When you hear the term “lock picking,” most people think of spies unlocking a door to get important files from inside a secure office. However, lock picking is a highly respectable and essential skill for professional locksmiths.
The team of professional locksmiths at Hiro Locksmith are considered guardians of security when it comes to your home, office, vehicles, or commercial property. Our locksmiths play a vital role in ensuring your locks are always in the best working condition and that you must deal with a lockout situation.
In this comprehensive guide, we dive deep into the intricate world of picking locks, exploring factors affecting the time it takes to pick a lock, average time ranges, challenges, lock-picking tools and techniques employed by our locksmiths, and the importance of hiring professional lock pickers. We’ll also explore alternative methods for opening locks and ethical considerations surrounding lock picking, and we’ll take a broader look at some of the other fast and reliable locksmith services we offer.
Lock Picking: A Brief Overview
Picking a lock is the art of manipulating components of a lock mechanism to unlock it without needing the original key. This type of process requires skill, precision, and a deep understanding of the inner workings of different lock types. While picking a lock has often been associated with spies and rogues, and owning lock picks or even possessing lock picks may be illegal where you live, it is essential to note that it has legitimate applications and is a valuable skill in the locksmith profession.
The professional locksmiths at Hiro Locksmith use specialized picking tools and a specialized lock-picking technique to carefully open your locking mechanism without causing any damage to the door, door frame, or door lock. To successfully lock pick, our locksmiths train for years on practice locks of all makes and models so they’ll be able to open your lock easily so you can get back inside your home, office, or vehicle.
From Pin Tumbler Lock to Rake Pic: Some Lock Picking Terms To Know
Want to know how a pin tumbler lock works or what driver pins are? Here is a list of some of the terms you might hear our locksmiths use when they pick a lock.
- Driver Pins – A driver pin is part of the internal components of a lock that, when correctly aligned through the action of a corresponding key, enables the unlocking of the mechanism by allowing the lock to turn freely.
- Binding Pin – The binding pin in a lock is a specific pin that, when not aligned with the corresponding key’s cut, creates resistance and prevents the cylinder from turning, serving as a crucial element in the security mechanism.
- Single-Pin Picking – Single-pin picking is a technique where a locksmith manipulates individual pins one pin at a time within the locking cylinder using specialized tools, allowing them to set all the driver pins at the correct height. As each individual lock pin is set in the locking mechanism, the lock is unlocked.
- Spring-Loaded Pins – These are internal components equipped with a spring mechanism. When there is pressure against each key pin individually, the spring of the pin creates the necessary resistance so that when overcome by the correct key, it allows for the smooth rotation of the cylinder.
- Shear line – The shear line in a lock is the precise gap between the outer casing and the inner plug. When we pick locks, we apply the right amount of pressure with tension wrenches to the pins until the driver pin passes the shear line. Enabling the smooth rotation of the cylinder, allowing the lock to open.
Factors Affecting the Time to Pick a Lock
Several factors can contribute to how long picking locks will take, making each situation unique. Let’s look at some of the problems that can affect lockpicking time:
Lock Complexity: Some locks are more complex than others. High-security locks with intricate mechanisms can be more time-consuming to pick than standard locks.
Skill of the Locksmith: The useful skill of the locksmith plays a crucial role. The experienced locksmiths at Hiro Locksmith can navigate through all types of locks.
Lock Type: While some locks require basic lock-picking tools, other locks, such as cylinder locks, pin-tumbler locks, wafer locks, and tubular locks, require a more specific lock-picking set. Familiarity with how the locking mechanism works influences the speed of the process.
Condition of the Lock: Cheaper locks or the condition of the lock can affect the ease of picking. Rust, wear, or damage may complicate the lock pick process.
Warded Locks – These are a type of mechanical lock that operates with a set of obstacles, or wards set at different lengths, inside the casing, allowing keys like skeleton keys to bypass these obstructions to open the lock.
The time it takes to lock pick varies widely based on the factors mentioned. After our locksmiths arrive at your location, they’ll be able to open standard pin tumbler locks, double-sided wafer locks, and cylinder locks in a matter of minutes. However, more complex locks, such as high-security deadbolts, might take longer, ranging from 15 minutes to an hour.
Challenges That Lock Pickers May Face On The Job
Locksmiths face various challenges during a lock-picking job. Let’s take a closer look at why some lock picks may take longer than others.
Restricted Keyways: Some locks have restricted keyways that prevent the wrong key from opening the lock. These keyways also make it difficult to insert traditional tools into the lock cylinder. Locksmiths may need a specialized lock pick set to navigate this lock.
Anti-Picking Mechanisms: Modern locks often come equipped with anti-picking features. These features can significantly prolong the picking process, requiring locksmiths to use more advanced techniques to open the lock.
Security Pins: High-security locks may contain security-style driver pins or key pins that resist traditional picking methods. Overcoming these key pins may require more expertise and time.
The Various Lock Picking Tools and Techniques
Our locksmiths employ a wide array of tools and techniques to pick locks effectively. Here’s a more detailed list of some of the tools we use at Hiro Locksmith.
Tension Wrench: Tension tools like a tension wrench are used to apply tension and rotating force to manipulate the locking mechanism’s internal components. A tension tool mimics the action of a key turning in the lock. Using a tension wrench is tricky. Applying too much pressure may freeze the lock and bend the tension wrench. Our skilled locksmiths know how to apply pressure properly to successfully open your lock without damage.
Half-Diamond Pick : This tool is a versatile pick that contains a half-diamond-shaped tip and is generally used for single-pin picking.
Special Picks: Locksmiths use a variety of picks, including a hook pick, rake pick, and a ball pick, to keep lifting pins, also called binding pins, to manipulate the lock’s internal components.
Electric Picks: Some lock-picking sets include electric picks. These battery-powered tools provide rapid vibrations to all the pins, simulating the manual picking process but with increased speed.
Bump Keys: These keys are specially cut keys that, when struck, can open pin tumbler locks. This technique, known as bumping, is a skillful and quick method.
Some Alternative Methods for Opening Locks
In certain situations, alternative methods may be used to open your door locks if a standard lock picking kit won’t work.
Lock Bypass Techniques: Locksmiths may use bypass techniques that exploit vulnerabilities in a pin tumbler lock or cylinder lock or its surrounding components to gain entry as the lock opens without directly picking the lock.
Impressioning: This technique involves creating a duplicate or proper key by making an impression of the lock using a blank key and a special putty or clay.
Key Decoding: Locksmiths may decode a lock by analyzing its internal components to determine the correct key pattern.
The Importance of Hiring The Professional Locksmith Team At Hiro Locksmith
While the internet is filled with DIY picking tutorials, hiring our professional locksmith team to pick your locks is important for several reasons. If you’re attempting to do the work yourself and don’t know what you’re doing, you can cause serious damage to the first binding pin, key pin, driver pin, and even the shear line. This is especially true if this is your first lock pick and you’re using paper clips, a bobby pin, or a beginner lock pick set found at your local hardware store.
A professional locksmith also adheres to legal and ethical practices and strict standards that are bound by the law. Not only do they stick to strict practices, but professional locksmiths can get the job done faster saving you both time and money.
Aside from a lock-picking service, our locksmiths offer a wide range of services, such as lock installation, key cutting, and security system installation. These services are available seven days a week to help you avoid a dangerous lockout situation. Contact the professional team of locksmiths at Hiro Locksmith today to pick a lock, and we’ll help get you back into your home, office, or vehicle quickly and safely.