[30] Closeup On How Lock Picking Works

hey guys helpful lock-picker here the video I have for you today is hopefully show you how the basics of lock-picking pin tumbler locks works I have the clear acrylic lock to help you visualize what's going on I want to start off by just showing you a few basics of how the lock works first of all you can see that there's six driver pins one two three four five and six they're all under spring pressure you've got a spring pushing them down one two three four five six and basically what's happening is that these Springs will push these driver pins inside this metal plug here it's just the driver pins sits inside it allows the lock to not open because it physically is obstructing it from turning because there are these driver pins sitting inside below them are key pins they're all cut to different lengths but when the length of the key pin added to the length of the key they all add up to the same length which will line straight up at the top of the plug here at the shear line and that will push these driver pins straight up and it will make the lock able to be opened now here's an example of the key to this lock so you can see that each key pen corresponds to the cut on the key now when I insert the key you can see that the key pins will push up the driver pins up and out of the way and now you can turn the lock and it is open now when we're going to do single pen picking we are going to need to use a tension wrench this is her bottom of the keyway it's a popular choice when people are first learning in a hook how we open the locks is we take advantage of manufacturing tolerances that are not perfect no lock can have absolute perfect tolerances so some of these holes don't line up exactly perfectly and when we apply rotational force to the core using our tension wrench we are able to lift on each pen feel the one that's binding which is the one that feels like it has a little bit more resistance versus one that feels springing where it's just the force of the driver pin being pushed down by the spring and once we're able to set each driver pin to shear we'll be able to open the lock and I'll do an example of that for you right now now we're going to put clockwise tension we're going to lift up keep in one you can hear a little click and it's set and I'll let that that's shear - that's set we get a little click now that's it's here three feels kind of springy but these locks aren't perfect and sometimes the locks are just already set when they come same on four same on 5 and 6 is binding and we are open another popular technique that is used is called zipping and when you zip open a lock essentially you're putting the light tension on the bottom and it's a kinetic attack you're going to put the pick in the back and just pull it out quickly and you're going to try to shoot up each of the driver pins clearing the shear line and in that second while they're all set the plug will have space to turn over this usually takes a couple tries is going to put the pick in the back of the lock you just pull it out quickly and we're open try that one more time pick in the back of the lock and we're open another popular technique is called rocking where you'll use your city rake or your el rake and you'll rock up and down until all the key pins are lift it up to sheer setting them randomly and then it will open I'm going to put City rake in just going to go up and down so we're open now the next technique I have is raking and this one you can use your Bogota style rake and you go back and forth but more of an up and out kind of motion and this sets all the pins randomly till they're all set to shear until the lock opens and do light bottom the key way tension with the rake and rake till it's open these are spend some basic techniques on how to open locks I hope that the visual aid of being able to see the driver pens in action is helpful in your steps to learning how to pick locks if you have any questions please feel free to leave comments below and please subscribe if you'd like to see more videos like this as always thank you for checking it out and I hope everyone has a great day thank you right

Channel: HelpfulLockPicker

Views: 2,143,864

Rating: 4.8726397 out of 5

Keywords: SPP, Single Pin Pick, Rake, Rock, Zip, Shim, Exploit, Lock, Lockpick, Lockpicking, lock picking, how to pick locks, bumping, bump key, Padlock, Trick, Tips, Secret, Secrets, Lesson, locksport, locksmith, HeLP, HelpfulLockPicker, Helpful Lock Picker, lockpicking 101, lockpicking basics, lock picking for beginners, life hacks, standard pin, spool pin, serrated pin, bogota, snake, dimple, tumbler, bypass, attack, cracking, hack, hacking, manipulate, raking, how lock picking works

Id: uqgyDsDvq_Y

Length: 7min 2sec (422 seconds)

Published: Tue May 30 2017

Reddit Comments

[u/Tate_M]

It seems so easy. Are most locks people buy at the store this easy to pick?

[u/stab_in_the_eye]

Here is a quick introductory video on how lockpicking works I made.

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Please remember to never pick locks you do not own or do not have the expressed consent of the owner. Do not pick locks in use.

Locksport is a lot of fun and if you have any questions I am happy to answer them!

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Here is some additional info:

• Here is a similar video on "real locks" you may recognize

• Example of my most used lockpicks

• Example of How a Comb Pick Works

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Here is my list I like to pass around for people starting out. It is roughly easier to harder.

1. Cutaway lock.
2. Masterlock #3- All standard pins, non-rekeyable
   • Picked
3. Masterlock 140 4 pin x1 spool, non-rekeyable
   • Picked
4. Brinks 40 mm laminated padlock- 4 pin 1 spools (at least 1 spool), non rekeyable
   • Picked
5. Masterlock 570- 5 pin, spools, non rekeyable
   • Picked
6. Masterlock 911 5 pin, x5 spools or 1 lightly serrated. Rekeyable up to 6 pin
   • The Guts Imgur, Picked and Gutted
7. Commando Marine- 5 pin, serrated key pins, spools and serrated drivers, non rekeyable
   • Picked
8. American Lock 1100 Series- 5 pin, Serrated key pins, serrated and serrated spools rekeyable up to 6 pin
   • The guts, Picked and Gutted
9. Masterlock 410 Lockout Tag- 6 pin, x5 spool, x1 lightly serrated 6 pin lock DO NOT TURN MORE THAN 175 DEGREES unless you like rattles
   • The guts, Non-Paracentric Keyway Picked, Paracentric Keyway Picked
   • Why you don't want to turn past 175 degrees
10. Abus Titalium 80TI/50- spools from what I can tell. Tight tolerances, little feedback. 6 pin, non rekeyable

For info on gutting see these posts:

Gutting an American Lock

Rekeying a Kwikset

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[u/Abnmlguru]

Great video! I've always had a fascination with lock picking, but never really took it anywhere :)

If I can offer some advice about something I do have expertise in (video production), let me just say that Auto-focus is almost never your friend.

If you were shooting this with a phone, or something else without focus controls, then feel free to ignore this next part :)

With a video such as this, with only two focal points needed, its really easy to do it manually. Focus on your far shot (the lock in this case) and make a mark on your focus ring (with a pencil or something else removable), then set your focus on the near shot (when you're showing tools to the camera) and make another mark.

Now just use a free hand to swap between the two marks when needed, and you can avoid all the random focus snaps that autofocus gives you :)

[u/downer3498]

Did you change the batteries in your smoke detector yet?

[u/spudicous]

I have that exact same practice lock with my set, it is absolutely the easiest lock I've ever seen, even more so than even the most basic of Masterlocks. Still good for demonstrating the basics I suppose.

[u/FreudJesusGod]

I bought one of those acrylic lock/pick sets off Ebay a few months ago, but never got around to trying them until this video.

I picked my deadbolt on my apartment door in 3 tries 5 minutes after watching this video. It's brand new (I haven't a clue what brand it is). It took less than 2 minutes.

Why are locks so poorly designed a complete beginner like me can defeat them? That's stupid and crazy.

[u/Parke]

From your explanation it seems like a blank, un-cut, key would also push all the pins up past the shear point and let the lock open.

[u/coryroxors]

So now that I know that most locks suck and a beginner can pick almost all of them, where do I get good solid locks and which ones are recommended?

[u/MyUnclesALawyer]

Glad to know Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory was accurate.