By Steven Hampton

originally published by Paladin Press (c) 1987

(don't let the date ool you! "his is good stu)
brought to you by
#r! Bloodmoney
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%ell& ''m bringing you this ile because ' have a scanner and an
()* pac+age and ' li+e to pic+ loc+s! "his ile is a complete transcription
o the boo+& Secrets o ,oc+ Pic+ing by Steven Hampton& minus the chapter
on -arded loc+s ("hese loc+s are cheap! .se a hammer and a scre-driver)!
Beore getting on to the sub/ect& ' -ould /ust li+e to use this opportunity
to say that you can not /ust read this ile and +no- ho- to pic+ loc+s! 't
does ta+e practice! "he good ne-s is that by practicing you -ill learn ho-
to open loc+s! 0nd ast& too! ' have heard many people say 1't's not li+e
the movies!!!it ta+es time to pic+ a loc+!1 %ell& sometimes thats true& but
' have pic+ed a Sargeant si23pin& high3security tumbler loc+ in three seconds!
0nd other similar loc+s in the the same time rame as -ell! So ' +no- that
it can be done! But don't -orry! Practicing is not boring! "here is a
certain thrill present -hen you pic+ a loc+ or the very irst time!
'magine the sensation o +no-ing that you can get into almost any-here you
-ant! Believe me -hen ' tell you that it is very cool!
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)ontents
'ntroduction
"ools
,oc+ 'dentiication
Pin "umbler ,oc+s
%aer "umbler ,oc+s
#ouble %aer ,oc+s
Pin and %aer "umbler Padloc+s
"ubular )ylinder ,oc+s
4ushroom and Spool Pin "umbler ,oc+s
4agnetic ,oc+s
#is+ "umbler ,oc+s
"ips or Success
'5"*(#.)"'(5
"he ancient 6gyptians -ere the irst to come up -ith
a complicated security device! "his -as the pin tumbler
loc+! %e use the same security principle today on millions
o applications!
"he most commonly used loc+ today is the pin tumbler
loc+! 0 series o pins that are divided at certain points
must be raised to these dividing points in relationship to
the separation bet-een the cylinder -all and the shell o
the loc+ by a +ey cut or that particular series o pin divi3
sions! "hus the cylinder can be turned& and the mechanism
or loc+ is unloc+ed!
,oc+ pic+ing means to open a loc+ by use o a lat piece
o steel called a pic+! 0ctually& the process re7uires t-o
pieces o lat steel to open cylinder loc+s! 't amuses me
to -atch spies and thieves on "8 pic+ing loc+s using only
one tool! But it is or the better in a sense! ' everyone
learned ho- to pic+ loc+s by -atching "8& -e -ould all
be at the mercy o anyone -ho -anted to steal rom us&
and the cylinder loc+ or the most part -ould be outdated!
"he actual deinition o loc+ pic+ing should be9 1"he
manipulation and opening o any restrictive mechanical
or electronic device by usage o tools other than the
implied instrument (+ey or code) used solely or that
device!1 0 little lengthy& but more accurate description!
%ith cylinder loc+s& it re7uires a pic+ and a tension
-rench!
By pic+ing the loc+& you simply replace the unction
o a +ey -ith a pic+ that raises the pins to their 1brea+3
ing point&1 and using a tension -rench one rotates the
cylinder to operate the cam at the rear o the loc+'s cylinder
to unloc+ the mechanism!
(See :ig3;1!<':)
"he tension -rench is used to apply tension to the
cylinder o the loc+ to cause a slight binding action on
the pins as -ell as to turn the cylinder ater the pins have
been aligned by the pic+= this opens the loc+! "he slight
binding action on the pins caused by the tension -rench
allo-s one to hear and eel each pin as it 1brea+s1 or
reaches alignment -ith the separation o cylinder and
shell! "he vibration is elt in the +nuc+les and /oints o
the ingers& and the sound is similar to that o a cric+et
in an arm -restling match3a subtle yet distinct clic+!
.sually you need very little tension -ith the -rench
-hile pic+ing the loc+! 'n act& it ta+es some-hat o a
delicate& yet irm touch! "his is the secret to pic+ing loc+s
successully3a irm and yet gentle touch on the tension
-rench! >ou should be able to eel the pins clic+ into place
-ith the right amount o tension= e2perience -ill be your
true guide!
Hal o your success -ill be based on your ability to
use or improvise various ob/ects to use as tools or your
purpose! "he other hal -ill depend on practice! ' once
pic+ed a pin tumbler loc+ using a borro-ed roach clip
and a hairpin! 0 dangerous ire -as prevented and prob3
ably several lives -ere saved! "he -orld is ull o useul
ob/ects or the purpose& so never hesitate to e2periment!
"((,S
' started pic+ing loc+s using a small scre-driver and
a saety pin! "he scre-driver can be used as a tension
-rench& and the saety pin is used li+e a 1hoo+1 pic+!
"he last hal inch o the scre-driver's tip -as bent at a
?@ degree angle so as to allo- easy entry or the pic+ (bent
saety pin)! #o not heat the scre-driver tip to bend it&
as this -ill destroy its temper! .se a vise and hammer to
do the /ob! Bend slo-ly by using irm and short taps o
the hammer& other-ise you may brea+ and -ea+en the
shat! "he saety pin should be about one and a hal inches
long and bent in the same -ay!
%ith the small scre-driver as a tension -rench& you can
use more o a turning or t-isting movement than -ith
a regular tension -rench so you -ill generally need less
direct orce -hen using it! 0s ' mentioned earlier& -ith
practice you -ill develop the eeling or the right amount
o tension on a cylinder! ' the saety pin bends ater a
short time& use the +ey-ay o the loc+ you are pic+ing
to bend it bac+ into shape! 6ven ater several times o
bending& it should still be useul! Aeep a e- spares handy&
though! :ile the tip o the saety pin lat in relationship
to the bottom o the pins in the loc+! Smooth any sharp
edges so that you -on't impale yoursel! 0lso& i the tip
is smooth& the pic+ -ill not get hung up on the pins -hile
pic+ing the loc+!
<ranted these are not the best tools or the /ob& but
they do -or+! ' you learn to use your /un+ bo2 as a rich
source o e7uipment& then -ith your e2perience real loc+
pic+s -ill give you magic ingers! 0lso& you'll have the
advantage o being able to improvise should you be
-ithout the real things (-hich are illegal to carry on your
person in most parts o the country)!
,oc+ pic+s are diicult to get! ' received my irst set
-hen ' became a loc+smith apprentice! 0ll o my subse3
7uent sets ' made rom stainless steel stea+ +nives -ith
a grinder and cut3o -heel! "hey are much more durable
than the commercial pic+s! ' you do ma+e your o-n&
ma+e certain that the steel is 7uenched ater every B
seconds o grinding3do not allo- the pic+ to get hot to
the point o blue discoloration!
