How to Pick a Lock: The Complete Guide

Picking a lock is a skill that will serve you well in the real world. Your keys may mysteriously vanish at times. It’s not the end of the world if you misplace your keys, but it can feel like a major catastrophe. It only takes an afternoon to master the skill of lockpicking. Especially if the locks you use are simple to break through. However, if they are easy to select, it is likely that you need to upgrade. How to pick a lock without tools, on a car, on a door, or on a deadbolt lock, will be discussed in this article.

What Is Lock Picking?

Lock picking is the non-destructive practice of gaining entry to a lockable door or safe without the use of a key. Single-pin picking and raking are only two of the many lock-picking methods that can be used to achieve this purpose; ultimately, though, they all aim to do the same thing, which is to simulate the movement of the key.

But to imitate the key, we need to know how the locking mechanism functions and how the key opens it.

Many varieties of locks are in use today, although they all operate on quite simple principles (locks are dumb animals, after all). In this primer on picking locks, we’ll concentrate on the pin tumbler lock, which is the simplest and most widely used type.

Almost every modern deadbolt, door lock, and padlock uses a pin tumbler, making it the most common type of lock in use. They have a primitive layout and are based on technology that is at least 6,000 years old.

Are House Locks Hard to Pick?

The practice of learning to pick locks is typically associated with a Zen-like level of concentration. Picking a lock successfully requires a lot of time and patience when sitting in a dark room with candles.

However, the converse is true in this case.

Lock picking is an easy skill to pick up and use; in fact, you may master the fundamentals of the craft in a relatively short period of time. Some locks may be more challenging to pick than others, but with sufficient practice and knowledge, you can open the vast majority of locks on the market today.

How Does Lock Picking Work?

Too often, the ability to pick locks has been portrayed negatively. People often assume that only criminals would be able to pick locks, but in reality, most criminals don’t even bother to try. As they are primarily concerned with the things kept inside, they have little regard for the property and will kick in doors, break windows, and otherwise cause general destruction. Clandestine government operatives who don’t want to be discovered, professionals who want to gain entry without damage, and regular people who find themselves locked out of their own homes and don’t want to pay the exorbitant fees of a locksmith all use lock-picking.

Being able to pick locks does not automatically label one as a criminal, but it does provide one with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that one can help oneself or others gain entry to a locked door. An elderly or sick person who you worry may be hurt or in need of assistance may also require a checkup.

Lock-picking is an exciting pastime because it tests your focus, concentration, and manual dexterity, and it teaches you how to defend your property from real criminals in the world. You can earn some additional cash doing it, either by teaching others or by competing with your skills.

What Are The  Types of Lockpicks?

There are essentially six distinct lockpicks for picking pin tumbler locks, each of which is tailored to one of two main methods. Picking with a single pin and raking are the two techniques used here.

Both types call for certain methods that work well when combined with a specially crafted pick.

The most popular picks in each picking method will be discussed below, so let’s get started!

#1. Single Pin Picking

Picking a single pin at a time is known as “single pin picking,” and that’s exactly what it sounds like.

However, a tiny and accurate instrument is required for lifting individual pins. Because of this, most instruments used for picking single pins are shaped like a hook; however, there are a handful of notable exceptions to this rule that we’ll discuss below.

When it comes to single-pin picking, there are three main types of picks to consider.

• Shorter hooks
• Deeper hooks
• Offset hooks.

Let’s talk about the benefits of each group and look at some of the most prevalent and practical products in each group.

Shorter Hooks

Due to the fact that the best picks can fit through the tiniest of keyholes, single-pin picking is a game of precision and elegance.

• Capable of handling one pin at a time with ease
• Are nimble enough that they won’t accidentally run into anything else

This is the effectiveness of hooks with a narrower profile. They are just the right length to reach and set pins, but short enough to give us plenty of room to move around in the keyway.

However, when we get into shorter cut pins that are placed behind longer cut pins, it’s a major drawback of shorter profile hooks. When trying to set one of these problematic little pins with a shorter hook, you may find that you have to lift the longer pin in order to get the shorter one to the shear line. This may result in overset or underset pins, a common source of frustration for amateurs.

