When you don’t have the right key, lock picking is a great way to open just about any lock out there. Normally, picking locks is something we associate with crime and illegal activities, although crime isn’t always the case. There are a lot of instances where locking picking skills can come in real handy. Take for instance a lost house key or locking your car keys inside your car. Between breaking a window or calling a locksmith, neither of your options are great.
To properly pick a lock, you’ll need the right tool kit. Even the most basic lock picking kit will contain a lock pin and a tension wrench. If you have an emergency, you can normally replace the lock pin with a hair pin. Professional locking picking kits, on the other hand, will normally include a variety of tension wrenches in several different shapes and sizes, covering several different styles of lock pins. Some include a locking picking gun, which uses vibration to push all the lock pins up at the same time.
When picking a lock is necessary, the first thing to do is to insert the tension wrench into the keyhole and attempt to turn the cylinder. Next, use the lock pin and gently pry up on the pins. Once the pins reach the normal opening position, you’ll hear a clicking noise letting you know that the pins are in the right place and the lock is open.
Racking is another lock picking technique. Racking uses a lower precision level and uses a special pick known as a rake. To use the rake, simply insert it into the keyhole until it reaches the back of the cylinder, then quickly pull it out so that it hits all of the pins when it comes out. A tension wrench is also used to turn the cylinder.
The hardest locks to pick are master locks. They offer an excellent protection system and aren’t as susceptible to picking as other types of locks. Master locks were invented by Henry Soref in 1921, introducing the first lock to use laminated layers of solid steel. Although master locks use the same picking system as other types of locks, those that are in combined format will require a locksmith with a lot of patience and skill.
Reading books or listening to CD’s on lock picking is also highly recommended, as many of these will have been written/created by experienced locksmiths.
On the flip side, any time you buy a lock, keep in mind that just about any lock can be picked, though some take more time and patience than others. When you’re shopping, always think in terms of safety and select one that you know is extremely difficult to penetrate. This way, you can have a sense of security in your lock and know that you are safe and protected.