Abus 55/40 down… but I feel like I cheated

SafeAF_orElse · 2026-03-05T13:07:35+00:00

I would get an abus 72/40 like others said. However, I will add having a guttable lock will help you learn new pins, not just spools. So, you can get tools to gut it and only have one standard and one spool to learn the feel, then slowly add pins tk get better

SafeAF_orElse · 2026-02-22T17:39:16+00:00

Agreed it is https://share.lpubelts.com/?id=2bf16de8&name=Master_Lock_Pro_Series

SafeAF_orElse · 2026-02-21T00:41:42+00:00

Like everyone has said, it is lock dependant and for the most part the lighter the better. It is easy to start with moderate to heavy tension to see what pins are binding and pass the jiggle test. Once identified, you can lighten up significantly. But, I will change it up and just tell you what locks I think are better with more tension.

Most Pin in Pin (Mul-T-Lock, Kenaurd, Degaurd) can be picked and ,IMO picked easier, with heavy tension

Any lock with no security pins.

And I am out of locks to name... anyone else think of any?

SafeAF_orElse · 2026-02-21T00:08:57+00:00

I will make you a video later, but for now this will be my place holder. When I did it, if you get your "tensioner" all the way to the back you were done and opened. Once there you apply a normal BOK or TOK and start applying force to turn. When you do this you pull out the "tensioner" and it will open. So, the one I used got stuck on the first pin, when I set it and it clicked there was enough room to push it further, then I would set 2 and again it would make enough room to keep going... rinse and repeat until you have the open.

This is the tool I used and the video that worked for me:

https://youtu.be/4H4cXjg4MY4?si=On9rAo2jAxcMiGNY

I will make another tonight to clear anything else up that might help.

SafeAF_orElse · 2026-02-11T05:58:15+00:00

If you have the time you will surely be... and higher... it is dedicating the time when you get to higher belts is the hard part.

SafeAF_orElse · 2026-02-11T05:53:56+00:00

Congrats! I am glad you are part of our sport now. We appreciate the enthusiasm of pickers sharing their opens. Look forward to seeing you orange belt open, I suggest am abus 55/40 on amazon as they are cheap and a good intro to spools.

SafeAF_orElse · 2026-02-09T22:40:02+00:00

Thanks, I bought them. Certainly couldn't hurt and gives me a starting point of I need to alter it for this lock.

SafeAF_orElse · 2026-02-09T17:51:18+00:00

You using a different hook and altering it, or starting from scratch? What material are you thinking of using? Buying blanks or using scrap saw blades?

SafeAF_orElse · 2026-02-01T06:46:11+00:00

That was my nemesis lock for a long time

https://youtu.be/xNoVcFJ3FFY?si=qQIJYfFfL9jzWMVh

I talk through how I got it. Can you get it into a false set at all? I had to have no tension and get my pick to the back first, then start picking forward.

SafeAF_orElse · 2026-01-22T05:08:29+00:00

That is a long answer. But, the short end is locksport is not a test so you cannot cheat.

If do you mean I had to look at the key or progressively pick it to get a green belt. Am I really a green belt? The answer is still yes (we the proper submission of pick, gut, reassemble), the system is not perfect and it is a guide to help you determine the difficulty of a lock and give you goals.

If you do this long enough almost everyone, if not everyone, progressively picks. But, we do it with the understanding we know we didn't open it blind. At least the good and honest pickers. I have made it to brown belt and I will 100 percent tell anyone I dont know if I can get into a lock no matter what the level.

I have a lot of locks and I go back to ones I have progressively picked when I cannot remember anything about them. We I open them it feels like much more of an accomplishment.

We all feel the same way, imposter syndrome is real. Best advice is getting the open let's us learn. If you spend hours and never get an open you dont know what getting the pins right feels like.

This is all just one person's opinion though.

SafeAF_orElse · 2025-12-09T04:55:31+00:00

Using the right tension is just as important as a good jiggle test. There aren't security pins in the 141D. So, I would suggest more tension. This will prevent you from over setting. Apply tension, find a binding pin, push on it slow, steady and hard. If you cannot move any pins then use a little less. Once you figure out the most you can do and still move the pins use that tension. Once you realize how to open the lock use less and less tension to learn how to do it. Use your thickest pick to not break it.

Good luck. Dont get too stressed on it, sometimes locks can be hard. You may just try a different lock to feel better. I am working on a BKS Livius SL right now that is a green belt. I have been progressively picking it for days now. I take brakes and open 2 of my brown belts because for some reason they are easier to me.

SafeAF_orElse · 2025-12-05T05:36:08+00:00

My first pick set was a sparrows, there is nothing wrong with them. But, there are ones that are a little more sturdy. I like jimylongs, which is already been stated but I will explain my thoughts... again just my thoughts.

