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SECRETS OF LOCK PI CKI NG

By St even Hampt on

or i gi nal l y publ i shed by Pal adi n Pr ess ( c) 1987
( don' t l et t he dat e f ool you. Thi s i s good st uf f )

br ought t o you by
The EyeQ Team

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Wel l , I ' mbr i ngi ng you t hi s f i l e because I have a scanner and an OCR
package and I l i ke t o pi ck l ocks. Thi s f i l e i s a compl et e t r anscr i pt i on of t he
book, Secr et s of Lock Pi cki ng by St even Hampt on, mi nus t he chapt er on war ded l ocks
( These l ocks ar e cheap. Use a hammer and a scr ewdr i ver ) . Bef or e get t i ng on t o t he
subj ect , I woul d j ust l i ke t o use t hi s oppor t uni t y t o say t hat you can not j ust
r ead t hi s f i l e and know how t o pi ck l ocks. I t does t ake pr act i ce. The good news i s
t hat by pr act i ci ng you wi l l l ear n how t o open l ocks. And f ast , t oo. I have hear d
many peopl e say " I t ' s not l i ke t he movi es. . . i t t akes t i me t o pi ck a l ock. " Wel l ,
somet i mes t hat s t r ue, but I have pi cked a Sar geant si x- pi n, hi gh- secur i t y t umbl er
l ock i n t hr ee seconds. And ot her si mi l ar l ocks i n t he same t i me f r ame as wel l .
Ther ef or e, I know t hat i t can be done. But don' t wor r y. Pr act i ci ng i s not bor i ng.
Ther e i s a cer t ai n t hr i l l pr esent when you pi ck a l ock f or t he ver y f i r st t i me.
I magi ne t he sensat i on of knowi ng t hat you can get i nt o al most anywher e you want .
Bel i eve me when I t el l you t hat i t i s ver y cool .

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Cont ent s




I nt r oduct i on
Tool s
Lock I dent i f i cat i on
Pi n Tumbl er Locks
Waf er Tumbl er Locks
Doubl e Waf er Locks
Pi n and Waf er Tumbl er Padl ocks
Tubul ar Cyl i nder Locks
Mushr oomand Spool Pi n Tumbl er Locks
Magnet i c Locks
Di sk Tumbl er Locks
Ti ps f or Success







I NTRODUCTI ON


The anci ent Egypt i ans wer e t he f i r st t o come up wi t h
a compl i cat ed secur i t y devi ce. Thi s was t he pi n t umbl er
l ock. We use t he same secur i t y pr i nci pl e t oday on mi l l i ons
of appl i cat i ons.

The most commonl y used l ock t oday i s t he pi n t umbl er l ock. A ser i es of pi ns t hat
ar e di vi ded at cer t ai n poi nt s must be r ai sed t o t hese di vi di ng poi nt s i n
r el at i onshi p t o t he separ at i on bet ween t he cyl i nder wal l and t he shel l of
t he l ock by a key cut f or t hat par t i cul ar ser i es of pi n di vi si ons. Thus t he
cyl i nder can be t ur ned, and t he mechani smor l ock i s unl ocked.

Lock pi cki ng means t o open a l ock by use of a f l at pi ece of st eel cal l ed a pi ck.
Act ual l y, t he pr ocess r equi r es t wo pi eces of f l at st eel t o open cyl i nder l ocks. I t
amuses me t o wat ch spi es and t hi eves on TV pi cki ng l ocks usi ng onl y one t ool . But
i t i s f or t he bet t er i n a sense. I f ever yone l ear ned how t o pi ck l ocks by wat chi ng
TV, we woul d al l be at t he mer cy of anyone who want ed t o st eal f r omus, and t he
cyl i nder l ock f or t he most par t woul d be out dat ed.

The act ual def i ni t i on of l ock pi cki ng shoul d be: " The mani pul at i on and openi ng of
any r est r i ct i ve mechani cal or el ect r oni c devi ce by usage of t ool s ot her t han t he
i mpl i ed i nst r ument ( key or code) used sol el y f or t hat devi ce. " A l i t t l e l engt hy,
but mor e accur at e descr i pt i on. Wi t h cyl i nder l ocks, i t r equi r es a pi ck and a
t ensi on wr ench.

By pi cki ng t he l ock, you si mpl y r epl ace t he f unct i on of a key wi t h a pi ck t hat
r ai ses t he pi ns t o t hei r " br eaki ng poi nt , " and usi ng a t ensi on wr ench one r ot at es
t he cyl i nder t o oper at e t he camat t he r ear of t he l ock' s cyl i nder
t o unl ock t he mechani sm.


The t ensi on wr ench i s used t o appl y t ensi on t o t he cyl i nder of t he l ock t o cause a
sl i ght bi ndi ng act i on on t he pi ns as wel l as t o t ur n t he cyl i nder af t er t he pi ns
have been al i gned by t he pi ck; t hi s opens t he l ock. The sl i ght bi ndi ng act i on on
t he pi ns caused by t he t ensi on wr ench al l ows one t o hear and f eel each pi n as i t
" br eaks" or r eaches al i gnment wi t h t he separ at i on of cyl i nder and shel l . The
vi br at i on i s f el t i n t he knuckl es and j oi nt s of t he f i nger s, and t he sound i s
si mi l ar t o t hat of a cr i cket i n an ar mwr est l i ng mat ch- a subt l e yet di st i nct cl i ck.

Usual l y you need ver y l i t t l e t ensi on wi t h t he wr ench
whi l e pi cki ng t he l ock. I n f act , i t t akes somewhat of a
del i cat e, yet f i r mt ouch. Thi s i s t he secr et t o pi cki ng l ocks
successf ul l y- a f i r mand yet gent l e t ouch on t he t ensi on
wr ench. You shoul d be abl e t o f eel t he pi ns cl i ck i nt o pl ace
wi t h t he r i ght amount of t ensi on; exper i ence wi l l be your
t r ue gui de.

Hal f of your success wi l l be based on your abi l i t y t o
use or i mpr ovi se var i ous obj ect s t o use as t ool s f or your
pur pose. The ot her hal f wi l l depend on pr act i ce. I once
pi cked a pi n t umbl er l ock usi ng a bor r owed r oach cl i p
and a hai r pi n. A danger ous f i r e was pr event ed and pr ob-
abl y sever al l i ves wer e saved. The wor l d i s f ul l of usef ul
obj ect s f or t he pur pose, so never hesi t at e t o exper i ment .




TOOLS


I st ar t ed pi cki ng l ocks usi ng a smal l scr ewdr i ver and
a saf et y pi n. The scr ewdr i ver can be used as a t ensi on
wr ench, and t he saf et y pi n i s used l i ke a " hook" pi ck.
The l ast hal f i nch of t he scr ewdr i ver ' s t i p was bent at a
45 degr ee angl e so as t o al l ow easy ent r y f or t he pi ck ( bent
saf et y pi n) . Do not heat t he scr ewdr i ver t i p t o bend i t ,
as t hi s wi l l dest r oy i t s t emper . Use a vi se and hammer t o
do t he j ob. Bend sl owl y by usi ng f i r mand shor t t aps of
t he hammer , ot her wi se you may br eak and weaken t he
shaf t . The saf et y pi n shoul d be about one and a hal f i nches
l ong and bent i n t he same way.

Wi t h t he smal l scr ewdr i ver as a t ensi on wr ench, you can
use mor e of a t ur ni ng or t wi st i ng movement t han wi t h
a r egul ar t ensi on wr ench so you wi l l gener al l y need l ess
di r ect f or ce when usi ng i t . As I ment i oned ear l i er , wi t h
pr act i ce you wi l l devel op t he f eel i ng f or t he r i ght amount
of t ensi on on a cyl i nder . I f t he saf et y pi n bends af t er a
shor t t i me, use t he keyway of t he l ock you ar e pi cki ng
t o bend i t back i nt o shape. Even af t er sever al t i mes of
bendi ng, i t shoul d st i l l be usef ul . Keep a f ew spar es handy,
t hough. Fi l e t he t i p of t he saf et y pi n f l at i n r el at i onshi p
t o t he bot t omof t he pi ns i n t he l ock. Smoot h any shar p
edges so t hat you won' t i mpal e your sel f . Al so, i f t he t i p
i s smoot h, t he pi ck wi l l not get hung up on t he pi ns whi l e
pi cki ng t he l ock.

Gr ant ed t hese ar e not t he best t ool s f or t he j ob, but
t hey do wor k. I f you l ear n t o use your j unk box as a r i ch
sour ce of equi pment , t hen wi t h your exper i ence r eal l ock
pi cks wi l l gi ve you magi c f i nger s. Al so, you' l l have t he
advant age of bei ng abl e t o i mpr ovi se shoul d you be
wi t hout t he r eal t hi ngs ( whi ch ar e i l l egal t o car r y on your
per son i n most par t s of t he count r y) .

Lock pi cks ar e di f f i cul t t o get . I r ecei ved my f i r st set
when I became a l ocksmi t h appr ent i ce. Al l of my subse-
quent set s I made f r omst ai nl ess st eel st eak kni ves wi t h
a gr i nder and cut - of f wheel . They ar e much mor e dur abl e
t han t he commer ci al pi cks. I f you do make your own,
make cer t ai n t hat t he st eel i s quenched af t er ever y 3
seconds of gr i ndi ng- do not al l ow t he pi ck t o get hot t o
t he poi nt of bl ue di scol or at i on.