0 diamond pic+ is the standard pic+ ' use on most all
pin and -aer loc+s! 0 small diamond pic+ is used or
small pin tumbler loc+s such as small 4aster padloc+s&
cabinet ile loc+s& etc! "he tubular cylinder loc+ pic+& -e
-ill discuss later! "he double3ended& single3pronged ten3
sion -rench is used -ith the diamond pic+! 't eatures
double usage= a small end or small cylinders and a large
end or the larger cylinders! 0 special tension -rench is
used or double3-aer cylinder loc+s -ith an end -ith t-o
prongs on one end and tubular cylinder loc+s -ith the
single prong on the other end! %e -ill discuss tubular
cylinder and double3-aer loc+s later as -ell! "he steel
should be !;B; inches to !;B@ inches thic+ or the pic+s
and !;?@ inches to !;@; inches thic+ or the irst tension
-rench mentioned above! "he second tension -rench
should be !;CD inches s7uare (!;CD inches 2 !;CD inches)
on the tubular cylinder side (one pronged end)& and !;?@
inches thic+ on the double3-aer end (t-o3pronged end)!
>ou can accomplish this by starting out -ith !;?@ inches
in thic+ness! "he t-o3pronged end should be bent careully
in a vise at a B; degree angle! "his allo-s easy entry or
the pic+ on double3-aer loc+s!
(See ig3;D!<':)
0mong the more common tools used by proessionals
around the -orld is the ra+e pic+! "he ra+e pic+ is used
to 1ra+e1 the tumblers into place by sliding it in and out
across the tumblers! ' seldom use the ra+e pic+ because
it is not highly eective and ' consider it a sloppy e2cuse
or a loc+ pic+! ''ve seen the ra+e pic+ -or+ on some di3
icult loc+s& but you can ra+e -ith a diamond pic+ and
get the same results! ' preer the diamond pic+ or most
tumbler loc+s simply because it is easier to get in and out
o loc+s3it slides across the tumblers -ith little or no
trouble!
0 ball pic+ is used or pic+ing double3-aer cylinder
loc+s& though ' never carry one= ' use a large diamond
pic+ and reverse it -hen pic+ing these loc+s! "his means
' have one less pic+ to carry and lose!
(See ig3;B!<':)
0 double3ball pic+ is used li+e a ra+e on double3-aer
loc+s in con/unction -ith a tension -rench (t-o3pronged
end)!
0 hoo+ pic+ is used to open lever tumbler loc+s& though
again& ' use a diamond pic+ -ith a hoo+ing action -hen
possible! "here are various siEes o hoo+s but they all have
the same basic /ob3to catch the movable levers that
unloc+ lever loc+s!
"here are also various siEes o tension -renches! "hey
are usually made rom spring steel! "he standard tension
-rench is used or pin and -aer loc+s! 0 special tension
-rench is called a :eather "ouch& and it is used or high3
security mushroom and spool pin tumbler loc+s! 'ts
delicate spring3loaded action allo-s the pic+ to bypass the
tendencies o these pins to stic+! 0 homemade version o
the :eather "ouch can be made rom a medium3light duty
steel spring!
0s to getting loc+ pic+s or your o-n use& you cannot
go do-n to your local hard-are store and buy them! '
could supply you -ith some sources or -holesalers& but
' do believe it is illegal or them to sell to individuals! >our
best bet -ould be to ind a machine shop that -ill
abricate them or you! 't -ould be less e2pensive and
arouse less suspicion i you purchase a small grinder -ith
a cut3o -heel and ma+e your o-n! %ith a little prac3
tice& you can ma+e a -hole set in an aternoon! .se a copy
o the illustrations in this boo+ as templates and careully
cut them out -ith an F30)"( +nie! )ut do-n the middle
o the lines! 0c7uire some stainless steel (many stea+
+nives approach proper thic+ness)!
%ith a glue stic+& lightly coat one side o the paper
template and apply it to the cleaned stainless surace& and
allo- it to dry! >ou'll need a can o blac+ -rin+le inish
spray paint! "his +ind o paint has a high carbon con3
tent and can stand high temperature o grinding! Spray
the stainless (or +nives) -ith the patterns glued on and
dry in a -arm oven or direct sunlight or one hour! Set
aside or t-enty3our more hours! Peel o the paper
template and you are ready to cut and grind! Please use
caution -hen cutting and grinding! "he piece should be
7uenched every three seconds in cold -ater! Smooth up
sharp edges -ith a small ile or burnishing -heel!
"ools made rom stainless steel -ill outlast the pur3
chased ones! "he tools purchased rom most suppliers are
made rom spring steel and -ear out ater about 1;; uses!
"he stainless steel ones& i properly made& should last over
D&;;; uses!
,()A '#65"':')0"'(5
"here are many types o loc+s& the most common being9
1! "he pin tumbler loc+! .sed or house and garage doors&
padloc+s& mail bo2es& and :ord automobiles!
D! "he -aer tumbler loc+! .sed or garage and trailer
doors& des+s& padloc+s& cabinets& most autos& -indo-
loc+s& and older vending machines!
B! "he double3-aer loc+! .sed or higher security -aer
tumbler applications!
?! "he -arded loc+s! .sed or light security padloc+s and
old3ashioned door loc+s!
@! ,ever loc+s .sed or light security and older padloc+s&
sophisticated sae3deposit bo2es& some des+s& /e-elry
bo2es& and small cash bo2es!
C! "ubular cylinder loc+s! .sed or alarm control systems&
ne-er vending machines& car3-ash control bo2es and
-herever higher security problems might e2ist!
"hese loc+s are the more common loc+s used yet there
are variations and combinations o these principal types
that usually pic+ open in the manner that -ill be discussed!
Some o them /ust re7uire practice o the basic types&
others luc+& and most o the rest o them +no-ledge o
ho- that particular loc+ -or+s and is +eyed! "his comes
rom e2perience!
(See ig3;?!<':)
P'5 ".4B,6* ,()AS
Pin tumbler loc+s oer the most security or their price!
"hey have close machine tolerances and appro2imately
1&;;;&;;; dierent +ey combinations or a ive3pin loc+!
)onsidering the thousands o dierent companies ma+3
ing pin tumblers (dierent shaped +ey-ays or each com3
pany or design line)& the chances o someone having a +ey
that -ill -or+ in your ront door loc+ are one in many
billions!
Pin tumbler loc+s can easily be identiied by peering
do-n the +ey-ay and locating the irst round pin!
Sometimes you can see the pin's dividing point& -here it
brea+s -ith the cylinder -all (shear point)!
