[107] How To Pick A Wafer Lock

[@louiswilber]

Out of all the "lock pick tutorials" yours are the most informative. Thank you for the knowledge and the start of a new skill.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

thank you for the kind words! I'm glad they help

[@bwobbles2368]

💯 thank you for the tutorials! I enjoy the other locksport channels but they usually lack in depth explanations.

[@VincentWestberg]

(2024) This video taught me about wafer locks and different styles of picks. I was recently at Def Con and the lockpicking village ran out of the set I wanted. A co worker gave me all his spare picks, With this video I was able to pick a gun lock that I no longer have the key to. So my first picked lock was a double sided wafer lock. Thanks

[@foffingCh.]

This video was actually an incredible discovery for me! I’m a very new picker, like as of two weeks ago, when I was bored at the job I was working at. There were a few drawers with locks (the keys were there, and I was meant to be sorting through them, nothing criminal) so I looked up some basic lock picking tutorials, and make my own pick, rake, and tension wrench out of paper clips and with much effort managed to open two of them, the tension I needed to apply to actually turn the core was nearly too much for the wrench to handle and sometimes I couldn’t tell if I was actually turning it, or bending it, but I have spent the last few weeks of looking at pin picking videos wondering why the key pins look nothing like the weird boxy pins I had been wrangling, and I only just now discovered that they were waffers, and that I thought I was operating a completely different kind of lock! I had been trying to do things like feel out the “pins” and see if any were sticking, but in reality I’ve never picked the most common type! So in the end, I had quite a laugh at my own expense, and learned something new.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks for sharing

[@hamskoolie9706]

Thanks man. I bought a 40' skoolie and I'm trying to get the locks sorted. Had all but one opened as they weren't locked or were standard keys. Bought a $20 lock pick set from Amazon with three clear plastic pin locks and practiced MAYBE an hour total on those. Then watched this vid as the one in the bus is a wafer. 5-10 minutes after watching this vid I had the lock open. THANKS, saved a bunch from the lock smith.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for the kind words and congrats on your success!

[@hamskoolie9706]

@@HelpfulLockPicker Being a mechanic (retired) I may now have to start a new drawer in my tool box.

[@GogiRegion]

I just got a lock box for my room, and I wanted to make sure that if I lost the key I could still get into it, and this video was exactly what I needed for that!

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks for checking it out but remember it's not good practice to pick locks in use!

[@jilledubois5883]

@@HelpfulLockPickerwhy not?

[@JanisMisins-vb5co]

Because lockpickng locks you use is quite damaging to the pins. Maybe you break off your tool inside the lock. Picking locks you rely on puts them at risk of becoming unusable. Watch some LockPickingLawyer videos, he preaches this principle. Hope this helps.

[@jameyspielt]

thank you... i managed to open my old cheap safe with your help.. and i am a total noob on picking. thank you.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for the kind words and I am glad this helped

[@adonikam1]

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent!!! You're a Awsome Picker and teacher!!!

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for the kind words

[@victor7530]

Thank you for your very clear and comprehensive explanation. You have enhanced my understanding of wafer locks. Great video! Thanks again.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Victor HAVEN thank you for the kind words, I am glad it helped:)

[@paulvalley2125]

Thank you. Just staring. That was very helpful for me. Looking for a vice, pin tables, tools and locks to start. Found and old lock in the drawer and picked it open for the first time 3 days ago with a home grown pick and tensioner. 😊 Pretty pleased with myself and I think I found a new hobby. Take care.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Congrats in the open and welcome to the hobby!

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Please Stay Tuned Every Wednesday For More Episodes To Come! Thank You to theboredlockpicker for pointing out that there is a difference between a Try-Out Key and an Auto Jiggler. Today, the terms seem to commonly get intertwined but there is a big difference. A Try-Out Key you do not jiggle at all, it is essentially a pre-cut key and you just try one after the other hoping one will open the lock. An Auto Jiggler is what was shown, they are used to more or less rake open the lock while applying tension. I added these to the video to point out there existence and not to get into them specifically but I would like to convey accurate info on them.

[@dr.s.p.]

Wonderful instructional video. Thank you.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for checking it out!

[@grosstravis]

Thanks for the tips. Not many videos on wafers. Cheers

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for the kind words, I'm glad it helps!