A di amond pi ck i s t he st andar d pi ck I use on most al l
pi n and waf er l ocks. A smal l di amond pi ck i s used f or
smal l pi n t umbl er l ocks such as smal l Mast er padl ocks,
cabi net f i l e l ocks, et c. The t ubul ar cyl i nder l ock pi ck, we
wi l l di scuss l at er . The doubl e- ended, si ngl e- pr onged t en-
si on wr ench i s used wi t h t he di amond pi ck. I t f eat ur es
doubl e usage; a smal l end f or smal l cyl i nder s and a l ar ge
end f or t he l ar ger cyl i nder s. A speci al t ensi on wr ench i s
used f or doubl e- waf er cyl i nder l ocks wi t h an end wi t h t wo
pr ongs on one end and t ubul ar cyl i nder l ocks wi t h t he
si ngl e pr ong on t he ot her end. We wi l l di scuss t ubul ar
cyl i nder and doubl e- waf er l ocks l at er as wel l . The st eel
shoul d be . 030 i nches t o . 035 i nches t hi ck f or t he pi cks
and . 045 i nches t o . 050 i nches t hi ck f or t he f i r st t ensi on
wr ench ment i oned above. The second t ensi on wr ench
shoul d be . 062 i nches squar e ( . 062 i nches x . 062 i nches)
on t he t ubul ar cyl i nder si de ( one pr onged end) , and . 045
i nches t hi ck on t he doubl e- waf er end ( t wo- pr onged end) .
You can accompl i sh t hi s by st ar t i ng out wi t h . 045 i nches
i n t hi ckness. The t wo- pr onged end shoul d be bent car ef ul l y
i n a vi se at a 30 degr ee angl e. Thi s al l ows easy ent r y f or
t he pi ck on doubl e- waf er l ocks.



Among t he mor e common t ool s used by pr of essi onal s
ar ound t he wor l d i s t he r ake pi ck. The r ake pi ck i s used
t o " r ake" t he t umbl er s i nt o pl ace by sl i di ng i t i n and out
acr oss t he t umbl er s. I sel domuse t he r ake pi ck because
i t i s not hi ghl y ef f ect i ve and I consi der i t a sl oppy excuse
f or a l ock pi ck. I ' ve seen t he r ake pi ck wor k on some di f -
f i cul t l ocks, but you can r ake wi t h a di amond pi ck and
get t he same r esul t s. I pr ef er t he di amond pi ck f or most
t umbl er l ocks si mpl y because i t i s easi er t o get i n and out
of l ocks- i t sl i des acr oss t he t umbl er s wi t h l i t t l e or no
t r oubl e.

A bal l pi ck i s used f or pi cki ng doubl e- waf er cyl i nder
l ocks, t hough I never car r y one; I use a l ar ge di amond
pi ck and r ever se i t when pi cki ng t hese l ocks. Thi s means
I have one l ess pi ck t o car r y and l ose.


A doubl e- bal l pi ck i s used l i ke a r ake on doubl e- waf er
l ocks i n conj unct i on wi t h a t ensi on wr ench ( t wo- pr onged
end) .

A hook pi ck i s used t o open l ever t umbl er l ocks, t hough
agai n, I use a di amond pi ck wi t h a hooki ng act i on when
possi bl e. Ther e ar e var i ous si zes of hooks but t hey al l have
t he same basi c j ob- t o cat ch t he movabl e l ever s t hat
unl ock l ever l ocks.

Ther e ar e al so var i ous si zes of t ensi on wr enches. They
ar e usual l y made f r omspr i ng st eel . The st andar d t ensi on
wr ench i s used f or pi n and waf er l ocks. A speci al t ensi on
wr ench i s cal l ed a Feat her Touch, and i t i s used f or hi gh-
secur i t y mushr oomand spool pi n t umbl er l ocks. I t s
del i cat e spr i ng- l oaded act i on al l ows t he pi ck t o bypass t he
t endenci es of t hese pi ns t o st i ck. A homemade ver si on of
t he Feat her Touch can be made f r oma medi um- l i ght dut y
st eel spr i ng.

As t o get t i ng l ock pi cks f or your own use, you cannot
go down t o your l ocal har dwar e st or e and buy t hem. I
coul d suppl y you wi t h some sour ces or whol esal er s, but
I do bel i eve i t i s i l l egal f or t hemt o sel l t o i ndi vi dual s. Your
best bet woul d be t o f i nd a machi ne shop t hat wi l l
f abr i cat e t hemf or you. I t woul d be l ess expensi ve and
ar ouse l ess suspi ci on i f you pur chase a smal l gr i nder wi t h
a cut - of f wheel and make your own. Wi t h a l i t t l e pr ac-
t i ce, you can make a whol e set i n an af t er noon. Use a copy
of t he i l l ust r at i ons i n t hi s book as t empl at es and car ef ul l y
cut t hemout wi t h an X- ACTO kni f e. Cut down t he mi ddl e
of t he l i nes. Acqui r e some st ai nl ess st eel ( many st eak
kni ves appr oach pr oper t hi ckness) .

Wi t h a gl ue st i ck, l i ght l y coat one si de of t he paper
t empl at e and appl y i t t o t he cl eaned st ai nl ess sur f ace, and
al l ow i t t o dr y. You' l l need a can of bl ack wr i nkl e f i ni sh
spr ay pai nt . Thi s ki nd of pai nt has a hi gh car bon con-
t ent and can st and hi gh t emper at ur e of gr i ndi ng. Spr ay
t he st ai nl ess ( or kni ves) wi t h t he pat t er ns gl ued on and
dr y i n a war moven or di r ect sunl i ght f or one hour . Set
asi de f or t went y- f our mor e hour s. Peel of f t he paper
t empl at e and you ar e r eady t o cut and gr i nd. Pl ease use
caut i on when cut t i ng and gr i ndi ng. The pi ece shoul d be
quenched ever y t hr ee seconds i n col d wat er . Smoot h up
shar p edges wi t h a smal l f i l e or bur ni shi ng wheel .

Tool s made f r omst ai nl ess st eel wi l l out l ast t he pur -
chased ones. The t ool s pur chased f r ommost suppl i er s ar e
made f r omspr i ng st eel and wear out af t er about 100 uses.
The st ai nl ess st eel ones, i f pr oper l y made, shoul d l ast over
2, 000 uses.



LOCK I DENTI FI CATI ON


Ther e ar e many t ypes of l ocks, t he most common bei ng:

1. The pi n t umbl er l ock. Used f or house and gar age door s,
padl ocks, mai l boxes, and For d aut omobi l es.

2. The waf er t umbl er l ock. Used f or gar age and t r ai l er
door s, desks, padl ocks, cabi net s, most aut os, wi ndow
l ocks, and ol der vendi ng machi nes.

3. The doubl e- waf er l ock. Used f or hi gher secur i t y waf er
t umbl er appl i cat i ons.

4. The war ded l ocks. Used f or l i ght secur i t y padl ocks and
ol d- f ashi oned door l ocks.

5. Lever l ocks Used f or l i ght secur i t y and ol der padl ocks,
sophi st i cat ed saf e- deposi t boxes, some desks, j ewel r y
boxes, and smal l cash boxes.

6. Tubul ar cyl i nder l ocks. Used f or al ar mcont r ol syst ems,
newer vendi ng machi nes, car - wash cont r ol boxes and
wher ever hi gher secur i t y pr obl ems mi ght exi st .

These l ocks ar e t he mor e common l ocks used yet t her e
ar e var i at i ons and combi nat i ons of t hese pr i nci pal t ypes
t hat usual l y pi ck open i n t he manner t hat wi l l be di scussed.
Some of t hemj ust r equi r e pr act i ce of t he basi c t ypes,
ot her s l uck, and most of t he r est of t hemknowl edge of
how t hat par t i cul ar l ock wor ks and i s keyed. Thi s comes
f r omexper i ence.



PI N TUMBLER LOCKS



Pi n t umbl er l ocks of f er t he most secur i t y f or t hei r pr i ce.
They have cl ose machi ne t ol er ances and appr oxi mat el y
1, 000, 000 di f f er ent key combi nat i ons f or a f i ve- pi n l ock.
Consi der i ng t he t housands of di f f er ent compani es mak-
i ng pi n t umbl er s ( di f f er ent shaped keyways f or each com-
pany or desi gn l i ne) , t he chances of someone havi ng a key
t hat wi l l wor k i n your f r ont door l ock ar e one i n many
bi l l i ons.

Pi n t umbl er l ocks can easi l y be i dent i f i ed by peer i ng
down t he keyway and l ocat i ng t he f i r st r ound pi n.

Somet i mes you can see t he pi n' s di vi di ng poi nt , wher e i t
br eaks wi t h t he cyl i nder wal l ( shear poi nt ) .

To successf ul l y pi ck a pi n t umbl er l ock, your sense of
t ouch soul d be honed so t hat bot h hands f eel t he t ool s.
Once t he hand hol di ng t he pi ck has l ocat ed a sl i ght r el i ef
i n t ensi on whi l e pi cki ng a par t i cul ar t umbl er , t he ot her
hand hol di ng t he t ensi on wr ench wi l l f eel a r el i ef or br eak-
i ng poi nt . Bot h hands shoul d be i nvol ved wi t h t he sense
of t ouch, t he sensi ng of t he i nner wor ki ngs of t he l ock.

