Report on the Lock-Picking

Locks are an important part of our life. In fact, every single day, we rely on locks, sometimes for locking doors and the other times for protecting our vehicles. Thus, we cannot neglect their importance.

However, there can be times when we lose our keys and are unable to open them. Then, what? In such situations, we have no other solution but to hire a lock-picker. But what if we do not have the time to get a lock picker to solve our problem?

This guide provides an answer to this question. First of all, let’s get familiar with the tools that you are going to use for picking different locks.

Pin Tumbler Lock Picking

Tension Wrench

In general, torsion or tension wrench is utilised when you pick a wafer or tumbler lock. It is utilised for applying torque to the lock plug and holding all picked pins in place. Once every pin is picked, the tension wrench is utilised for turning the plug and opening the lock. Tension has two types including top of the keyway and bottom of the keyway. Keyway wrenches have a bottom in the shape of ‘L’ and the vertical part is elongated compared to the horizontal part. Some other tools, especially those for utilisation with cars, they resemble tweezers and they enable a user for applying torque to both the bottom and top of the lock. These are used commonly with wafer locks that are double-sided.

Half-Diamond Pick

It is quite a versatile pick and it is included in almost kit. It is utilised mainly for handling individual picks. However, they can also be utilised for raking disk and wafer locks. Usually, half-diamond pick that is triangular-shaped is 2.5-12.2 millimetres long. Additionally, angles forming the base of this pick can either be shallow or steep, depending on the need for picking without accidentally picking neighbouring pins. Normally, a set seems to comprise of a single full-diamond pick and three half-diamond picks.

Hook Pick

It can be said that a hook pick is similar to above pick. However, it seems to have a hook-shape tip instead of a half-diamond shape. Sometimes this hook pick is also referred to as a finger or feeler and it is not utilised for raking. It can be considered the most basic or fundamental lock picking tool and you will always need it if you are not using a pick gun.

Ball Pick

It is also similar to half0-diamond pick but its end has a full or half circle shape. It is commonly utilised for opening wafer locks.

Rake Picks

In general, these picks such as the snake rake are created for raking pins by sliding the pick past every pin for bouncing the pins until they get to the shear line. This method seems to require much less expertise than picking every pin individually and it works well on older and cheaper locks.

Wafer Lock

In general, a wafer is a lock design that makes the use of flat metal locking parts and components for directly blocking plug rotation. All wafers are positioned by wafer keys at the shear life for allowing the plug to rotate without any hindrance. In different environments, wafer locks are quite popular and they are classified as medium to low security.

Low-security drawer, desk, and cabinet locks commonly support a wafer design. Traditionally, they were used in automobiles as well but newer models make the use of electronic components. Similar locking components are used by disc-detainer locks. However, it is round disks that characterise them. Keys are used for rotating these disks.

How do they operate?

Wafers are used for blocking the rotation of plug. Typically, low-security wafer locks seem to block at a single pint, although more advanced models are capable of blocking both at the bottom and at the top. With the insertion of right key, every wafer is positioned properly and the plug has no restrictions to rotate. This initiates the bolt mechanism.

How to pick them?

If you look in wafer locks, you do not see any pins. Instead, you see copper plates or case brass, and these are the wafers. An important thing to not while picking these locks is that you cannot put too much tension or else you will strip it out. You can just use a standard hook and after inserting it in, you will realise that it has five wafers. You do not need some extra-unique or special tools for picking them.

In the lock, wafers must be pushed up and down. Therefore, they come with a double-sided key that is used for opening them. For starters, you will need jigglers. Wiggle it inside the door and you do not need any tensioners. You pull it back and forth and move it straight up and down. What you are trying to do is to turn them over and move to the other side. You need to loosen the next key and you should keep going until you have gone through all of them. One of them will work. You have pincers or Y-tensioners. They have little grooves on their sides for ripping inside the lock. Hence, you should not be putting them too far inside the lock for interfering with the wafers. Then, you can apply tension while being capable of putting your pics inside either side of the wafers.

Now, you have smaller jigglers. You can insert them in the lock and turn each key back and forth relatively gently. You need to jiggle the key around with moderate torque. In simple words, you are trying to convince that you have the right key.