"o successully pic+ a pin tumbler loc+& your sense o
touch sould be honed so that both hands eel the tools!
(nce the hand holding the pic+ has located a slight relie
in tension -hile pic+ing a particular tumbler& the other
hand holding the tension -rench -ill eel a relie or brea+3
ing point! Both hands should be involved -ith the sense
o touch& the sensing o the inner -or+ings o the loc+!
%e are no- ready to begin the irst lesson! :irst open
your ront door and chec+ or a pin tumbler loc+ on it!
't should have one on it! ' there is one& leave the door
open to decrease suspicion! #o not loc+ yoursel out o
your apartment or house by being overconident= not only
-ill you raise suspicion& but -indo- glass is not cheap!
H(% "( P')A 0 ".4B,6* ,()A
S"6P (56
%ithout using the tension -rench& slip the pic+ into
the loc+! "he 1hoo+1 o the pic+ should be to-ard the
tumblers (up in most cases& depending on -hether or not
the loc+ -as mounted upside do-n3you can tell by loo+3
ing do-n the +ey-ay and locating the irst pin -ith your
pic+)! "ry to eel the last tumbler o the loc+! 't should
be 7G8 inches into the loc+ or a ive3pin tumbler loc+
(most common pin tumbler loc+ used)!
4a+e certain that you have no tension on the -rench
-hen inserting the pic+ as this -ill encumber the rontal
tumblers! %hen you eel the bac+ tumbler& slo-ly raise
it -ith a slight prying motion o the pic+! *elease it& but
+eep the pic+ in the loc+ on the rear tumbler!
5o- insert the tension -rench& allo-ing room or the
pic+ to manipulate all o the pins! 't should be placed at
the bottom o the cylinder i the loc+ -as mounted
upright& tumblers to-ard the top o the cylinder! 0pply
irm and yet gentle cloc+-ise pressure to the tension
-rench!
Slo-ly raise the bac+ tumbler -ith a slight prying mo3
tion o the pic+! 0 minute clic+ -ill be elt and heard -hen
it brea+s! 't -ill lose its springiness -hen this occurs& so
do not go any urther -ith it! 0ny urther movement -ith
the pic+ -ill cause binding by going past the pins' shear
line! )ontinue an even pressure -ith the tension -rench!
Aeeping an even tension pressure& proceed to Step "-o!
S"6P "%(
"he ourth tumbler should be easily elt since it is the
ne2t one in line! *aise it until it brea+s& +eeping the ten3
sion -rench steady! 't too -ill give a sound and sensa3
tion -hen it brea+s or aligns!
S"6P "H*66
"he third or middle tumbler is ne2t! 0gain& it too -ill
clic+! 4aintain a constant& even pressure on the -rench3
about the same pressure that you -ould use to replace
a cap on a catsup bottle! >ou may eel the 1clic+s1 in your
tension -rench as -ell as hear them!
(See ig3;@!<':)
S"6PS :(.* 05# :'86
)ontinue on to the ne2t tumbler out& -or+ing to-ard
you! %hen it brea+s& raise the last (ront) tumbler to its
bra+ing point and the cylinder should be ree to rotate
and unloc+ the door! Sometimes you may have to play
-ith the -rench to open the loc+ because you may have
raised a tumbler too high& past its brea+ing point! ' this
is the case& very slo-ly and gradually release the tension
-rench pressure and the overly e2tended tumbler -ill drop
into its brea+ing point beore the other tumblers have a
chance to all! "he cylinder should pop open at that point!
' have ound that this techni7ue is responsible or over
B; percent o my successes in opening all tumbler loc+s!
' the loc+ still reuses to open ater all that treatment&
release the tension -rench pressure& allo-ing all o the
tumblers to drop and start over! >ou may have more than
one tumbler too high and -ould be better o to repeat
the pic+ing process!
%0:6* ".4B,6* ,()AS
%aer tumbler loc+s ma+e up over one3ourth o the
loc+s in use in the -orld! Since they are generally easier
to pic+ than most pin tumbler loc+s& you -ill be 7@ per3
cent master ater ooling around -ith these mechanisms!
"hat is -hy ' -rote about pin tumbler loc+s irst3they
are more diicult and ma+e up over one3hal o the loc+s
used today!
(See ig3;C!<':)
"he term -aer reers to the general shape o the
tumblers! "he -aers are lat& spring3loaded tumblers that
are much thinner than pins and the distance bet-een them
is less! %aer loc+s are pic+ed in the same -ay as pin
tumbler loc+s& but you must compensate or the smaller
dimensions! >ou can identiy -aer loc+s simply by loo+3
ing do-n the +ey-ay and locating the irst lat tumbler!
"he last tumbler on most -aer loc+s is located about one3
hal inch into the loc+!
%aer loc+s are used on iling cabinets& loc+ers& most
cars& garage doors& des+s& and -herever medium security
is re7uired! "he only -aer tumbler loc+ in common use
that is diicult to pic+ is the side3bar -aer loc+! 't is the
most popular type o auto loc+! "his loc+ is o dierent
design than most other loc+s and oers much more secur3
ity than a regular -aer tumbler loc+& or even a pin
tumbler loc+!
"he side bar loc+ is used mostly on <eneral 4otors
cars and truc+s since 19B@! 't is used on ignitions& door&
and trun+ loc+s! Side bar loc+s are hard to pic+ because
you cannot eel or hear the tumblers align -ith the
cylinders brea+ing point! 0 spring3loaded bar alls into
place to allo- the cylinder to turn -hen all o the tumblers
are aligned! "here is no -ay to tell -hen that happens!
(ne learns to sense the bar -hile pic+ing so that it seems
to all into place by itsel! But or beginners& ' recommend
this techni7ue or emergency openings9 Peer do-n the
+ey-ay and locate the side groove o any o the tumblers
using a pic+ as a searching tool! #rill a small hole in the
shell o the loc+ above the bar -hich is above the grooves
on the tumblers! Since side bar loc+s have o3centered
+ey-ays& the usual place to drill is opposite o the +ey-ay!
.sing an ,3shaped steel -ire& put pressure on the sidebar
and ra+e the tumblers using a tension -rench or cylinder
rotation and the loc+ -ill open!
:ortunately& most <4) autos have inerior -indo-
seals= -ith a coat hanger& one can lasso the loc+ing door
+nob to open the door! ' you are going to be successul
at opening side bars& you -ill do it -ithin t-o minutes=
other-ise& you are causing unnecessary -ear on your pic+s
not to mention -asting your time!
:ord auto loc+s are relatively simple to pic+! "hey have
pin tumblers and you have to remember that the door
loc+s turn countercloc+-ise! 4ost other auto loc+s turn
cloc+-ise! ' you are not sure& remember this9 ' the
tumblers -ill not catch at their brea+ing points& you are
going in the -rong direction -ith the tension -rench!
