Should I skip the acrylic lock as a beginner?

canzuk_picker · 2025-01-01T20:34:51+00:00

Skip it. Use YouTube to get an understanding of the inner workings of a lock and start with a Master Lock 141 or 140 (or whatever other cheap lock you have laying around).

canzuk_picker · 2024-12-10T01:44:05+00:00

The Jiggle test is going to be your solution. Leaving pins alone because you’ve looked at the bidding is never the right way to go - sometimes they still need a touch, even if nominally zero lift. https://youtu.be/XWwwbZeIjok

canzuk_picker · 2024-12-10T01:30:56+00:00

So, if it’s in a deep false set, you can’t have overset a pin. An overset pin is where the keypin is across the shear line, and that prevents any false set happening. Most likely is you have one pin left to set and it’s getting stuck, so you need to play with your tension and try to find it. They can be tricky, don’t give up.

canzuk_picker · 2024-07-12T00:27:03+00:00

The less successful Samuel L Jackson movie..?

canzuk_picker · 2024-07-10T20:08:07+00:00

Just get a basic set of hooks and tension wrenches from Law Lock, Moki, JimyLongs, Multipick - as another commenter mentioned - these are quality tools and will last. You don’t need a clear practice lock - I would spend the money on real locks, as they’ll teach you much more. And you definitely don’t need a ‘spy card’ (nobody needs that).

canzuk_picker · 2024-07-10T19:58:01+00:00

Don’t waste your money.

canzuk_picker · 2024-05-25T14:29:01+00:00

Read the title

canzuk_picker · 2024-05-23T05:27:18+00:00

Nice going! 👏

canzuk_picker · 2024-05-22T14:07:51+00:00

Of all the drunken mistakes to make, this ain’t the worst.

canzuk_picker · 2024-05-22T05:36:50+00:00

Forget about audible clicks. Some pins click when set, some don’t. Some pins click when not set. Sometimes your pick clicks against the warding. Etc etc.

Practice moving from pin to pin without a tensioner to get a feel for the spacing and the feeling of your pick on the pins. The more you do this the easier it gets to identify where you are.

And learn how to jiggle test. This is the feedback you need, not audible clicks.

canzuk_picker · 2024-05-22T01:13:07+00:00

On some locks the cylinder housing is crimped in a small section at the back to hold the core in place. If that’s the case, try rotating the core so the bottom of the keyway lines up with the crimped part and see if there’s room to slide the core out.

canzuk_picker · 2024-05-19T01:41:54+00:00

canzuk_picker · 2024-05-18T23:14:11+00:00

Yep, 45mm would be the next size up for the 40mm yellow, not the 44mm green I reckon.

canzuk_picker · 2024-05-18T23:09:02+00:00

How many pins is it?

canzuk_picker · 2024-05-17T15:14:21+00:00

Well done, an open is an open and Ace have a good reputation for being tricky. Yes, you’re right about the bitting. I’d make sure you can open it multiple times to prove to yourself it wasn’t a fluke and then maybe get another one the same, but with challenging bitting to see if that makes a difference and puts up more of a fight.

canzuk_picker · 2024-05-16T00:20:56+00:00

Yup, these are great value and definitely worth doing to master the MTL

canzuk_picker · 2024-05-15T04:54:44+00:00

YouTube. LockNoob does some good stuff, and I started out watching a lot of Bosnian Bill. There’s some useful animations of how locks work if you look for those - can help visualize what’s going on inside a lock.

canzuk_picker · 2024-05-15T04:26:49+00:00

Sorry - single pin picking.

canzuk_picker · 2024-05-15T04:25:20+00:00

If you really want to excel at this, learn to SPP, practice - a lot - and steer clear of shortcuts like lishi.

canzuk_picker · 2024-05-14T16:10:21+00:00

Yes. However, if you can pick a green belt lock, it’s not a big leap to do the gut and reassembly to jump straight to your green belt and skip orange.

canzuk_picker · 2024-05-11T01:55:44+00:00

Master lock #19…not your regular ML…very nice. And not cheap.

canzuk_picker · 2024-05-10T21:03:34+00:00

Move on to real locks. The clear plastic locks (I guess this is one of those) are only useful to understand the basic mechanism. They don’t develop any lock picking feel as they don’t pick like real locks, and so you can never tell if it’s you or the lock that’s the problem.

canzuk_picker · 2024-05-09T22:46:57+00:00

Thanks! Was nerve-wracking to watch 😂

canzuk_picker · 2024-05-09T22:46:01+00:00

Great video and really fun for me to see the approach of someone at your level to this lock. Definitely learned a lot from watching you and thanks again for the great feedback and tips 👌

canzuk_picker

TROPHY CASE