First off, I have no relationship with anyone who’s used these steps for picking a lock on your vaults. Don’t send no FBI to my blog except if they are searching for hacks on disaster survival.
Lockpicking isn’t rocket science; it isn’t even aero tech either. It’s just manual tinkering of patterns, and it’s a skill that you can acquire — although I’m not showing you my locks after this article. On a serious note, though, you’d better used this information for legal purposes (on your home locks), else I’d be sending the FBI over to your residence myself.
Trust me; it’s easy to do so — they are in every movie I see.
9 Simple Steps for Picking a Lock
There are various reasons to pick a lock, but I think the commonest is to find your way in after losing your keys. I understand the stress that comes with realizing you’d lost your keys when you get home after a hard day’s work. You may also lose your keys when you hit the trails to hike & would have to pick your way in.
Whichever the situation is, have no worries about getting in. These are the steps to follow.
Assess the Lock
A broken lock, to the extent of my knowledge, cannot be picked. Also, the operating system of a rusted lock can be complicated even for the skilled lockpicker to manipulate. Therefore, the first thing to do is inspect the lock to be picked, so you don’t waste your efforts.
If you feel the lock is dirty, you should clean it using a lubricant like WD40. I think the one with a sprayer head will be the easiest to use since its application can be directed to the keyhole.
Collect Your Tools
In most states, citizens are permitted to own lockpicking supplies. Therefore, all you need to do is be sure of your state laws to be sure you’re not transgressing. However, you may be required to prove that they are not to be used for committing a crime.
The fundamental tools for lockpicking are:
- Torque Wrench: Some refer to this as a tension wrench. It is a tool that ensures that you’re applying just the ideal amount of tension as you pick your lock. It comes in various sizes & styles that depend on the lock you’re picking. The typical one is thin, has an L shape & is usable in picking most lock types.
- Hook: The hook has one curvy, pointy & thin end while the other expands into a handle. By inserting it into a keyhole, it can be used to move your lock’s internal parts.
- Lockpicking Rake: Your lockpicking rake has humps & ridges that control the pins inside your lock. It is more suitable if you’ll have to scrape across plenty of pins & operate them at the same time. It can be substituted with a half-diamond, which is shaped like a triangle.
Imagine the Visuals of the Lock Mechanism
Now, if you’ve ever tried to pick a lock, you’d understand this very easily. This is where you try to use your mind to visualize what’s inside the lock. You can’t see it directly, so you will have to develop a mental image of the parts within. The position & number of pins in a lock vary according to the type. Typical padlocks have 3-4 pins, while door locks are between 5-8.
You can assist your visualization by using a pin to feel the internal parts, although you’d need to be very sensitive to the movements of the pin as you turn it inside the lock.
Work Out the Direction of the Lock’s Turn
Now, put your torque wrench inside either the bottom or top half of the keyhole, and then rotate it moderately to apply tension to the plug of the lock (an inside part). While you do this, watch out for the direction in which your lock turns.
You are starting from there.
Hook Into the Pins
Having found out where the lock turns, you put in your hook, taking great care to note the position of the pins as you push it in. Increase the pressure of this hook slightly until the springs give way. This helps to determine the level of resistance.
While at this, if you feel that some of the pins are still stuff, you have to apply more pressure on them. However, you must note that the internal mechanisms are quite delicate: applying excessive force may cause the lock to break.
Use this to know the exact position of the pins, and then take out the hook.
Softly Pressurize the Keyhole
Apply light pressure as you key into the lock, using this to sense the movement of the plug. Stop applying pressure on the wrench at this time & wait a moment before repeating the procedure. Continue this (gently) until you’re able to figure out the tightness of the plug & the arrangement of the pins inside the lock.
Find the Binding Pin
The binding pin is the one that resists the most. You need to figure it out to make progress.
Using your torque wrench again, apply soft pressure on the lock’s plug, which you figured out above. Then, slip in the hook inside the keyhole. Apply some tension, so the hook is making contact with the pins & then ease the tension on the wrench.
This will help to specify the binding pin, but know that they may be more than one. Use the same procedure to find out if there are others. After identifying them all, you have to keep gentle pressure on the wrench & gradually lift the pin.
Arrange the Pins
Now that the most stubborn pin has been conquered, the job of the wrench is made easier. You are now able to use it to turn the plug. Proceed to the pin that comes next in terms of resistance, raise it & set it too. Continue this process until every remaining pin is arranged in position.
Open The Lock
When you’re done with setting the pin, it is time to get your trophy. Apply more force on the wrench, so the pins turn & your lock is disentangled. Hurray to a successful Thanos snap on your lock.
Concluding the Steps for Picking a Lock
Being able to pick a lock can be a handy skill in several situations. You may have to do so in a survival scenario that’s caused you to lose your keys & you can’t afford breaking down the door then. There are various locks, but I’m sure the practical steps for picking a lock discussed above should always do the trick. And lest I forget, lockpicking is a skill you can add to your LinkedIn profile too.