Let’s take a look at not one, but two common forms of the shorter hook, as well as something that isn’t technically a hook but fits the bill nicely!

1. The Standard Short Hook

The conventional short hook is a widely appreciated and widely used pick shape because it is both precise and nimble.

The normal short hook is perfect for single-pin picking of the great majority of pin tumbler locks because of its shorter profile, which allows us to easily maneuver in both open and exclusive locations. If you practice and get good enough, there aren’t many locks you won’t be able to open with this pick.

The traditional short hook, however, has a fatal flaw: a pin that is cut noticeably shorter than the pin before it. However, these challenging circumstances can usually be navigated with some practice and ingenuity.

Lock pickers rely on the conventional short hook more than any other instrument because of its adaptability and frequency of use. It is commonly said that if you can master this pick, you can pick any lock. Therefore, if you could only choose one, the short hook would be the one to go for.

2. The Gem

The gem is another often used pick; it extends the short hook with a sharper end. This allows us to extend our reach slightly without compromising the speed and dexterity of the classic short hook.

The gem’s long tip makes it a useful tool for picking locks with radical bitting, heavy-ish warding, and paracentric keyways. It’s less clumsy, so it’s simpler for beginners who don’t yet have a strong handle on the spacing between pins to find pins and stay within the pin chambers.

You may slide the pick across pins to probe and raise them instead of having to approach them from below, as you would with a hook with a flatter point. The ability to drag the tip over pins gives you more leeway to move and angle the pick, giving you a greater degree of control.

However, key pins can slip when being raised because the end of this pick and the tip of the key pins are both sharp. While this isn’t a major issue, newcomers may become confused or frustrated.

The gem, though, is a superb choice since it strikes a happy medium between the shallow and the deep hooks.

3. The Half-Diamond

The half diamond is a cross between the gem and the short hook; it is not technically a hook, but it is used in much the same way. However, it shares the gem’s fantastic ability to easily find and insert pins.

Like the diamond, it functions as a ramp, allowing pins to ascend and descend at a measured pace. By dragging the pick across the stacks of binding pins, we can easily find the one we need and set it.

The half diamond, on the other hand, is a thick pick with a wide base that makes it cumbersome and difficult to manipulate in the keyway. However, this problem becomes significant only when accessing shorter-cut pins that are sandwiched between larger-cut pins. Unfortunately, it lacks the dexterity and precision to reach pins that are stacked too high and too close together.

The pick’s height makes it difficult to enter keyways that are paracentric, narrow, or heavily warded.

Deeper Hooks

Shorter hooks are more maneuverable and strong, but they lack the reach to readily bypass particular lock situations, such as heavy warding, or complex pin arrangements.

But if we extend the hook a bit, we’ll find that the lock that was giving us so much trouble is suddenly wide open.

1. The Standard Deep Hook

The deep hook’s simplistic shape comes from the fact that it’s essentially a short hook with more length and reach.

With the extra length, it’s simple to remove the shorter pins that are tucked away inside the longer ones. In addition, LockpickingLawyer has a great video showing how to utilize these picks to open locks with severely paracentric keyways or strong warding.

Deeper hooks like this one are great for when things get sticky, but they aren’t great as go-to lock picks because of how massive and cumbersome they are. One, or an offset hook, should be on hand at all times.

Offset Hooks

So, we know that shorter hooks are more nimble and responsive, but they also lack the reach needed for complex biting. Deeper hooks provide the extra reach we occasionally require, but they are far less nimble.

For want of a better term, an offset pick is a pick that gradually “offsets” and extends the tip of the pick. Because of this, we have a pick that is not only deep and accurate but also relatively lightweight and unobtrusive in the keyway.

Furthermore, the picks’ increasingly rounded tip allows them to spin and pivot around pin stacks, making it simple to set short-cut pins hidden behind longer-cut pins, all the way to the lock’s back.

Here are two of the most popular asymmetrical options.

