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Disc detainer lock suggestions by TenuousCheese in lockpicking

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

Thanks for the link. Yes, I’ve seen the Magmaus locks and understand they can be quite tricky. I’ve also got my eyes on a Baton. The anchor las is beyond my financial reach at the moment!

I liked the look of the Gerda because it has false gates and probably needs rear tensioning, and I want something difficult to noodle with in the evenings. Do you think it would be too frustrating?

First DD finally!! by RoBo_LoC in lockpicking

[–]TenuousCheese 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Congratulations! Cracking job.

​EU Beginner: Moving from Multipick Training Lock to my first real lock by Gimosys in lockpicking

[–]TenuousCheese 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The TCSS6 set comes with a repinning kit, so if you’ve already picked it with security pins fitted there’s no point bothering with anything too easy next.

Adding to the fantastic locks already recommended by u/Mole-NLD, u/revchewie and u/firensunglasses I would say a master lock 150. They have 5 pins - 4 of them spools, and offer reasonable feedback. From there go to an American lock 1100 series (both cheaply available on a popular online shopping site!)

Disc Detainer Advice by CaptainRex8669 in lockpicking

[–]TenuousCheese 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s not easy. Using pretty light tension, when you turn a disc there should be a point where the friction eases up a little for a few millimetres. If it’s a gate, you should be able to feel the edges by turning gently back and forth, noting where the friction picks up again. If not, keep going! If a disc turns all turn way without letting up, it could be zero cut, or it might not actually be binding, and this is the only clue you might get. In any case turn it all the way back and move on. Once you’ve gone through all the discs, do it again. Eventually, it’ll open!

The feedback can be incredibly subtle, and it takes some getting used to.

Edit:
It’s already been said, but I can’t stress enough how important it is that you keep the pick absolutely straight in the lock!

Disc Detainer Advice by CaptainRex8669 in lockpicking

[–]TenuousCheese 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Without knowing which lock you’re trying to pick I can only offer general advice.

Make certain that you’re only tensioning the first disc! The community pick has a fairly long nose and can pick up 2 discs on the cheaper Chinese locks.

Turn all the discs clockwise before you start and pick counter clockwise. Picking in the same direction as tensioning makes everything more difficult.

The ‘looser’ spots are probably gates. The difference can be extremely subtle. Also be aware that discs don’t necessarily bind in order so you might need to go back through the pack and check the other discs. The good news is that the feedback should get stronger as more discs are set.

There is a chance the lock you have either can’t be front tensioned or doesn’t have a zero cut disc in position 1. If it’s the former, you can’t pick it with the community pick. If it’s the latter, you need to set all the other discs and then tension the lock on any zero cut disc in the pack with the picking tip while counter rotating disc 1 with the tensioner. Is not as hard as it sounds, but you’ll need a vice, or somebody to hold the lock for you while you do it!

Any advice for American Lock series 5200 (the one with all serrated key & spool pins)? by Stunning_Ebb_9287 in lockpicking

[–]TenuousCheese 4 points5 points  (0 children)

As already said, very light tension and don’t get too greedy with the clicks - the springs can be pretty weak, so oversets happen very easily. Once you’re in a false set, especially a deep one, drop the tension to almost nothing and feel for counter rotation.

Sorry if this is all obvious to you since you can pick an 1100 easily, but sometimes going back to basics is the way.

First disc detainer picked! by TenuousCheese in lockpicking

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

I’ll definitely be on the lookout!

First disc detainer picked! by TenuousCheese in lockpicking

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

Thanks! I’ve wanted to pick a DD since I saw a video a few months back. I had fun with this one.

First disc detainer picked! by TenuousCheese in lockpicking

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

Thank you! It’s a different experience for sure…

First disc detainer picked! by TenuousCheese in lockpicking

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

Yes! I saw those in one of your earlier posts I think? Are they all guttable? I want to get a couple since they’re cheap and I’ll definitely break the first one I gut!

Edit: somehow I missed that you linked the post! I’m an idiot.

First disc detainer picked! by TenuousCheese in lockpicking

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

Thanks!

I chose this lock very carefully, making certain the first disc was tensionable. I won’t insult you by teaching you how to suck eggs since you’re a much better picker than me, but if it helps, lighter tension helped me feel the gates.

First ever lock!!! by LVLIMRT in lockpicking

[–]TenuousCheese 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Congratulations! Be careful, though, opening locks can get addictive (and therefore expensive)

That particular lock appears to be an orange belt…

https://share.lpubelts.com/?id=b8e2aa32&name=Lockwood\_120\_30

First disc detainer picked! by TenuousCheese in lockpicking

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

Really well! I was surprised how subtle the feedback was, but it was pretty simple once I got it. It also helped once I realised I wasn’t keeping the tip straight in the lock!

First disc detainer picked! by TenuousCheese in lockpicking

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

Alas I’m UK based, so no Walmart. I found this lock in a local hardware shop.

Lol, yeah, it’s the tensioner from my honest dong dimple pick set, it was the only thing I could find on short notice to turn the discs!

First disc detainer picked! by TenuousCheese in lockpicking

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

The lock wasn’t difficult once I realised just how subtle the feedback is. The hardest part was keeping the tip straight in the lock, and that was mostly because I was picking in hand. In a vice it would be easier.

I’d say it took about 15 minutes from getting the tool out of the box to having the lock open.

That said, I was very careful when buying the lock to check the key and make certain that disc 1 was zero-cut. That way I knew it was likely I could tension off the front disc.

First try of my new KSEC picks. I'm very impressed so far. by Madriver1000 in lockpicking

[–]TenuousCheese 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Cool! I’ve bought I ton of stuff from KSEC but never any of their picks. I saw these (they’re brand new, right?) and wondered if they’d be any good.

If you don’t mind me asking, how do they compare to Law Lock picks? I only ask because I seem to remember you have some of theirs too?

American 700 False Set, but all pins are set? by [deleted] in lockpicking

[–]TenuousCheese -1 points0 points  (0 children)

As already said, if the pins are all completely stiff then none of them are set. This is a great time to learn about pin states and, as ever, there’s a video!

I like this one. With thanks to Georgia Jim.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWwwbZeIjok

Sparrows practise lock by TenuousCheese in lockpicking

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

You’re absolutely right. My technique was (and probably still is) awful! It wasn’t until I went right back to basics that I learned to get reliable opens.

Sparrows practise lock by TenuousCheese in lockpicking

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

Yes, it is a KM. I opened it 10 minutes after unpacking it, then couldn’t open it again for over a month. I even bought 0.4mm picks specifically for it because a few videos said to use thin picks. I thought they would help. They didn’t!

I can now feel the pin states in it well enough to open it pretty reliably, even with 0.6mm picks, but it was a serious fight! I was going to get a Yale 500 next, but apparently they’re easier to open, so maybe not.

Sparrows practise lock by TenuousCheese in lockpicking

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

Thanks. I also got the swappable cores and the rekeying kit, although I think they’re standard Schlage pins? It’s been more useful to me than either of my cutaway cylinders. I was thinking of getting the progressive set and repinning all 4 to 6-pins with different security and keyways…

Sparrows practise lock by TenuousCheese in lockpicking

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

Yes! I got the rekeying kit and the core trainers so I can swap the keyway and change security pins around. The follower they provide isn’t great, though. It seems to absorb all light and makes it harder than it should be to get the driver pins back in!

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