We ar e now r eady t o begi n t he f i r st l esson. Fi r st open
your f r ont door and check f or a pi n t umbl er l ock on i t .
I t shoul d have one on i t . I f t her e i s one, l eave t he door
open t o decr ease suspi ci on. Do not l ock your sel f out of
your apar t ment or house by bei ng over conf i dent ; not onl y
wi l l you r ai se suspi ci on, but wi ndow gl ass i s not cheap.

HOWTO PI CK A TUMBLER LOCK

STEP ONE

Wi t hout usi ng t he t ensi on wr ench, sl i p t he pi ck i nt o
t he l ock. The " hook" of t he pi ck shoul d be t owar d t he
t umbl er s ( up i n most cases, dependi ng on whet her or not
t he l ock was mount ed upsi de down- you can t el l by l ook-
i ng down t he keyway and l ocat i ng t he f i r st pi n wi t h your
pi ck) . Tr y t o f eel t he l ast t umbl er of t he l ock. I t shoul d
be 7/ 8 i nches i nt o t he l ock f or a f i ve- pi n t umbl er l ock
( most common pi n t umbl er l ock used) .

Make cer t ai n t hat you have no t ensi on on t he wr ench
when i nser t i ng t he pi ck as t hi s wi l l encumber t he f r ont al
t umbl er s. When you f eel t he back t umbl er , sl owl y r ai se
i t wi t h a sl i ght pr yi ng mot i on of t he pi ck. Rel ease i t , but
keep t he pi ck i n t he l ock on t he r ear t umbl er .

Now i nser t t he t ensi on wr ench, al l owi ng r oomf or t he
pi ck t o mani pul at e al l of t he pi ns. I t shoul d be pl aced at
t he bot t omof t he cyl i nder i f t he l ock was mount ed
upr i ght , t umbl er s t owar d t he t op of t he cyl i nder . Appl y
f i r mand yet gent l e cl ockwi se pr essur e t o t he t ensi on
wr ench.

Sl owl y r ai se t he back t umbl er wi t h a sl i ght pr yi ng mo-
t i on of t he pi ck. A mi nut e cl i ck wi l l be f el t and hear d when
i t br eaks. I t wi l l l ose i t s spr i ngi ness when t hi s occur s, so
do not go any f ur t her wi t h i t . Any f ur t her movement wi t h
t he pi ck wi l l cause bi ndi ng by goi ng past t he pi ns' shear
l i ne. Cont i nue an even pr essur e wi t h t he t ensi on wr ench.

Keepi ng an even t ensi on pr essur e, pr oceed t o St ep Two.

STEP TWO

The f our t h t umbl er shoul d be easi l y f el t si nce i t i s t he
next one i n l i ne. Rai se i t unt i l i t br eaks, keepi ng t he t en-
si on wr ench st eady. I t t oo wi l l gi ve a sound and sensa-
t i on when i t br eaks or al i gns.

STEP THREE

The t hi r d or mi ddl e t umbl er i s next . Agai n, i t t oo wi l l
cl i ck. Mai nt ai n a const ant , even pr essur e on t he wr ench-
about t he same pr essur e t hat you woul d use t o r epl ace
a cap on a cat sup bot t l e. You may f eel t he " cl i cks" i n your
t ensi on wr ench as wel l as hear t hem.




STEPS FOUR AND FI VE

Cont i nue on t o t he next t umbl er out , wor ki ng t owar d
you. When i t br eaks, r ai se t he l ast ( f r ont ) t umbl er t o i t s
br aki ng poi nt and t he cyl i nder shoul d be f r ee t o r ot at e
and unl ock t he door . Somet i mes you may have t o pl ay
wi t h t he wr ench t o open t he l ock because you may have
r ai sed a t umbl er t oo hi gh, past i t s br eaki ng poi nt . I f t hi s
i s t he case, ver y sl owl y and gr adual l y r el ease t he t ensi on
wr ench pr essur e and t he over l y ext ended t umbl er wi l l dr op
i nt o i t s br eaki ng poi nt bef or e t he ot her t umbl er s have a
chance t o f al l . The cyl i nder shoul d pop open at t hat poi nt .
I have f ound t hat t hi s t echni que i s r esponsi bl e f or over
30 per cent of my successes i n openi ng al l t umbl er l ocks.

I f t he l ock st i l l r ef uses t o open af t er al l t hat t r eat ment ,
r el ease t he t ensi on wr ench pr essur e, al l owi ng al l of t he
t umbl er s t o dr op and st ar t over . You may have mor e t han
one t umbl er t oo hi gh and woul d be bet t er of f t o r epeat
t he pi cki ng pr ocess.


WAFER TUMBLER LOCKS


Waf er t umbl er l ocks make up over one- f our t h of t he
l ocks i n use i n t he wor l d. Si nce t hey ar e gener al l y easi er
t o pi ck t han most pi n t umbl er l ocks, you wi l l be 75 per -
cent mast er af t er f ool i ng ar ound wi t h t hese mechani sms.
That i s why I wr ot e about pi n t umbl er l ocks f i r st - t hey
ar e mor e di f f i cul t and make up over one- hal f of t he l ocks
used t oday.



The t er mwaf er r ef er s t o t he gener al shape of t he
t umbl er s. The waf er s ar e f l at , spr i ng- l oaded t umbl er s t hat
ar e much t hi nner t han pi ns and t he di st ance bet ween t hem
i s l ess. Waf er l ocks ar e pi cked i n t he same way as pi n
t umbl er l ocks, but you must compensat e f or t he smal l er
di mensi ons. You can i dent i f y waf er l ocks si mpl y by l ook-
i ng down t he keyway and l ocat i ng t he f i r st f l at t umbl er .
The l ast t umbl er on most waf er l ocks i s l ocat ed about one-
hal f i nch i nt o t he l ock.

Waf er l ocks ar e used on f i l i ng cabi net s, l ocker s, most
car s, gar age door s, desks, and wher ever medi umsecur i t y
i s r equi r ed. The onl y waf er t umbl er l ock i n common use
t hat i s di f f i cul t t o pi ck i s t he si de- bar waf er l ock. I t i s t he
most popul ar t ype of aut o l ock. Thi s l ock i s of di f f er ent
desi gn t han most ot her l ocks and of f er s much mor e secur -
i t y t han a r egul ar waf er t umbl er l ock, or even a pi n
t umbl er l ock.

The si de bar l ock i s used most l y on Gener al Mot or s
car s and t r ucks si nce 1935. I t i s used on i gni t i ons, door ,
and t r unk l ocks. Si de bar l ocks ar e har d t o pi ck because
you cannot f eel or hear t he t umbl er s al i gn wi t h t he
cyl i nder s br eaki ng poi nt . A spr i ng- l oaded bar f al l s i nt o
pl ace t o al l ow t he cyl i nder t o t ur n when al l of t he t umbl er s
ar e al i gned. Ther e i s no way t o t el l when t hat happens.
One l ear ns t o sense t he bar whi l e pi cki ng so t hat i t seems
t o f al l i nt o pl ace by i t sel f . But f or begi nner s, I r ecommend
t hi s t echni que f or emer gency openi ngs: Peer down t he
keyway and l ocat e t he si de gr oove of any of t he t umbl er s
usi ng a pi ck as a sear chi ng t ool . Dr i l l a smal l hol e i n t he
shel l of t he l ock above t he bar whi ch i s above t he gr ooves
on t he t umbl er s. Si nce si de bar l ocks have of f - cent er ed
keyways, t he usual pl ace t o dr i l l i s opposi t e of t he keyway.
Usi ng an L- shaped st eel wi r e, put pr essur e on t he si debar
and r ake t he t umbl er s usi ng a t ensi on wr ench f or cyl i nder
r ot at i on and t he l ock wi l l open.

For t unat el y, most GMC aut os have i nf er i or wi ndow
seal s; wi t h a coat hanger , one can l asso t he l ocki ng door
knob t o open t he door . I f you ar e goi ng t o be successf ul
at openi ng si de bar s, you wi l l do i t wi t hi n t wo mi nut es;
ot her wi se, you ar e causi ng unnecessar y wear on your pi cks
not t o ment i on wast i ng your t i me.

For d aut o l ocks ar e r el at i vel y si mpl e t o pi ck. They have
pi n t umbl er s and you have t o r emember t hat t he door
l ocks t ur n count er cl ockwi se. Most ot her aut o l ocks t ur n
cl ockwi se. I f you ar e not sur e, r emember t hi s: I f t he
t umbl er s wi l l not cat ch at t hei r br eaki ng poi nt s, you ar e
goi ng i n t he wr ong di r ect i on wi t h t he t ensi on wr ench.

Waf er l ocks ar e a ci nch t o pi ck i f you have l ear ned how
t o pi ck pi n t umbl er s. J ust r emember t hat waf er s ar e t hi n-
ner t han pi ns and t her e i s l ess di st ance bet ween t hem.