1. Peterson Reach

The Peterson Reach is the first of my top recommendations.

This incredible offset hook combines the effectiveness of a deep hook with the dexterity of a short hook, and the results are quite remarkable. To me, it’s always looked like a ninja on a stick!

Its general thinness makes it ideal for accessing and placing elusive pins, such as those that are incredibly close to one another yet hidden behind another set of incredibly long pins.

Plus, its slim and spherical design makes it simple to pivot and curve around pin stacks, even while lifting pins in the lock’s back!

The round end also prevents the pin from slipping off the head, making picking much easier than with a pointed end.

Finally, the reach works great for turning pins in high-security locks like the Medeco Biaxial, which can be used as a kind of emotional self-harm.

There is, however, a catch to this otherwise perfect choice. This pick profile is considerably more likely to break than others since it is made from a specially stretched-out piece of metal. At the time of writing this, I have yet to crack one, but I have no doubt that day will come.

If you are a newbie and tend to be rough with your tools, you may want to ease up on this one. Keep it away from locks that have rusted or corroded components, as these locks sometimes require more force to open than a simple reach can muster.

2. Deforest Diamond

There is virtually no in-between with The Deforest Diamond; you will either adore it or despise it.

Regardless, this choice is neat because it combines the advantages of the short hook and the gem.

The versatility of this pick lies in the fact that its profile and effect on the pins vary depending on the angle at which you hold it.

This pick, when held at an angle that mimics the slope of the gem, allows us to effortlessly glide through pins. We don’t have to lower the pick as far to get it beneath the stack of pins, so it’s a little easier to maneuver.

Lifting pins becomes much simpler and less prone to missteps when the pick’s tip flattens and rises as the angle is reduced. Set those short pins in the back with ease because of its massive offset, which allows it to twist and curl around pin stacks without touching them.

There is a price to pay for such an abundance of benefits, however. This pick can be awkward to use in paracentric or smaller keyways due to its size.

#2. Raking

Raking is a fast and furious method of picking locks in which as many pins as possible are manipulated in as little time as possible.

This is why we normally employ lengthy picks with multiple contact locations inside the lock. Theoretically, the faster you can rake, set the pins, and unlock the door, the more points of contact you’ll have with the pins. Therefore, rakes that make more contact with the pins are more efficient.

However, this doesn’t always imply that longer and more radical rakes are the way to go; other factors, like how hard the pins are biting, might have a much bigger impact on how successful any given rake is. In certain cases, the simplest designs are the most functional.

There are many different rake techniques, but most of them may be categorized into three broad categories:  

• Scrubbing
• Rocking
• Zipping

So, let’s check out some of the most often used and efficient lock-picking rakes for various techniques.

Scrubbing

The rakes used for scrubbing make up the first type. The cleaning technique of raking is analogous to the scrubbing action of, for instance, brushing one’s teeth.

The aim is to bounce the pins to the shear line in a quite forceful back-and-forth motion.

Scrubbing rakes that minimize friction and snagging and have the ability to contact each pin multiple times each pass will be very useful. When utilizing rakes in this way, it’s best to loosen the tension a bit, as tightly tied pins can snag your pick and break it.

Let’s take a look at the Bogota, our first rake-style pick, in action as an example of scrubbing.

1. Bogota

The Bogota lock pick is the most important tool here. Among modern rakes, this is among the strongest and most popular options.

Scrubbing with a Bogota is incredibly efficient, and raking at an angle can make it even more effective. Putting in front or rear shortcut pins is now a breeze. You can also rock with it, which makes it a really versatile tool.

The rounded and polished peaks of this rake make it efficient by reducing friction and allowing it to slide effortlessly within the lock, much like a buttered-up fat child farting through space.

As an added bonus, the lock’s triple peaks allow for simultaneous manipulation of several pins and, with each pass, the opportunity to set all but the rearmost pins three times.

Unlike many other rakes, the Bogota is resistant to high-low-high-low pin cuts. Like all rakes, though, it has trouble with locks that have particularly tight tolerances and is basically ineffective against locks of even average quality that include deep-cut security pins. It’s not likely that you’ll rake an American 1100.

