"Jiggle Test" and the Four Fundamental Pin States

[@dr.s.p.]

For a new hobbyist like me at 71 years young, even after all the books and other videos and the understanding I already had gained over some time, this was definitely the light bulb moment that made it all more than the ahh ha moment and my picking went to an analytical high, rather than simply feeling around thinking I know where I am and getting lucky much of the time. I now genuinely feel the difference! The other thing I found after this enlightenment was my surprise at how very little pressure is actually required for the tension tool to be effective and give that necessary feedback on most locks. Thank you very much.

[@cyberhagen]

I don't think we can thank you enough for the information presented here, in a real time comprehensible and visual manner. This is like getting the hidden password to successful locksport, but we just have to type it in (practice, practice, practice). Newbs typically don't understand what they're feeling (if anything at all), but this should lift the veil. I just wish I could like this more than once, like 20 times.

[@georgem1164]

After multiple searches and a ton of videos, this view and explanation is the only video on youtube that helped me finally understand why the pin feels loose once it's set. "How does it feel loose like gravity is the only thing holding it up when the spring is at a higher compression!?!?!" You distinguish the key pin from the driver pin. Awesome. Subscribed my friend.

[@noahway13]

Dude.... DUDE! I have been picking for months. I would say I can get basic locks and some advanced, but I had to do it with raking, rocking, etc. I got real good at it. I can even open security pins with a rake. But that was because I couldn't SPP. Not worth a crap. Your video has transformed my game. Apparently I was ham fisted and smashing the pins like a cockroach. I think I was counting the oversets as regular sets. I thought it was good if I smashed it, heard a snap, and it stayed up. UGH.... I just sat here just now SPP my locks and am having good success now that I know what I'm looking for. Great teaching!!!

[@bleh222234]

That's great! I'm glad that I could help, and I'm also stealing your cockroach line. Lol

[@anthonyhiggins8893]

As someone who is a visual learner, let’s face it locking picking was probably not the best choice of hobbies! But your video is amazing for somebody like myself, at last I can match up the terminology with what is actually happening. Many thanks from this old dog trying to learn new tricks.

[@LockSpaz]

Of all the videos on 'LockTube', this is absolutely one of the best; presented beautifully and incredibly insightful.

[@norlin76]

Perfect cutaway to demonstrate this on!

[@InternetExploring]

My man! This is exactly what I've been looking for, no fuss technique. Please keep these coming!

[@carpecaseus5263]

Saw GeorgiaJim recommend this video on Reddit and it helped me a lot picking my first Abus and American! They gave me a lot of trouble before this. Subscribed.

[@PeculiarTendencies]

First, I want to say that this graphic is amazing. Having the ability to see into the lock with the cutaways is very helpful, and to see you actually picking and applying these concepts (inside the lock) really drives the concepts home. I think this will help me out a lot on the job! Thanks for this!

[@kipokipin]

Great demonstration! came here from the lpu discord. Not that i really need the tutorial but a reminder is never bad. You earned a sub! Have a nice day!!!

[@PocketWomen]

Very well explained and great visuals. Thanks for doing this demonstration it's very helpful, cheers

[@PEGF4MG]

This is an amazing video - thank you! I'll be re-watching this one over and over 🙂

[@djneonfx87]

beautiful cutaway. i loved the video pause and side note

[@gkeyman565]

Nice video, great information. Great cutaway, it must of take a long time to get it all cut and cleaned up. have a great day

[@tlpakatheboogerpicker5293]

Outstanding explanation of an Outstanding training exercise! If you want to be a better picker watch and apply this video!!!

[@forgetfulLlama31]

Love these cutaway vids.. thanks so much for great explanations too

[@Eindkaas]

This is very insightful! One thing I want to know, near the end you push up the last pin with quite some force. Enough even to bend the pick it seems. Is this usually an appropriate amount of force? I'm afraid to bend my picks!

