The next step is to take your hook and gently lift each pin without applying any pressure. Both of the pins should feel pretty much the same as the spring pushes down on the pins and no pins are binding. If the pin stack heights or spring tensions are different there may be a slightly noticeable difference in force.

The next step is to lightly apply tension to the plug and simultaneously lift the first pin as gently as possible. During this step pay close attention to whether the pin is binding or not. Be careful not to lift the pin too high and pass the shear line because you aren’t at that point yet. Continue this process with pin two and pay close attention to the pin as it should be binding. The pin with the most resistance is the binding pin.

Now, lift the binding pin as slowly as possible until you reach the shear line where the pin should come to a full stop. You may see the plug rotate slightly or else hear a click. When you see or hear one of these actions it means the pin is set. You can make sure the pin is set by allowing the bottom pin to drop, while maintaining tension, to see if it falls into the keyway. If it does so freely then the pin is probably set.

At this point you are ready to lift the bottom pin as easy as possible and will recognize a different feel, as if it has no resistance. The reason this is the case is because the top pin is above the shear line and the bottom pin has no tension so it can easily move. After the pin has been set you can take your hook and lift the other pin. You will notice at this point that the pin you just set has transferred its binding for to the other pin. Because of this when you lift the pin to the shear line the lock will open.

Sometimes beginners reach this point and the lock does not open. If this happens to you, don’t worry. It’s just because the first pin was not properly set. Simply go back to the first binding pin, lift it a little closer to the shear line so that it will set and then go back through the process and the lock should open.

The best way to perfect your lock opening ability is to open this lock as many times as possible. As soon as you unlock it then lock it back and start again. Always keep your eye out for the binding pin. You are ready for stage three when you can easily tell which pin is binding and which is not. If you feel the littlest bit unsure keep practicing until you are completely comfortable.

Steps 3, 4, and 5
Each step will take 20-30 minutes.

Steps three through five simply involve the above process, but you will keep adding a pin stack at each step. This means in step three you add a new pin stack from front to back , then step four you add another pin stack, and step five you add the final pin stack. Make sure you add the pin stacks front to back during these steps.

If you find yourself picking the lock in a very robotic fashion and aren’t really paying attention then consider mixing up the bottom pins in order to challenge you a bit more and keep you paying attention. The best tip to take with you is to make sure that you learn everything you can from this step of lock picking before moving on. That way when you make it to the next step you will be fully prepared. You may get bored practicing this move multiple times, but you will appreciate your expertise when you reach harder locks.

Conclusion
Any lock picker can benefit from this lockpicking exercise. The reason the exercise is so important is that it teaches a newbie to develop a feel for the binding pin and to understand what happens inside the lock while it is being picked.

If you are completely new to lock picking the best piece of advice is to follow the steps as they are outlined here. Don’t just poke and prod inside the lock until it opens. This will not teach you anything about lockpicking and if you actually get the lock to open it will be through luck rather than a developed skill. While poking and prodding may result in an opened lock every once and a while it does not teach you actually how to pick a lock.

This exercise teaches you how to lift the binding pick, which is what is necessary to do in order to pick a lock. Studying how to identify the binding pin will benefit you significantly in your lockpicking career or hobby and will allow you to move on to more difficult locks. If you have already completed this exercise you should feel comfortable identifying the binding pin. If you have completed this exercise and cannot identify the binding pin then you need to repeat it until you can.

Next: Quickstart to Lock Picking >>