The Bogota is also known as the “Pagoda” by SouthOrd and the “Bogie” by Peterson.

2. Snake Rake

Regardless of its age, pickers all over the world still hold the snake rake in high regard. It’s a mighty rake for such a small package, and it’s included in many beginner and expert sets of lock-picking tools.

The efficiency of the snake rake lies in its reduced size, despite having only two tiny peaks of varying heights. The snake rake is much shorter than the Bogota. Because of this, it can be used in tighter or even paracentric keyways, as well as at a wider range of rake angles.

C Rake, Squiggly Rake, and Double Rake are all alternative names for this tool. Despite its many nicknames, the snake rake is the one that’s most commonly used by locksmiths.

Rocking Picks

The second type of rake is the rocking type.

This approach is quite straightforward and soft; to lift pins to the shear line, the picker simply keeps changing the angle of the pick within the keyways.

This technique works with just about any pick, although there is one that was made specifically for rocking.

1. The City Rake

Because of its profile, which is strikingly similar to the biting of a key, the City Rake is sometimes mistaken for a city skyline, hence the name. This rake goes by several other names, including “L Rake” and “Long Ripple.”

This rake is employed quite differently from the standard rake. The pins on a city rake are rocked rather than scrubbed like they are with the Bogota or snake rake seen above.

In addition, a gradual scrubbing-like action can be done while rocking to give the various peaks an opportunity to come into contact with one another and set pins. This pick may be made into a potent little instrument by combining rocking with light cleaning. 

Locks with longer pins at the front and back and shorter pins in the middle are no match for its rocking action, which allows it to revolve around the center of its profile.

However, the city rake is no match for locks with smaller keyways or security pins, as is the case with any rake. The cleaning power of this pick is low, but it can be utilized in that capacity if necessary.

The first city rake served as inspiration for numerous other designs, including Peterson’s tiny ripples, but in my opinion, they are inferior to the original.

Zipping Picks

Zipping is the last subtype of raking.

It is a technique where the player pulls the pick out of the keyway and then uses an upward push on the pins to cause them to violently bounce to the shear line.

Several picks, such as the short hook and half-diamond, can be used to achieve this.

The success rate of placing the pins can be improved, though, by using one of the several picks that have been engineered to boost the “bouncing” force imparted to each pin.

1. Batarang

The Batarang is one of the few picks made with this method of zipping in mind; it is also known as the “S-Rake,” “Triple Rake,” and “Camel Back.”

It features two peaks, doubling the number of times a pin may be put in a given zip, and each peak is extremely sharp, allowing it to forcefully hurl pins into the shear line.

However, the point where the rake’s handle attaches to the pick’s shank is a common failure point. This pick is not very effective against locks with tighter keyways, paracentric keyways, strong warding, rust, or corrosion, or against anything else that might grab the pick as it is being removed.

Recently, though, manufacturers have been reinforcing the rakes’ bases, which helps to reduce this vulnerability.

How to Pick a Lock

It takes more skill than logic to pick a lock. Having a “feel” for it is something you will surely need. Different locks may use the same basic concepts, however, this is not always the case. Scrubbing is the quickest and dirtiest approach for picking a lock, but it is also the least effective.

#1. Apply Slight Pressure to the Keyhole Bottom with a Tension Wrench.

To pick a lock, the tension wrench is (pardon the pun) indispensable. The pick isn’t what’s raising the key pins to align with the sheer line, but thanks to video games, most people think it is.

The tension wrench is necessary because you must apply force to the plug when you raise the pin sets with the pick. When the driver pin reaches the shear line, the plug will rotate slightly if enough torque is applied. The key pin will fall when you remove your pick, but the driver pin will catch the plug’s edge and remain above the shear line. 

Now insert the end of the tension wrench into the keyhole’s base. Gentle pressure in the direction you’d turn the key if you had it will do the trick. A little, and I do mean a little. Applying an excessive amount of force will only result in the driver pins binding below the shear line. The driver pins must be able to rise above the shear line while also being able to descend with enough torque to catch the plug by the drive pin’s edge as it starts to rotate.