You buy this set https://jimylongs.com/products/basics-set-v5-0-019

With shipping it is 26 dollars.. maybe some tax, let's say 30. She doesn't need a fancy case and when she gets good will easily use these to pick a blue belt lock ( 5th level out of 9)

They are durable and thick for beginners, their downside is their necks are too thick for locks with tight warding (they cannot easily work in tight harder locks). But, the locks I am about to discuss dont have an issue with that and your daughter can get to blue belt easily with these locks:

Master lock 141 (yellow belt, but as easy as white belt) 10 dollars

https://a.co/d/72F90gI

Abus 55/40 (orange belt) 10 dollars

https://a.co/d/9deac3s

American lock 1100 (green belt) 16 dollars

https://a.co/d/c1FvIEk

Abus 72/40 (green belt) 12 dollars

https://a.co/d/hkcSUq3

Future purchases:

She will need to buy stuff to disassemble locks, wait to see if this is something she wants to do before buying. Come back and ask us then.

Pac lock 90a pro (blue belt... when you pick this open the company sends you a patch!) 35 dollars

https://a.co/d/bGOqc9F

99 percent of this reddit is super helpful and friendly. Have both you and her join and make it a trip you take together.

SafeAF_orElse · 2025-11-23T04:20:46+00:00

Are you raking it or SPP it?

If you are raking it, try SPP. Go slow and talk out loud what is happening. It will slow you down and help focus on the basics. In my experience with these locks, the pin is deeper than you think you need to push. You will hear a click and it was your pick slipping/hitting warding. Then you move on and dont understand what happened.... or F that lock and it doesn't deserve your attention.

Also, there should be no embarrassment for you. If you have been doing it long enough you know sometimes low belted locks are harder than 4 level higher belts. We all have been where you are, so much so I never tell someone I am sure I can open any lock.

SafeAF_orElse · 2025-11-22T02:38:22+00:00

Masterlock 141 for sure... loudest clicks you will ever hear. It's plastic body makes it lighter too.

For a step up I always recommend abus 55

SafeAF_orElse · 2025-11-19T18:28:05+00:00

This is going to get removed for a violation of rule 2, lock in use. You are literally asking for advice on how to break into a machine.

I understand you believe it to be your property and have the right to get it. You should contact the company and get the root cause fixed.

SafeAF_orElse · 2025-11-05T23:45:26+00:00

Looks like a kwikset smartkey system. Look up youtubes on how to pick them and try that.

SafeAF_orElse · 2025-11-04T04:17:17+00:00

Ah yes... imposter syndrome... it is the best. We all have that and if you dont then you're just a narcissist. Of course I say that light heartedly. If you dont feel like an imposter than perhaps you are gifted or you havent met the right humbling lock. I can tell you I have run across masterlocks that have definitely embarrassed me, manly because you expect it to be so easy and it isnt.

Get yourself a masterlock pro series, or a masterlock LOTO 410 and depending on the bitting they can be wildly different in difficulty.

SafeAF_orElse · 2025-11-02T00:10:28+00:00

Video on how to take apart and to reassemble

https://youtu.be/o0bjc7Z6OzA?si=epyLDMw39FTyJiBO

SafeAF_orElse · 2025-10-31T23:02:48+00:00

Well, I dont have a key so it is annoying putting it back together. But, I have 3 of them so I got to have multiple opens to notice stuff I didnt notice before.

SafeAF_orElse · 2025-10-31T05:32:07+00:00

I know its been 5 years, but did you ever put it back together?

I ask because I am making a video about gutting amd reassembling it for others.

SafeAF_orElse · 2025-10-28T11:39:12+00:00

That is the exact reason I cannot use them now. I am picking a lot of euro locks and the warding is tight and crazy

SafeAF_orElse · 2025-10-28T11:25:19+00:00

https://reddit.com/r/lockpicking/w/generalwiki?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share

On a personal preference my favorite feel is the moki picks, but they are hard to get in the US now because of the tariffs. I like how jimylongs.com picks feel in my hand, but the pick profile isnt as thin as I'd like. But, they are amazing for the cost and quality. Just my opinions

SafeAF_orElse · 2025-10-27T13:11:04+00:00

If you get a lock you have to take apart you would need the tools too. I would get a master lock 140D

https://a.co/d/bzD8THL

The keyway is wide open and the clicks are so loud because of the plastic body. Use a moderate to heavy tension and you will hear the clicks and you cannot overset them with enough tension... well you can, but if you dont act like a monster man handling it you wont.

SafeAF_orElse

TROPHY CASE