%aer loc+s are a cinch to pic+ i you have learned ho-
to pic+ pin tumblers! Hust remember that -aers are thin3
ner than pins and there is less distance bet-een them!
<enerally you need less tension3-rench pressure -ith these
loc+s& yet car loc+s can be 7uite stubborn and re7uire a
great deal o tension! 0ny heavily spring3loaded cylinder
needs a substantial amount o tension!
0s a rule& though& -aer loc+s need less play -ith the
tension -rench than -ith pin tumbler loc+s! But i you
ind yoursel having diiculty in opening these& you may
try a little tension3-rench play! .sually they -on't pop
open li+e pin tumbler loc+s& they /ust slide open= you don't
get the -arning that a pin tumbler gives beore it opens
because there is less contact area on the -aer's edge than
on a pin& so the sense o clima2 is reduced -ith these types
o loc+s! Still& they open 7uite easily!
#(.B,6 %0:6* ,()AS
#ouble3-aer loc+s are pic+ed in the same -ay as single3
-aer loc+s& but there are t-o sides to the story! 5ot only
do you have to align the top -aers& but you have ones
in the bottom o the cylinder to align as -ell!
"he )hicago ,oc+ )ompany -as the irst to come up
-ith this type o loc+! 't is a classic e2ample o the race
to-ard better security! )ertain tension -renches allo-
uninterrupted pic+ing using ball pic+s! >ou can also use
a standard tension -rench or small scre-driver and place
it at the center o the +ey-ay! "o eliminate unnecessary
baggage& use a diamond pic+& reversing it to encounter
both top and bottom -aers!
(See :ig3;7!<':)
"he last tumbler in this type o loc+ is located less than
one3hal o an inch in! "he pic+ing procedure may have
to be repeated more than one time3top -aers& then bot3
tom -aers& top& bottom3bac+ and orth! >et these loc+s
are easier to pic+ than most pin tumblers!
,ocate the last -aer on the top side and move it to
its brea+ing point! #o the same -ith the other top -aers!
Aeep the tension -rench irm& remove the pic+& turn it
upside do-n (i you are using a diamond or homemade
pic+)& and reinsert it to -or+ the bottom -aers! >ou may
have to repeat this process a e- times& but double3-aer
loc+s can and -ill open -ith such treatment! Schlage has
a door+nob loc+ that opens this -ay& but the last tumbler
is about one and one3hal inches in!
#ouble3-aer loc+s are easy to master i you have
learned to pic+ pin and -aer tumbler loc+s! Since double3
-aer loc+s are more compact& you have to compensate
or the act3slightly closer tolerances! "hese type o loc+s
are used on old pop and candy machines& gas caps&
cabinets& etc!
P'5 05# %0:6* ".4B,6* P0#,()AS
)ylinder padloc+s re7uire a techni7ue o holding them
-ith the same hand -ith -hich you are using the tension
-rench! "his techni7ue allo-s one to pic+ the padloc+
-ithout going into contortions over a dangling padloc+!
0ssuming that you are right3handed& hold the padloc+
in your let hand by gripping the body o the padloc+ -ith
your thumb and oreinger! 'nsert the tension -rench at
the bottom o the +ey-ay and hold it in a cloc+-ise turn
-ith your ring and little inger& causing a slight binding
pressure on the cylinder! 5o- your right hand is ree to
pic+& and your let hand does the /ob o holding both the
loc+ and tension -rench! "he overhand method -or+s
-ell& too& but the thumb controls the tension -rench
instead! S-itch around to ind -hich is most comortable
or you!
%hen tumbler padloc+s pop open& it is 7uite a sensa3
tion because the shac+le is spring3loaded and gives one
7uite a /olt! 't's a eeling o accomplishment! >ou may
need a little more tension on padloc+s than on door loc+s
because the cylinder cam has to operate a spring3loaded
bolt! (verall& padloc+s are the most un to open! Prac3
tice using old or discarded padloc+s that you have ound!
''ve -orn out hundreds o them!
".B.,0* )>,'5#6* ,()AS
(5ote9 #iagrams o tubular loc+ -ere omitted due to the act that pic+ing
them -ith conventional methods is a complete -aste o time! "here are pic+s
available that are speciically designed to pic+ this +ind o loc+ in a
matter o seconds)
%e -ill gradually proceed to more sophisticated loc+s
rom here! ' -ould li+e to remind you that success is not
based on personality! ' one is arrogant about one's loc+3
pic+ing s+ills& one could easily be made a ool o by a
loc+! 0nd no matter ho- many times you bash a cylinder&
you -ill still be loc+ed out! "he only thing you accomplish
is attracting an audience3so be cool!
' at this point you have had much diiculty under3
standing the principles o pin and -aer loc+s& please
restudy this boo+ rom the beginning! *ead it several times
so as to absorb it! "he inormation that you no- have
has ta+en me almost t-o decades to gather& so please be
mindul o that!
5o- you are about to learn ho- to open the more di3
icult loc+ing mechanisms3some o the other D@ percent
o the loc+s used today! >ou should eel conident -ith
pin& -aer and double3-aer tumbler loc+s beore you
attempt rim cylinder loc+s!
"ubular cylinder loc+s stand out as the most generally
accepted loc+ in all important industries using high37uality
loc+s or protection o property& merchandise& and cash!
"hey are recogniEed as giving the ma2imum amount o
security or their price range!
"ubular cylinder loc+s are pin tumbler loc+s arranged
on a circular plane! .nli+e conventional pin tumbler loc+s&
all o the pins are e2posed to the eye! "he central section
o the loc+ rotates to operate the cam -hen all o the seven
pins have reached their brea+ing points! %hen the pro3
per +ey is entered into the loc+& the tumblers are pressed
into position so that the central section (plug) can be
turned! "his manual operation o inserting the +ey places
the tumblers in position so that the loc+ can be operated
and ensures that rost& dust& salt& or unavorable climatic
conditions -ill not aect the smooth operation o the
loc+!
"he )hicago 0ce loc+ is a product o the )hicago ,oc+
)ompany o )hicago& 'llinois! 't is an eective security
device and is used on vending machines& coin bo2es& and
burglar alarms! 0 larger& more comple2 version o it is
used on ban+ doors and electronic teller machines! "he
+ey is o tubular shape -ith the cuts arranged in a circle
around the +ey!
"he pic+ used or this loc+ is the tubular cylinder pic+&
or you may use a straight pin or your homemade saety
pin pic+! "he one3pronged end o the tension -rench is
a little more specialiEed and is used or rim cylinder loc+s!