When does pressure become unacceptable? You are probably using too much force if your tension wrench is bending significantly. As a result, it’s preferable to use a gentler touch.

#2. Place the Pick in the Upper Lock.

Choose one. The three-ridged Bogota rake is my personal favorite. This one has effortlessly picked every lock I’ve tried it on.

Bring the rake around behind you.

#3. Scrub Your Pick Back and Forth in the KeyHole While Torqueing Your Wrench

Don’t let up on the tension wrench’s modest pressure. For this, I prefer to utilize my left hand. Use the pick in your right hand to clean or rake the plug’s interior. You can apply pressure to the pins by pulling the pick back and up at the same time.

#4. Iterate Until All Pins Have Set

The pins won’t set until you keep applying wrench torque and cleaning them. As you come down to the last one or two pins that need to be set, you may need to put extra torque and pressure on them with your pick. You’re probably using too much wrench torque if you’re not seeing any progress. Don’t force things; instead, take a deep breath, wait for the pins to reset, and try again.

So long! Really? That settles the matter, period. This cleaning technique is effective for picking the vast majority of pin and tumbler locks.

Some locks, like those with multiple pin sets, require a bit more dexterity to open. To pick these locks, you may need to take a more logical approach, identifying the pin stack that presents the greatest resistance, selecting that one first, and then moving on to the next.

How to Pick a Lock on a Door

One may imagine that only people with dubious reputations would take the time to learn how to pick locks. In actuality though, it’s no more complicated than swapping a tire. It’s a useful talent that doesn’t involve breaking the law, and it can simplify your life considerably. 

However, learning how to pick a door lock is not illegal and is much easier than it sounds. The only thing you need is the proper gear. There are commercially available sets of lockpicking tools, or you can make your own out of common household items.

How to Pick a Deadbolt Lock

One of the most difficult types of home locks to open is a deadbolt. However, the procedure is standard for locks on external doors in general. In order to unlock a deadbolt, you need only a tension wrench and a pick.

Then, if you want to become a master locksmith, stick to these three easy steps. If you’re having trouble understanding it, that’s okay. Learning how to pick locks is a necessary skill. When it comes to routinely opening locks, some people are born with it and others need practice. Here are two simple methods to pick a deadbolt lock.

#1. Visualize The Interior

At first, you’ll be stumbling around if you don’t do this.  The internals depict a revolving barrel with five spring-loaded pins that fit into the barrel and lock it in place. Typically, a key will push these up and out.

However, you’ll need to use gear designed for picking locks, so safety is paramount. You can keep the pins from dropping back into the barrel by applying pressure with the wrench. That’s why it’s not enough to merely use a pick—you’ll need both instruments.

If you can, it’s helpful to study images or movies depicting the interior of a lock. Keeping this in mind can aid your mental image of the lock’s interior. For the simple reason that it is tough to picture something you’ve never seen before.

#2. Pick The Lock

Put the wrench’s shorter end into the lock’s keyhole’s bottom and turn the wrench in the opposite direction of the lock’s rotation. While you pick the lock, keep this hand where it is. The pick will be your next tool of choice.

Insert the pick into the top of the lock and push down until you feel a pin. Insert the pick into the lock and wiggle it around until you feel resistance from one of the pins. The wrench will be useful at this point.

While maintaining wrench pressure, raise the pin with the pick. When you pass this threshold, you will start to sense progress. Maintain your forward momentum and wiggle away any remaining pins. Now that the lock has given a little, you can turn it.

How Do You Pick a Lock With a Credit Card?

You’ve undoubtedly seen this happen a thousand times on the big screen. One of them takes out a credit card and wedges it in the crack between the door and the frame. They jiggle it slightly, and the door opens with a “click!”

If the door has a spring-latch doorknob, a credit card can be used to pick up the lock.