Picking a Padlock

To pick a padlock, you need to buy a lock picking kit. It will come with different types of tools that you can utilise including a single-pin pick, rake tool, and a tension wrench. Although there are several other methods of picking a padlock, using a lock picking kit is the easiest method.

First of all, you need to insert the bent end of your wrench into the opening of lock. You will be using the tension wrench for holding open the small door over the hole and to apply the necessary pressure to the lock. Next, turn the wrench in the direction that the key would go in. It is important to note that the tension wrench will not go very far as the lock is locked. However, there is no need to worry about it.

You just need to turn it as far as it will go and hold it there so you are applying pressure to the cylinder within the lock. It is important to use the hand that you are holding the lock with for holding the tension wrench in its right place. Push your rake tool as far as it will go into the lock. The end of the rake tool with necessary ridges and teeth on it should be the end that will go into the lock.

Push the rake too up so that the teeth are resting on the lock’s top. While holding, push down on the end of the tool that you are holding outside of the lock for getting the end within the lock to go up. You should be holding the rake tool down for ensuring that the teeth stay at the top of within the lock. After that, you need to take the rake tool out immediately out of the lock. On the tension wrench, pressure should be maintained. On the handle of the rake tool, you need to continue to push down as you pull it out so that the teeth scrape against the internal top of the lock. As soon as the tool is out, you should check if it has been unlocked or not.

You should continue to bring the rake in and out if the lock has not been unlocked yet. Remember to use a repetitive and fast motion just like you are scrubbing the internal side of the lock. Make sure that you continue to apply pressure to the tension wrench as the rake tool is brought in and out. If you have followed the above steps properly, the lock should be open by now.

Using Paperclips or Bobby Pins

The second method of opening a padlock is by using a paperclip or a bobby pin. It is possible that you might have to pick a padlock and you do not have a picking kit with you. In such a situation, you can make the use of a paper clip or even a bobby pin.

With the use of bobby pins, you need to make a tension wrench and lock pick. For making the tension wrench, you should bend the bobby pin’s closed end until it is at an angle of 90 degrees with the rest of the pin. For making an individual pin-pick, you should unbend the bobby pin so that it is straight. Then, you should bend the flat end of the pin a little upward.

If you do not have a bobby pin, you need to make a wrench and pick with the use of a paper clip. In order to make the tension wrench, you must take a paperclip while unbending every loop exception for the one which is at the bottom. Moving on, you should bend the flat end of the paper clip until it seems to make a 90 degrees angle with the remaining part of the paper clip. For making a single-pin pick, you should unbend half of the second paper clip while bending the flat end of the clip so that it is slightly upward. Once the tools have been created, you need to inert the bent end of the tension bar into the keyhole. The keyhole will be held open by the tension bar as you work on opening the lock.

You need to rotate the tension wrench as if you are opening the lock with a key. Actually, tension wrench will not go any far as the lock is not unlocked. You need to turn the wrench as far it will go and hold it with the use of same hand that you are using are holding the lock. It is important to maintain the pressure on wrench as you are picking the lock. You must inset the single-pin pick into the internal side of and hold the handle using your free hand. Now, you need to push the pin at the back of the lock using your pick. Normally, padlocks have a series of pins that must be raised above the cylinder.

It allows the cylinder to unlock the lock by rotating. For finding the pin at the lock’s back, you should be gently pushing on the internal top of lock with the pin until you feel something pushing upward. With the identification of pin, you should press down on the handle of pick for lifting the end of pick and pushing the pin above the cylinder. As you push the pin, it will cause the cylinder to rotate a little. You should make sure to catch the pin so that it does not fall back.

You should push up all the pins in the lock with the use of your pick. You should work your way up to the pins while pushing them one at a time. While doing this, if you come across a pin that is stuck, you will have to wiggle the pick a number of times for getting the pin to go up. Another important thing to note is that the last pin that you push must be the one that is closest to the keyhole. When every single pin is up, it should allow the cylinder to turn as you continue to apply pressure to the tension wrench. Once the padlock is unlocked, you should pull your tension wrench and pin out of the lock.

Picking a Cylinder Lock

In general, a cylinder lock is also referred to as a pin tumbler because of the way it works. It has a number of internal pints that seem to move around the internal side of cylinder as the key turns because of the serrated edges of the key.