Gener al l y you need l ess t ensi on- wr ench pr essur e wi t h t hese
l ocks, yet car l ocks can be qui t e st ubbor n and r equi r e a
gr eat deal of t ensi on. Any heavi l y spr i ng- l oaded cyl i nder
needs a subst ant i al amount of t ensi on.

As a r ul e, t hough, waf er l ocks need l ess pl ay wi t h t he
t ensi on wr ench t han wi t h pi n t umbl er l ocks. But i f you
f i nd your sel f havi ng di f f i cul t y i n openi ng t hese, you may
t r y a l i t t l e t ensi on- wr ench pl ay. Usual l y t hey won' t pop
open l i ke pi n t umbl er l ocks, t hey j ust sl i de open; you don' t
get t he war ni ng t hat a pi n t umbl er gi ves bef or e i t opens
because t her e i s l ess cont act ar ea on t he waf er ' s edge t han
on a pi n, so t he sense of cl i max i s r educed wi t h t hese t ypes
of l ocks. St i l l , t hey open qui t e easi l y.


DOUBLE WAFER LOCKS


Doubl e- waf er l ocks ar e pi cked i n t he same way as si ngl e-
waf er l ocks, but t her e ar e t wo si des t o t he st or y. Not onl y
do you have t o al i gn t he t op waf er s, but you have ones
i n t he bot t omof t he cyl i nder t o al i gn as wel l .

The Chi cago Lock Company was t he f i r st t o come up
wi t h t hi s t ype of l ock. I t i s a cl assi c exampl e of t he r ace
t owar d bet t er secur i t y. Cer t ai n t ensi on wr enches al l ow
uni nt er r upt ed pi cki ng usi ng bal l pi cks. You can al so use
a st andar d t ensi on wr ench or smal l scr ewdr i ver and pl ace
i t at t he cent er of t he keyway. To el i mi nat e unnecessar y
baggage, use a di amond pi ck, r ever si ng i t t o encount er
bot h t op and bot t omwaf er s.




The l ast t umbl er i n t hi s t ype of l ock i s l ocat ed l ess t han
one- hal f of an i nch i n. The pi cki ng pr ocedur e may have
t o be r epeat ed mor e t han one t i me- t op waf er s, t hen bot -
t omwaf er s, t op, bot t om- back and f or t h. Yet t hese l ocks
ar e easi er t o pi ck t han most pi n t umbl er s.

Locat e t he l ast waf er on t he t op si de and move i t t o
i t s br eaki ng poi nt . Do t he same wi t h t he ot her t op waf er s.
Keep t he t ensi on wr ench f i r m, r emove t he pi ck, t ur n i t
upsi de down ( i f you ar e usi ng a di amond or homemade
pi ck) , and r ei nser t i t t o wor k t he bot t omwaf er s. You may
have t o r epeat t hi s pr ocess a f ew t i mes, but doubl e- waf er
l ocks can and wi l l open wi t h such t r eat ment . Schl age has
a door knob l ock t hat opens t hi s way, but t he l ast t umbl er
i s about one and one- hal f i nches i n.

Doubl e- waf er l ocks ar e easy t o mast er i f you have
l ear ned t o pi ck pi n and waf er t umbl er l ocks. Si nce doubl e-
waf er l ocks ar e mor e compact , you have t o compensat e
f or t he f act - sl i ght l y cl oser t ol er ances. These t ype of l ocks
ar e used on ol d pop and candy machi nes, gas caps,
cabi net s, et c.


PI N AND WAFER TUMBLER PADLOCKS


Cyl i nder padl ocks r equi r e a t echni que of hol di ng t hem
wi t h t he same hand wi t h whi ch you ar e usi ng t he t ensi on
wr ench. Thi s t echni que al l ows one t o pi ck t he padl ock
wi t hout goi ng i nt o cont or t i ons over a dangl i ng padl ock.
Assumi ng t hat you ar e r i ght - handed, hol d t he padl ock
i n your l ef t hand by gr i ppi ng t he body of t he padl ock wi t h
your t humb and f or ef i nger . I nser t t he t ensi on wr ench at
t he bot t omof t he keyway and hol d i t i n a cl ockwi se t ur n
wi t h your r i ng and l i t t l e f i nger , causi ng a sl i ght bi ndi ng
pr essur e on t he cyl i nder . Now your r i ght hand i s f r ee t o
pi ck, and your l ef t hand does t he j ob of hol di ng bot h t he
l ock and t ensi on wr ench. The over hand met hod wor ks
wel l , t oo, but t he t humb cont r ol s t he t ensi on wr ench
i nst ead. Swi t ch ar ound t o f i nd whi ch i s most comf or t abl e
f or you.

When t umbl er padl ocks pop open, i t i s qui t e a sensa-
t i on because t he shackl e i s spr i ng- l oaded and gi ves one
qui t e a j ol t . I t ' s a f eel i ng of accompl i shment . You may
need a l i t t l e mor e t ensi on on padl ocks t han on door l ocks
because t he cyl i nder camhas t o oper at e a spr i ng- l oaded
bol t . Over al l , padl ocks ar e t he most f un t o open. Pr ac-
t i ce usi ng ol d or di scar ded padl ocks t hat you have f ound.
I ' ve wor n out hundr eds of t hem.



TUBULAR CYLI NDER LOCKS

( Not e: Di agr ams of t ubul ar l ock wer e omi t t ed due t o t he f act t hat pi cki ng
t hemwi t h convent i onal met hods i s a compl et e wast e of t i me. Ther e ar e pi cks
avai l abl e t hat ar e speci f i cal l y desi gned t o pi ck t hi s ki nd of l ock i n a
mat t er of seconds)


We wi l l gr adual l y pr oceed t o mor e sophi st i cat ed l ocks
f r omher e. I woul d l i ke t o r emi nd you t hat success i s not
based on per sonal i t y. I f one i s ar r ogant about one' s l ock-
pi cki ng ski l l s, one coul d easi l y be made a f ool of by a
l ock. And no mat t er how many t i mes you bash a cyl i nder ,
you wi l l st i l l be l ocked out . The onl y t hi ng you accompl i sh
i s at t r act i ng an audi ence- so be cool .

I f at t hi s poi nt you have had much di f f i cul t y under -
st andi ng t he pr i nci pl es of pi n and waf er l ocks, pl ease
r est udy t hi s book f r omt he begi nni ng. Read i t sever al t i mes
so as t o absor b i t . The i nf or mat i on t hat you now have
has t aken me al most t wo decades t o gat her , so pl ease be
mi ndf ul of t hat .

Now you ar e about t o l ear n how t o open t he mor e di f -
f i cul t l ocki ng mechani sms- some of t he ot her 25 per cent
of t he l ocks used t oday. You shoul d f eel conf i dent wi t h
pi n, waf er and doubl e- waf er t umbl er l ocks bef or e you
at t empt r i mcyl i nder l ocks.

Tubul ar cyl i nder l ocks st and out as t he most gener al l y
accept ed l ock i n al l i mpor t ant i ndust r i es usi ng hi gh- qual i t y
l ocks f or pr ot ect i on of pr oper t y, mer chandi se, and cash.
They ar e r ecogni zed as gi vi ng t he maxi mumamount of
secur i t y f or t hei r pr i ce r ange.

Tubul ar cyl i nder l ocks ar e pi n t umbl er l ocks ar r anged
on a ci r cul ar pl ane. Unl i ke convent i onal pi n t umbl er l ocks,
al l of t he pi ns ar e exposed t o t he eye. The cent r al sect i on
of t he l ock r ot at es t o oper at e t he camwhen al l of t he seven
pi ns have r eached t hei r br eaki ng poi nt s. When t he pr o-
per key i s ent er ed i nt o t he l ock, t he t umbl er s ar e pr essed
i nt o posi t i on so t hat t he cent r al sect i on ( pl ug) can be
t ur ned. Thi s manual oper at i on of i nser t i ng t he key pl aces
t he t umbl er s i n posi t i on so t hat t he l ock can be oper at ed
and ensur es t hat f r ost , dust , sal t , or unf avor abl e cl i mat i c
condi t i ons wi l l not af f ect t he smoot h oper at i on of t he
l ock.

The Chi cago Ace l ock i s a pr oduct of t he Chi cago Lock
Company of Chi cago, I l l i noi s. I t i s an ef f ect i ve secur i t y
devi ce and i s used on vendi ng machi nes, coi n boxes, and
bur gl ar al ar ms. A l ar ger , mor e compl ex ver si on of i t i s
used on bank door s and el ect r oni c t el l er machi nes. The
key i s of t ubul ar shape wi t h t he cut s ar r anged i n a ci r cl e
ar ound t he key.

The pi ck used f or t hi s l ock i s t he t ubul ar cyl i nder pi ck,
or you may use a st r ai ght pi n or your homemade saf et y
pi n pi ck. The one- pr onged end of t he t ensi on wr ench i s
a l i t t l e mor e speci al i zed and i s used f or r i mcyl i nder l ocks.
I t must be . 062 i nches squar e f or best r esul t s. Any squar e
st eel st ock i s accept abl e, as l ong as i t f i t s snugl y i nt o t he
gr oove of t he t ubul ar cyl i nder pl ug.