't must be !;CD inches s7uare or best results! 0ny s7uare
steel stoc+ is acceptable& as long as it its snugly into the
groove o the tubular cylinder plug!
"his type o loc+ is a burglar's nightmare because it
ta+es so long to pic+! >ou have to pic+ it three or our
times to accomplish the unloc+ing radius o 1D; to 18;
degrees! 0nd the cylinder loc+s ater each time you pic+
it3every one3seventh o a turn!
' you leave the loc+ only partly pic+ed& the +ey -ill
not be able to open it& so you must pic+ it bac+ into the
loc+ed position ater opening it3another three or our
pic+ing sessions! 'n all& to unloc+ and loc+ the cylinder&
you have to pic+ it up to eight times37uite a chore i you
don't have the right tools or time!
"hese loc+s almost al-ays pic+ in the cloc+-ise direc3
tion! 4a+e certain that the tension -rench its snugly into
the groove on the cylinder! 8ery slo-ly push the irst pin
do-n until it clic+s& maintaining a deinite cloc+-ise
pressure on the tension -rench! (nce the tumbler has
bro+en& do not push any urther and proceed to the ne2t
one& and so on! 0s you reach the last tumbler& the ten3
sion -rench -ill eel more slac+ and give -ay i the loc+
-ere properly pic+ed!
"here are special +eyhole sa-s or these loc+s in -hich
you drill out the tumblers and turn the cylinder! 0lso there
is a special tool used by loc+smiths to open rim cylinder
loc+s!
4.SH*((4 05# SP((, P'5 ".4B,6* ,()AS
High3security pin tumbler loc+s may contain specially
made pins to ma+e pic+ing them more challenging! "he
pins are machined so as to ma+e pic+ing them 7uite di3
icult! %hen pic+ing these loc+s& the pins give the impres3
sion that they have bro+en& -hen in act they could be
a long -ay rom brea+ing! >ou can tell -hether or not
you are pic+ing a pin tumbler loc+ that has these pins by
the act that the pins seem to align so easily -ith a louder
than normal clic+! "he cylinder seems eager to open but
to no avail!
"he pic+ing procedure relies on a -ell3yielding tension
-rench! "he tension -rench has to be lightly spring3loaded
so that the pins can bypass their alse brea+ing points!
>ou also have to 1ra+e1 (seesa- in and out) the pins -ith
your pic+! "he eather3touch tension -rench is ideal or
the /ob! .se light pressure -ith it& and it -ill let you in!
(5ote9 0 eather3touch tension -rench is not necessarily re7uired! 0 normal
tension -rench -ill -or+ ine -ith an e2tremely light tension on it! "he
-eight o /ust your inde2 inger alone should be enough in most cases!)
"he mushroom and spool pins are used in loc+s or
high3security purposes such as ban+ doors! "he 0merican
,oc+ )ompany uses them in some o their padloc+s!
40<56"') ,()AS
4agnetic loc+s are ascinating! ' almost hate to open
them because ' eel that ' have breached their uni7ueness!
'n reality& you do not pic+ them& but 1conuse1 them! "hey
generally -or+ on the principle that li+e magnetic
polarities repel each other! "he +ey is a set o small
magnets arranged in a certain order to repel other magnets
in the loc+& thereby allo-ing the spring3loaded bolt or cam
to open the loc+!
By using a pulsating electromagnetic ield& you can
cause the magnets in the loc+ to vibrate violently at thirty
vibrations per second& thereby allo-ing it to be opened
by intermittent tugging o the bolt or turning o the door
+nob!
"his method may also ruin the small magnets in the
loc+ by changing their magnetic status or properties! So&
i you have to perorm an emergency brea+3in -ith these
loc+s& do not reloc+ the door! "he card or +ey -ill not
operate the loc+!
"he magnetic pic+ can be used on padloc+s by stro+3
ing it across the place -here the +ey is placed! 't is also
designed to it into the door+nob and is used by stro+ing
one pole in and out or by using the other pole the same
-ay!
' you have had little or no training and e2perience
building something li+e this& please have a riend -ho is
amiliar -ith basic electronics do it or you! #o not ta+e
the chance o electrocuting yoursel! 4a+e sure that the
coil is also completely covered -ith electrician's tape ater
you have -ound the B? gauge -ire! 0lso ma+e sure that
the steel core has at least three layers o tape over it! #o
not leave the unit plugged in or more than t-o to three
minutes at any one time as this may cause overheating
-hich could cause it to burn out or start a ire! 't is sae
to use i constructed properly and not let plugged in
unattended! (pening magnetic loc+s re7uires only B; to
C; seconds any-ay& so don't leave the unit plugged in or
longer!
:or magnetic padloc+s& use a bac+3and3orth stro+ing
action along the length o the +ey-ay! :or magnetic door
loc+s& use a stro+ing in3and3out action in the slot o the
+nob alternating rom one side (pole) o the pic+ to the
other!
"he 1+ey1 or a magnetic door loc+ is a metal or plastic
card containing an array o magnetic domains or regions
coded in a speciic order to allo- entry! "he magnetic pic+
bypasses that!
(See ig3;8!<':)
#'SA ".4B,6* ,()AS
)ombination or 1puEEle1 loc+s -ere invented to ur3
ther improve security and the protection o valuables! "he
older saes and loc+bo2es -ere good security devices -hen
they came into the mar+et& but some people became
curious and realiEed that these sae loc+s had inherent
-ea+nesses! (ne o the main problems -as that the dis+
tumblers -ere not mechanically isolated rom the bolt that
unloc+s the sae door! 'n other -ords& you could eel and
hear the tumblers -hile turning the dial by applying
pressure on the handle o the bolt!
%hen that problem -as recogniEed and solved& thieves
started drilling through strategic places in the loc+ itsel
to open it! Anoc+ing o hinges -as an all3time avorite
tactic as -ell! "hen came punching out the dial shat&
blo-torching& and /ust plain blo-ing the door -ith e23
plosives! <reed can breed great creativity!
"he irst problem& that o manipulating the tumblers
open& -as rectiied by ma+ing use o the dial to operate
the bolt upon completion o the dialing o the correct com3
bination! "his made it nearly impossible to eel or hear
the tumblers! #rilling -as deterred by laminating the sae
door -ith hard steel and beryllium3copper plates! "he
beryllium3copper plates pull heat a-ay rom the drill tip
7uic+ly& and the bit /ust spins -ithout eect= drilling can3
not ta+e place -ithout the generation o heat at the bit's
cutting edges! Anoc+ing o hinges -as discouraged by
using three or more bolts operated by a main lin+age net3
-or+! Punching out the dial shat to let the tumblers all
out o the -ay o the bolt -as corrected by beveling the
shat into the -all o the sae door!