Inside a cylinder lock, in simple words, there is a small puzzle which can be solved by the correct key.

The main components in this design are a number of small pins and they vary in length. These pins are divided into pairs and each pair seems to rest in a shaft that runs through the central plug and into the casing around the plug. At the top of shafts, there are springs that keep the pin pairs in arrangement. When there is no key, the bottom in all pairs is within the plug while the upper pin is seemingly halfway in the plug.

When a key is inserted, all the pairs are pushed up by it to different levels. Actually, the incorrect key will push all the pins in such a manner that most of the pins are still in the plug and they are party in the casing. The correct key will be capable of pushing all pairs up enough so that they point where two pins are pushed line up with the shearline. As you rotate the plug, the pins will not restrict its movement and the lock will open easily.

For picking a cylinder lock, you will need a pick and a tension tool. Both of them are quite important. If you are using a picking kit then you will already have it in the kit but if you do not have a kit, you should bend a wire or paper clip in such a manner that it fits the keyhole. It is important to note that you should not use anything that is too big because you must reach the pins and you require a pick for getting to the inside of lock at the same time. If you are using a wire, you should make it enough long so that you can easily hold it. Considering the fact that you might have to hold it for a long period of time, you must ensure that it does not have any sharp edges.

When it comes to using a pick, remember that you cannot use a made-up one because it drops the likelihood of picking a cylinder lock significantly.

For picking a cylinder lock, it is important to lift every pin to the shear line without any lag in time. When you use a key for opening a cylinder lock, it is capable of lifting all the pins at the shear line and turning the plug at the same time. Therefore, bits should be moved against the springs individually.

Now, you need to insert the tension wrench in the lock. Some individuals tend to insert it at the top of keyway where the pins are present. However, most people tend to go at the bottom edge. You need to apply a little tension. If there is a spin in the plug, you have opened the lock but it will not properly unlock yet.

In the next step, you must ensure that the wrench will not slip that easily. You do not need much pressure on the majority of locks.

There are two key ways of picking a lock and both of them need tension with the use of a tension tool and a pick for moving pins to the shearline. Shearline is generally the place where all the pins sit for stopping the plug in the middle of lock from opening and these pins seem to have a tiny gap in where they tend to meet. It is you goal to ensure that all of them line up. For us, this is easy when it comes to cylinder locks. When pins reach the shearline, it will cause a movement in the plug when there is a right arrangement of pins.

Single Pin Picking or SPP is a little advanced but its underlying concept is quite simple. You just need a hook for applying a little tension and gently push all pins with the hook. You need to find the pin that is seemingly binding the most and push it. Let it go when it reaches the shearline. If it was the right pin, the pin will seemingly slide back and it will be caught at the shearline.

Now, should go through again and identify the next binding pin. After pushing every binding pin to the line, the lock will open. This is quite tricky in practice because you need to control tension sufficiently for stopping the top pins that come all the way back or not too much so that they tend to stick up too high. Practice is the only way of perfecting this technique. It would not be wrong to say that raking is almost the same with the exception that you jiggle every pin quickly and hope that your control over tension suffice for pins to stick at the line. Once this technique is mastered, you can open most cheap locks quickly.

If you are practicing, you need to do it again. Just think about what you have done and you need to do it again. If it is not doing anything and the pins are not moving, you are using too much tension. You must ease a bit and if nothing is staying in place then you are not using sufficient tension.

You must change locks. It will help you in identifying that some locks are quite easy while the others are not within your skill. With practice, you will come to find that some really tough locks have become easier to pick and the ones that used to take 20 minutes, they take only 2 to 3 minutes now. Gradually, with practice, you will come to know that some locks will open in only a few seconds.

History of Lockpicking: By definition, locks tend to fasten or secure something with the intention that the objective can be accessed only with the correct key.

In spite of it, criminal lock picking started with the development and utilisation of first locks. Recreational and professional lock picking has a long history as well. For instance, King Loud XVI was quite a keep picker, manipulator, and designer of locks and Richard Feynman, a physicist, seemed to pick locks for fun in the twentieth century as he worked on Manhattan Project.

