Starting out picking locks

How do you lockpickers learn how to do it? Books? Tuition by master lockpickers? Divine inspiration? Long, tedious but ultimately satisfying experimentation? I don't know, but I'd like to learn the basics at least.

It seems to me that I should probably find out how locks work if I want to have any success at opening them. I've got a pretty good idea how the locks in my Hiatt 2010s work (the extent of my handcuff collection is one pair of those and one pair of those plastic Key-Cuffs, which a police friend let me keep after I was struck by how ridiculously simple yet very practical it was to make cable tie like cuffs you can open with a key). Unfortunately (fortunately from the point of view of the police), they made them with the whatsit (no idea what all the bits are called) split into three, so it's somewhat fiddlier than first anticipated.

I suppose it could also be seen that seeking knowledge of lockpicking is a sign that I'm up to no good. That's not the case, but if anyone has any thoughts on that it might be useful.

You might want to start here:

http://dp.penix.org/locks/cl.html

If you still are interested, get a set of picks and torque levers, then go out and buy identical pairs of cheap locks (really crummy, low security ones) of different types. On each pair, dismantle one to learn how the mechanism works, then practice on the other. After you get the basic technique down, move up to higher quality locks. Don't try to to start at the "top" since you'll only get frustrated.

Then, go out and buy a house with an extra bedroom (with a tile floor, no carpet) where you can keep all the locks, files, drills, workbenches, grinders, storage cabinets, handtools, clamps, etc. that you'll wind up accumulating. Convince your spouse that there are more expensive and disgusting hobbies out there (like fishing or beer drinking with your buddies) and never, ever let the cat into your workroom.

How do you lockpickers learn how to do it? Books? Tuition by master lockpickers? Divine inspiration? Long, tedious but ultimately satisfying experimentation? I don't know, but I'd like to learn the basics at least.

It seems to me that I should probably find out how locks work if I want to have any success at opening them. I've got a pretty good idea how the locks in my Hiatt 2010s work (the extent of my handcuff collection is one pair of those and one pair of those plastic Key-Cuffs, which a police friend let me keep after I was struck by how ridiculously simple yet very practical it was to make cable tie like cuffs you can open with a key). Unfortunately (fortunately from the point of view of the police), they made them with the whatsit (no idea what all the bits are called) split into three, so it's somewhat fiddlier than first anticipated.

I suppose it could also be seen that seeking knowledge of lockpicking is a sign that I'm up to no good. That's not the case, but if anyone has any thoughts on that it might be useful.

Click to expand...

Lock picking is a touchy subject for most people on these public forums. There was a guy, not too long back on the tragic cafe', who asked a couple of simple questions about , I believe it was the material that lock picking tools are made of or something like that. Any way, he darn near got his head ripped off by some "YAHOO" who claims to have taught 30 year veteran "MASTER LOCKSMITHS" how to pick locks, just for having the nerve to ask such a thing. There seems to never be a shortage of small minded people in the lock picking/locksmithing/escape artist field. I, myself, incurred quite a bit of verbal abuse from a few very unpleasent, small minded people when I was trying to learn such things.

My learning started with a hair pin, a curious mind, and a little patients. I did okay for a while I guess....but you can't expect much from a four or five year old child. It wasn't until I got a copy of David DeVal's Lock Picking I & II and a set of VERY OVER PRICED lock picking tools, back in 1991, before I really started picking the heck out of locks. I learned a few basics from those books, but I learned most of what I know from hard work and thinking outside of the box. Before you ask.....I don't think that these books are still in print and I don't know anyone who owns a copy of these two books who would be willing to part with them. You can try cannonsgreatescapes.com for books and/or videos on the subject if you want. It's kinda funny, even though it is blasphamy to give out info on this subject on-line.....it appears to be okay to SELL the same info online. Imagine that!!!

Also, I have heard rummors about Dixie Dooley, a Las Vegas magician & escape artist, making a new DVD on lock picking very soon. You can contact Penguin Magic and ask them if that is true or not. And there is also a rummor floating around that another so-called "super star" in the escape world is planning an escape DVD project that will focus on handcuff and padlock picking, umong other things.

Cheers, Mike

How do you lockpickers learn how to do it? Books? Tuition by master lockpickers? Divine inspiration? Long, tedious but ultimately satisfying experimentation? I don't know, but I'd like to learn the basics at least.

It seems to me that I should probably find out how locks work if I want to have any success at opening them. I've got a pretty good idea how the locks in my Hiatt 2010s work (the extent of my handcuff collection is one pair of those and one pair of those plastic Key-Cuffs, which a police friend let me keep after I was struck by how ridiculously simple yet very practical it was to make cable tie like cuffs you can open with a key). Unfortunately (fortunately from the point of view of the police), they made them with the whatsit (no idea what all the bits are called) split into three, so it's somewhat fiddlier than first anticipated.

I suppose it could also be seen that seeking knowledge of lockpicking is a sign that I'm up to no good. That's not the case, but if anyone has any thoughts on that it might be useful.

Click to expand...

Hi Rothen, there are many who will tell you how they have learnt to pick lock via various means but my best advice is to learn the right way first. It is fairly easy to learn if you are give the right information and have a basic understanding of how lock cylindera work and knowledge of why they can be picked.

I have written such a book myself and you can also purchase a cut-away cylinder so you can see what is going on within the cylinder while it is being picked to further your understanding.

For obviovius reasons of security a criteria needs to be met before purschasing such items but they are available from Cannon's Great escapes http://www.cannonsgreatescapes.com/
regards

Ian McColl

How do you lockpickers learn how to do it? Books? Tuition by master lockpickers? Divine inspiration? Long, tedious but ultimately satisfying experimentation? I don't know, but I'd like to learn the basics at least.

It seems to me that I should probably find out how locks work if I want to have any success at opening them. I've got a pretty good idea how the locks in my Hiatt 2010s work (the extent of my handcuff collection is one pair of those and one pair of those plastic Key-Cuffs, which a police friend let me keep after I was struck by how ridiculously simple yet very practical it was to make cable tie like cuffs you can open with a key). Unfortunately (fortunately from the point of view of the police), they made them with the whatsit (no idea what all the bits are called) split into three, so it's somewhat fiddlier than first anticipated.

I suppose it could also be seen that seeking knowledge of lockpicking is a sign that I'm up to no good. That's not the case, but if anyone has any thoughts on that it might be useful.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I shall have to start looking into it.

As for the extra room in the house, well, I already need a computer room, a temple room and somewhere to keep a handcuff collection so why should I bat an eyelid at needing another one for playing with locks?