You will need a small set of cylinders in various keyways, a board or vice to hold them in while you practice, and a small re-pinning kit (extra pins and springs and a "follower" tool). Each board is labeled with its keyway, and each lock cylinder on a board is labeled with the number of installed pin stacks (from one to six) and the keying code for its pinning. Pin stacks with partially set spool and mushrooms, on the other hand, will feel a bit different. That said, the Peterson hook picks are a bit too large to fit comfortably in more tightly warded keyways, especially those found on higher-security locks. The picks are available with blue plastic handles. Picks probe and lift the individual pin tumblers through the keyway, while torque tools control the degree and force of plug rotation. Get in the habit of making a systematic "inventory" of the states of the pin stacks after you set each new pin. The multiple peaks allow several, or even all, pin stacks to set simultaneously. If you tried to rotate the plug of such a lock without a key in the keyway, the top pin segment of each pin stack would block the plug at exactly the same number of degrees of rotation; each pin stack would contribute equally to preventing the plug from turning.

Other names for the torque tool are turning tool, torque wrench, torsion wrench, what is billiards and tension wrench. Most commercial torque tools are designed for horizontal orientation. A variety of picking tools are available through most locksmith supply distributors. The following is a series of self-paced exercises to help you master the basic techniques of pin tumbler lock picking. Tubular cylinders typically have four to eight pin tumblers arranged in a circular pattern around the circumference of the plug. While there are literally thousands of different keyways in commercial use in the United States and thousands more abroad, these four give a fairly representative sample of the different kinds of wardings (and pin manipulation problems) you are likely to encounter in common (non-high-security) locks. Typical commercial and residential locks have five or six pin stacks (although four and seven aren't unheard of), with from four to ten distinct cut depths used on each. A key that is bitted to the wrong depth in even one pin position will not operate the lock.

You must be careful to avoid touching the front-most pin with the blade of the tool, but this position has the advantage of allowing maximum room to maneuver the pick. LAB is a lock pin and locksmith tool manufacturer. In the lab you'll find a collection of small (12 inch by 18 inch) lock boards, each containing six specially pinned locks with a given keyway. You'll probably want to use one of the smaller LAB picks, although the small Peterson hook will sometimes do with care and practice. The basic algorithm for picking locks is remarkably simple: - Apply a small amount of torque to the plug. The proper pick and torque tool selection depend on the shape of the keyway, the features of the lock, the picking technique, and the individual preferences of the user. A few basic tools are sufficient to pick the majority of commonly used locks. Avoid so-called "feather-touch" and spring-loaded torque tools altogether. Apply light torque while pivoting a long, wavy rake inside the lock, inserting and removing it slightly as you go. In general, the torque tool should be as thick as possible while still fitting in the keyway, and of a width sufficient to provide good control but without interfering with the picking tool's access to the pins.

The pick must be strong enough to resist bending or breaking while lifting pins, yet the shaft must be small and thin enough to maneuver freely around the keyway without disturbing other pins. The traditional torque tool is made from stiff, flat spring steel, bent at a 90 degree angle to provide a small blade that fits in the keyway and a long handle to which torque is applied. Another style of torque tool has two "prongs" that fit in the top and bottom of the keyway, with a cutout between them for the pick. Most of the esoteric pick designs in the huge, overpriced sets you see on the web and from locksmith suppliers are useless, and eventually end up being discarded in favor of the basic hooks. If the torque tool is too thin, it will tend to be "springy" and will absorb much of the fine movement and control needed to successfully pick better quality locks. The locks are drilled for up to six pins. Right: Side view, with part of the shell and plug cut away to expose the six pin stacks.