Beginning by the late twentieth century, more sophisticated Lockpicking has growth and it has developed a significantly competitive aspect in it.

Thus, it would not be wrong to say that the pursuit of lock picking dates back to the development of lock itself. Locks tend to go back to ancient Egypt. Actually, from the middle ages and on to hundreds of years, locks were not that decent.

In fact, the best that locksmiths could do was to add more features such as false keyholes for confusing the thief or trespasser. However, everything seemed to change when Joseph Bramah arrived in the locksmithing scene. He was a polymath engineer would be eventually recognised as one of the most important figures of pneumatic power. He created a lock that had various complex layers to it and this made the lock very difficult to trespass.

Bramah seemed to have another idea that would serve to change locksmithing. He turned it into a contest. For instance, as soon as he developed a padlock version of his lock, he put it in front of his storefront.

In addition to it, he painted on it that he would offer 200 guineas to the person who would be able to pick the lock. The new unbeatable lock of Bramah caught the attention of British royalty. However, the government did not just want a lock, they wanted a lock that would be capable of alerting the owner about trespass. Then came Jeremiah Chubb and he met the challenge.

In 1851, the Great Exhibition was being hosted in London. A.C. Hobbs was an attendee and he was an American locksmith. He had made name for himself by showing that every lock could be picked and that banks should purchase locks from him. It took him twenty-five minutes to pick the Chubb detector lock.

Moving on, he worked on picking the Bramah lock and eventually, he picked it as well. Due to it, all the sense of perfect security disappeared. Ever since then, locksmiths were not capable of convincing the public that perfect security could be achieved. However, they did keep producing new locks.

For example, the pin-and-tumbler lock is quite easy for a person who knows the right methods of picking a lock. As it has been explained in this guide as well, with the necessary tools and lots of practice, you can open and pick a type of lock you desire and in a short period of time.

Technology and Locksmiths: It would not be wrong to say that one of the oldest professions in the history of mankind is to be a locksmith. It is not limited to a nation or two.

Even though locksmithing might be traditional, the rapidly growing technological world has not passed. In fact, it is only enabling people to be sculpted by, grow, and adapt the technology. Together with all the businesses that surround a locksmith, if he surrenders to this pull of technology, he will simply fade away and will lose every type of competitive advantage in the market.

Now, being a locksmith is concerned with sophisticated security systems and electronic security, combined together with traditional locks and keys.

Due to these new technological advancements, there have been made locksmiths who have just disappeared because they could not adapt to the changing dynamics of the business.

Digital Lock Systems: Even though they might seem like locks of future, the difference that they are being utilised on a daily basis in different nations. In fact, with the development of smart homes, sophisticated locks are being used.Many individuals and organisations are perceiving these locks and they are investing their utilisation for homes and businesses. They are right to do this investment because of the significant technological security that it provides them. At the moment, this kind of a lock is utilised more and more with different technological components for entering. The password for these locks can be provided to anyone who is a member or frequent visitor.

Fingerprint Sensors:  With the technological revolution, locks have been developed that feature fingerprint sensors. Such types of locks provide significant security whenever they are utilised. For instance, once you have set your fingerprint into the system, you can easily open the lock by just placing your finger on the sensor.

The system will be notified about your presence and authorisation as soon as you place your finger or thumb on the sensor. Immediately, this will serve to unlock the door. Before the development and accessibility of the internet and smartphones, locksmiths would be quite difficult to find after a specific time. Thus, a person would be stuck overnight. With the utilisation of new technology, people can easily find locksmiths who can help them in building a lock or opening a stuck lock.

Other Locks: There are some other types of locks as well. For instance, electromagnetic locks are often found in medical labs, offices, and hospitals. This lock will seemingly open only when the release button is pressed. Smartlocks are capable of opening the door by connecting with the phone of user. They seem to work through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi technology when you are close enough to the lock. In this manner, it will unlock automatically and as soon as you are out of range, it will be locked. It is, however, important to note that some people believe that such locks are not safe enough because their software can be decrypted easily, giving access to thief.

Joseph Bramah: Bramah was quite a renowned Yorkshire inventor and he is one of the key figures or people of the industrial revolution. He was born in Barnsley in 1749 and he is best known for the invention of hydraulic press. In 1795, he gained the patent of the device. In total, he is responsible for patenting 18 new ideas and it includes a new valve for toilet, fire engine, and even a fountain pen for preventing fluid loss.

