A lockpick tool is a key part of the toolbox of any serious lock picker. They are used to help a lockpicker create the binding pin required for the plug’s keyway to disengage from the bolt.

When you start out with lock picking, it’s always a good idea to have a variety of tools and techniques at your disposal because locks respond differently to each method and some will not even budge if picked using a specific technique. Having some basic household items like 2 bobby pins or paperclips can also help if you’re stuck in a lock without access to your own picks.

Lock Pick Sets for Sale: Finding the Right Tools for Your Needs

The standard short hook is often considered the most important pick in any arsenal. Mastery of this pick is often correlated with mastery of the practice itself, and it is a great place to begin. The snake rake is another popular pick style that many beginner and advanced pickers use for rocking, a method in which the picker changes angles within the lock while trying to lift pins above the shear line. This is a great way to speed up the picking process and can be done with any pick, but the snake rake specifically works well with this method due to its shorter profile that allows for more extreme angles while still working in smaller or paracentric keyways.

Once you’ve made your pick and tension wrench, it’s time to get to work! Stick your pick into the bottom of the keyway and apply a very light degree of pressure in the direction that a key would turn to disengage the lock–typically clockwise. Keep applying this light pressure as you find and lift the first binding pin, and then set it with your pick while maintaining consistent pressure on the tension wrench.