When you think of lockpicking, odds are the image of burglars entering your home comes to mind. While this is the most popular idea of lockpicking, there are a lot of unique uses for this skill. If you’re ever locked out of your home, are looking to pick up a new hobby, or you’ve just joined the locksmith industry, you’re going to want to know a little more about lockpicking sets.
Here are a few tips you should consider when it comes to lockpicking tools:
WHAT IS LOCKPICKING?
Lockpicking usually falls into the spectrum of something called physical bypass. Bypassing usually takes advantage of a flawed design. Specifically, when it comes to lockpicking, bypassing the door means you are using innovation to get around a faulty mechanism.
Though lockpicking does indeed have a negative connotation, experts in the field would agree that lockpicking has a subtle elegance to it. Being able to artfully maneuver or navigate through the lock, and to do it under a certain time frame, is quite impressive. It’s also beneficial under certain circumstances, like losing your house keys.
THE LEGAL SIDE
There is a common misconception that lockpicking is illegal. This is rightfully due to the fact that it can be used to enter someone else’s premises without permission. Lockpicking has proven quite popular in the life of burglars and criminals, which adds to the issues many people have with its legal implications.
It is important to consider that although lockpicking is indeed legal, it should not be taken advantage of. You should never pick a lock for illegal purposes or own a lock pick set for crime purposes. Lockpicking can be a hobby, it can be used to open your home door, and as a locksmith tool. It should never be used to trespass in any areas that you do not have permission to enter.
As long as you are not attempting to illegally enter someone’s premises, in most states, you can legally carry, own, and use lock picking tools. There are some states, however, that may give your problems, and may consider your ownership of these tools as evidence of criminal intent. Make sure you are aware of which states allow for owning lockpick tools.
TOOLS YOU NEED
The most common lock picking tools include tension wrenches and pick rakes. The pick rakes are usually made up of various ridges, which enables you to pick several pins (or lock mechanisms) at a time.
The tension wrench is the most important component in successfully picking a lock. As you’re raising the pin sets with your pick rakes, you will need to apply some tension on the plug. If you are putting the right amount of force on the plug, some of the pins will pass what is known as the shear line. Once this happens, the plug will rotate.
Then, when you take the pick out, the key pin will drop down. The driver pin will catch the edge of the plug and end up staying on top of the shear line. Bingo! You’ve just lockpicked your door. Give your lock pick set a hand.
There you have it! Everything you need to know about lockpicking and lockpicking sets. Whether you forgot or lose your keys, enjoy lockpicking as a hobby, or just joined a locksmith company, remember to get the right tools and know your stuff. Make sure that it is legal in your state, purchase the correct lockpicking set, and you’re ready to become a lockpicking expert. Browse through our entire collection now.
