How do you pick a lock?

Answer 1

The most horrible feeling in the world is right after you close the door of your car and understand that the doors are locked and you left the keys inside. Wouldn't you want to be competent to pick the lock to retrieve your keys? When we hear the phrase "lock picking", we think felony, intruders, illegal activity. But this is not always the case. Certainly, you can break the window of your vehicle to get back in, but the best idea in this case is to call an expert locksmith to open your doors so that you can get back on your way with negligible effort and aggravation.

Just like anything else in life, in order to pick a lock you require the right tools. The basic kit contains a lock pin and a tension wrench. Evidently, in an emergency, you can change the lock pin with a hair pin. The Specialized kits include a wide variety of tension wrenches that will cover a variety of lock pins.

Answer 2

Picking a lock on any property that you do not own is criminal trespass or breaking and entering. Despite the popular examples in TV and movies, it is almost always prosecuted.

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Before all, you may as well forget about the credit card trick you see in movies. This only works on lock-in-knob systems, that is, where the lock prevents the knob from turning. In that case it's enough to use a credit card (or a similar thin and flexible object) to stick between the jamb and the door in order to push back the bolt. However, this is completely useless against deadbolt locks -- these are locks that trigger a separate bolt. Unlike the door bolt, these are not beveled, so it's impossible to push them back with a credit card.

To pick a lock, you must first understand how a lock works. It basically consists of a barrel, rotating in a casing. In the casing there are spring-mounted pins, divided in two. The part that lies on the spring is called a "driver pin", and the other part, resting on the driver, is called a "key pin". When locked, the spring pushes both pins as far as they would go. Locks usually have several (most often five or six) sets of pins. Since the key pins in each set are different lengths, either the driver or the key pin will pass both through the casing and the barrel, preventing the latter from turning. The profile of the key matches the difference in heights of the key pins. When the proper key is inserted, the key pins are aligned with the shear line between the barrel and the casing. Then, as the key turns, the driver pins remain in the barrel, and the driver pins -- in the casing.

What you want to do is adjust each key pin manually. To do this you need a pick (it's a thin metal rod, slightly bent at the end), and a torque wrench (it's a flat thin object that you can stick inside the lock to apply pressure). You have to apply slight pressure in direction of opening the lock and start pushing each of the key pins, starting with the innermost, until it lines up with the shear line, and the slight offset caused by the torque wrench keeps it there. It's tricky, and it takes a lot of time to master. Also, it's even trickier on double-cylinder locks (locks that can be locked from both ends), as there are additional pins that need to be pushed in order to actuate the cam

There is a quicker way, which works on almost every lock. What you need is a 'bump key". It is made from an old key of the same brand, having the same profile as the lock. What you need is to deepen the valleys (they are five or six -- as many as the pins of the lock) to the longitudinal groove along the key. Then file off the ridges, so they are about 2 millimeters high. You must make sure the ridges retain their triangular shape. At the end you must have a key with a series of triangular ridges and valleys, the number of valleys corresponding to the number of pins. Push the key all the way in, then pull it out one notch (that is, one pin). Now, apply slight pressure in direction of unlocking and, using the handle of a screwdriver, for example, (but not a hammer!), hit the key sharply, but not too strong. After several attempts you must be able to turn the lock and open it. This is called "key bumping", and you may look it up -- there are lots of detailed instructions on the web.

The most straightforward way of defeating a cheap lock is breaking it. In order to do this, you need a hardened steel key-like profile that would fit into the lock. It is made out of a thin steel plate using a milling machine. The tool is inserted into the lock, then a long lever is attached to it, and the sheer force of the pull breaks the pins.

Answer 3

Most hardware retailers will have a selection to choose from, mortise locks are recommended by insurance companies, they are robust, quite secure and suitable for most households, if you want higher security then ask the retailer for advice.