Lock picking!

rpgdemon · 06-09-2011, 02:43 PM

So, I picked up a lock picking kit, and a pretty cheap lock to practice on, just as something to do, which might come in handy sometime. I am able to get most of the pins down, but not quite get the thing to turn, and I'm wondering if anyone here is an expert lockpick/locksmith and can give me pointers.

Aerozord · 06-09-2011, 02:57 PM

maybe I am naive, but I didn't think you could buy a lock picking kit

Professor Smarmiarty · 06-09-2011, 03:00 PM

We lost keys to our filing cabinet once so I broke in with allen keys. But it so much esier to just drill the lock out usually.

rpgdemon · 06-09-2011, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerozord

maybe I am naive, but I didn't think you could buy a lock picking kit

You can, and they're completely legal. A lot of locksmiths have them, in order to open locks that they keys are missing for, that you don't want to drill out.

TDK · 06-09-2011, 03:14 PM

I've never been entirely convinced "Hobby-Lockpicking" is anything but a front used to sell lockpicks so that they may be used illegally. It seems like there are few legitimate situations where that might be necessary (if you even manage to have your lockpicks on you at the time).

I mean it is a pretty cool thing to know how to do and I am interested in doing it, but this is just the impression I get from people I've talked to and sites and things I've seen.

I guess maybe its kind of like how you can just buy one of those things that they used to open car doors when you lock your keys in?

rpgdemon · 06-09-2011, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDK

I've never been entirely convinced "Hobby-Lockpicking" is anything but a front used to sell lockpicks so that they may be used illegally. It seems like there are few legitimate situations where that might be necessary (if you even manage to have your lockpicks on you at the time).

I mean it is a pretty cool thing to know how to do and I am interested in doing it, but this is just the impression I get from people I've talked to and sites and things I've seen.

I guess maybe its kind of like how you can just buy one of those things that they used to open car doors when you lock your keys in?

It's a credit card sized kit (Thicker than one, but still), so the idea is that you'll more often have your wallet on you, than your keys, if you forget them. As for the car door things, I honestly don't see how they're not 100% meant for thieves. I mean, what are the odds that you lock your keys in, but have a car door opener? Why not just carry two sets of keys, since it would probably be cheaper.

TDK · 06-09-2011, 03:34 PM

...And the irony of that statement is lost on you? :P

rpgdemon · 06-09-2011, 03:38 PM

Well, it's not really ironic. I am much more likely to have my wallet on me, than the keys to whatever door I'm locked out of. For example: There is a room that has a lock on it's door with no key. So, if this door ever gets locked, we have to either break in through a window with a ladder, or call a locksmith.

Magus · 06-09-2011, 03:40 PM

There's nothing wrong with knowing how to pick a lock or hotwire a car. It's doing that to cars that aren't your own that is wrong, whereas it would be quite useful in a pinch. Besides which there are indeed locksmiths who make money off of knowing this...though some particularly bad ones will show up and just try to use a credit card on the door (a regular door). I mean if you're going to be a "locksmith" for a living (one of those careers that are routinely touted in those 2-week by-mail education programs) at least put a modicum of effort into it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpgdemon

Why not just carry two sets of keys, since it would probably be cheaper.

I used to carry an extra key in my wallet...of course, if you lose your wallet and your keys you're really screwed. I can't see both happening, though.

Also all the new cars apparently let you open the things from your phone, so the chances you actually need to know how to lockpick is pretty slim. But it's not a bad thing to know. I know how to do all kinds of stuff that used the wrong way would be illegal, doesn't mean I do any of them.

EDIT: And of course if you lose the original key, this is also good.

Bells · 06-09-2011, 03:49 PM

No skill, in and on itself, can be good or bad. Only it's application can be. Like, by knowing what kills i can know what saves.

Picking locks is actually a pretty cool thing to know, and it just might be useful. Maybe not, probably not, but i guess you could say the same about knowing special knots and how to make a fire or follow tracks... or parkour

06-09-2011, 02:43 PM	#1
rpgdemon Not a Taco Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3,313	Lock picking! So, I picked up a lock picking kit, and a pretty cheap lock to practice on, just as something to do, which might come in handy sometime. I am able to get most of the pins down, but not quite get the thing to turn, and I'm wondering if anyone here is an expert lockpick/locksmith and can give me pointers. __________________ I did a lot of posting on here as a teenager, and I was pretty awful. Even after I learned, grew up, and came to be on the right side of a lot of important issues, I was still angry, abrasive, and generally increased the amount of hate in the world, in pretty unacceptable ways. On the off chance that someone is taking a trip down memory lane looking through those old threads, I wanted to devote my signature to say directly to you, I'm sorry. Thank you for letting me be better, NPF.

06-09-2011, 02:57 PM	#2
Aerozord So we are clear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Former murder capital of the world Posts: 13,824	maybe I am naive, but I didn't think you could buy a lock picking kit __________________ "don't hate me for being a heterosexual white guy disparaging slacktivism, hate me for all those murders I've done."

06-09-2011, 03:38 PM	#8
rpgdemon Not a Taco Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3,313	Well, it's not really ironic. I am much more likely to have my wallet on me, than the keys to whatever door I'm locked out of. For example: There is a room that has a lock on it's door with no key. So, if this door ever gets locked, we have to either break in through a window with a ladder, or call a locksmith. __________________ I did a lot of posting on here as a teenager, and I was pretty awful. Even after I learned, grew up, and came to be on the right side of a lot of important issues, I was still angry, abrasive, and generally increased the amount of hate in the world, in pretty unacceptable ways. On the off chance that someone is taking a trip down memory lane looking through those old threads, I wanted to devote my signature to say directly to you, I'm sorry. Thank you for letting me be better, NPF.

06-09-2011, 03:49 PM	#10
Bells That's so PC of you Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In a Server-sided Dimension where time is meaningless Posts: 10,490	No skill, in and on itself, can be good or bad. Only it's application can be. Like, by knowing what kills i can know what saves. Picking locks is actually a pretty cool thing to know, and it just might be useful. Maybe not, probably not, but i guess you could say the same about knowing special knots and how to make a fire or follow tracks... or parkour __________________ *BELLS STORE : Clothes! You wear* them! Free US Shipping Subscription System? WTF?! Zazzle Black!**

06-09-2011, 03:00 PM	#3
Professor Smarmiarty Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: K-space Posts: 9,758	We lost keys to our filing cabinet once so I broke in with allen keys. But it so much esier to just drill the lock out usually.

06-09-2011, 03:14 PM	#5
TDK Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Reality Posts: 2,914	I've never been entirely convinced "Hobby-Lockpicking" is anything but a front used to sell lockpicks so that they may be used illegally. It seems like there are few legitimate situations where that might be necessary (if you even manage to have your lockpicks on you at the time). I mean it is a pretty cool thing to know how to do and I am interested in doing it, but this is just the impression I get from people I've talked to and sites and things I've seen. I guess maybe its kind of like how you can just buy one of those things that they used to open car doors when you lock your keys in?

06-09-2011, 03:34 PM	#7
TDK Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Reality Posts: 2,914	...And the irony of that statement is lost on you? :P