Home » Education

How to Pick a Lock

Ranked #2,835 in Education, #66,001 overall

Why learn how to pick a lock?

If you have ever lost your keys and had to call out an expensive locksmith, you will appreciate the value of knowing how to pick a lock. Thankfully, the theory of lockpicking is simple, and this lens will attempt to show you how.

Lock picking is no longer the preserve of criminals and locksmiths. In fact, lockpicking is fast becoming a recognised hobby worldwide. Criminals tend to prefer faster and less subtle ways of bypassing security, such as smashing a window, or using bolt cutters...

This lens is designed to be as interactive as possible - I don't pretend to have all the answers, so please vote on the resources you find most useful so that this lens gets even better over time.

And if you enjoyed this lens, please rate it above, stumble it and tell your friends. After all, you never know when you might need to know how to pick a lock!

Aka covering your ass and ours

Before we get into the details of how to pick a lock, there is something you need to understand - you can only pick locks you own, or that you have explicit permission to pick. Anything else could land you in trouble with the law.

Also, laws vary from country to country, and even state to state in the USA. Most jurisdictions require proof of malicious intent, so simple possession of lock picking tools is usually ok, especially if they always stay at home. However, in some jurisdictions it is up to YOU to prove you are not a criminal, so special care needs to be taken not to carry your tools in public where this might be difficult (e.g. late at night), and in a few places it is illegal to possess lock picking tools at all. It is YOUR responsibility to check the legality of possessing and/or carrying lock picking tools.

Please do not misuse this information. Neither I (nor Squidoo) accept or assume any responsibility for your actions, nor do we condone illegal or immoral activity.

All clear? Ok, lets get on with the fun stuff - teaching you how to pick a lock!

How a lock works

It's all thanks to Mr Yale

The modern "pin and tumbler" lock was invented by Linus Yale Jr in 1861, and today most locks work on the same principle. A tumbler (known as a 'plug' - the yellow circle in the diagram) sits inside the main lock housing (known as the 'shell' - the beige background in the diagram). The plug has a slot for the key to be inserted (known as the 'keyway', shown in white), and the plug rotates to activate the locking mechanism. The interface between the plug and the shell is known as the 'shear line'.

Along the length of the plug are a series of pin chambers. Each pin chamber contains two sprung pins (known as a 'pin stack'). The top pin is known as the 'driver pin' (shown in blue), and the lower pin is known as the 'key pin' (shown in red). The driver pins prevent the plug from rotating until a key is inserted which will move all the driver pins clear of the plug. Once all driver pins are in the chamber above the shear line (known as 'the bible'), the plug can rotate freely.

The theory of lock picking

Or why it is possible to pick a lock

No lock is perfect, and lock picking relies on the mechanical imperfections inherent in every lock (known as 'tolerances') to allow the pins to be raised one at a time, instead of all at once, as would happen when using a key.

Essentially, when we apply rotation to the plug, the driver pins will get caught at the shear line and prevent the plug rotating (known as 'the binding effect'). However, due to the tolerances, ONLY ONE of the pins will get stuck at the shear line and prevent it rotating at any one time. This is known as the 'binding pin'.

If we then lift that pin until it crosses the shear line and gets stuck (known as 'setting the pin'), the plug then rotates a little more and the binding effect gets transferred to the next pin, allowing us to work through all of the pins one at a time.

Once all of the driver pins are at the shear line, the plug will be free to rotate and the lock will open. Simple, huh!

Choosing the right tools

Or How to pick a lock pick

There are two main tools needed to pick a lock - the Torsion wrench and the Pick.

Torsion wrench (aka tension wrench) - performs the role of the key turn, allowing us to apply rotation to the plug to exploit the inevitable mechanical defects in locks to create the binding effect.

Pick - This is the tool used to move the lock pins so that they can be aligned to allow the lock to open.

In theory, you can use anything from paperclips to wire brushes as picks and torsion wrenches, but it is far easier to learn how to pick a lock using the proper tools. Amazon is a reliable retailer who has some very good quality and well priced lock pick sets.

Common ways to pick a lock

Are you quick and dirty or learning an art?

Knowing the theory of lock picking, we can now look at the most common methods of picking a lock.

Picking - the use of a torsion wrench and pick (lock pick set) to set each pin individually. The tension wrench is inserted into the keyway, leaving room to reach the pins with the pick and a light rotational pressure applied. The pick is then used to move each pin in turn to find and set each binding pin in turn. This is lock picking at its finest art.

Raking (or scrubbing) - similar to picking, except that a raking pick is stroked across each pin rapidly to try set them all at once. A less sophisticated form of lock picking.

Bumping (or Bump Keying) - Similar to raking, except that a snap gun or bump key is used to 'bump' the pins into the set position by force. This can be a very quick way to open a lock, but can damage older or rusted locks.

Other lock picking methods

Or how to pick a padlock

Warded Locks - Low security locks, such as those used on cabinets and lockers and cheaper padlocks do not use a 'pin and tumbler' mechanism. Instead, the locking mechanism at the far end of the lock is a single latch on a spring; the rest of the lock is filled with obstructions (known as 'wards') to prevent other keys from turning the latch. These locks can be opened easily with a set of warded picks.

Shimming - Many cheaper padlocks (including combination padlocks) use a ball lock to allow them to be clicked shut. These types of lock are vulnerable to a shim, which can be inserted between the hasp and the body of the lock and twisted to disengage the ball locking mechanism.

Books on how to pick a lock

For when you just gotta have something on your bookshelf

The guides and videos below show you in detail how to pick a lock using all the above methods. If you find any others that are useful, please add them!

Please only add books on how to pick a lock to this list.

How to Pick a Lock

Why learn how to pick a lock?

Contents at a Glance

Contents at a Glance

A Warning and Disclaimer

Aka covering your ass and ours

How a lock works

It's all thanks to Mr Yale

The theory of lock picking

Or why it is possible to pick a lock

Choosing the right tools

Or How to pick a lock pick

Common ways to pick a lock

Are you quick and dirty or learning an art?

Other lock picking methods

Or how to pick a padlock

Books on how to pick a lock

For when you just gotta have something on your bookshelf

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Please pick your widget size and display. Then click "Make the Widget" to get the code that's just right for you.

Voila! Just copy and paste this code into your own site. Have fun!

Oopsey! Please login to Squidoo in order to add this module to your lens.

Video explanations of how to pick a lock

When you just gotta see how it is done

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Please pick your widget size and display. Then click "Make the Widget" to get the code that's just right for you.

Voila! Just copy and paste this code into your own site. Have fun!

Oopsey! Please login to Squidoo in order to add this module to your lens.

Free guides on how to pick a lock

Vote for your favourite or add others you found useful

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Please pick your widget size and display. Then click "Make the Widget" to get the code that's just right for you.

Voila! Just copy and paste this code into your own site. Have fun!

Oopsey! Please login to Squidoo in order to add this module to your lens.

How to pick a lock with others

Make lock picking your new hobby

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Please pick your widget size and display. Then click "Make the Widget" to get the code that's just right for you.

Voila! Just copy and paste this code into your own site. Have fun!

Oopsey! Please login to Squidoo in order to add this module to your lens.

Reader Feedback

by littlegoblin

Explore related pages

Related Tags

Want our Newsletter?