Whenever I run a craigslist ad for my handymanning services, I often list “basic locksmithing” as one thing I can do. Please note, I have a brother who is a master master locksmith so I know full well that I am not such. But all too often, while I am doing a job, a client will ask, “can you fix THIS?” and they will point to a doorknob. So bit by bit, in the “learn by doing” philosophy, I have acquired some very basic locksmithing skills. These consist mainly of replacing doorknobs, swapping out deadbolt locks, pulling mortise locks (and having a real locksmith replace the innards) and fixing strike plates. So over time, as more and more clients asked me to fix more and more broken knobs, I started to accumulate basic locksmithing skills. There is actually a lot to know, even at that basic level.
That said, when the pandemic first hit, it became pretty obvious that handymanning work was going to slow down and I would have some extra time on my hands. So I decided that would be a perfect time to do some things I had always intended to do.
One of these was to learn to play folk guitar, another was to figure out how to dance country 2-step, and the last was . . . How to pick locks.
I can’t remember what made me want to learn lock picking. I probably surfed into a youtube video by “the lock picking lawyer” and got intrigued.
So I invested in a set of lock picking tools:
You really don’t need much for this kind of thing . . . for basic lockpicking all you need is a “tensioning tool” and a pick. I also bought a “rake” but I rarely use it. And some “top of the keyway” tensioning tools are in the mail.
Now please do bear in mind, I am not any sort of lock picking expert, in fact I would call myself (at best) an advanced beginner. I managed to stitch together a collection of old used deadbolts and locking knobs and now, instead of knitting or whittling, whenever I find myself sitting in my easy chair, I compulsively grab a lock and proceed to pick it. Or at least try to. I have successfully picked 80% of the locks I own, at least once. Still, it is a very hit or miss proposition, I have not achieved any mastery so far. But, gotta start somewheres.
The process involves sticking your pick in the lock and acquiring a mental picture of the unique setup of the pins. If you could see the pins it would be easy, but you have to figure them out by feel.
I have been told that a good way to stave off dementia and senility is to keep learning new things. This project is certainly doing that.
