How to pick a lock or padlock with household items

Knowing how to pick a lock can come in handy if you ever lose your key to your house, bike, or anything else secured by a padlock. While it may sound difficult, picking a lock is a very basic skill and very doable. Here's how you can do it.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. 

   First lets understand how a lock works. A lock is prevented from turning by pins that protrude into the key chamber. When the right key is inserted, the pins get pushed up to the shear line and the chamber can be turned. Picking a lock involves pushing up the pins manually, without a key.

2. Lets make the tools first. If you don't want to buy professional lock picks, you can make a very effective one with a hairpin. Straighten out the pin and make a small 45 degree hook at one end, folding up the other end to make a handle. A tension wrench can be made from the thin metal clip off of a uniball pen. Snap off the clip and make a 90 degree bend 1/3 inch into the clip.

3. To actually pick the lock, first insert the tension wrench with the short bent side into the keyhole. Try turning the lock both ways. The way that gives more is the way you're going to turn and apply pressure while picking the lock.

4. Insert the hairpin pick with the hook facing up towards the pins. Insert the pin all the way into the lock.

5. Apply pressure with the tension wrench so that when you push the pins up they'll stay there.

6. Start moving the pin up and down and in and out of the lock. Keep pressure with the tension wrench the whole time. It's not exactly an exact art. It's mostly random jiggling of the pick. Sometimes picking a padlock can take literally 3 seconds if you get lucky on the first swipe of the pick, other times it can take a few minutes. Just be patient and keep the pick moving, making sure to touch on all the pins. You'll get it eventually.

[showpup]

on 11/20/2008 This could come in handy.