Picked this up this afternoon and spent a bit of time with it this afternoon and evening. Got it open SPP with BOK tension (still planning to get some new tension tools, probably the ergo set from Covert Instruments) to start practicing TOK more. No luck with the rake yet, but still trying. Also started taking some notes for myself as I practice to keep track of feel, tools, and general info about the lock.

So I recently got the covert instruments practice lock but it feels very awkward to pick while holding in my hand. I see in various videos that folks use a vice to hold cylinders like this. Does anyone have any recommendations on a decent one to purchase? Thanks!

Get some, you won’t regret it.

This damn LOTO has been kicking my ass, but I have finally bested it. Couple more runs with it and I'm off to video it. I didn't think I was ever gonna beat it.

Aside from the fact I'm owed a refund from a month ago, this does not look good for the future

I'm having issues getting around in this key way. The thinnest pick I have is .020. Is there a trick I should know or should I just buy some thinner picks?

• Body Width: 1-3/4" (mm).

• Shackle Size: 1-1/8" (29mm) Tall

I tried american lock from amazon but they're junk willing to pay at least $100 for a good one with those specific measurements.

Today I start clean my basement. Make table, buy some magnetic holder, lights etc for my “studio”. Now only thinking how high and how I instal the lights

As the tutte says, I'm struggling to pick this lock. Anybody gots some tips to share?

Hello pickers, newbie here.

So I've been picking for a week now and I'm somewhat comfortable doing front to back pin picking (starting from pin near the key hole). I know where the pins are by following the pin's contour line and giving it a light upward or front push.

However, I struggle to do back to front picking. I just can't feel the pins. I really want to learn this move since I think it's faster to be able to go in both direction instead of jumping at the beginning.

Any tips ? Thanks in advance.

3 for 3 on my lunch break. Probably time to go for that green....

I'm new to this and trying to decide what's useful to buy, is there a point to having both ?

I'm playing with my first Best SFIC padlock. I've been able to rake it a handful of times going counter clockwise and the cylinder will go 90 degrees but the shackle doesn't pop nor can i pull the core. Is that expected when you go counter? I haven't been able to pick it going clockwise yet and it's just an ebay junker so there's no key to test it otherwise.

I’ve been owning a couple of lockpicks for a while now, and when I first got them, I tried to open an ABUS lock I had lying around but couldn’t do it. Today, I found this random lock without a key lying around in my parents house, and tried a little bit of this and that, and eventually, I raked it open. It was a very weird feeling, since I finally did it, I opened a lock without a key, but at the same time, I didn’t really do anything, I just wiggled about with a piece of metal… Any general advice for beginners?

So I have some basic rakes I've barely touched since getting to grips with SPP'ing. Can now open most of my A1100s pretty consistently and some other green belt locks SPP. Does anyone use raking at this level or above? I could never really get my head round raking it was more bung it in and hope for the best. Should I give it another go and buy some decent rakes or forget it?

Jimy Longs making hump day better. Think they’ll be my new go to for 410’s and 72/40’s. I’m starting to run out of room and need to get a bigger case for my JL’s haha.

Hi Everyone,

I know this may sound like a stupid question but besides padlocks where do you get the locks that I see everyone picking? Is it from dissembled door locks? Or is there a place to get them? I have a few padlocks that I am currently picking but want to move into others. Any advice or guidance is welcomed.

Thanks

I really struggle to pick this one consistently. It can be so aggravating. lol

it just randomly happened today and i cant pull it up. any help greatly appreciated

I don't know where else to go

I bought a disc detainer pick and a shim, a month ago from uklockpickers.

Nothing showed up and order status was complete so I contacted them.

They replied saying "Alan (the guy who sends out products) is ill and we will be sending them out soon.

I said ok that's fine and waiting 2 extra weeks, still nothing. I emailed again and got another back saying if they havnt sent it out that weekend then il get a refund.

That was 2 weeks ago and I'm yet to have a refund and they are not replying to my emails anymore...

What do I do?