Generally, all you'll need to pick a lock are some picks (long, thin metal pieces with curved ends of different shapes for different types of locks) and a tension wrench. You can use paperclips as picks in a pinch, and a tension wrench can be any tool used to create tension, including a flathead screwdriver.
Pick the Lock
In addition to this fundamental knowledge, you will also need lock picking tools: a lock pick and a tension wrench. If you are in a pinch and have the materials on hand, you can craft make-shift lock picking tools using bobby pins, paperclips, or other stiff and thin metals.
Deadbolts, however, are still vulnerable to lock picking. Pin and tumbler locks are the most common designs in use today. These locks use a series of small, spring-loaded pins to keep the cylinder from turning.
For pin tumbler locks, including deadbolts and entry doors, make a pick set out of 2 bobby pins or paper clips. Stick them into the lock and wiggle them until the lock opens. Use an unbent paper clip or a hairpin for locks on privacy door knobs.
Picking a lock with paper clips works pretty much the same way as picking a lock with a traditional tension wrench and rake. You just need to turn two paper clips into those two very same tools, and then pick the lock with them like you'd normally do.
Learning how to pick a lock with a hairpin can be a fun challenge, but sadly it doesn't always work. Bobby pins are bulky, and some locks have slimmer keyways that are too small for a bobby pin to enter. So if you really want to learn lockpicking, I would highly suggest considering a basic lock picking set.
It can take anywhere from 7 seconds to 45 minutes for a locksmith to pick open a lock. Generally a locksmith should be able to unlock most doors in about 10 minutes. Of course this is effected by the type of lock.
CR's take: The Medeco Maxum 11TR503-19 is the strongest deadbolt across all of our lock categories. It's top-notch for drilling, withstands kick-ins very well, and is designed in a way that makes it quite difficult to pick.
How to Rekey a Deadbolt Lock. If your deadbolt requires a separate key from your entry doorknob, you can rekey it if they are the same brand. To rekey the deadbolt, remove it from the door and repin as you do a doorknob. Make sure the bolt is out and remove the screws holding the deadbolt to the door.
A single-cylinder deadbolt is the most common type. It requires a key to operate the lock from the outside, but has a thumb-turn on the inside. A double-cylinder lock requires a key to operate the door from either side.
Most exterior locks purchased in-store come with a unique key. That means if you purchase multiple exterior locks at once, they will each have a different key required for access.
It is all depending on the deadbolt that you have. If it is a standard lock they can usually just pick it or bump key it. But if it a security lock then the only way that they are able to open it is to drill the lock.
While lock picking is relatively gentle, it can still be rough enough to push the springs past their limits causing them to deform or even break. Two common things that can increase your chance of damaging springs are raking and oversetting pins.
If you are locked out of your home, flat or office a locksmith can pick the lock open securely without damaging the lock, common lockout problems a locksmith can help with are: Locked out with no key.
Many locks are made of the same basic parts: pins (usually 12) and springs. The upper six pins are the same size, and the bottom six pins come in varying sizes to match up with the grooves on your particular key. The little springs serve to hold the pins in place.
Signs of a tampered lock can be difficult to detect and often go unnoticed until it's too late. Signs vary from visible dents and scuff marks around the keyhole, scratches around the door handle, or even missing hardware from inside the door frame.
Emergency locksmiths can unlock a variety of locks, including electronic ones. With that in mind, it's always good to know where all of your local locksmith services are located in case of emergencies like broken keys or malfunctioning electric locks.