Thi s t ype of l ock i s a bur gl ar ' s ni ght mar e because i t
t akes so l ong t o pi ck. You have t o pi ck i t t hr ee or f our
t i mes t o accompl i sh t he unl ocki ng r adi us of 120 t o 180
degr ees. And t he cyl i nder l ocks af t er each t i me you pi ck
i t - ever y one- sevent h of a t ur n.

I f you l eave t he l ock onl y par t l y pi cked, t he key wi l l
not be abl e t o open i t , so you must pi ck i t back i nt o t he
l ocked posi t i on af t er openi ng i t - anot her t hr ee or f our
pi cki ng sessi ons. I n al l , t o unl ock and l ock t he cyl i nder ,
you have t o pi ck i t up t o ei ght t i mes- qui t e a chor e i f you
don' t have t he r i ght t ool s or t i me.

These l ocks al most al ways pi ck i n t he cl ockwi se di r ec-
t i on. Make cer t ai n t hat t he t ensi on wr ench f i t s snugl y i nt o
t he gr oove on t he cyl i nder . Ver y sl owl y push t he f i r st pi n
down unt i l i t cl i cks, mai nt ai ni ng a def i ni t e cl ockwi se
pr essur e on t he t ensi on wr ench. Once t he t umbl er has
br oken, do not push any f ur t her and pr oceed t o t he next
one, and so on. As you r each t he l ast t umbl er , t he t en-
si on wr ench wi l l f eel mor e sl ack and gi ve way i f t he l ock
wer e pr oper l y pi cked.

Ther e ar e speci al keyhol e saws f or t hese l ocks i n whi ch
you dr i l l out t he t umbl er s and t ur n t he cyl i nder . Al so t her e
i s a speci al t ool used by l ocksmi t hs t o open r i mcyl i nder
l ocks.


MUSHROOM AND SPOOL PI N TUMBLER LOCKS


Hi gh- secur i t y pi n t umbl er l ocks may cont ai n speci al l y
made pi ns t o make pi cki ng t hemmor e chal l engi ng. The
pi ns ar e machi ned so as t o make pi cki ng t hemqui t e di f -
f i cul t . When pi cki ng t hese l ocks, t he pi ns gi ve t he i mpr es-
si on t hat t hey have br oken, when i n f act t hey coul d be
a l ong way f r ombr eaki ng. You can t el l whet her or not
you ar e pi cki ng a pi n t umbl er l ock t hat has t hese pi ns by
t he f act t hat t he pi ns seemt o al i gn so easi l y wi t h a l ouder
t han nor mal cl i ck. The cyl i nder seems eager t o open but
t o no avai l .

The pi cki ng pr ocedur e r el i es on a wel l - yi el di ng t ensi on
wr ench. The t ensi on wr ench has t o be l i ght l y spr i ng- l oaded
so t hat t he pi ns can bypass t hei r f al se br eaki ng poi nt s.
You al so have t o " r ake" ( seesaw i n and out ) t he pi ns wi t h
your pi ck. The f eat her - t ouch t ensi on wr ench i s i deal f or
t he j ob. Use l i ght pr essur e wi t h i t , and i t wi l l l et you i n.

( Not e: A f eat her - t ouch t ensi on wr ench i s not necessar i l y r equi r ed. A nor mal
t ensi on wr ench wi l l wor k f i ne wi t h an ext r emel y l i ght t ensi on on i t . The
wei ght of j ust your i ndex f i nger al one shoul d be enough i n most cases. )

The mushr oomand spool pi ns ar e used i n l ocks f or
hi gh- secur i t y pur poses such as bank door s. The Amer i can
Lock Company uses t hemi n some of t hei r padl ocks.



MAGNETI C LOCKS



Magnet i c l ocks ar e f asci nat i ng. I al most hat e t o open
t hembecause I f eel t hat I have br eached t hei r uni queness.
I n r eal i t y, you do not pi ck t hem, but " conf use" t hem. They
gener al l y wor k on t he pr i nci pl e t hat l i ke magnet i c
pol ar i t i es r epel each ot her . The key i s a set of smal l
magnet s ar r anged i n a cer t ai n or der t o r epel ot her magnet s
i n t he l ock, t her eby al l owi ng t he spr i ng- l oaded bol t or cam
t o open t he l ock.

By usi ng a pul sat i ng el ect r omagnet i c f i el d, you can
cause t he magnet s i n t he l ock t o vi br at e vi ol ent l y at t hi r t y
vi br at i ons per second, t her eby al l owi ng i t t o be opened
by i nt er mi t t ent t uggi ng of t he bol t or t ur ni ng of t he door
knob.

Thi s met hod may al so r ui n t he smal l magnet s i n t he
l ock by changi ng t hei r magnet i c st at us or pr oper t i es. So,
i f you have t o per f or man emer gency br eak- i n wi t h t hese
l ocks, do not r el ock t he door . The car d or key wi l l not
oper at e t he l ock.

The magnet i c pi ck can be used on padl ocks by st r ok-
i ng i t acr oss t he pl ace wher e t he key i s pl aced. I t i s al so
desi gned t o f i t i nt o t he door knob and i s used by st r oki ng
one pol e i n and out or by usi ng t he ot her pol e t he same
way.

I f you have had l i t t l e or no t r ai ni ng and exper i ence
bui l di ng somet hi ng l i ke t hi s, pl ease have a f r i end who i s
f ami l i ar wi t h basi c el ect r oni cs do i t f or you. Do not t ake
t he chance of el ect r ocut i ng your sel f . Make sur e t hat t he
coi l i s al so compl et el y cover ed wi t h el ect r i ci an' s t ape af t er
you have wound t he 34 gauge wi r e. Al so make sur e t hat
t he st eel cor e has at l east t hr ee l ayer s of t ape over i t . Do
not l eave t he uni t pl ugged i n f or mor e t han t wo t o t hr ee
mi nut es at any one t i me as t hi s may cause over heat i ng
whi ch coul d cause i t t o bur n out or st ar t a f i r e. I t i s saf e
t o use i f const r uct ed pr oper l y and not l ef t pl ugged i n
unat t ended. Openi ng magnet i c l ocks r equi r es onl y 30 t o
60 seconds anyway, so don' t l eave t he uni t pl ugged i n f or
l onger .

For magnet i c padl ocks, use a back- and- f or t h st r oki ng
act i on al ong t he l engt h of t he keyway. For magnet i c door
l ocks, use a st r oki ng i n- and- out act i on i n t he sl ot of t he
knob al t er nat i ng f r omone si de ( pol e) of t he pi ck t o t he
ot her .

The " key" f or a magnet i c door l ock i s a met al or pl ast i c
car d cont ai ni ng an ar r ay of magnet i c domai ns or r egi ons
coded i n a speci f i c or der t o al l ow ent r y. The magnet i c pi ck
bypasses t hat .




DI SK TUMBLER LOCKS


Combi nat i on or " puzzl e" l ocks wer e i nvent ed t o f ur -
t her i mpr ove secur i t y and t he pr ot ect i on of val uabl es. The
ol der saf es and l ockboxes wer e good secur i t y devi ces when
t hey came i nt o t he mar ket , but some peopl e became
cur i ous and r eal i zed t hat t hese saf e l ocks had i nher ent
weaknesses. One of t he mai n pr obl ems was t hat t he di sk
t umbl er s wer e not mechani cal l y i sol at ed f r omt he bol t t hat
unl ocks t he saf e door . I n ot her wor ds, you coul d f eel and
hear t he t umbl er s whi l e t ur ni ng t he di al by appl yi ng
pr essur e on t he handl e of t he bol t .

When t hat pr obl emwas r ecogni zed and sol ved, t hi eves
st ar t ed dr i l l i ng t hr ough st r at egi c pl aces i n t he l ock i t sel f
t o open i t . Knocki ng of f hi nges was an al l - t i me f avor i t e
t act i c as wel l . Then came punchi ng out t he di al shaf t ,
bl owt or chi ng, and j ust pl ai n bl owi ng t he door wi t h ex-
pl osi ves. Gr eed can br eed gr eat cr eat i vi t y.

The f i r st pr obl em, t hat of mani pul at i ng t he t umbl er s
open, was r ect i f i ed by maki ng use of t he di al t o oper at e
t he bol t upon compl et i on of t he di al i ng of t he cor r ect com-
bi nat i on. Thi s made i t near l y i mpossi bl e t o f eel or hear
t he t umbl er s. Dr i l l i ng was det er r ed by l ami nat i ng t he saf e
door wi t h har d st eel and ber yl l i um- copper pl at es. The
ber yl l i um- copper pl at es pul l heat away f r omt he dr i l l t i p
qui ckl y, and t he bi t j ust spi ns wi t hout ef f ect ; dr i l l i ng can-
not t ake pl ace wi t hout t he gener at i on of heat at t he bi t ' s
cut t i ng edges. Knocki ng of f hi nges was di scour aged by
usi ng t hr ee or mor e bol t s oper at ed by a mai n l i nkage net -
wor k. Punchi ng out t he di al shaf t t o l et t he t umbl er s f al l
out of t he way of t he bol t was cor r ect ed by bevel i ng t he
shaf t i nt o t he wal l of t he saf e door .

Pr esent l y, saf e l ocks ar e qui t e sophi st i cat ed. Pi cki ng
t hemwoul d r equi r e super nat ur al power . The ol der saf es,
however , ar e much easi er and even f un t o pi ck. Pi cki ng
combi nat i on padl ocks i s a good way t o st ar t l ear ni ng how
t o open saf es, and we wi l l get t o t hemshor t l y. But f i r st ,
l et us di scuss some basi c pr mci pl es of di sk t umbl er l ocks.

