FREE ESSAY ON LOCK PICKING BY SHOEDOG

LOCK PICKING BY SHOEDOG

Lock Picking
Lock picking is an art in its entirety. It takes lots of hard work, practice, and
patience to pick a lock. Being able to sit in one place for a long time doing something
that at first seems hopeless is the key to learning how to pick a lock. In the world of
locks there are probably 1000's of different locks. The most common type of lock is the
pin tumbler lock. Since this type of lock is the most commonly used lock, this is what I
will use to teach the basics of lock picking. 
To start things off you must first learn how a lock works. The most basic of locks as
stated above is the pin tumbler lock. A tumbler lock has a plug and shell with usually
five pins with spring tension. Each pin has two parts, a top pin and a bottom pin. Both
of which are held in a groove by a spring. As a key is inserted, the two pin parts are
aliened to what is called the shear line. When the key is fully inserted into the key way
all of the pins aliened to the shear line. Thus this turns the key freely between the
plug and the shell along the shear line.
Before you begin to pick a lock you need some basic tools. I might suggest for a beginner
to start out with simply a safety pin and a very tiny Philips head screwdriver or a paper
clip. First open up your safety pin to about a 60 degree angle. Then bend the very tip of
the safety pin to approximately a 55 degree angle. This will be your pick. Next bend the
tip of the screwdriver to an 85 degree angle or do the same with a paper clip. This will
be your tension wrench. Now that you have your tools you a ready to pick your first
lock!
The mechanics of lock picking all lie in a very tiny error in nearly all locks. As
tension is applied in usually a clock word direction the pin binds. This makes it
possible to pick a lock one pin at a time. Another way to bind a pin is by applying sheer
force. In which you push the plug into the shell with a slight direct pressure as you
torque the plug clockwise with a tension wrench. As a pin is pushed up with the pick the
top pin slides over the plug while the bottom pin drops below the sheer line into the
plug. Thus by this action each pin is set one at a time.
Now that you understand the physics of lock picking the rest will be easy. Your first
step in picking a lock all lies on the tension wrench. I could never emphasize the
importance of how you handle this tool so pay extra special attention to what I have to
say. Your first step is to place the wrench into the bottom part of the key way. Gently
put a clockwise torque to the wrench. If you are right handed do this with your left
hand. Next take you safety pin or pick and insert it all of the way to the back of the
key way. Now at this point there are two things you can do. The first of which is to push
up each individual pin as you use torque on the wrench. As you do this be very sure to
put equal tension on the torque as the tension on the springs have on your pick. Secondly
and my personal favorite method is to slide the pick across the pins in a scrubbing
motion. Try to combine both these picking styles as you pick. When the top of the key pin
reaches the sheer line you will feel the plug give slightly. This is called a set pin.
The way you know when a pin is set is when it shakes loosely without the pressure of the
spring. It will also make a jiggling sound when shaken. Try to be relaxed as possible and
over use your sense of hearing and touch. This all may take awhile, but it all comes with
a lot of patience and lots of practice.
Warning
This short paper on how to pick a lock is for personal satisfaction and enjoyment only.
It is illegal to pick or tamper with any lock that is not of personal property anywhere
in the US If the owner of the lock is not present and you are caught expect some jail
time. It is breaking and entering. Another thing to keep in mind is not to show off. This
will only mess you up and you will not be able to pick the lock!