Lock Picking with Shims

One of the coolest way to pick a lock is thru the Shimming technique. As shown on this video the lock is opened in a quick fashion and with little effort. The shims are simply placed on each side of the lock and voila the lock is open in 3 simple steps!

Step 1: Place the first shim between the body and hasp

Step 2: Do the same for the second shim on the other side

Step 3: Twist, and open the lock

But, you might be wondering what shims are anyway.

Basically, shims are tools that bypass the internal mechanisms of the lock. So, you aren’t exactly picking the lock but rather taking advantage of imperfections in the lock. The coolest aspect of using shims to open padlocks is that you can do it in just a few seconds. Very few lock pickers can open a padlock in mere seconds, if any can, with traditional tools.

Shims are made of a super lightweight steel and are able to open laminated padlocks. These are the most common type of padlock. But, they will also work on any padlock that has a spring lever. Shims also come in different sizes to fit different sized padlocks. A kit with multiple sizes is a great purchase because it will allow you to “pick” a wide range of lock sizes.

If you are a budding locksmith or a professional one, you definitely need some shims in your tool box to help you open padlocks quickly. It’s almost as fast as having the key!

To make your own shim also check out our tutorial on Improvised Shim Making

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