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Lockpicking

Proposed Q&A site for study lockpicking methods and ways to prevent it.
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10
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3
answers

Are safe-picking questions included in lockpicking?

apr 12 at 9:24 D3C4FF 449
34
votes
4
answers

Expansion of Lockpicking to Locksmithing?

feb 27 at 18:41 trideceth12 201
1
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1
answer

Why is this proposal (Lock picking) in the Technology category?

jan 31 at 19:28 SF. 2,471
10
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1
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Are hot-wiring questions included?

apr 26 '12 at 18:35 Arremer 234

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This proposal is now in the Commitment phase — example questions are locked!

45 Example Questions

active oldest votes
up vote 19 down vote
How can I tell if someone has attempted to pick my house door lock?
added by Ivan Nov 20 '12 at 17:52
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up vote 18 down vote
How can I remove a snapped key in a lock without damaging the lock?
added by berry120 Apr 26 '12 at 18:07
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6  
+1 - I realize the space isn't there in Area51, but on the site this question should include more detail, like the type of lock (deadbolt, for instance) and possibly what you've tried so far. – jmort253 Jul 4 '12 at 6:17
6  
questions with more than 10 votes do not speed up the process of a proposal. Its much better to vote for a question which did not receive 10 votes yet. – Xitcod13 Nov 7 '12 at 2:41
2  
Note any revisiting user can remove their own upvote from a question with >10 points (click "up" again), and use it on one that would profit from that. – SF. Feb 8 at 8:53
up vote 15 down vote
Can you pick a lock with common household materials, or is this a myth and do I need a special lock picking tool?
added by berry120 Apr 26 '12 at 18:05
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up vote 14 down vote
How can I practice my lockpicking skills legally, without arousing suspicion from the authorities or crossing the boundaries of the law?
added by jmort253 Jun 20 '12 at 5:58
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5  
Use your house. – Cole Johnson Sep 18 '12 at 16:18
2  
@Cole - All locks aren't built the same. That said, please don't use the comments to answer the example questions. Wait until the beta; the point of the comments is to discuss whether or not the question would be a good example of an on-topic question on the new, proposed site. :) – jmort253 Sep 19 '12 at 3:32
Aside from general guidelines like @Cole has suggested, this one's tricky to ask on SE. It can very easily be NaRQ because you really need to give a lot of situational specifics to make the question truly and accurately answerable, but then it can become TL because the answer for you would only be accurate for your locale. – Iszi Nov 16 '12 at 15:27
@lszi NaRQ = Not a Real Question; TL = ? – Cole Johnson Nov 16 '12 at 18:06
TL = Too Localized – GorrillaMcD Nov 19 '12 at 1:17
show 2 more comments
up vote 13 down vote
How can I recognize a simple training lock (i.e. easy to pick) prior to purchase (i.e. without actually trying to pick it)?
added by MvG Sep 27 '12 at 16:14
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Price! If its cheap its likely of poor quality. Serious locks can cost upwards of $200 each!! – D3C4FF Feb 3 at 10:25
up vote 13 down vote
What are some good resources to start learning the basics of picking a lock?
added by Nick Dec 28 '12 at 0:10
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up vote 12 down vote
Should magnetic locks automatically release in the event of a fire alarm?
added by Tim Post♦ Jun 18 '12 at 6:05
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They really should. Then you press a button or something to shut the doors on the fire when everyone is out. Why hasn't anyone patented that? – Cole Johnson Sep 18 '12 at 16:19
This may be an interesting question to try over on [security.se]. – Iszi Nov 16 '12 at 15:28
up vote 12 down vote
How do "bump keys" work?
added by Digital Fire Jul 11 '12 at 14:26
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up vote 11 down vote
Where can I find a club near [location]?
added by astabada Jan 11 at 13:23
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2  
A lockpicking club. – astabada Jan 11 at 13:23
Look on the chapter board at lockpicking101.com. The board members of L.I and TOOOL watch that space. – Bill Sempf Apr 20 at 2:35
up vote 11 down vote
Are lockpicks legal in my region (Australia)?
added by D3C4FF Feb 8 at 11:27
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Yes. lockwiki.com/index.php/… – Bill Sempf Apr 20 at 2:36
up vote 10 down vote
Can I use a hairpin to open a car door (provided the car doesn't require a special magnetic key or such)?
added by Daniel δ Apr 26 '12 at 12:18
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up vote 10 down vote
Is there a way to pick an ABS secure cylinder lock, or are they too good a design?
added by berry120 Apr 26 '12 at 18:02
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up vote 10 down vote
What are the basic tools required to pick a "normal" yale lock?
added by berry120 Apr 26 '12 at 18:03
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up vote 10 down vote
If a lock seems to become jammed and won't open with the key, does this also make it immune from picking?
added by berry120 Apr 26 '12 at 18:04
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up vote 10 down vote
How can I tell which types of locks can (usually) be opened with common items (e.g. penknife, paper clip, hair pin, wire)?
added by Daniel δ, edited by jmort253 Sep 19 '12 at 3:35
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1  
I edited to ask "how to tell" instead of for a list of things. Asking "how" creates a teachable moment where future visitors learn the techniques to answer questions about future locks. +1 – jmort253 Sep 19 '12 at 3:37
up vote 10 down vote
Is there such a thing as a "lockpicking starter kit" ? If so, where can I purchase one?
added by Trevoke May 13 '12 at 2:11
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up vote 10 down vote
What is the proper way to apply graphite to a common residential door lock?
added by Tim Post♦ Jun 18 '12 at 6:04
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up vote 10 down vote
Is it possible to pick a lock with a credit card?
added by Digital Fire Aug 2 '12 at 14:07
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1  