[@SightlessSenshi]

Great video, buddy. I haven't done too much with wafer locks yet, but I really want to get some more practice on those.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

The coolest wafer lock is the Chicago Duo, it is a lot of fun to pick! Wafer locks in general are not difficult but they are fun to get used to. How is the challenge lock coming? I am excited to try it out down the road!

[@SightlessSenshi]

HelpfulLockPicker I've not put it together yet, but it is all planned out. :)

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Sightless Senshi nice I can't wait :-) no rush I am pretty bogged down right now with other locks

[@DeetexSeraphine]

This helped me at work today, Thanks for sharing your insights!

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@banana_milkshake3750]

I hope you didn't pick into your bosses office d:

[@DeetexSeraphine]

@@banana_milkshake3750 no, not yet.

[@banana_milkshake3750]

@@DeetexSeraphine I really hope so lmao

[@chuck9407]

Thanks, was able to open a small stack-on gun safe that I lost to key too, and the batteries for the electronic lock died. I have started on regular pin picking, but hadn't tried a wafer lock before.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

thank you for the kind words and I am glad it helped

[@natasfresas]

I lost the key to my motorcycle top case. Gonna improvise a lockpick and try tomorrow. I can't wait for a set or to buy a key so hopefully this works. Thanks for the information, I'm subscribing

[@natasfresas]

Couldn't open it 😢 I may need a good lockpick

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for sharing

[@natasfresas]

Update: I got it open the day after that with a hairpin and a pen clip. I now have a lockpick starter kit

[@samlott99]

I use my Snake Rake not only for raking, but I can SPP with it as well. It's just as easy to lift it into the wafer. Also, the "Hollow Half Diamond" or "Peaknuckle" pick is good for both raking and SPP.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks for sharing!

[@calimlimfrancisnoah5352]

Thanks for the new knowledge got my new car😃

[@stephenstone2606]

Very good video thanks for showing👍👍👍

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Stephen Stone thank you for the kind words :-)

[@dlamb115]

Great instruction! Do you have any tips/videos that dive deeper into picking a double sided wafer? how do you trigger both sides at the same time? you do one, and then the other...but doesn't the other side push back out when you switch to the other? how do you do both sides at once?

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

You just tension and pick both sides and it opens. It is the same principle

[@lokpikr999]

Very nice tutorial.However when dealing with single wafer locks,you should use a half ball(As opposed to a full ball which is wider and may be harder to insert into smaller keyways)

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for checking the video out and your feedback!

[@samlott99]

The "S" or Snake rake works just as well for single wafer locks. It's a matter of experience and personal preference.

[@briarberrycove5218]

Nice video. Keep up the good work...

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Briarberrycove thank you for the kind words! I hope to try to get to your challenge lock later this week :-)

[@briarberrycove5218]

Cool. Have fun and enjoy. :-)

[@billbacardi3262]

Great explanation as always sir. Keep up the great work.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Bill Bacardi Thank you for the kind words!

[@billbacardi3262]

HelpfulLockPicker Your very welcome sir you deserve the recognition my friend.

[@rybread5718]

Just unlocked a safe I lost the key to about 8 or 10 years ago. It's like a forced time capsule. Thanks for the help!

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for the kind words just be careful opening locks in use!

[@MyTube4Utoo]

A very informative video. Thank you.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

thank you for the kind words!

[@seanditch4419]

Hi, thx for the video, If the keys have long since gone/ lost/broken/ how can you determine whether the wafer lock is a single or double sided lock? thx

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

I would look down to keyway and see if there are Wafers on the top and the bottom

[@seanditch4419]

@@HelpfulLockPicker will try with a torch.. see what's in thee. Thx

[@davidpaine7398]

This is a fantastic video!

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@ryanclay959]

Awesome training video

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@ryanclay959]

@@HelpfulLockPicker I eventually will be making training videos and when I do I'll talk to you about putting links to your videos to help other's learn more about Locksport

[@shaunsmith9801]

Great video. Thanks

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@michaelmendillo4614]

That homemade pick that was sent to you looks awesome ! Is the handle made of wood ? 😁✌

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Yes, it is made out of "psychedelic wood"

[@michaelmendillo4614]

@@HelpfulLockPicker Very Nice ! Luv your channel, I am on it very often ! I became hooked ! What a great interesting hobby , not to mention all the great others out there who share the same passion,,, just awesome ! TY for everything ! Greatly appreciated ,,,, 😁✌

[@Gabriel-yk4it]

Can you overset them?

