How to Pick a Padlock

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Transcripts

Michael Peterson: Hello! My name is Michael Peterson. I have been a locksmith in Oak Park Illinois for the last 10 years. Today I will be demonstrating basic lock picking techniques. For this demonstration, I will be using a basic pick wrench and a basic lock pick. Tension wrench is used to apply clockwise or counter clockwise pressure on the cylinder. The pick is to manipulate the pins into their natural resting position, if a key were to be inserted into the lock. Today I will be showing how to pick a padlock.

Now, padlocks are harder to pick than most locks. They are smaller and their construction is a lot solid, more solid than your average doorknob. There is less play in the cylinder and it's harder to manipulate the pins to their position. So you want to take your time and be careful not to break your pick to damage the cylinder. I will show you how to do that now. Start by inserting the tension wrench into the cylinder. Then apply clockwise or counterclockwise pressure on the cylinder. Some padlock cylinders only turn one direction. It's important to try to figure out which direction this is before attempting to pick. While keeping pressure on the cylinder with the wrench insert the pick and manipulate the pins. I like to manipulate the pins one by one with the padlock. Once the cylinder is picked, remove the pick and turn the cylinder using a flathead screwdriver. Padlock should be unlocked. Before inserting a key back into the cylinder, it's important to turn it back to the resting position. On some padlocks the cylinder will not turn back to the resting position, unless the padlock is locked. This is called the key retaining feature. Next I will be showing you how to pick a cam or disc lock.

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