Di sk t umbl er l ocks wor k by t he use of f l at , r ound di sks
of met al or pl ast i c wi t h a not ch and a peg on each di sk.
The not ch i s cal l ed t he t umbl er gat e. The gat e of each
t umbl er has t o be l i ned up wi t h t he pawl of t he bol t
mechani smby usage of t he l i nki ng capabi l i t i es of t he pegs.

The f i r st t umbl er of t he di sk t umbl er l ock ( al so t he l ast
combi nat i on number di al ed) i s mechani cal l y connect ed
t o t he di al t hr ough t he saf e door . When t he di al i s t ur ned,
t he f i r st t umbl er pi cks up t he mi ddl e t umbl er when t hei r
pegs connect . The mi ddl e t umbl er i n t ur n pi cks up t he
l ast t umbl er f or one mor e compl et e t ur n and t he t umbl er s
have been " cl ear ed" - you ar e r eady t o di al t he f i r st com-
bi nat i on number by al i gni ng t he l ast t umbl er ' s gat e t o t he
pawl . Af t er you have r eached t hi s number or posi t i on,
r ot at e t he di al i n t he opposi t e di r ect i on one compl et e t ur n
( f or t hr ee t umbl er l ocks; t wo t ur ns f or f our t umbl er l ocks)
t o engage t he mi ddl e t umbl er and dr i ve i t t o t he second
combi nat i on ml mber . By r ot at i ng t he di al back i nt o t he
opposi t e di r ect i on t o t he l ast combi nat i on number , t he
bol t can be oper at ed t o open t he l ock, or as i n t he case
of newer saf es, t he di al wi l l oper at e t he bol t by t ur ni ng
i t once agai n i n t he opposi t e di r ect i on.

One of t he i nnovat i ons t hat devel oped t o det er sensual
mani pul at i on of combi nat i on l ocks was t he use of ser -
r at ed f r ont t umbl er s ( l ast combi nat i on number di al ed) .
These wer e desi gned t o f oi l l i st eni ng and f eel i ng of t he
t umbl er s' gat es by bur gl ar s.

When t he bol t encount er ed any one of t hese shal l ow
gat es, t he saf ecr acker coul d never be sur e whet her or not
a t umbl er was act ual l y al i gned wi t h t he pawl - bol t
mechani sm. Some bur gl ar s sol ved t hi s pr obl emby at t ach-
i ng hi gh- speed dr i l l s t o t he di al knob t o r ot at e and wear
down t he f i r st t umbl er ' s shal l ow f al se gat es agai nst t he
bol t , t her eby el i mi nat i ng t hemal t oget her , or at l east
mi ni mi zi ng t hei r ef f ect s. St i l l , t oday t he ser r at ed t umbl er
i s used as an ef f ect i ve det er r ent t o mani pul at i on i n com-
bi nat i on padl ocks wher e space i s a f act or .

Let us move on t o combi nat i on padl ocks. The most
common and di f f i cul t t o open of t hese smal l di sk t umbl er
l ocks ar e t he Mast er combi nat i on padl ocks, and t hey ar e
qui t e popul ar . I have had good l uck i n openi ng t hese l ocks
wi t h a wooden mal l et or sof t - f aced hammer . The mani p-
ul at i on of Mast er combi nat i on padl ocks i s qui t e easy- I
have done i t t housands of t i mes, and you can l ear n i t , t oo.
The newer t he l ock i s, t hough, t he mor e di f f i cul t i t wi l l
be t o open at f i r st . I f t he l ock has had a l ot of use, such
as t hat on a l ocker - r oomdoor wher e t he shackl e get s
pul l ed down and encount er s t he t umbl er s whi l e t he com-
bi nat i on i s bei ng di al ed, t he ser r at ed f r ont t umbl er s wi l l
become smoot hed down, al l owi ng easi er sensi ng of t he
t umbl er s. So, unt i l you have become good at openi ng t hese
l ocks, pr act i ce ext ensi vel y on an ol d one. Let ' s t r y t o open
one:

OPENI NG A COMBI NATI ON PADLOCK

STEP ONE

Fi r st , cl ear t he t umbl er s by engagi ng al l of t hem. Thi s
i s done by t ur ni ng t he di al cl ockwi se ( somet i mes t hese
l ocks open mor e easi l y st ar t i ng i n t he opposi t e di r ect i on)
t hr ee t o f our t i mes. Now br i ng your ear cl ose t o t he l ock
and gent l y pr ess t he bot t omback edge t o t he bony ar ea
j ust f or war d of your ear canal openi ng so t hat vi br at i ons
can be hear d and f el t . Sl owl y t ur n t he di al i n t he opposi t e
di r ect i on. As you t ur n, you wi l l hear a ver y l i ght cl i ck as
each t umbl er i s pi cked up by t he pr evi ous t umbl er . Thi s
i s t he sound of t he pi ckup pegs on each di sk as t hey engage
each ot her . Cl ear t he t umbl er s agai n i n a cl ockwi se man-
ner and pr oceed t o st ep t wo.

STEP TWO

Af t er you have cl ear ed t he t umbl er s, appl y an upwar d
pr essur e on t he shackl e of t he padl ock. Keepi ng your ear
on t he l ock, t r y t o hear t he t umbl er s as t hey r ub acr oss
t he pawl ; keep t he di al r ot at i ng i n a cl ockwi se di r ect i on.

You wi l l hear t wo t ypes of cl i cks, each wi t h a subt l e
di f f er ence i n pi t ch. The shal l ow, hi gher pi t ched cl i cks ar e
t he sound of t he f al se gat es on t he f i r st di sk t umbl er . Do
not l et t hemf ool you- t he r eal gat es sound hol l ow and
empt y, al most nonexi st ent .

When you f eel a gr eat er t han nor mal r el i ef i n t he shackl e
once ever y f ul l t ur n, t hi s i s t he gat e of t he f i r st t umbl er
( l ast number di al ed) . Thi s t umbl er i s connect ed di r ect l y
t o t he di al as ment i oned ear l i er . I gnor e t hat sound f or now.
When you have al i gned t he ot her t wo t umbl er s, t he l ast
t umbl er ' s sound wi l l be dr owned out by t he sound of t he
shackl e poppi ng open.

STEP THREE

Whi l e cont i nui ng i n a cl ockwi se di r ect i on wi t h t he di al ,
l i st en car ef ul l y f or t he sl i ght hol l ow sound of ei t her one
of t he f i r st t wo t umbl er s. Not e on t he di al f ace wher e t hese
sounds ar e by ei t her memor i zi ng t hemor wr i t i ng t hem
down. Make cer t ai n t hat you do not t ake not e of t he dr i v-
i ng t umbl er ( l ast number di al ed) . I f you hear and f eel onl y
one hol l ow cl i ck ( sounds l i ke " dumpf " ) , chances ar e t hat
t he f i r st number coul d be t he same as t he l ast one.

You shoul d have t wo number s now. Let us say one of
t hemi s 12 and t he ot her i s 26. Cl ear t he t umbl er s agai n
j ust t o be saf e and st op at t he number 12. Go
count er cl ockwi se one compl et e t ur n f r om12. Cont i nue
unt i l t her e i s anot her " dumpf " sound. Af t er t he compl et e
t ur n pass 12, i f you f eel and hear a l ouder t han nor mal
sound of a t umbl er r ubbi ng on t he pawl , t he f i r st t umbl er
i s pr oper l y al i gned and t he second t umbl er i s t aki ng t he
br unt of t he f or ce f r omt he shackl e- you ar e on t he r i ght
t r ack. When t he second t umbl er has al i gned i n t hi s case,
you wi l l f eel a def i ni t e r esi st ance wi t h t he l ast t ur n of t he
di al goi ng cl ockwi se. The f i nal t ur n wi l l aut omat i cal l y
open t he shackl e of t he l ock. I f none of t hese sympt oms
ar e evi dent , t r y st ar t i ng wi t h t he number of t he combi na-
t i on, 26, i n t he same way.

STEP FOUR

I f t he l ock st i l l does not open, don' t gi ve up. Tr y sear ch-
i ng f or a di f f er ent f i r st number . Gi ve i t a good t hi r t y- or
f or t y- mi nut e t r y. I f you pl ay wi t h i t l ong enough, i t wi l l
event ual l y open. The mor e pr act i ce you have under your
bel t , t he qui cker you wi l l be abl e t o open t hese padl ocks
i n t he f ut ur e.

Usi ng a st et hoscope t o i ncr ease audi bi l i t y of t he cl i cks
i s not out of t he quest i on when wor ki ng on di sk t umbl er
l ocks, t hough I never use t hemf or padl ocks. A mi ni at ur e
wi de- audi o- r ange el ect r oni c st et hoscope wi t h a magnet i c
base f or coupl i ng a pi ezoel ect r i c- t ype mi cr ophone i s i deal
f or get t i ng t o know t he t umbl er s bet t er .