Maybe expand and say what kind of lock. This is kinda broad, but you have a lot of wiggle room to make it more targeted and specific to a problem you're facing. Remember, Stack Exchange is a site for experts, so we want to make the questions as specific as we can. Good luck! :) – jmort253 Sep 19 '12 at 3:33
1  
@jmort253: I think it's more about a "myth busting" question, "are there such locks?". And concerning the standard FAQ entry about asking practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face (as opposed to satisfying idle curiosity) - I'm a writer. Deciding whether a character in a novel can open a lock with a credit card or not is a practical problem that I face. – SF. Feb 26 at 10:03
up vote 10 down vote
Which padlocks/suitcases in a reasonable price range are currently considered unpickable?
added by l0b0 Oct 24 '12 at 20:57
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up vote 10 down vote
Is there a way to prevent bump keys without using special locks?
added by Liam W Nov 22 '12 at 8:27
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While theoretically very simple, it may be very challenging because most locks are quite resistant to being taken apart and put together in functional state again. – SF. Feb 13 at 9:53
up vote 10 down vote
How is a diamond pick used and how do I know when to use it?
added by Scott Pack Nov 27 '12 at 1:50
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up vote 10 down vote
What licensing would I need to go from a hobbyist lock picker to making a side job out of it in [location]?
added by Nick Dec 28 '12 at 0:12
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up vote 10 down vote
Are there easy ways to tell a lever tumbler lock apart from a warded lock without taking them apart?
added by SF. Dec 31 '12 at 16:25
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up vote 10 down vote
Is there an accessible, universal method of picking a fairly broad range of lever tumbler locks?
added by SF. Dec 31 '12 at 16:43
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up vote 10 down vote
What common pick-resisting features can be found in lever tumbler locks?
added by SF. Dec 31 '12 at 16:48
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up vote 10 down vote
What set of lockpicks will work against a wide range of warded locks?
added by SF. Dec 31 '12 at 16:50
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up vote 10 down vote
Dual-sided keyed cylinder for mortise lock - how does the mechanism switching between one and the other side work?
added by SF. Dec 31 '12 at 17:00
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...I got the tumblers in position, the cylinder turns but the middle part that actually engages the mortise lock doesn't turn. – SF. Jan 21 at 9:59
up vote 10 down vote
How do I tell were the latch is located in a closed door?
added by astabada Jan 11 at 13:20
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up vote 10 down vote
How do you recognize safety pin triggering when picking?
added by astabada Jan 11 at 13:21
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up vote 10 down vote
How effective is a picking gun compared to a bump key/raking?
added by astabada Jan 11 at 13:22
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up vote 10 down vote
Is raking really effective?
added by astabada Jan 11 at 13:22
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1  
Didn't you mean raking? [and yes, with simple, unprotected locks it's extremely effective] – SF. Jan 16 at 9:00
up vote 10 down vote
When is it no longer feasible to attempt raking a lock open?
added by Hiroto Feb 1 at 23:06
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1  
An interesting question that boils down to "How do I tell a security feature has engaged?" and that one's wonderfully expert-level question. – SF. Feb 13 at 9:47
up vote 10 down vote
Where can i purchase lock picks?
added by D3C4FF Feb 3 at 10:25
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1  
Country/location necessary. – SF. Feb 8 at 8:41
Online, that ships world wide. For me specifically, Australia. – D3C4FF Feb 8 at 11:27
@D3C4FF - There are countries where that could get you in serious trouble. – SF. Feb 15 at 10:22
@SF So what your saying is that the lockpicking topic shouldn't even exist? Whats your point? Doing any number of things in any number of countries is illegal. And? If i want to develop or buy lock picks, that my business. As it stands. Lock picks are legal under certain circumstances in australia (vaires by state). I own, have purchased and create my own picks. I'd appreciate not being told 'it could get you into serious trouble' and rather have the 'serious trouble/legality' discussed elsewhere. – D3C4FF Feb 16 at 9:39
1  
@D3C4FF: I'm saying that if you advise some poor guy from Poland, who didn't even mention he's from Poland, to just buy lockpicks online, you'll likely land them in jail. I'm saying what I said in the first comment: answering this question without location context will get some people in trouble. There are legal avenues of obtaining lockpicks in Poland, as well as less legal but still safe ones. Online shops shipping worldwide are neither of them. If you want to develop or buy, that's your business. If you want to wrongly advise others where to buy, this isn't just your business anymore. – SF. Feb 17 at 3:20
show 2 more comments
up vote 10 down vote
Where can i find specialty picks? (ie ones for High security locks). Additionally, where can i get someone to make picks for me (i've got some ideas!)
added by D3C4FF Feb 3 at 10:26
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up vote 10 down vote
How can i make my own lock picks?
added by D3C4FF Feb 16 at 9:39
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up vote 10 down vote
How can i obtain restricted keyway blanks? Can i make my own?
added by D3C4FF Feb 23 at 11:30
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up vote 10 down vote
How can I learn in advance of purchasing if a lock is vulnerable to certain methods such as bumping?
added by Mr.Wizard Feb 28 at 12:09
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up vote 10 down vote
Good practices for finger / hand sensitivity?
added by rath Mar 21 at 23:27
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up vote 10 down vote
Are most cylindrical-key locks vulnerable to the "Bic pen" attack (with the right sized tool), or only those we hear about?
added by Mr.Wizard Mar 30 at 9:35
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I'd remove the last clause. I know typical laptop Kensington lock is vulnerable (to a drinking straw IIRC) but that still doesn't mean "most are vulnerable". – SF. Apr 3 at 7:42
up vote 10 down vote
Do the terms 'Rim Cylinder' and 'Pin Tumbler' locks mean the same thing?
added by JonW Apr 4 at 10:25
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