The Easiest Way to Pick a Lock

picking lock

Here are the nine steps you need to master to become a great lock picker. Not all locks are alike, but the basics below will give you a step up on the learning curve while you work on your craft! Remember, everyone needs a lock opened at one time or another!

Understand how your lock works. The pin-and-tumbler lock consists of a cylinder that can rotate within its housing (see the illustrations below). When locked, the cylinder is kept in place by several pairs of pins.

Purchase a pick and tension wrench. Each pick is specialized for a different problem. A tension wrench, or torque wrench, is the device you use to apply pressure to turn the lock cylinder.

Place the tension wrench into the lower portion of the keyhole.

Determine which way the cylinder must be turned to unlock the lock. If you commonly use the lock, you probably already know which way you turn the key to open the lock. If you don’t know, use the tension wrench to apply torque to the cylinder, first clockwise and then counterclockwise.

Apply light torque to the tension wrench in the correct direction, and hold. The required torque will vary from lock to lock and from pin to pin, so this may require some trial and error.

Insert the pick into the upper part of the keyhole and feel the pins. With the pick in the keyhole, you should be able to press up and feel the individual pins with the tip of the pick. You should be able to push them up and feel them spring back down when you release the pressure

Push the stubborn pin up until it “sets.” Press the stubborn pin with just enough pressure to overcome the downward pressure of the spring. Remember, the pin is actually a pair of pins. Your pick is pushing against the lower pin, which in turn pushes against the upper pin. Your goal is to push the upper pin completely out of the cylinder.

Continue applying torque and repeat the last two steps for each of the remaining pins. It is imperative that you maintain torque on the cylinder to prevent the set pins from dropping back down. You may need to make slight increases or decreases in torque for each pin.

Use the tension wrench to turn the cylinder and unlock the lock. Once all the pins are set, you should be able to turn the cylinder. Hopefully you have already ascertained the correct direction to turn it. If you have chosen the wrong direction, you will need to start over and reset all the pins.

There is more information about picking locks over on wikiHow. Pay close attention and when your pals come to you, asking for your expertise in getting into their car or house, you will be ready!

This new ability may disturb some of your friends and acquaintances, wondering where you learned this new skill, but others – those who really know you – will be thrilled! Especially when realize they do not have to call an expensive locksmith… On the other hand, a little friendly payment for your efforts never hurts!


22 Comments

  1. Mike Reitano said:

    Joshua St thought of you when I saw this article you should read it so you don’t get locked out of the RV again.

  2. Joshua St said:

    Fucking right thanks I guess a pallor isn’t always going to be there when I need it haha how ve you been

  3. Mike Reitano said:

    Rite yo lol thank geebiz for that. Iam ok yo getin bye you know. Fucking cold n$#%&!@*lol.

  4. Joshua St said:

    Nice yeah thats why were like$#%&!@*it were going south for the winter

  5. Mike Reitano said:

    Bro i wish. I gota get a new bike. Then ill go anywhere. Ore a sick 4×4van.

  6. Joshua St said:

    Yeah 4×4 helps would of been nice to have it out here in new Mexico there are mad dirt road trails to go get lost on, but I’m not trying o get the rv stuck. So much to see so little time

  7. Mike Reitano said:

    You got get a little mini bike yo. Ore something like that you can put back in ore on the rig. You can probably find and fix one out there for like a couple hundred dollars.

  8. Joshua St said:

    Yeah I’d love to have something like that but it’s only a 4 cylinder engine, the 22re toyota

  9. Joshua St said:

    Working on them just hard with dogs so got my board for city trips got some nice sized soft wheels and bomb$#%&!@*barrings

  10. David Lyons said:

    This has come in quite handy for me. Twice in the last six months my wife has locked her keys in the car. Both times I’ve been able to pick the lock and open the door. I’ve probably saved a hundred dollars not having to pay a locksmith.

  11. William Rahl said:

    Anyone know anything other than a bobby pin or paper clip to make a tensioner out of?

  12. Justen Carter said:

    Look up how to make a bump key. Keep one around your neck. So much faster then picking for most door locks less then A dead bolt.

  13. Seth Howell said:

    You can make a bump key. Ez s can b. Picking takes some finesse.

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