How to Get into Lock Picking
I'm no lockpicking expert, but I can show you the best way to get into it
I’ve been practicing picking locks for several years now. It’s one of those things that has a lot of fans but is kept on the down-low because probably it has to do with breaching security.
That’s not why I and most people I don’t think, spend their resources on this past time. It’s illegal to break into private spaces, with locks on them. Tha’s not the point of this.
I’ve always liked puzzles and solving problems to go to the “next level.” I’m a Gen Xer and that release of endorphins must have come from my Atari 2600 way back when. But today, I find myself having to unlock all sorts of obstacles before proceeding. Especially online and with tech. So it’s become not just metaphorical. It bleeds into the mechanical and all aspects of life, which teaches patience and helps understand systems.
There’s “locksport” which people call it, but that’s putting lipstick on a pig, from where I currently sit. That could change, but it’s not an in-demand skill really. It’s just for fun. There are lots of people who are excellent and very knowledgeable about it all.
I’ve been learning for years, and like a lot of people, I imagine I became interested after watching the LockPickingLawyer on YouTube and falling down a rabbit hole. I have lots of interests, and that’s how they’ve recently begun. I’ve since learned what’s come before, and simultaneously, learned what all has come after I began, which has been a lot. It’s growing. Which to a degree is good. It could use a facelift, but it doesn’t need to become a mainstream thing. That’s just my perspective. When too many people mob something, it’s over.
The tools are basic, even cheap, which presents a pretty good market for some innovative minds. Most locks are analog, which makes them pretty easy to work around. The tools can range from DIY garbage windshield wipers to high-dollar "precision” instruments.
I’ve gone on for too long about this. Here are the details:
I’d read this piece for starters. You can’t pick something if you don’t understand its inner workings very well. And this goes further than that. It’s comprehensive and written in a low-level easy to understand manner, complete with lots of cussing, which I can do without. I don’t understand that, but aside from the profanity, it’s a good manual. I watched hours of videos just to understand what this covers:
https://nick.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/lockpicking-detail-overkill.pdf
I’d watch the LockPicking Lawyer and start at the beginning. Sandman is good too. BosnianBill. HelpfulLockpicker. Whatever you can learn best from, but they usually have their videos gratefully organized for you. There are lots of them, and more each day as it seems people are gravitating towards this hobby.
It’s a good pastime because you can do it while watching a video or doing something else. As long as you’re paying some attention to your work.
https://www.youtube.com/@lockpickinglawyer/playlists
The tools to begin with don’t need to be top-shelf. The practice and feel and connection between your brain and what your fingertips tell it are what’s important. That will become more sensitive with time. Like with all things like this, it’s practice and the time put into it. No easy workarounds. I began with single pin picking thankfully, which I would recommend, vs. raking or other methods. Get a good foundation instead of jus being fast and loose. If your goal is to become good.