How to PIck a Tubular Cylinder Lock

Transcripts

Michael Peterson: Hello! My name is Michael Peterson. I have been an independent locksmith in Oak Park Illinois for the last 10 years. Today I will be demonstrating some basic lock picking techniques. For this demonstration, I will be using a tubular lock pick.

The tubular lock pick does not require the use of a tension wrench. As the tension or pressure applied to the cylinder is going to come from your clockwise or counterclockwise pressure put on the cylinder. It's important when you are using this tool to be gentle, we do not want to bend or damage the tip of it, this is a very precise instrument. This lock or this pick is only for picking tubular locks and this is for a large format tubular cylinder not an undercut cylinder. There is a nut or washer here. This controls the pressure that is put on the shims here. The shims are what actually manipulate the pins. When this washer is set to the right pressure the pins will move accordingly, allowing you to pick the lock. Let's show you.

This is your tubular cylinder. When you insert the pick, you want to make notice of the little notch in the cylinder. This corresponds with the little notch, inside of the pick. The pick will not insert into the lock any other direction. When you put the pick into the lock you want to put clockwise or counterclockwise pressure on it. This is basically replacing your tension wrench.

Once you apply this pressure, do not release this pressure if you do, you have to start over. Once the pressure is applied move the pick in and out of the cylinder. This will cause the pins to push out on the shims and the shims because of the tension on the nut, hopefully will push back on the pins, allowing them to line up at the shear line and allowing the cylinder to turn.

If you release pressure from the pick, you will then have to reset the pick by loosening the nut, pushing all the shims forward and resetting into zero. I like to use a flat surface, gently. Then you re-tighten the nut, insert the pick again, apply pressure and begin again. The cylinder is now picked and the pick should turn. Encoded on the tip of the pick now are the actual cuts for the cylinder, if you were to take this to your local locksmith, he should be able to decode it and be able create you an original key for the lock. Thank you very much.