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

You can

[@timin770]

Thanks for making me feel like a ham-handed moron lol

[@LegalBro]

Great Video!

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@chriscapune7873]

Great information!!! 🐈👍🐈👏🐾

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@AlbertLebel]

Awesome video man. Very helpful. Thank you.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Albert Lebel thank you for the kind words

[@alie61iteben41]

It's very useful

[@bernard512tr]

Sorry you gave the answer later in the video! Thanks.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks for watching through:)

[@acetech9237]

Sometimes when I pick old storage cabinets the tumbler comes out completely like that. Why is that?

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

It is because it is a wafer lock and the retaining clip probably fell off

[@fabiandaroca]

Would it be to much to ask where you got not the pinning mat but the material below it?????

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

The black stuff? It is some generic grip mat from Target

[@levipowers2449]

Very informative

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

thank you for the kind words, I am glad you found it helpful :-)

[@matthewbeatty3742]

But you didn’t show you picking the double sided wafer lock? That’s what I wanted to see.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks for sharing. It's the same idea just flip the pick around

[@dlamb115]

@@HelpfulLockPicker I'm interested in this too - i have a pinball machine where the key was lost. it seems to be double sided. how to you trigger both sides at once? do you need to fit two tools in there at once? the snowball tool you showed?

[@sammansfield21]

Great video. Hopefully I can do it...snakes won't be happy otherwise

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

I wish you luck

[@sammansfield21]

@@HelpfulLockPicker managed to find the keys luckily. I still practice with picking though just incase

[@Leonslockpad]

Nice video my friend good info.i do like picking wafer locks🎄🎁🎅🎅😎👍😊

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Leon's lockpad Thank you for the kind words!

[@ccmogs5757]

What"s your most favourable pick for wafers ? cheers L.

[@marksuhre9494]

Great info - thank you!

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@balloonhead313]

How much harder are double sided locks?

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

No usually too difficult because they are usually wafer locks

[@dreamkiss4u]

i think i have a wafer lock but the wafers look like they are on the right side of the wall inside...i can see some small teeth from the wafers sticking out on the right side how would you pick those? anyone know or have a video link to the process.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Feel free to send me an email with a photo of the lock

[@WSMRFireDawgs]

Brother what brand of Vise are you using? 😊

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

PANAVISE 350 Multi-Purpose Work Center, you can find it on Amazon

[@maxgiantbanana7344]

Funny thing happened to me, I failed to pick these locks, should I push the wafers or pull them? I don’t understand the meaning of “set it”…10:36

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for sharing

[@JC-11111]

I thought maybe I was doing something wrong. I've got a wafer lock from an older General Motors vehicle that I've been trying to take & spp. I've been unsuccessful at either. So I went outside to my toolbox to try it, since it has a tubular, single-sided wafer lock. Raked it in about 20 seconds. Worst part is the dust cover on the GM lock makes it impossible to see anything because it swings wide and my y-tool's prongs aren't long enough to get it out of the way completely. Ugh.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

You could try to use a regular top of the keyway tension wrench and tension from the middle

[@_broody2853]

Curious if you can open a cross lock? The ones on a door that you open with a key that looks a bit like a phillips head screw driver ... Thanks for making me reconsider my locks :)

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

The cross locks can be easily opened. You can single pin pick them, rake them, or even use one of the specialty raking tools.

[@raphaelleleux9411]

I'm learning on one so I'm wondering whether it is a good type of lock to start on.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Raphael Leleux they are not bad locks to work on but they do have a bit of a different field in a standard pin and Tumbler lock because the mechanism is different

[@raphaelleleux9411]

HelpfulLockPicker okay thanks.

[@lukehayner3202]

What if you dont haave a y tensioner or a top of key way tensioner, and there is a dust cover? Thanks for the video!

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

you could use a bottom one

[@lukehayner3202]

@@HelpfulLockPicker oh okay, thanks. I just ordered my first set, looks like a fun skill to have.

[@bernard512tr]

The springs push out the wafers. Why do they whitdraw with the correct key, the springs keep pushing although? What force makes the wafers to retire?

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks for watching through:)

[@davidh.4944]

If I understand it correctly, I think it's better to say that the key _pulls_ the wafers out of the way. The bitting pushes on one side of the wafer, retracting the opposite side past the shear line.

