | | combination with alarms to provide layered |
| Other torsion tools, especially those for use with | | | | security. |
| cars resemble a pair of tweezers and allow the | | | | Some people enjoy picking locks recreationally. |
| user to apply torsion to both the top and the | | | | This may also be referred to as Locksport. |
| bottom of the lock. These would commonly be | | | | |