For this to work, the door’s hinges must be on the side opposite you, and the latch’s slanted face must be facing the outside. A door and its frame need to have some play space between them. Liding can be challenging at best when there is tight trim around the doorframe.

Wiggling a credit card between the doorframe and the lock will get you to the spring latch, allowing you to shim the lock. After further insertion of the card into the latch, the lock will release, and the door will swing open.

How to Pick a Lock Without Tools

Lock picking begins with looking for alternatives to picking locks. Is there another route, or a simpler way to gain access? You can usually get something behind a latch or bolt if there is a space and you can see it.

However, you can make a serviceable pick and tension wrench out of what you already have at home. A printed scale diagram of the pick is useful for reference while shaping it with bending, flattening, and filing.

I suggest fashioning a rake-shaped pick for yourself. Put the wrench’s tensioning end into the keyway’s lower end, then turn it with your left thumb. Rake along the pins with your right hand as you enter your pick all the way to the back. Re-insert your pick and carefully draw it forward again while maintaining torque. You are searching for a pin this time, and you sense some resistance. Put the pick beneath the pin and push up while letting up some of the torque. If the lock doesn’t open when you first apply a moderate amount of torque, try applying more. Then keep trying. If you think you made a mistake, you can reset the pins by releasing the torque entirely.

How to Pick a Lock on a Car

It’s annoying when you can’t get into your car. Having little children or dogs locked inside who don’t know how to open the latch is very distressing.

Learning how to pick a car lock without harming the lock or the door/window is a useful skill to have. Here are some simple ways to pick a car lock.

#1. Lock Picking

Lock-picking is a typical solution for those who are unable to get themselves out of their cars. For this, you’ll need a set of lockpicks. This kit comes with a tension wrench, a rake, and a slew of additional tools for picking locks. You need to use the keyhole to insert the tension wrench.

Place it so that its face is opposite the door’s lock, where the key’s teeth would normally rest.

Turn the wrench counterclockwise. Then, fit the rake into the lock’s keyhole. To use the rake, turn the key in the same direction. The rake must be twisted, removed from the lock, reinserted, and twisted once more.

Also, the key pin will eventually intersect the shear line the more you do this. When you feel this, spin the wrench in the opposite direction. The lock should unlock instantly.

It’s not hard to pick a lock. However, mastery may require some time.

#2. To Open the Lock, Try a Knife, Credit Card, or Coin

If the door has a flat lock, you can use a knife to open it. A simple flat-bladed knife will do the trick. Try to fit the knife blade between the door and the strike plate on the frame without causing any damage.

You shouldn’t have any trouble moving your knife up and down.

Pull the knife down until you reach the lock, then use it to prod the lock to one side. Using an upward and downward motion with the knife will unlock the lock.

A credit card or a coin can be used in a similar fashion to pick up a car door. Take care not to force your card or coin too far into the slot, as doing so could result in it falling through to the other side.

#3. Put a Hex Key Into the Lock

A hex wrench, also known as an Allen wrench, is a non-destructive instrument that can be used to pick a door lock. You’ll need a hex wrench for this. Wrenches come in a variety of sizes, so you can pick the one that suits your lock the best.

Using a suitable wrench, insert it all the way into the keyhole. Make sure to twist it in various directions as you push it in to undo the lock. The lock should release when you make this motion, allowing you to enter.

What Locks Cannot Be Picked?

Here are the top four locks that cannot be picked:

• Baldwin Prestige 380.
• The Nuki Smart Lock 2.0
• Kwikset 980
• Abloy Protect 2.

Bottom Line 

Although I didn’t set out to write such a lengthy tutorial, I do hope that it will be useful to anyone curious about this fascinating field.

Anyone wanting to purchase their first set of lockpicks would do well to choose any of the ten described. Avoid those massive or subpar collections of selections in favor of a small number of high-quality, practical ones.

The concepts in this article can be applied to any unusual or obscure picks you encounter as you continue, helping you to better comprehend their design and purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Reference

• artofmanliness.com
• art-of-lockpicking.com
• homedit.com
• optiongray.com
• quora.com
• emergencyservicelocksmith.com