However, more significance and relevance in this case is gained by Bramah Lock which was patented in 1784. It was also the year when a lock organisation was set up by Joseph.

Locks produced by Bramah were resistant to trespassing and picking and he was himself confident in their security.

Thus, he used to lock his store with Bramah Lock and had even set up a reward of 200 guineas for the person who would be successful in picking the lock. Actually, this price was unclaimed for straight seven years until 1851, the year in which the Great Exhibition was held. Alfred Hobbs, an American locksmith, was finally capable of picking it and was provided with the prize.

It is, however, important to note that it took him approximately 16 days to pick the lock. Thus, it can be said that if he had been attempting to break into a house with this lock, he would have been unable to do so and he would have been captured by the police before he could have even set a foot in the house.

The Bramah lock that was picked by Hobbs was redeveloped and it is now displayed in the London Science Museum.

It is important to question what served to make this lock so secure. Actually, the lock developed by Bramah was first patented in which there was no direct contact between the key and the bolt.

In fact, it seemed to act through the mechanism of intricate sider which enabled the lock to both secure and small. Meanwhile, a key comprising of a tube with small and narrow slots of different depths would be inserted into the cylindrical hole. When it would be inserted, wafers would be pushed by the slots in the lock mechanism forward for alighting and enabling the key to not only turn but also open the lock. For instance, the original lock of Bramah had eighteen wafers in it.

It means that there were approximately 470 million different permutations and each permutation could be opened only by the matching key.

The legacy of Bramah lasted long. Actually, his admirers included Charles Alexander I, Duke of Wellington, and in the writing s of Charles Dickens, it has also been mentioned. It was his concentration on calibre and quality that made his name popular and synonymous with excellence in engineering and many of his inventions.

At present, his name is lent to Whetherspoons’ branch in Barnsley. Overall, this was the tale of Bramah, a renowned name in terms of lock development.

Interesting Facts about Keys and Locks: We tend to use lock doors and keys on a daily basis and we tend to take these mechanisms and functions for granted. Let’s tell you about some interesting facts about them:

Antique Chinese Locks: You will be surprised to know that in Ancient China, authoritative people and nobles used locks that were fashioned and shaped after animals including fish and goals. Even though only these people utilised locks, their locks were highly decorated and they were in the shape of animals.

Viking Women: An interesting fact about keys is that among Vikings, married women were responsible for keeping and protecting the family keys. Many women tended to wear their status with pride and they even sewed keys to their dresses for reflecting their power. Thus, keys were once used as a symbol of power.

Collection of Locks: Actually, there is a certain attraction in old locks and keys that a lot of people seem to enjoy their collection, especially antique keys. Both locks and keys that are especially collected by people include intricate puzzle locks, military keys, and even prison locks.

New Designs came with Lock Picking: You will be surprised to know that back in the nineteenth century, locksmiths came up with new ways of developing locks from lock picking. They used to pick different types of locks and improved them for the development of secure locks. The resulting efforts helped in the development of innovative locks, some of which are even used today.

Codes for Fort Knox are Dynamic: A large portion of the gold reserves of the US is kept securely at the Fort Knox. In the world, it is recognised as one of the safest and most secure buildings because the codes for entering the building are changing constantly. Considering the fact that codes are changing every now and then, it is extremely difficult for a person to break the code and get inside the building.

Birds can Pick Locks: It was documented in 2014 that a parrot picked his way through not just a single lock but two padlocks. Inspectors analysed the scene from different viewpoints but they could not find any other explanation for what had transpired.

Usage of Knots: Another interesting fact about lock system is that people in early times used knots for securing their items and belongings. Ropes were used for guarding against trespassing and tempering.

Any Lock can be picked: Lastly, it is important to note that any type of lock can be picked. Even though there might be some intensely secure locks but even they can be broken into picked by a person with enough practice and experience in the type of mechanism used.

If you have just begun your journey in lock picking, there is a long road ahead of you and you just need to remember one thing: never stop practicing and give up. If you cannot pick a lock, do not back away from it.