I did this with only shim and a normal key (cut for another lock) which, fortunately, was high enought to lift the pins at the far end. A plug follower can be improvised from a piece of dowel wrapped in duct tape and the end cut flush. Necessity ...
Just a brief word about rakes. They may bypass the "sport" aspect of lockpicking, but from a functional standpoint, sometimes they can get a lock to turn quicker & more easily than SPP, depending on the brand and bitting of the lock. So from a "working" standpoint, they are viable in their own right and can add a good value to a pick kit. This means locksmiths who have been hired to enter a space or similarly minded individuals. Likewise if you're into the sport of it, and your practice locks have been kicking your butt, sometimes you need a win for morale and go grab your cheap padlock that you know a rake can pop open.
So useful! Thank you for the careful and detailed explanation! About the lock. I wanted to get one of these but I discovered that it's basically the same as the Burgwächter Diamant. Now watching your video i'm not sure. The keyway you have seems to be different from what I've seen.
I noticed people that have a lot of experience picking locks say they don’t think it makes it that much easier. But someone’s like with two month of experience I’m telling you right now it’s worlds easier. You can see what’s happening on the inside of a lock on the outside as if you’re picking a cutaway. I can’t speak for security pins with lishi but regular pins are night and day easier. I love my lishi so much. It didn’t take away my love of regular picking and it’s very fun to use and makes it so much easier.
Your CAD animation is amazing! There's no other better way to explain how this lock works on the inside. Truly genius! Thank you very much for putting this presentation together. Can't say enough good things about it.
I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to give to the community and helping people and me with this for so many years to come. I saw a very old lock picking video with graphics but it was on VHS but no one does it. I’m so happy you did. It helps so so much. You’re a very good teacher.
Bahahaha how does this one only have 85 views? This is delightful, Jon. It's also an amusing coincidence. I'm waiting for my first set of Sparrow gear to arrive Monday--got the progressive lock, the Hooker set, and the reload kit as per your recommendations and someone else's on Reddit (which may have been you as well, though I haven't gone back to look at the username--edit: yeah that was you on reddit posting similar recommendations to your video). Aaaaaaaand as I'm sat here watching this video to see how to actually pick locks (assuming it's not the same as Skyrim or Oblivion mechanics...), I just coincidentally have my deck of cards with me and am practicing double lifts and a triple lift with a shake change lol. I feel like if you're into one form of dextrous skullduggery, you might be into the others. Fun video. Nice picking and thanks for the goofy and handy things you've got available here! As a note, I just googled real quick while watching this one. Looks like Abus 75/50 is currently a blue belt lock per the LPU, so one level up from what you were initially thinking! (Though it's entirely likely you're aware of that by now...2 years later.)
I don't care what anybody says about sparrows, I like their picks, tension tools and all the practice lock that they sell! And their prices are very reasonable, and shipping is great!
Hello Jon hope you are doing well. I have an opportunity to join the mile high club I was only able to get past security with my locks and Lishi pick. Does picking with a Lishi qualify for entry into the club. I will post a video when I get back home. I am travelling to see my sick niece. Cheers
I have the cutting tool from the red team tools. It’s good & sharp so no difficulty cutting through the key. Urs seems to be just barely pushing through with a lot of effort.
I picked 3 Master Lock padlocks in a short amount of time using an M1/MS2 Lishi tool. The Lishi cut numbers I gave to my local locksmith didn't work. I appreciate someone made a video that addresses this issue. I was wondering how you determined that you had to add 1 to each pin setting to cut a key that worked. Did you impression a key to fit a lock you picked with the Lishi and then compare the Lishi numbers with the numbers of the key that actually worked?
I know it's been a year since the upload but just watched your video after struggling for hours... And finally got my first open thank to you. After watching your video I noticed that my lock was rear tensioning and tried to use rear tension and BAM it opened... Best feeling ever thanks man!!!!!
Same exact thing on my sparrows spool cutaway. Pin number 2 always falls in a false set in the last pin that needs to be set but when you go to push past the binding you get no feedback whatsoever you have to manually let off your tension bar you get zero counter rotation. Oftentimes you'll overset it, because without the counter rotation it's hard to tell how much pressure you're putting on the pin. I don't know if that's just a tolerance issue or what. I don't have a leash yet but it's the same thing with picks.
Disassembled very nicely. Do you have any ideas on how get a stubborn actuator out of the lock body? It doesn't work correctly and gets stuck when trying to open with the key.
SPP is great, however some of us are interested in opening locks by the greatest number of means. No matter how we open is a successful operation, other than, of course, destruction. It's a wide sport with many ways of thinking. Individual thought rules the day.
Sparrows fan boy here but I'd never recommend any Sparrows without their handles like the Tux set. New pickers should not suffer the pain of .025 thin sheet metal digging into their hands.
Love the breakdown video, i have a question however....im curious as to why the brinks brass body padlock is in yellow and the master 3 is white....im fairly new to picking since i took a few years hiatus since messing with it but i have a brinks nonremovable core that i can pick in 2 seconds while the master 3 i have has been giving me trouble for days now(spp not zipping it or raking)
Awesome video, I been struggling with picking disc retaining locks, I have the very same pick as you and I have been very frustrated trying to pick, now that I watched your video you have given me hope that I will succeed!! Thank you again, lot of work was put in your video, well done!
Thanks @JonLock. I just got a box of these and your video was crucial in helping me understand what was happening so I could pick mine. @BrettSucks sent me here.
Thank you so much for this, thank you for not charging 50$ for this, thank you for making the stls available so people do nt have to wait for you to restock (like a certain red team) and thank you for doing all the major manufacturers. Your awesome!!
Brilliant tutorial Jon and perfectly timed for me! I’ve just bought a Sparrows DD pick and 1 lock off eBay and spent about 4 hours without any success picking it. I sussed out problem points 1 and 2 myself in the trial and error process but never twigged that just because I got tension off disk 1 it might not be a front tension lock. It might just be me being rubbish at this but I’ll revisit my lock with this newly discovered knowledge with a glimmer of hope once more. Thank you