Fi l i ng your f i nger t i ps t o i ncr ease sensi t i vi t y mi ght not
be such a good i dea f or begi nner s si nce t hei r f i nger t i ps
wi l l not be accust omed t o oper at i ng di al s f or a l ong per i od
of t i me. Wi t h pr act i ce, you may devel op cal l uses and need
t o f i l e your f i nger t i ps. But I don' t r ecommend i t at f i r st .

Af t er some t i me you may f i nd t hat i n some cases you
can whi z r i ght t hr ough t he combi nat i on of an unknown
l ock wi t hout l ooki ng at i t and pop i t open i n seconds.
I t becomes second nat ur e. I ' ve done t hi s on many occa-
si ons- somet hi ng beyond my consci ous cont r ol seems t o
l i ne up t he t umbl er s wi t hout my t hi nki ng about i t .

Anot her t ype of di sk t umbl er padl ock i s t he Sesame
l ock made by t he Cor bi n Lock Co. I t s uni que desi gn
makes i t mor e di f f i cul t t o open t han Mast er padl ocks, but
i t can be opened. Let ' s t ake one of t he t hr ee or f our wheel
mechani sms, l ook at a cr oss sect i on, and see how i t wor ks.
The wheel has number s f r omzer o t o ni ne. At t ached t o
t he wheel i s a smal l cam. Bot h t he wheel and camt ur n
on t he shaf t . Each wheel i n t hi s l ock oper at es i ndepen-
dent l y wi t h i t s own camand shaf t . The l ocki ng dog i s
l ocked t o t he shackl e. I n t hi s posi t i on t he shackl e cannot
be opened. The l ocki ng dog oper at es wi t h al l t hr ee or f our
wheel s. The l ocki ng dog i s r i di ng on t he r ound edge of
t he cam. The spr i ng i s pushi ng up on t he cam. The l ock-
i ng dog cannot move up because i t i s r est i ng on t he r ound
par t of t he cam. When t he wheel i s t ur ned t o t he pr oper
combi nat i on number , t he l ocki ng dog r est s on t he f l at of
t he cam. The spr i ng can t hen r ai se t he l ocki ng dog t o
r el ease t he shackl e, and t hi s opens t he l ock.



TI PS FOR SUCCESS


You wi l l undoubt edl y encount er a pi n t umbl er l ock i n
whi ch t her e wi l l be a pi n or t wo t hat i s keyed t oo l ow
( t he shear l i ne of t he pi n i s t oo hi gh) . I n t hi s case t he l ock
i s di f f i cul t t o open because t he br eaki ng poi nt of a l ong
bot t ompi n doesn' t al l ow r oomi n t he keyway f or t he pi ck
t o mani pul at e t he ot her pi ns. Your success i n openi ng
" t i ght " l ocks wi l l depend on t he ski l l you have devel oped
wi t h your t ensi on wr ench. Somet i mes i t hel ps t o pl ay wi t h
t he t ensi on wr ench. Tr y bounci ng i t l ef t and r i ght sl i ght l y
whi l e pi cki ng, al l owi ng some of t he t umbl er s t o dr op occa-
si onal l y. You may al so t r y pi cki ng t he f r ont t umbl er s f i r st
or pi cki ng at r andomon t hese l ocks. You can t el l i f you
have a l ock t hat i s keyed l i ke t hi s because your pi ck may
get j ammed dur i ng t he pi cki ng pr ocess.

Af t er you have opened a cyl i nder and unl ocked a l ock,
be sur e t o r et ur n i t t o t he l ocked posi t i on. You wi l l hear
t he t umbl er s cl i ck i nt o pl ace when t hi s happens. Ot her -
wi se i t may be di f f i cul t t o unl ock i t wi t h i t s key because
t he bot t ompi ns cannot " f l oat " l i ke t hey nor mal l y woul d.

To t el l whet her or not t he cyl i nder shoul d go cl ockwi se
or count er cl ockwi se when pi cki ng a t umbl er l ock, t her e
i s an easy r ul e t o f ol l ow. I f t he t umbl er s ( pi n or waf er )
wi l l not br eak, or st ay br oken, you ar e goi ng i n t he wr ong
di r ect i on wi t h t he t ensi on wr ench. Ther e wi l l be l i t t l e or
no pr ogr ess wi t h t he cyl i nder , and f ew, i f any, " cl i cks. "

Some keyways ar e cut at an angl e ( Yal e, Dext er , and
Schl age, f or exampl e) so you want t o be sur e t hat you t i l t
your pi ck t o f ol l ow t hat angl e whi l e pi cki ng or your pi ck
wi l l get hung up. A sl i ght t wi st of t he wr i st wi l l compen-
sat e f or t hi s pr obl em.

Shoul d your f i nger s become t i r ed whi l e pi cki ng a l ock,
l ay down your t ool s and shake your hands and f i nger s
t o r el i eve any t ensi on. Af t er some t i me t he muscl es i n your
hands wi l l become accust omed t o such act i vi t y. Pr act i ce
and per si st ence wi l l t one your hands and senses t o t he
poi nt wher e you wi l l be abl e t o pop open a cyl i nder i n
t hr ee t o f i ve seconds ( t hat ' s seconds) i n t ot al dar kness. The
combi nat i on of t ouch and sound l et s you know al most
a spl i t second bef or e you open t he l ock t hat you have
succeeded.

I f t he l ock i s a wel l - machi ned one, t he cyl i nder wi l l f eel
t i ght and you wi l l need a l i t t l e f i r mer hand on t he t en-
si on wr ench. Whi l e pi cki ng, i f any one of t he pi ns at any
t i me f eel s f i r mor di f f i cul t t o move, chances ar e i t ' s al i gned.
I f i t f eel s spr i ngy, i t i s not .

Use t he shaf t of t he pi ck i f you have t o when wor ki ng
t he f r ont al pi n of a pi n t umbl er l ock. Thi s may save you
t he t r oubl e of al i gni ng t he t i p of t he pi ck on t he f r ont
pi n wher e t her e i s l i t t l e or no suppor t f or t he pi ck. Al l
of t he ot her pi ns al l ow t he pi ck t o be suppor t ed by t he
i nsi de wal l of t he keyway.

Mast er keyed pi n t umbl er l ocks ar e gener al l y easi er t o
pi ck open because t hey have mor e t han one shear l i ne or
br eaki ng poi nt i n t he pi ns. Mast er keyi ng al l ows a gr oup
of l ocks t o be cont r ol l ed by a mast er key hol der whi l e t he
i ndi vi dual l ocks i n t hat gr oup ar e cont r ol l ed by i ndi vi dual
keys. Hot el s and apar t ment compl exes ar e usual l y mast er
keyed.

Ther e i s a si mpl e t echni que t o open pi n and waf er
t umbl er l ocks. Si mpl y dr i l l t hr ough t he shear l i nes of t he
t umbl er s. Thi s poi nt i s l ocat ed j ust above t he cent er of
t he keyway on t he f ace of t he cyl i nder . By doi ng t hi s,
t hough, you obvi ousl y r ui n t he l ock and make a l ot of
r acket . I f t he l ock i s a Medeco or some ot her hi gh- secur i t y -
l ock, you r i sk damage of one hundr ed dol l ar s or mor e,
so be sur e you know t he val ue of t he si t uat i on bef or e you
deci de t o r ape t he l ock. Use a cent er punch t o st ar t a
r el i abl e hol e on t he cyl i nder f ace and use a one- quar t er
i nch dr i l l bi t wi t h a var i abl e speed dr i l l . Wi t h a l ar ge
scr ewdr i ver , t ur n i t t o unl ock. The cyl i nder wi l l be di f -
f i cul t t o t ur n because you may be shear i ng t he t umbl er
spr i ngs t hat have f al l en down past t he cyl i nder ' s shear l i ne.

Dead bol t l ocks ar e t hose mount ed on a door above
t he knob. Al l dead bol t l ocks unl ock count er cl ockwi se
wi t h l ef t - hand door s and cl ockwi se wi t h r i ght hand door s.
I f you have t r oubl e r emember i ng t hi s, j ust r emember t hat
t he bol t of t he l ock has t o go i n t he opposi t e di r ect i on
of t he door j am.

Dead bol t l ocks ar e j ust as easy t o pi ck open as knob
l ocks ar e. They bot h have cyl i nder s t hat can be pi cked
open. The mai n di f f er ence i s t hat dead bol t s cannot be
opened by sl i di ng a pl ast i c or met al car d t hr ough t o t he
bol t so as t o wor k i t back. I n ot her wor ds, t hey ar e not
spr i ng l oaded. That ' s why t hey ar e cal l ed dead bol t s. Most
knob l ocks now have guar ds i n f r ont of t he bol t s t o det er
openi ng wi t h car ds.

Kwi k- set s, Wei ser s, and some of t he l ess- expensi ve knob
l ocks may open i n ei t her di r ect i on. Schl age and Cor bi n,
al ong wi t h mor e sophi st i cat ed l ocks, can open onl y i n one
di r ect i on. Aut o l ocks wi l l open ei t her way. Anot her
met hod of pi cki ng pi n t umbl er l ocks i s wi t h a pi ck gun.
As t he pi ck snaps up, i t hi t s t he bot t ompi n. Thi s bounces
t he t op pi n out of t he cyl i nder and i nt o t he shel l . As you
appl y l i ght t ur ni ng pr essur e wi t h t he t ensi on wr ench, t he
t op pi ns ar e caught i n t he shel l , t he cyl i nder wi l l t ur n. I ' ve
never used a pi ck gun, but t hey do wor k wel l f or l ock-
smi t hs who use t hem. They ar e cumber some and expen-
si ve, and show some l ack of pr of essi onal i sm.

