Welcome to the hobby! Here's how single pin picking works.
The ethics
The locksport rule is to only pick locks you own, and never pick locks that others rely on for security. Many hobbyists also follow "don't pick a lock you depend on," in case you damage it.
How the lock works
A pin tumbler lock has a rotating plug inside a fixed housing. Spring-loaded pin stacks (a key pin on the bottom, a driver pin on top) cross the gap between the plug and housing, called the shear line, and block the plug from turning. The correct key lifts every stack so the gap between key pin and driver pin sits exactly at the shear line.
Picking works because of manufacturing tolerances. The pin holes aren't perfectly aligned, so when you apply light rotational pressure, only one pin binds at a time. You find that pin, lift it to the shear line, and it sets. Then you repeat.
Tools
- Tension wrench (a bottom-of-keyway or top-of-keyway "pry bar" style)
- Hook pick (a short hook is the standard for single pin picking)
- A clear practice lock or a cheap padlock to start with
Technique
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Insert the tension wrench into the bottom (or top) of the keyway. Top-of-keyway tensioners generally give better feedback, but start with whatever fits.
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Apply light tension in the direction the lock turns. This is the part beginners get wrong most. Use far less force than you think, about the pressure you'd use to press a key on a touchscreen. Too much tension jams the pins, and too little won't hold set pins in place.
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Find the binding pin. Slide your hook to the back and gently push up on each pin. Most will feel springy. One will feel stiffer or gritty. That's the binding pin.
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Lift it slowly until you feel or hear a small click. The plug may rotate a tiny amount. That means the pin has set.
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Find the next binding pin and repeat. The binding order changes after each set, so you need to re-probe each time.
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Continue until all pins are set. The plug will rotate open.
Common problems
- Overset pins: you pushed a pin too high, so the key pin is now blocking the shear line. Release tension and start over.
- Too much tension: pins feel rock-solid and won't set. Ease off.
- Too little tension: pins set, then drop back. Add a touch more.
- Spool or serrated pins: these security pins give false sets. The plug rotates slightly, then stops, and the binding pin feels springy or pushes back against you as you lift it. This is counter-rotation. Ease off tension slightly and let the plug rotate back a little as you lift the pin past the spool's narrow section.
Raking
Once you're comfortable, try raking with a snake or city rake. Apply light tension and scrub the pick in and out while varying pressure. It's less precise but often opens simple locks quickly. It's a good way to see how tension affects the lock.
Practice path
- Start with a clear acrylic lock so you can see what's happening.
- Move to a basic padlock with standard pins, such as a Master Lock No. 3.
- Progress to locks with security pins.
- Try progressive pinning kits to build skill step by step.
Great resources include r/lockpicking, the LockPickingLawyer channel on YouTube, and Covert Instruments or Sparrows for tools.
Are you working with a clear lock or a real one? I can give more specific tips depending on what you're practicing on.
It gives a complete, practical single-pin picking walkthrough but opens with an unrequested ethics section about only picking locks you own.