[@mr.kevinballard4807]

How do you remove a broken key in lock? Can you do a video on that play? Thanks great videos! I will subscribe

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

You use a key extractor to get one out. I have not made a video on one yet but I could try to down the road. Thank you for your suggestion .

[@mr.kevinballard4807]

Ok, thanks for responding!

[@elguapo1690]

Noticed you didn't demonstrate picking the double sided...

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

thank you for sharing

[@ThuyDuong-gz4gu]

Thanks

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@BoredLockpicker]

also try out keys and jigglers aren't the same thing.......

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Bored Lock picker you are definitely correct that there is a difference between a tryout key and an auto Jiggler from their true definition. For the scope of this video I was just trying to mention more or less their existence than getting into their particular uses. Today they are often mistakenly referred to as the same thing and to me it is almost a matter of semantics. I should have not generalize the term and made the distinction more clear. Thanks for sharing your input!

[@gliddy6282]

Liked and subbed.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

G Liddy thank you for the kind words and the subscription:)

[@NomadLIFEreviews]

Cool thanks

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@rajaqassim2606]

thnx sir send more wafer lock re make key system

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for checking out the video!

[@zeroreyortsed3624]

Love the information. But I feel like I'm being waterboarded.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

thanks for sharing

[@zeroreyortsed3624]

Wasn't expecting to hear from you on a video this old. Wasn't trying to be mean or anything. I like the information and I watched the whole thing. Your cadence is just kinda like having Ben Stein as a teacher. Again, not trying to be hurtful or anything, just a little constructive criticism I guess. Keep up the good work👍

[@cezary8222]

Hi, why are they called wafer locks? Those metal "wafers" don't look like anything like the real wafers (the cookies). What's up with that? :)

[@louiswilber]

It has to do with that fact that they are rectangular (like a wafer) than round (like the standard) pins

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

I am not sure of the exact reason

[@manifestin6855]

what if the wafer lock identifies as a disc detainer lock? can you pick it then ? lol

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

It all really depends on the anatomy

[@manifestin6855]

@@HelpfulLockPicker good one!! lol

[@BoredLockpicker]

No mention of MOK tensioning for double sided wafer locks? Example kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGS1nqKsrKaWh6c

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

This redefined how I looked at picking locks

[@grosstravis]

I would love to see a video on how to attack smaller locks.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

That would be a cool idea, thanks for the suggestion!

[@anshumansindhwani9141]

What if you pull out the plug??

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Nothing would be securing the lock then

[@OurCognitiveSurplus]

Can you over set a wafer?

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

It is not a problem I have really ran into too much but some locks like the Chicago Duo you can't really overset. There are some cool over lifting techniques you can use on wafer locks.

[@OurCognitiveSurplus]

HelpfulLockPicker ah interesting. I’ve only got one wafer lock in my lock pile. Double sized 10 wafer. I can take it, but I can’t SPP it. Bit of a riddle to me what I’m doing wrong.

[@MrArcher0]

I don’t think he managed to get that double sided key in the lock on the first try.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for watching

[@MrArcher0]

@@HelpfulLockPicker I always been watching for the last year.

[@a-holefactory1233]

might just mention there are wafer pics. all double sided

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

I have never had great luck with them

[@a-holefactory1233]

All i knew worked. Great vid. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge.

[@calechips7466]

take your camera off of auto-focus

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Cale Chips it is in future videos, I did not have the option with the camera in this video. Thank you for the feedback!

[@Don6Dominio]

I just wasted like 2 hours trying to pick a lock like that. Just use a power drill, it takes 5 seconds.

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

I agree

[@gregoryforbes9544]

Most pickers enjoy the hobby, couldn't care less about having it open. It's the challenge of getting it open.

[@behicahmet2665]

👌👌👌👌

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@b.n.4765]

Dozed off like half a dozen times

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

thank you for the real-time feedback!

[@andydragonfisher6900]

Suspect that reflects your attention span rather than the quality of the instruction my friend!

[@b.n.4765]

@@andydragonfisher6900 it's possible. I watched it again to check and decided it's definitely the material and how its presented.

[@aidenosu970]

Don’t forget the paper clips

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thanks

[@washingtonstatepicker3460]

Great info!

[@HelpfulLockPicker]

Thank you for the kind words!