Presently& sae loc+s are 7uite sophisticated! Pic+ing
them -ould re7uire supernatural po-er! "he older saes&
ho-ever& are much easier and even un to pic+! Pic+ing
combination padloc+s is a good -ay to start learning ho-
to open saes& and -e -ill get to them shortly! But irst&
let us discuss some basic prmciples o dis+ tumbler loc+s!
#is+ tumbler loc+s -or+ by the use o lat& round dis+s
o metal or plastic -ith a notch and a peg on each dis+!
"he notch is called the tumbler gate! "he gate o each
tumbler has to be lined up -ith the pa-l o the bolt
mechanism by usage o the lin+ing capabilities o the pegs!
"he irst tumbler o the dis+ tumbler loc+ (also the last
combination number dialed) is mechanically connected
to the dial through the sae door! %hen the dial is turned&
the irst tumbler pic+s up the middle tumbler -hen their
pegs connect! "he middle tumbler in turn pic+s up the
last tumbler or one more complete turn and the tumblers
have been 1cleared13you are ready to dial the irst com3
bination number by aligning the last tumbler's gate to the
pa-l! 0ter you have reached this number or position&
rotate the dial in the opposite direction one complete turn
(or three tumbler loc+s= t-o turns or our tumbler loc+s)
to engage the middle tumbler and drive it to the second
combination mlmber! By rotating the dial bac+ into the
opposite direction to the last combination number& the
bolt can be operated to open the loc+& or as in the case
o ne-er saes& the dial -ill operate the bolt by turning
it once again in the opposite direction!
(ne o the innovations that developed to deter sensual
manipulation o combination loc+s -as the use o ser3
rated ront tumblers (last combination number dialed)!
"hese -ere designed to oil listening and eeling o the
tumblers' gates by burglars!
%hen the bolt encountered any one o these shallo-
gates& the saecrac+er could never be sure -hether or not
a tumbler -as actually aligned -ith the pa-l3bolt
mechanism! Some burglars solved this problem by attach3
ing high3speed drills to the dial +nob to rotate and -ear
do-n the irst tumbler's shallo- alse gates against the
bolt& thereby eliminating them altogether& or at least
minimiEing their eects! Still& today the serrated tumbler
is used as an eective deterrent to manipulation in com3
bination padloc+s -here space is a actor!
,et us move on to combination padloc+s! "he most
common and diicult to open o these small dis+ tumbler
loc+s are the 4aster combination padloc+s& and they are
7uite popular! ' have had good luc+ in opening these loc+s
-ith a -ooden mallet or sot3aced hammer! "he manip3
ulation o 4aster combination padloc+s is 7uite easy3'
have done it thousands o times& and you can learn it& too!
"he ne-er the loc+ is& though& the more diicult it -ill
be to open at irst! ' the loc+ has had a lot o use& such
as that on a loc+er3room door -here the shac+le gets
pulled do-n and encounters the tumblers -hile the com3
bination is being dialed& the serrated ront tumblers -ill
become smoothed do-n& allo-ing easier sensing o the
tumblers! So& until you have become good at opening these
loc+s& practice e2tensively on an old one! ,et's try to open
one9
(P65'5< 0 )(4B'50"'(5 P0#,()A
S"6P (56
:irst& clear the tumblers by engaging all o them! "his
is done by turning the dial cloc+-ise (sometimes these
loc+s open more easily starting in the opposite direction)
three to our times! 5o- bring your ear close to the loc+
and gently press the bottom bac+ edge to the bony area
/ust or-ard o your ear canal opening so that vibrations
can be heard and elt! Slo-ly turn the dial in the opposite
direction! 0s you turn& you -ill hear a very light clic+ as
each tumbler is pic+ed up by the previous tumbler! "his
is the sound o the pic+up pegs on each dis+ as they engage
each other! )lear the tumblers again in a cloc+-ise man3
ner and proceed to step t-o!
S"6P "%(
0ter you have cleared the tumblers& apply an up-ard
pressure on the shac+le o the padloc+! Aeeping your ear
on the loc+& try to hear the tumblers as they rub across
the pa-l= +eep the dial rotating in a cloc+-ise direction!
>ou -ill hear t-o types o clic+s& each -ith a subtle
dierence in pitch! "he shallo-& higher pitched clic+s are
the sound o the alse gates on the irst dis+ tumbler! #o
not let them ool you3the real gates sound hollo- and
empty& almost none2istent!
%hen you eel a greater than normal relie in the shac+le
once every ull turn& this is the gate o the irst tumbler
(last number dialed)! "his tumbler is connected directly
to the dial as mentioned earlier! 'gnore that sound or no-!
%hen you have aligned the other t-o tumblers& the last
tumbler's sound -ill be dro-ned out by the sound o the
shac+le popping open!
S"6P "H*66
%hile continuing in a cloc+-ise direction -ith the dial&
listen careully or the slight hollo- sound o either one
o the irst t-o tumblers! 5ote on the dial ace -here these
sounds are by either memoriEing them or -riting them
do-n! 4a+e certain that you do not ta+e note o the driv3
ing tumbler (last number dialed)! ' you hear and eel only
one hollo- clic+ (sounds li+e 1dump1)& chances are that
the irst number could be the same as the last one!
>ou should have t-o numbers no-! ,et us say one o
them is 1D and the other is DC! )lear the tumblers again
/ust to be sae and stop at the number 1D! <o
countercloc+-ise one complete turn rom 1D! )ontinue
until there is another 1dump1 sound! 0ter the complete
turn pass 1D& i you eel and hear a louder than normal
sound o a tumbler rubbing on the pa-l& the irst tumbler
is properly aligned and the second tumbler is ta+ing the
brunt o the orce rom the shac+le3you are on the right
trac+! %hen the second tumbler has aligned in this case&
you -ill eel a deinite resistance -ith the last turn o the
dial going cloc+-ise! "he inal turn -ill automatically
open the shac+le o the loc+! ' none o these symptoms
are evident& try starting -ith the number o the combina3
tion& DC& in the same -ay!
S"6P :(.*
' the loc+ still does not open& don't give up! "ry search3
ing or a dierent irst number! <ive it a good thirty3 or
orty3minute try! ' you play -ith it long enough& it -ill
eventually open! "he more practice you have under your
belt& the 7uic+er you -ill be able to open these padloc+s
in the uture!
.sing a stethoscope to increase audibility o the clic+s
is not out o the 7uestion -hen -or+ing on dis+ tumbler
loc+s& though ' never use them or padloc+s! 0 miniature
-ide3audio3range electronic stethoscope -ith a magnetic
base or coupling a pieEoelectric3type microphone is ideal
or getting to +no- the tumblers better!
