Been coming back to this one occasionally for the last two weeks. After really concentrating on feeling the pins I could find and push the spool pins and finally got it open today. It's always satisfying to hear the click, but I feel like I also learned a good technique that will carry me forward. I also think the thicker tensioning tool helped me out with the high pin lifts.

I had picked the PACKLOCK 90A-PRO a few times and got my Blue Belt submission video recorded. I have my Kwikset core and should be getting some brass rod in today for my CL. Here's a short of the open from my video. https://youtu.be/GLiywROeRJE?si=FtiVHe5wBgIqymNh

So i picked the alba n40 & n50 and some promax locks. Does anyone know what belt ranking they are?

Very pleased I got this picked. When I got the lock I immediately took the keys that came with it and put then in my drawer I keep my locks in so I could have the added difficulty of not knowing what the key looked like. I feel like I am going to do that with all the locks I get, it was a fun challenge!

I now have my white belt. What is the best lock for the next step?

Took a while to get it right, but the Nemef NF4 is a really nice smooth pick. Tension control was the most important part. There was nearly no force needed - tensioning was more like holding the tensioner in place. A little too much tension and you don't feel the gentle clicks of the pins anymore.

Had to progressive pin it a little. At first the 6 pins in the bottom, afterwards one of the two pins in the top and then also the second little top pin (you can see one of them in the picture).

Would recommend it for those who look out for a nice purple belt.

I just recieved the FNG set from Covert Instruments this weekend. I picked up a Master Lock no. 1 and a Brinks brass padlock to practice with.

I am finding the Brinks way easier to pick than the Masterlock. I think it is because there's so much slop in the construction. The Masterlock pins don't move at all until it crunches and I think I keep oversetting pins.

Is there a way to avoid this?

Started picking a week back and the experience has been…interesting. I picked up the Sparrows progressive locks set along with the spirit picks as a starter.

Cleared the number 2 with some effort, the 4 went down 3 days later, so did the 5. The number 3 though, oddly enough, took me longer than everything else in the picture but I can pretty much consistently open all of them at the moment quite reliably.

I picked up the Masterlock 140 yesterday expecting more of a challenge because yellow belt right? Got it open a minute later out of the package (3 pins, don’t think it had a security pin in there). Was kinda underwhelming to say the least but man, clicking an actual padlock open felt incredibly satisfying.

So…any recommendations on what next?

Got this mortise loaded up with the nastiest pins from the Sparrows chess, munitions and Scrooge pins.

After a few years of watching LPL videos and reading about lock picking I ordered the CI Genesis kit. I may have bought a different set if I had read through this subreddit first but it's fun so far

They key broke this master lock so i cut it off and saved it for a practice lock. I'm a novice with all of this and have picked practice locks before but it feels so good to get a real one!

I can get through it with the rake no problem but I can’t seem to go one pin at a time even when I think I’ve got one right, the tension is off and I have to start again.

I try the method where you start at the back and go pin by pin looking for the one that wants to go up first and it’s usually the last or second to last but the pins just all kinda freeze in an elevated position except for the first which refuses to remain elevated, and when I release tension they usually all drop.

So when someone hates the C clips on locks like me, then know it’s hard find the right tool. So I have one retaining clips tool, then use file and have good tool for removing C clips (especially the C clips with only small gap, but works on many different C clips.

After 2 days struggling and cursing, finally picked it in 2 less than 2 minutes during class 🤣

Can't wait to get my letter haha

https://youtu.be/56cC-ZiPNjg?si=cX1E_m4WDRMC1amf

Finally picked this ABUS Cisa after ~30 mins with a short hook. My first "good" Lock after only messing around with unbranded hardware store padlocks.

https://preview.redd.it/sw6g2n483hyc1.jpg?width=2845&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f6795e5fc0d27b882c30d4cf6258f6100e3bd26a

https://preview.redd.it/kryozm483hyc1.jpg?width=2701&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=89e964bd54133c4d127a775884dee7d1435a9899

I can repeatably pick this Master 410 with ease... the weird thing is that I never touch the middle pins 3 and 4. How is that possible, and what is going on? I pick from front to the rear with a short hook, and the two back pins are deep cut or even zero lift, so I can't be lifting 3 and 4 by accident. Pins 3 and 4 feel like there is zero springiness

Binding order: set pin 2, nothing on 3 or 4, barely nudge 5, barely nudge 6, get false set, then set the spool on 1, open.

I thought this was a cool visual of the types of security pins to understand the difficulty when picking.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/787505100001507?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V

He grabbed me a Primus KIK but then changed his mind. I was so stoked I was holding my breath when he almost gave me that. Still awesome to get some free locks to play with!

ABUS 55/30 I'm only beginning picking. Was given a set of picks for my birthday and have practiced on the included transparent locks. Found this sub fairly recently and decided to buy a lock on the yellow belt list and I'm very pleased to have picked it several times today!

Shipping from the US Is like 25 bucks for 3 bucks worth of springs!

Broke my wrist 😖, have a cast and trying to re-learn to pick left-handed with the help of a vise before my PACLOCK 90A & 90A-Pro arrive next week!

So. Very. Frustrating. Tools falling everywhere. 🙄