Post by ogeezer on Sept 6, 2007 11:33:51 GMT -6
Years ago, I took one of those HomeStudy courses -- LOCKSMITHING -- more as a learning tool than a perspective second income producer. It was very informative ..but.. I guess I learned more about defeating locks from convicts when worked for the TxPrison system, much which I will not devulge on WCU. However, one very useful tool for laymen (and women) deals with salvaging padlocks (for reuse, providing you later locate the key or remember combination) without resorting to using a set of bolt cutters is this little lock-picking tool.
WORDS OF CAUTION -- viewers are reminded, using this tool for purpose which are less than legal should beware, following the procedure takes something most criminals (concerned about being caught) do not have, namely time & patience. Now with that said, let's get on with learning to salvage locks.
MAKING THE LOCK SHACKLE PICK
The easiest way to open a shackled lock (typically the moving U-shaped rod that goes down into the lock case), without picking gun, picking tools or key, is to employ a thin piece of metal which wraps around the shackle, extends down into the lock case just far enuff so that it unlatches the locking dog (the pin that catches the slotted portion of the shackel).
STEP 1 - Using the scissors, cut off the top and bottom of the can. Then make one long cut down the side of the can to get a sheet of metal. Then flatten out the sheet, and cut off the jagged sides of it, so you end up with a smooth rectangular sheet of metal, making strip something near 1 1/4" x 2 1/2". Mark out the rectangles onto the sheet of metal using a sharpie, and then cut them out. On the smaller rectangles, mark off fourths both vertically and horozintally.
STEP 2 - Draw a M shape on the rectangle. The M should start out 1/4 in from the left, and shoud be 1/2" up from the bottom, it should curve down so the bottom part is 1/2" in from the left, it should be mirrored on the other side. Its kinda confusing so just look at the photos. After you draw it, cut it out.
STEP 3 - Fold the top 1/4th down,
then fold the 2 side parts up and over. After you finish folding wrap it around a bic pen or some round object, roughly the same diameter as the bar on the padlock. See photo at top for finished view of padlock pick.
USING THE SHACKLE PICK - The best method to open it is to have the part of the shim that will go inside the lock on the outside of the bar. Push it down into the padlock, and then twist to unlock it. It can be very hard to master, dont give up. It will probably take a few minutes to get it to work (which is where the patience comes in).
These shackle picks are only good for a few uses, because they begin to crumple up and will no longer fit in the lock. For Practice, use an open lock, look inside at the part you are trying to force open, and moving it while the lock is open to learn what needs to occur when lock is latched (locked).
ADDENDUM: There are many ways to open a padlock without destroying it in the process. This just happens to be one of them. Unfortunately, unless you later learn the combination or have a key, you won't be able to reuse the lock later without repicking it again, or unless you go to a certified locksmith who can ascertain the combination or determine the key cut settings.
However, some dial-type padlocks can be opened with this shackle pick or using other methods which permit you to determine combination during the picking process. But that's another lesson or two which may follow later...
WORDS OF CAUTION -- viewers are reminded, using this tool for purpose which are less than legal should beware, following the procedure takes something most criminals (concerned about being caught) do not have, namely time & patience. Now with that said, let's get on with learning to salvage locks.
MAKING THE LOCK SHACKLE PICK
The easiest way to open a shackled lock (typically the moving U-shaped rod that goes down into the lock case), without picking gun, picking tools or key, is to employ a thin piece of metal which wraps around the shackle, extends down into the lock case just far enuff so that it unlatches the locking dog (the pin that catches the slotted portion of the shackel).
STEP 1 - Using the scissors, cut off the top and bottom of the can. Then make one long cut down the side of the can to get a sheet of metal. Then flatten out the sheet, and cut off the jagged sides of it, so you end up with a smooth rectangular sheet of metal, making strip something near 1 1/4" x 2 1/2". Mark out the rectangles onto the sheet of metal using a sharpie, and then cut them out. On the smaller rectangles, mark off fourths both vertically and horozintally.
STEP 2 - Draw a M shape on the rectangle. The M should start out 1/4 in from the left, and shoud be 1/2" up from the bottom, it should curve down so the bottom part is 1/2" in from the left, it should be mirrored on the other side. Its kinda confusing so just look at the photos. After you draw it, cut it out.
STEP 3 - Fold the top 1/4th down,
then fold the 2 side parts up and over. After you finish folding wrap it around a bic pen or some round object, roughly the same diameter as the bar on the padlock. See photo at top for finished view of padlock pick.
USING THE SHACKLE PICK - The best method to open it is to have the part of the shim that will go inside the lock on the outside of the bar. Push it down into the padlock, and then twist to unlock it. It can be very hard to master, dont give up. It will probably take a few minutes to get it to work (which is where the patience comes in).
These shackle picks are only good for a few uses, because they begin to crumple up and will no longer fit in the lock. For Practice, use an open lock, look inside at the part you are trying to force open, and moving it while the lock is open to learn what needs to occur when lock is latched (locked).
ADDENDUM: There are many ways to open a padlock without destroying it in the process. This just happens to be one of them. Unfortunately, unless you later learn the combination or have a key, you won't be able to reuse the lock later without repicking it again, or unless you go to a certified locksmith who can ascertain the combination or determine the key cut settings.
However, some dial-type padlocks can be opened with this shackle pick or using other methods which permit you to determine combination during the picking process. But that's another lesson or two which may follow later...