I’m not big into sports. I never have been, really. However, I’ve always had a fascination with how things work, and that fascination extended to locks at a somewhat early age. I made my first set of pitiful picks in high school, made a better set after graduation, and eventually bought a professional set from a friend who was taking an apprenticeship under a locksmith near the college I attended after I left the Navy. I later took a course through Foley Belsaw on locksmithing, and learned more than just how to pick locks. All of this leads back to my first sentence… there is actually a competitive scene in lockpicking groups, and it is called “locksport.” (The more you know!)
My business mentor recently posted a monthly challenge to the group to spend time every day doing something. I chose to brush up on my lock picking skills, since I haven’t had to touch a lock in over a year, and haven’t practiced just to practice in almost 8 months or so, before this month.
I was worried that I’d get frustrated, since it’s been so long, but apparently I’m not as rusty as I thought I would be. I’ve managed to “pop” my practice lock at least three to five times every day for the last several days of the challenge. This weekend, I’ll put together a few other practice locks, since this one is actually getting too easy to pop, already.
So the basic concepts are simple, if you want to know the physics behind this hobby. Most locks people encounter will either be “pin tumbler” or “wafer” locks. Wafer locks are mostly found in automobiles, cabinets, desks, and so on. Pin tumbler locks are what are found on most peoples’ doors, here in the U.S.
The practice is simple. Two tools are needed in order to open the lock. One tool applies rotational pressure on the “plug” which is where the wafers or bottom pins live. The other tool manipulates each pin or wafter, lifting it out of its resting state, trying to get it to fit in just the right spot for the plug to rotate, as if the correct key has been inserted into the lock. For pin tumbler locks, this means lifting the bottom pin until the top pin is above the “shear line” and the bottom pin is still inside the plug. The shear line is that edge between the outside of the plug and the inside of the casing where the plug can spin. With wafer locks, you’re trying to get the wafer all the way into the plug (or out of the plug, depending on design) so that the plug can spin. It’s all about making sure nothing is blocking the shear line, either way.
The most successful pickers learn to feel when the plug “gives” a little as each pin or wafer are set. It’s truly fun, and is amazing for developing focus. The act of picking is a meditative thing for me, which is one of the reasons I love doing it.
Sorry to cut this short. Next week will probably be another Permaculture related post. In the mean time, try looking up how to make your own picks, and see if you can get into the “sport.” It’s worth the effort.