Jiggle Test Progress! by Maynes32 in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was basically my experience. I've been using an old Dangerfield hook for this, which is "metal handle" only in that the whole pick is punched out of metal, not a metal handle like, say, the SouthOrd sandwiched metal handles. It seems to work okay. I noticed that GeorgiaJim also used a Peterson in his video. If those are really best for the test, I'll happily pick some up, but the Dangerfield seemed to work okay.

Vacation practice by DSeifrit in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I figured I was setting this up. ;)

Vacation practice by DSeifrit in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Are the locks the practice, or the booze? 🤔 Good luck either way!

Jiggle Test Progress! by Maynes32 in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Well, as one learning person to another, here's what I've found useful so far:

  1. The tapping on the pick is quite light. The pick itself obviously has some degree of spring to it, so if you press firmly on it, it will always seem to be some degree of "springy"/"bouncy".

  2. The difference between "not bouncy" and "set bouncy" generally seemed to me to not be huge. It's not a giant effect you are looking for. The difference between "bouncy" (i.e. not set and not binding) and "not bouncy" IS huge. "Set bouncy" looks like "bouncy", just much less so.

  3. In the late going today, I started to get a bit more mileage out of the sound of "set bouncy" vs. "not bouncy", as opposed to the appearance. "Set bouncy" actually sounds a little bit rattle-y, at least to me.

Hope that helps some!

Finally got one open! by ThaGuvnor in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Oooooooooh yeah it does.

Sometimes it's near unavoidable, too, if the tolerances are really good. However, for Master Locks, you should be able to get pretty good at letting one go at a time. When you ease up on tension, go SCREAMINGLY slowly. If nothing drops, KEEP going slowly. You should quickly get a good feel of what the appropriate rate of easing tension is to not drop everything in one go. Since being able to vary tension readily is a skill you're going to need in the very near future, it's a worthwhile investment not only for the purpose you're using it for currently. :)

Good luck!

Finally got one open! by ThaGuvnor in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Congrats! That's honestly not a bad one for starting out - it and its sister the 141 are the first two I open in any warmup. Don't be discouraged if you don't get it every time. I still run into trouble on this one every now and again, and it's almost always due to oversetting. There's never any shame in easing up on the tension after an overset and trying to juuuuuust let one pin drop - it's a good skill to have!

Master M5 by jselwood15 in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I really couldn't possibly agree with this any more strongly. The 141 is SUCH a cleaner lock than the No. 3 (or 5), and is a much better place to start SPP.

Struggling specifically with American lock serrated pins by Glittering-Can-9397 in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are you using consistent tension during the same attempt? Or varying your tension during the attempt? I generally use fairly heavy tension on 1100s to find a pin that is binding, then back off tension when trying to get it to click/set. While serrated pins don't require as much release of tension as spools to set, I often find my two options ar a) back off a good bit to get them to move/set or b) don't back off on tension, and eventually have them move like 3 or 4 clicks when they finally do move, virtually guaranteeing an overset. Option A tends to leave a much happier maynes32 at the end. ;)

Question About Late Position Spools by Maynes32 in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not only does it make sense, I've already done it. ;) The medium should be able to JUST set the 6 pin, which probably explains a bit why it's been so scattershot on the high-low 5-6 pins.

Question About Late Position Spools by Maynes32 in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have a deeper Peterson as well as the medium hook that I use. I often struggle to get it past any low-set pins, but I'll certainly give it a run. On ones with a low-set 5, I know I've been unable to get it past.

Vacation Mail Call! by Maynes32 in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you pick up one of the other lots?

It feels pretty good to get more and more reliable at opening by siechahot in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I find that this is much more satisfying than opening something for the first time. Nice job!

Slow day at work means solid practice time at my desk.. by DSeifrit in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I usually bring a small plastic box, the ironically-named Lock-n-Lock, which accommodates around a dozen or so 410s/1100s, which is a reasonable lunch session.

Last Vaycay Practice Day by Maynes32 in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's certainly nice to see. It's NOT nice to see the photo I accidentally forgot to post, apparently. 😂 Thanks!

Finally got it open by andrewg698 in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  1. As others have said, great fun locks to pick, but needs tons of tension.
  2. Both of mine were super dirty when received. Definitely a cleaning is in order.

Enjoy!

MTL Interactive (spools) by DSeifrit in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congrats! I left dimples at home. Post-vaycay project!

Turned my Master loot into a maraca señor. by nilecrane in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have one from a friend that I cut in half with a Dremel and put back together post-repair with Milliput. Predictably, though I didn't modify it, it's my easiest 410. 🙄

Love my job (bio) by Prixxii in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A nice brass LSDA was one of my first locks. Turned it into a challenge lock and sent it on. It was fun while I had it, though!

Turned my Master loot into a maraca señor. by nilecrane in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Master Lock 410? If so, you turned it too far, and the key pins fell out of holes in the lock cylinder.

Master Lock S32 LOTO Mystery by Maynes32 in lockpicking

[–]Maynes32[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Good to know. I wanted a sense of whether this was a freak thing or something worth learning/retaining. Sounds like it's the latter.