:iling your ingertips to increase sensitivity might not
be such a good idea or beginners since their ingertips
-ill not be accustomed to operating dials or a long period
o time! %ith practice& you may develop calluses and need
to ile your ingertips! But ' don't recommend it at irst!
0ter some time you may ind that in some cases you
can -hiE right through the combination o an un+no-n
loc+ -ithout loo+ing at it and pop it open in seconds!
't becomes second nature! ''ve done this on many occa3
sions3something beyond my conscious control seems to
line up the tumblers -ithout my thin+ing about it!
0nother type o dis+ tumbler padloc+ is the Sesame
loc+ made by the )orbin ,oc+ )o! 'ts uni7ue design
ma+es it more diicult to open than 4aster padloc+s& but
it can be opened! ,et's ta+e one o the three or our -heel
mechanisms& loo+ at a cross section& and see ho- it -or+s!
"he -heel has numbers rom Eero to nine! 0ttached to
the -heel is a small cam! Both the -heel and cam turn
on the shat! 6ach -heel in this loc+ operates indepen3
dently -ith its o-n cam and shat! "he loc+ing dog is
loc+ed to the shac+le! 'n this position the shac+le cannot
be opened! "he loc+ing dog operates -ith all three or our
-heels! "he loc+ing dog is riding on the round edge o
the cam! "he spring is pushing up on the cam! "he loc+3
ing dog cannot move up because it is resting on the round
part o the cam! %hen the -heel is turned to the proper
combination number& the loc+ing dog rests on the lat o
the cam! "he spring can then raise the loc+ing dog to
release the shac+le& and this opens the loc+!
"'PS :(* S.))6SS
>ou -ill undoubtedly encounter a pin tumbler loc+ in
-hich there -ill be a pin or t-o that is +eyed too lo-
(the shear line o the pin is too high)! 'n this case the loc+
is diicult to open because the brea+ing point o a long
bottom pin doesn't allo- room in the +ey-ay or the pic+
to manipulate the other pins! >our success in opening
1tight1 loc+s -ill depend on the s+ill you have developed
-ith your tension -rench! Sometimes it helps to play -ith
the tension -rench! "ry bouncing it let and right slightly
-hile pic+ing& allo-ing some o the tumblers to drop occa3
sionally! >ou may also try pic+ing the ront tumblers irst
or pic+ing at random on these loc+s! >ou can tell i you
have a loc+ that is +eyed li+e this because your pic+ may
get /ammed during the pic+ing process!
0ter you have opened a cylinder and unloc+ed a loc+&
be sure to return it to the loc+ed position! >ou -ill hear
the tumblers clic+ into place -hen this happens! (ther3
-ise it may be diicult to unloc+ it -ith its +ey because
the bottom pins cannot 1loat1 li+e they normally -ould!
"o tell -hether or not the cylinder should go cloc+-ise
or countercloc+-ise -hen pic+ing a tumbler loc+& there
is an easy rule to ollo-! ' the tumblers (pin or -aer)
-ill not brea+& or stay bro+en& you are going in the -rong
direction -ith the tension -rench! "here -ill be little or
no progress -ith the cylinder& and e-& i any& 1clic+s!1
Some +ey-ays are cut at an angle (>ale& #e2ter& and
Schlage& or e2ample) so you -ant to be sure that you tilt
your pic+ to ollo- that angle -hile pic+ing or your pic+
-ill get hung up! 0 slight t-ist o the -rist -ill compen3
sate or this problem!
Should your ingers become tired -hile pic+ing a loc+&
lay do-n your tools and sha+e your hands and ingers
to relieve any tension! 0ter some time the muscles in your
hands -ill become accustomed to such activity! Practice
and persistence -ill tone your hands and senses to the
point -here you -ill be able to pop open a cylinder in
three to ive seconds (that's seconds) in total dar+ness! "he
combination o touch and sound lets you +no- almost
a split second beore you open the loc+ that you have
succeeded!
' the loc+ is a -ell3machined one& the cylinder -ill eel
tight and you -ill need a little irmer hand on the ten3
sion -rench! %hile pic+ing& i any one o the pins at any
time eels irm or diicult to move& chances are it's aligned!
' it eels springy& it is not!
.se the shat o the pic+ i you have to -hen -or+ing
the rontal pin o a pin tumbler loc+! "his may save you
the trouble o aligning the tip o the pic+ on the ront
pin -here there is little or no support or the pic+! 0ll
o the other pins allo- the pic+ to be supported by the
inside -all o the +ey-ay!
4aster +eyed pin tumbler loc+s are generally easier to
pic+ open because they have more than one shear line or
brea+ing point in the pins! 4aster +eying allo-s a group
o loc+s to be controlled by a master +ey holder -hile the
individual loc+s in that group are controlled by individual
+eys! Hotels and apartment comple2es are usually master
+eyed!
"here is a simple techni7ue to open pin and -aer
tumbler loc+s! Simply drill through the shear lines o the
tumblers! "his point is located /ust above the center o
the +ey-ay on the ace o the cylinder! By doing this&
though& you obviously ruin the loc+ and ma+e a lot o
rac+et! ' the loc+ is a 4edeco or some other high3security 3
loc+& you ris+ damage o one hundred dollars or more&
so be sure you +no- the value o the situation beore you
decide to rape the loc+! .se a center punch to start a
reliable hole on the cylinder ace and use a one37uarter
inch drill bit -ith a variable speed drill! %ith a large
scre-driver& turn it to unloc+! "he cylinder -ill be di3
icult to turn because you may be shearing the tumbler
springs that have allen do-n past the cylinder's shear line!
#ead bolt loc+s are those mounted on a door above
the +nob! 0ll dead bolt loc+s unloc+ countercloc+-ise
-ith let3hand doors and cloc+-ise -ith righthand doors!
' you have trouble remembering this& /ust remember that
the bolt o the loc+ has to go in the opposite direction
o the door/am!
#ead bolt loc+s are /ust as easy to pic+ open as +nob
loc+s are! "hey both have cylinders that can be pic+ed
open! "he main dierence is that dead bolts cannot be
opened by sliding a plastic or metal card through to the
bolt so as to -or+ it bac+! 'n other -ords& they are not
spring loaded! "hat's -hy they are called dead bolts! 4ost
+nob loc+s no- have guards in ront o the bolts to deter
opening -ith cards!
A-i+3sets& %eisers& and some o the less3e2pensive +nob
loc+s may open in either direction! Schlage and )orbin&
along -ith more sophisticated loc+s& can open only in one
direction! 0uto loc+s -ill open either -ay! 0nother
method o pic+ing pin tumbler loc+s is -ith a pic+ gun!
