However, all perform the same task of manipulating individual pins one at a time. There are a variety of different styles of hooks that range from different lengths to different shapes. This precision makes them ideal weapons for single pin picking where you are required to locate and manipulate one pin at a time. Hooks are narrow and pointy types of lock picks that are very pinpoint and precise within the lock. Let's briefly cover each and look at a good beginner set that has everything you need to get a running start at lock picking! 1. When it comes to picking the pin tumbler lock, there are only three different types of tools: Even advanced pickers only use a few different picks-even if they own hundreds of tools to choose from. Lock picking tools are often one of the most confusing and daunting parts of getting started in this awesome craft.īut the truth is, you don't need very many tools to get started or progress at lock picking. With an understanding of these two basic concepts, we can, at last, begin to take our first practical steps in learning to pick a door lock or any lock for that matter. As you'll see in a moment the binding pin is the literal key to lock picking! If you have to, read through this section once more and be absolutely certain that you understand the concept of the binding pin, and maybe check out our dedicated article on binding order. Because there is a binding defect, one pin will bind before the rest and with more force. This creates a binding defect when the plug is rotated. Key Takeaway: Because perfection is impossible, the pin chambers on the plug are drilled off-center. This pin that is the first to bind is what we call "the binding pin." The furthest pin off-center in the direction of rotation will be the first pin to bind and stop the rotation of the plug. However, because of inaccurate drilling, some pins will bind before others. But because the driver pins are still at the shear line they will stop the rotation of the plug and in the process become bound between the housing and the plug. There is a concept that we lock pickers call "binding." Imagine sticking a screwdriver into the keyway of a lock and trying and rotate the plug like it was a key. All chamber holes vary in distance from the true center-line of the plug.īut how do misaligned holes help us pick locks? All chamber holes run perfectly down the centerline of the plugĪn exaggerated example of a real lock plug. However, it’s because of this tiny distortion that we gain our ability to pick locks. In any case, this variation can be as slight as a thousandth of an inch. Cheaper locks will generally have a greater variation between holes than higher-quality locks. The quality of the lock greatly depends upon the quality and care that is put into drilling these holes. Each hole drilled has some variation from both the true center-line and from each other hole. It is because of these flaws in production that we are able to manipulate and bypass locks.ĭuring the production of the plug, the key pin chambers are drilled down an imaginary centerline so that they are lined up perfectly with each other. They will always vary in some way from each other and their original design. No two locks, pins, nor springs are the same. Everything is designed with tolerance in mind. Nothing can be produced without its flaws or some variation from its ideal design. In essence, lock picking is simply the act of mimicking the key by manipulating the pins to the same state they would be at if the correct key were inserted.īut how do we do that? How can we hope to keep four or five pins from obstructing the shear line without the constant pressure of the key? How do we keep them from falling back into the plug? In short, the key has removed all obstructions-the pins-from the shear line!īy understanding this process, we can begin to see what we have to accomplish to pick a lock. When the gap between the key pins and the driver pins is precisely that of the shear line, the key can rotate the plug to disengage the lock. Because the biting of the key and the lengths of the key pins have been cut to match, the key pins will rise flush with the shear line causing the driver pins to exit the plug fully. The following animation illustrates the pin tumbler lock in action!Īs you can see, when the key is shoved into the plug, it pushes upward on the key pins. Without the springs, the pins could get stuck anywhere in the pin chamber, which could make using a key impossible.Īlright, now that you understand the core components of the pin tumbler, let’s take a look at how everything works together to make a fully functioning lock! Their second job is to push the key pins against the key, which helps read the cuts. Their first job is to force everything down into the plug and keep the driver pins at the shear line when there is no key in the lock. Last up is the springs and they have two jobs.
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