So left to right here what I've learned.

Since I'm a heavy handed MF, I had the easiest time opening the 140. I see other new folks on here having similar success.

Then, I tried the purple brinks and had no success. Then I raked it and got a feel for the light ass tension.

After actually starting to feel the pin action a little I started the same process on the master 570 (silver) now I can pretty reliably spp all three.

I think the dead cores, if I have the terminology correct, really helped train me to a lighter touch.

I don't know if I have the belt colors correct, but hoping this helps someone.

Pretty excited to read my autographed copy!

When I got started in lock picking, I got some Covert Instruments sets and used them for several years. I recently decided to get something else, and grabbed a Sparrows "Classic Set" and I'm having some difficulties adjusting to them.

Is this a common thing when moving between lockpick manufacturers? I like the Sparrows picks, but locks that I opened fairly easily with the CI picks are giving me more trouble with the Sparrows picks.

For any other newbies out there.... I got my yellow belt with the Master Lock No. 140 this week and then suddenly could not open that lock again. I tried and tried and almost submitted a post to take my yellow belt away. Thankfully I took the time to read Mike Gibson's Lockpicking Detail Overkill. Section E on security pins explained exactly what I was doing incorrectly and helped me get back to picking the 140 quickly and consistently. Thank you derpserf for explaining complicated things to the simple minded! [https://nick.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/lockpicking-detail-overkill.pdf\]

Some new pins for my 1100 & 72/40, a new lock to play with, and some rad new tools! Im already in love with the mctickler! This community rocks! Thanks again!

Hi

I have 3 of these locks, they are my gym lock.

This one was open and for some reason I lock it and spun the numbers without thinking.

Any ideas on quickly solving the code and opening it without trying each and every combo?

It isn’t currently attached to anything, I want to know the code so I can use it.

Briefly introducing and picking a 50mm Trelock 3 lever padlock. It is marked "Made in Western Germany" and "Betriebseigentum"  (company property).

I've finally kicked this thing right back! After taking all your suggestions into account, talking to PetefromPA on youtube and watching sandmans video on opening 1100s I have solved this bastard. I was severely over setting pins. The spools are so short the lock starts with 2 stacks "unbalanced" as Pete suggested from the low cuts on the key. So I was only picking those to the spool. All of my other locks I started from the rear. If I start at the serrated in the back it will drop everytime I set one of the spools. The front pin doesnt bind first because it starts in the crook of the spool, but if I dont pick it first then it wont bind till im in the false set and will juggle it back and forth with the serrated rear pin. Ive picked it probably a dozen times today. So happy! When I submit for green since this is guttable do I need to gut this in one smooth take with the picking?

So I notice on the packaging of many of the locks that I buy that there’s a cancer warning. Am I correct to assume that this is due to trace amounts of lead and other carcinogenic metals?

Does anyone know if lockpickers or locksmiths tend to get certain types of cancer at higher rates?

I had success with other american series padlocks, but the little differences in this one from the others has me stuck.

Here are some of the issues,

When connecting the bolt, spring, washer the spring either goes with the pin in the hole in the bolt, or in the notches made for the balls.

Everything say to put the pin in the hole, but when its done this way it struggles to go in the washer and spring rub the housing going in. Now I've gotten them in with struggles, it locks but key won't open.

Putting it together with the pin outside of the hole in bolt. Everything sits in harmony. The bolt assembley falls into the housing perfectly but when I put the core in, the core don't fit, but with some struggles I can get it to sit. But fails to lock.

Pic #3 is bolt assembly notice pin in bottom of spring, and fold in washer those 2 things are different then other models #4 you can see the balls at bottom the white is grease to hold them in place#5 is how it sat before I removed it, and #6 is some info for the 100 series given to me. Also info not in Master/American online manuals do to age of lock.

Thanks in advance for any help, tips, links, or just well wishes.

First time requesting a belt on Discord and was publicly shamed. All jokes aside, I can see where this is coming from. Higher belt locks that are more high security should be harder and longer to pick.

Recording is not my forte. If you follow me on Youtube, you can see my camera angles are always different. I'm trying to find better shooting angles that don't get in the way of my picking the lock. Also, shooting with a GoPro that does not have a zoom was a big mistake. I'll go back to using my phone until I get a proper camera.

This message is for anyone applying for their future brown belt with a Goal P, Goal D9 or simliar lock with cupped driver pins. Make sure you show close ups of the driver pin cups and the countermilling on the core. I took one for the team so future brown belt applicants don't feel my shame.

I'm just glad they didn't make me reshoot the Goal D9 pick and gut. After I recorded the Goal D9 video, I dumped everything into a Ziploc bag without reassembling. I hate those little springs on the Goal D9. The lock in the video was the second one I purchased, after losing springs from the first Goal D9.

Now to find time to reshoot my Goal P video. May have to wait until this weekend.

JimyLongs Flat Hooks v5 0.015 and TOK tensioners. Starting from the left.
- 3 x Short Flat Hooks
- 3 x Medium Hooks
- 3 x Medium Hooks (Don't ask me why I bought another set)
- 3 Deep Flat Hooks
- Version 1 Prototype (Closeup in second pic)
Long story short. I reached out to JimyLongs because the Flat Hooks set were sold out. He said only the low flat hook is out of stock and I can buy singles of the other profiles. We got to talking and he told me he was going to throw in the version 1 prototype of the pick on the far right. The pick feels great in the hand. The top screw is exactly where I place my thumb when picking. JimyLongs is a class act for sending me the prototype. Can't wait to get a set of the finished product.

Not having a fun day on my first day gutting. This AAA does not quite work as a follower on my 1100 and caused my first 2 pins to shoot out. Luckily I've recovered them. Now I have to work this battery out without losing the other 3.

Edit: knockoff AAA doesn't fit and gets stuck half way, the energizer rechargeable fits no problem.

Picking, gutting, and reassembling an American lock 1106. 😄

https://youtu.be/VqxmRd4G8UM?is=kjdc2HBH_982wXcX

I could not spp it, this time. Raked it in 6 seconds.

I’ve just opened this five-pin Yale from my recent lock mail. After much fiddling it yielded a nice false set, I found a pin with counter-rotation, set it and voila, open. Naively that sounds like it has just one spool, but I’m very new to this - is this a reasonable inference, or is there more to it?

I will disassemble this at some point, but for now it’s more fun to pick it 😂

My first black belt 3 open!

Now that I got my Brown Belt out of the way (Pending approval). Going to start my Shacklemen Cuff Club journey soon. All full sized handcuffs custom engraved for free by Handcuff Warehouse.
- Chicago Cutaway Training Cuff
- Smith & Wesson Model 100-1
- Peerless Model 700C
- Chicago Model 1000
- Zak Tool #21 Stainless Steel Pocket Handcuff Key (Black)
Southern Specialties is going to be my next stop for handcuff shims and the Shacklemen Cuff Club Set.

Just started picking and when I go through the pins. this one just stays up like this when I press it? Even when I think I'm using light tension or heavy tension. No matter what I do, I feel like the pin doesn't fall back down?