0s the pic+ snaps up& it hits the bottom pin! "his bounces
the top pin out o the cylinder and into the shell! 0s you
apply light turning pressure -ith the tension -rench& the
top pins are caught in the shell& the cylinder -ill turn! ''ve
never used a pic+ gun& but they do -or+ -ell or loc+3
smiths -ho use them! "hey are cumbersome and e2pen3
sive& and sho- some lac+ o proessionalism!
(5ote9 ' you don't care about proessionalism and -ant to open 9@$ o all
pin tumbler loc+s out there 3 and ast3 buy this device! 't is very a-esome!
' even recommend it over a )obra 6lectronic loc+pic+! "rust me& ' have both&
and ' eel the IC; ,oc+aid pic+ gun blo-s a-ay the IB@; )obra)
S(46 P*6)0."'(5S
' you bought this boo+ to learn ho- to pic+ loc+s in
order to become a more eicient burglar& then there is
not a -hole lot ' can say or do to stop you! But ' must
say this9 the loc+s used in prisons are nearly impossible
to pic+ even i you get or ma+e the right tools! "hey are
usually electrically controlled rom an e2ternal station!
#o not carry loc+ pic+s on your person! ' you get
caught -ith them& you could get nailed or most any pro3
essional /ob in to-n or the last seven years! ' you must
carry them& as in the case o rescue -or+ers& etc!& please
consult your local authorities about details and as+ about
registering -ith them! 0s a ormer loc+smith& ' do not
have that problem!
' advise that you do not teach your riends ho- to pic+
loc+s! "he choice is yours& o course! >ou paid the price
o this boo+ and the +no-ledge is yours3be selish -ith
it! 't is or your o-n protection as -ell! "he e-er people
-ho +no- you have this s+ill& the better! <etting blamed
or something you didn't do is unair and a hassle!
%hen you become proicient at pic+ing loc+s& you may
decide to get a /ob as a loc+smith! But believe me& there
is more to being a loc+smith than being able to pic+ loc+s!
>ou have to be a good carpenter as -ell as a air mechanic!
But you may -ant to approach the o-ner o a loc+ shop
and as+ i you could get on as an apprentice!
5(B(#>'S P6*:6)"
"here isn't a loc+ing device on earth that cannot be
opened -ith means other than its +ey or code! 't's /ust
that some are easier to open than others! 0nything -ith
a +eyhole& dial& or access port is sub/ect to being opened
-ith alternate means& though some o the ne-er electronic
and computer3controlled security devices -ould be a
nightmare even i you had e2tensive +no-ledge o elec3
tronics and electromagnetics! Some devices also use palm
prints as a readout to allo- entry!
(n the mechanical side& there are loc+s that have nor3
mal pin tumblers& but they are situated in various places
BC; degrees around the cylinder! Some loc+s use pin
tumblers that not only have to be aligned vertically -ithin
the cylinder& but also have to 1t-ist1 or turn a certain
number o degrees to allo- the cylinder to open! "his is
because the pins' shear line is cut at an angle! "hese loc+s
are made by 4edeco!
' have -itnessed only one 4edeco loc+ being pic+ed3
by a ello- loc+smith! %e both spent hours trying to pic+
it again& but it -as utile! %e estimated the chances o
opening it again to be one out o 1;&;;;! "hey are e2cellent
security devices& but their price +eeps them limited to areas
prone to security problems such as isolated vending
machines and or government use! "he only one ' have
been successul at opening (ater an hour o pic+ing) -as
one ' drilled! By the -ay& they are easy to drill because
the brass that's used is sot!
,60*5'5< "( "(.)H 05# :66,
4ost o us +no- ho- to touch! %e touch ob/ects every
day& and yet -e do not truly eel them! 't seems so
commonplace that -e orget that -e are actually eeling
-hile -e touch!
Here is an e2ercise that -ill develop a delicate touch!
<ently rub and massage your hands and ingers3
preerably -ith hand lotion! #o this or ive minutes! (nce
the lotion has evaporated& sha+e your hands and ingers
so that they lop loosely! <ently pull each inger to rela2
each /oint!
5o- -ith a piece o ine sandpaper& gently dra- the
tips o your ingers across it! "ry to eel the te2ture o
the grains on its surace! *ela2 your ingers& hands& ore3
arms& shoulders& and chest! "a+e your time! #o this or
several minutes!
0ter a e- -ee+s o practice& you -ill be able to eel
each individual grain o sand on the sandpaper! "his
allo-s you to eel the slightest sensation vibrate through
your bones!
"ry to remember to practice touching and eeling dur3
ing your everyday e2periences! Practice eeling -ood&
metal& and various other ob/ects! Play -ith the eel o
mechanical vibrations& even your television set! "ry to sense
the -orld around you as a source o inormation! "his
could and -ill open a -hole ne- horiEon o e2perience!
0ter a -hile& you -ill be able to eel or sense the move3
ment o the tumblers o a Sargeant and <reenlea sae!
4y irst sae opened in three minutes because o that
techni7ue that too+ me years to discover!
8'S.0,'J0"'(5
' you respect the security o the loc+ and do not
become overconident& you -ill never become disappointed
i you ail to open it! >ou also increase your chances o
opening the loc+ because you personally have nothing to
gain or lose by opening it! <ive up trying to be an e2pert
and /ust pic+ the loc+!
%ith such an attitude& you may ind the loc+ -ill usually
pop right open! ' never received a trophy or being the
best loc+ pic+er in the state! 4y satisaction is in +no-3
ing that ' am never helpless in a loc+out situation! "he
7uality o your success is almost romantic= it involves sen3
sitivity and compassion in the ace o curiosity as a means
to help others!
8isualiEation and imagination are important to the loc+
pic+er! ''ve noticed that people -ho have the ability to
visualiEe the internal parts o the loc+ that they are pic+3
ing seldom ail to open it in moments! 0nyone can learn
to do this by simply remembering to do it -hile pic+ing
a loc+! Since sight& sound& and touch are involved -ith
the process& visualiEation is very easy to do! "ry to +eep
all o your attention on the loc+ during the pic+ing pro3
cess! "his -ill help you to learn ho- to use heightened
sensitivity or pic+ing loc+s!
So in that respect& an unopened loc+ is li+e a ne- and
une2plored lover! >ou imagine all o the 7ualities o an
attractive person -hom you've /ust met and apply that
eeling to the loc+ that you are pic+ing! .se visualiEation!
't -ill help immensely!
(5ote9 0ll this Jen stu may sound li+e a load o shit& but it's not! '
mysel cannot pic+ a loc+ unless ' am comortable! ' ' am craving a
cigarette or ' am hungry or something else li+e that& ' have a diicult time
opening a loc+! 0lso& attitude is important! #on't sho- o!)
Have un
0ny 7uestion or comments
can be let to me at *ipco
(leave mail to B,((#4(56>)