( Not e: I f you don' t car e about pr of essi onal i smand want t o open 95%of al l
pi n t umbl er l ocks out t her e - and f ast - buy t hi s devi ce. I t i s ver y awesome.
I even r ecommend i t over a Cobr a El ect r oni c l ockpi ck. Tr ust me, I have bot h,
and I f eel t he $60 Lockai d pi ck gun bl ows away t he $350 Cobr a)


SOME PRECAUTI ONS

I f you bought t hi s book t o l ear n how t o pi ck l ocks i n
or der t o become a mor e ef f i ci ent bur gl ar , t hen t her e i s
not a whol e l ot I can say or do t o st op you. But I must
say t hi s: t he l ocks used i n pr i sons ar e near l y i mpossi bl e
t o pi ck even i f you get or make t he r i ght t ool s. They ar e
usual l y el ect r i cal l y cont r ol l ed f r oman ext er nal st at i on.

Do not car r y l ock pi cks on your per son. I f you get
caught wi t h t hem, you coul d get nai l ed f or most any pr o-
f essi onal j ob i n t own f or t he l ast seven year s. I f you must
car r y t hem, as i n t he case of r escue wor ker s, et c. , pl ease
consul t your l ocal aut hor i t i es about det ai l s and ask about
r egi st er i ng wi t h t hem. As a f or mer l ocksmi t h, I do not
have t hat pr obl em.

I advi se t hat you do not t each your f r i ends how t o pi ck
l ocks. The choi ce i s your s, of cour se. You pai d t he pr i ce
of t hi s book and t he knowl edge i s your s- be sel f i sh wi t h
i t . I t i s f or your own pr ot ect i on as wel l . The f ewer peopl e
who know you have t hi s ski l l , t he bet t er . Get t i ng bl amed
f or somet hi ng you di dn' t do i s unf ai r and a hassl e.

When you become pr of i ci ent at pi cki ng l ocks, you may
deci de t o get a j ob as a l ocksmi t h. But bel i eve me, t her e
i s mor e t o bei ng a l ocksmi t h t han bei ng abl e t o pi ck l ocks.
You have t o be a good car pent er as wel l as a f ai r mechani c.
But you may want t o appr oach t he owner of a l ock shop
and ask i f you coul d get on as an appr ent i ce.

NOBODY' S PERFECT

Ther e i sn' t a l ocki ng devi ce on ear t h t hat cannot be
opened wi t h means ot her t han i t s key or code. I t ' s j ust
t hat some ar e easi er t o open t han ot her s. Anyt hi ng wi t h
a keyhol e, di al , or access por t i s subj ect t o bei ng opened
wi t h al t er nat e means, t hough some of t he newer el ect r oni c
and comput er - cont r ol l ed secur i t y devi ces woul d be a
ni ght mar e even i f you had ext ensi ve knowl edge of el ec-
t r oni cs and el ect r omagnet i cs. Some devi ces al so use pal m
pr i nt s as a r eadout t o al l ow ent r y.

On t he mechani cal si de, t her e ar e l ocks t hat have nor -
mal pi n t umbl er s, but t hey ar e si t uat ed i n var i ous pl aces
360 degr ees ar ound t he cyl i nder . Some l ocks use pi n
t umbl er s t hat not onl y have t o be al i gned ver t i cal l y wi t hi n
t he cyl i nder , but al so have t o " t wi st " or t ur n a cer t ai n
number of degr ees t o al l ow t he cyl i nder t o open. Thi s i s
because t he pi ns' shear l i ne i s cut at an angl e. These l ocks
ar e made by Medeco.

I have wi t nessed onl y one Medeco l ock bei ng pi cked-
by a f el l ow l ocksmi t h. We bot h spent hour s t r yi ng t o pi ck
i t agai n, but i t was f ut i l e. We est i mat ed t he chances of
openi ng i t agai n t o be one out of 10, 000. They ar e excel l ent
secur i t y devi ces, but t hei r pr i ce keeps t heml i mi t ed t o ar eas
pr one t o secur i t y pr obl ems such as i sol at ed vendi ng
machi nes and f or gover nment use. The onl y one I have
been successf ul at openi ng ( af t er an hour of pi cki ng) was
one I dr i l l ed. By t he way, t hey ar e easy t o dr i l l because
t he br ass t hat ' s used i s sof t .

LEARNI NG TO TOUCH AND FEEL

Most of us know how t o t ouch. We t ouch obj ect s ever y
day, and yet we do not t r ul y f eel t hem. I t seems so
commonpl ace t hat we f or get t hat we ar e act ual l y f eel i ng
whi l e we t ouch.

Her e i s an exer ci se t hat wi l l devel op a del i cat e t ouch.
Gent l y r ub and massage your hands and f i nger s-
pr ef er abl y wi t h hand l ot i on. Do t hi s f or f i ve mi nut es. Once
t he l ot i on has evapor at ed, shake your hands and f i nger s
so t hat t hey f l op l oosel y. Gent l y pul l each f i nger t o r el ax
each j oi nt .

Now wi t h a pi ece of f i ne sandpaper , gent l y dr aw t he
t i ps of your f i nger s acr oss i t . Tr y t o f eel t he t ext ur e of
t he gr ai ns on i t s sur f ace. Rel ax your f i nger s, hands, f or e-
ar ms, shoul der s, and chest . Take your t i me. Do t hi s f or
sever al mi nut es.

Af t er a f ew weeks of pr act i ce, you wi l l be abl e t o f eel
each i ndi vi dual gr ai n of sand on t he sandpaper . Thi s
al l ows you t o f eel t he sl i ght est sensat i on vi br at e t hr ough
your bones.

Tr y t o r emember t o pr act i ce t ouchi ng and f eel i ng dur -
i ng your ever yday exper i ences. Pr act i ce f eel i ng wood,
met al , and var i ous ot her obj ect s. Pl ay wi t h t he f eel of
mechani cal vi br at i ons, even your t el evi si on set . Tr y t o sense
t he wor l d ar ound you as a sour ce of i nf or mat i on. Thi s
coul d and wi l l open a whol e new hor i zon of exper i ence.

Af t er a whi l e, you wi l l be abl e t o f eel or sense t he move-
ment of t he t umbl er s of a Sar geant and Gr eenl eaf saf e.
My f i r st saf e opened i n t hr ee mi nut es because of t hat
t echni que t hat t ook me year s t o di scover .

VI SUALI ZATI ON

I f you r espect t he secur i t y of t he l ock and do not
become over conf i dent , you wi l l never become di sappoi nt ed
i f you f ai l t o open i t . You al so i ncr ease your chances of
openi ng t he l ock because you per sonal l y have not hi ng t o
gai n or l ose by openi ng i t . Gi ve up t r yi ng t o be an exper t
and j ust pi ck t he l ock.

Wi t h such an at t i t ude, you may f i nd t he l ock wi l l usual l y
pop r i ght open. I never r ecei ved a t r ophy f or bei ng t he
best l ock pi cker i n t he st at e. My sat i sf act i on i s i n know-
i ng t hat I amnever hel pl ess i n a l ockout si t uat i on. The
qual i t y of your success i s al most r omant i c; i t i nvol ves sen-
si t i vi t y and compassi on i n t he f ace of cur i osi t y as a means
t o hel p ot her s.

Vi sual i zat i on and i magi nat i on ar e i mpor t ant t o t he l ock
pi cker . I ' ve not i ced t hat peopl e who have t he abi l i t y t o
vi sual i ze t he i nt er nal par t s of t he l ock t hat t hey ar e pi ck-
i ng sel domf ai l t o open i t i n moment s. Anyone can l ear n
t o do t hi s by si mpl y r emember i ng t o do i t whi l e pi cki ng
a l ock. Si nce si ght , sound, and t ouch ar e i nvol ved wi t h
t he pr ocess, vi sual i zat i on i s ver y easy t o do. Tr y t o keep
al l of your at t ent i on on t he l ock dur i ng t he pi cki ng pr o-
cess. Thi s wi l l hel p you t o l ear n how t o use hei ght ened
sensi t i vi t y f or pi cki ng l ocks.

So i n t hat r espect , an unopened l ock i s l i ke a new and
unexpl or ed l over . You i magi ne al l of t he qual i t i es of an
at t r act i ve per son whomyou' ve j ust met and appl y t hat
f eel i ng t o t he l ock t hat you ar e pi cki ng. Use vi sual i zat i on.
I t wi l l hel p i mmensel y.


( Not e: Al l t hi s Zen st uf f may sound l i ke a l oad of shi t , but i t ' s not . I
mysel f cannot pi ck a l ock unl ess I amcomf or t abl e. I f I amcr avi ng a
ci gar et t e or I amhungr y or somet hi ng el se l i ke t hat , I have a di f f i cul t t i me
openi ng a l ock. Al so, at t i t ude i s i mpor t ant . Don' t show of f . )



Have f un


Any quest i on or comment s
can be l ef t t o me at Ri pco
( l eave mai l t o BLOODMONEY)