Help! I managed to pick this lock but it turned half way and now it's stuck.
The plug turned half way then stopped, what could it possibly be? The lock has pins up the top. Drivers and key pins. You picked it, and it got stuck half way. Think about which pins are where and you'll figure it out.
Because the lower portion of the keyway is often slightly wider than the pins, the springs will force the drivers into the gap a little. This doesn't happen with the key because it fills the entire keyway and there's nowhere for the drivers to drop into. So if you're smart, you'll be able to tell that all you have to do is push them all up at the same time so they're out of the keyway and you can turn it again. Doesn't always happen, but when it does there is no panic. I've heard of drivers dropping into the keyway and springs getting messed up, but I can only see this happening if the drivers are very short and there is seriously excessive wear in the keyway.
Can you really pick a lock with bobby pins/paper clips?
You sure can. Not so much with paper clips though, the metal generally isn't strong enough and it has no spring to it. Not to mention they're far too thick, although if it's an american keyway like a Schlage (SC1) or Kwikset (KW1) you could get away with it. At any rate, it wouldn't be my first choice... you can rake open a wafer lock easily enough with one, but anything that'll put the slightest bit of stress on the clip will just make things awkward.
Bobby pins are better, although using anything along these lines isn't easy even for a seasoned picker. But it can be done, yes... in all honesty they're best reserved for simple mechanisms such as warded padlocks, or wafer locks. You can also use them to bypass certain padlocks, aswell as handcuffs etc.
Just in case you're wondering... wafer locks use spring loaded, hollow metal plates which are pulled into the plug by the key to allow it to rotate. Picking these is the same principle as pin tumblers, but they're infinitely poorer and re- quire virtually no skill. They can either be single or double sided.
Warded padlocks have a simple spring loaded latch towards the back, which is actuated by the tip of the key when turned. There is a series of wards inside the lock body which correspond to cuts on the key, so where there is a ward, there is a cut which allows the key to turn past it. The wards are what block the rotation of incorrect keys, so a simple L-shaped wire is all you need to reach in and spring the latch.
How do comb picks work? Should I get some?
Comb picks work by pushing the entire pin stacks completely out of the plug, which allows the plug to turn. They are a solution designed for padlocks. Your other options are bypassing the latch from the inside, or with butterfly shims.
What about shims?
Butterfly shims are not work it in my opinion. They're good for combination dial padlocks and that's about it. Same as comb picks, they only work on cheap locks which are easy to pick there's little point unless you are a completionist.
If the cylinder is damaged and I literally can't pick it, then I'd try to retract the latch through the keyway. Shims are a last ditch effort because they're so fiddly, and sometimes you need one for each side, which can be a real pain to do — even then, not every lock which uses standard latches can be shimmed in this fashion. They're overrated if you ask me, I wouldn't bother with them unless you can get them very cheap.
Someone is bound to ask, so I'll explain the latch bypass. In many cheap brass/iron padlocks, you can hook into the latch through the keyway and pull it back. The easiest way to explain this is to use a hook, and with the pins at the bottom, insert it all the way into the plug and push the pins down with the hook facing away from them. Then slide it forwards a little, and use a gentle levering action to feel for any spring resistance. It'll be a fairly strong spring, but once you're on it, enough pressure will retract the latch fully and pop the shackle.
Same as with shims, this won't always work — even if you can retract the latch, sometimes it doesn't do the trick. And if the lock has a ball bearing mechanism, both this and shimming are completely out of the question. In this mechanism, there is a rotating cam with grooves cut opposite each other, and a ball bearing sits in each one. In the locked position, everything is completely solid and the cam must be rotated in order to free the shackle.
How do I pick this lock? It's a <insert vague description or exact make/model here>
If you're asking this after a very short period of time picking, then it's usually just a matter of practice. Before asking this, see what info you can find online. If the lock is branded and you can't find anything about your lock online, it's almost always a cheap piece of crap and you just need more practice.
If you have a lock with no markings whatsoever, use your judgement. If it looks and feels like a cheap piece of crap then it most likely is... although there are plenty of lock manufacturers who don't put any branding on locks at times, high security included. For example, I have an EVVA lock with no branding or serial number whatsoever. The only way I know who it's made by is because I have the original keys, but without those it's obviously not just another cheap no-name cylinder. High quality locks always have very clean finishes, serious weight, and odd keyways.
If you have an unbranded lock and are curious about it, take a pic and ask someone. We can tell pretty much any high security lock just by its keyway, so don't be shy asking. Just use your judgement first, if it's a cheap lock then there's no point cos we'll just tell you to keep practicing.
What is the best pick for <insert vague description or exact make/model here>?
There is no "best pick" for any particular lock. If you've tried all your picks and the lock won't open, it's not the picks. Stop trying a different pick every 30 seconds and concentrate on what you're doing. Technique is the most important thing, usually a short or medium hook is all you need — and if a lock isn't playing ball, you should be able to tell why and choose a different pick based on that. If you still can't get it open, just be thankful that you at least know why. Maybe make a custom pick just for that lock.
But if you do insist on asking other people, make sure you can explain exactly what's happening or you're only gonna get general advice. 9 times out of 10 when someone asks this, it's because they don't really know what they're doing and their normal technique of wiggling the picks around isn't doing the trick. So what they're really asking is, "what is the best pick I can use to get lucky" — which is like asking the best shoes to wear if you have to walk somewhere blindfolded. Learn your stuff properly, concentrate on what you're doing, and practice.
I understand how to pick spools, but what about mushrooms?
The only locks I've picked with mushroom pins are a few older Yales, and Medeco. From my limited experience I can tell you that they pick in the exact same way. Don't give them too much thought, if you've got a lock with mushrooms and it's giving you trouble, it probably isn't down to the pins.
Which pick set should I get? and “US or Slimline?“
Entirely up to you. Get something small which contains the basics, not some huge fancy kit with loads of stuff you'll never use. The better you get, the less picks you'll use. And trust me, as a beginner you could do without the temptation of trying a different pick every 30 seconds because the lock isn't opening. Been there, done that.
It doesn't matter if you get US or slimline picks, there is difference but in all honesty it doesn't matter too much. You only really need slimlines for tight keyways. And by tight, I don't mean Yale. Even a brand new Yale with hardly any wear isn't that tight... compared to a US keyway like a Kwikset or Schlage it is, but you can use standard sized picks on them just fine. Examples of standard locks with tight keyways would be Corbin or Asec... and that's about all I can think of. You can get away with standard sized picks for most stuff, but buy what you want.
Where do I get locks from? What is a good beginner lock?
You can get locks nice and cheap on ebay