[@LockSpaz]

In this case I think he was just caught on the warding, so he pulled his pick out and went at it again, which went much easier the second time when he was dead on the pin. Sometimes pins get ornery and need some extra coaching but if you're pressing that hard, somethings probably off. Still, that was more of a temporary flex than a permanent bend. If he'd continued pressing harder, than it might have left a notable permanent bend. It happens. But if you find yourself often using that much pressure, you're probably either applying too much tension, or you're actually pressing against the warding. I did that to my Peterson #1 hook (my favorite right now), but I was able to bend it back pretty much to stock. However I would definitely not make a habit of doing that, as the pick will break eventually from the back and forth stress. Now I'm more careful to watch my pressure, angle, and depth.

[@hubercats]

Very helpful video, thank you!

[@howardtoob]

Great video. Yours is the first time I have ever seen the recovery from the overset pin explained. Can you please tell me about why there are different length drive pins? Can you explain "balanced key stack"? Lastly what's with the springs? Thanks

[@bleh222234]

"Balanced stacks" means that the combined height of the keypin and driver pin is the same for all of the chambers. So if you were to look into a cutaway like the one in this video, the tops of all of the drivers would make a straight line when the system is at rest without the key inserted. Balancing the stacks, makes it so all of the springs will be compressed equally, and that gives you smoother operation and wear on the key. It also prevents decoding attacks that measure the differences in spring pressure from stack to stack, but I'm not sure if that's actually a practical attack or just theoretical. And springs just make everything more reliable. Without springs, locks wouldn't work upside down, and they'd eventually jam up from little bits of gunk being blown in by the wind or injected by the key.

[@howardtoob]

@@bleh222234 does using balanced pin stacks make a lock more difficult to pick?

[@bleh222234]

@@howardtoob nope

[@HVLogic]

That was an excellent explanation sure to help many new pickers.

[@kevenquinlan]

Hmm. I have to echo the sentiment of the dudes comments below me. This video is fantastic. I've picked quite awhile now but I just kind of go in and feel my way around, and I usually pop what I'm picking, though not always. I do only in situ so I am defo going to apply the techniques. I don't always have the time to do a diligent effort- I'm gonna subscribe too. This was a vid I woulda liked to have seen when I started. Thanks.

[@Der_CareBear]

Can this technique be applied aswell when picking “upside down”. I’m picking in pins down position so the set pins don’t come down to feel them.

[@bleh222234]

@@Der_CareBear Yep. The only real difference is that it's harder to detect overset pins.

[@nvl4244]

How can you feel the overset in the EU with locks being placed with the pins at the bottom?

[@bleh222234]

Someone else can probably answer better than me because I've never picked a lock in that orientation. So this answer is just theory and guessing with zero practical experience. Or, I guess a more generous way to phrase that is that this is my thought process and how I would attempt to solve the problem. (My realest real answer is at the end) You can feel the spring on set pins and non-binding unset pins, so the core issue is differentiating between underset drivers and overset keypins. You can't search for keypins sitting at different heights because you're always going to get that with a spring-down orientation. So, that leaves you with the only difference being which pin is binding. With an underset driver, it's the driver that's binding at the shear line, and the keypin is just sitting there loosely. You should be able to hear and feel the keypin wiggle around a little inside the chamber when you scrub at it with your pick. You can see it a little in the video when I'm holding the purple keypin on the tip of the pick. The pin rocks side to side a little in addition to moving up and down. With an overset keypin, it's the keypin that's binding at the shear line. That means that it won't wiggle around at all when you try to jostle it around with your pick. That's what I'd look for. I should add that the best way to deal with overset pins is to stop oversetting pins. I know that sounds a little flippant or cheeky, but it becomes more true as you pick more locks. It usually feels a little different when you overset a keypin versus setting a driver, and you can often tell when you're about to overset. So stop when you get to that point. An overset pin tends to feel a little mushy and may cause the tiniest hint of counter rotation. Another immensely important piece of information is that the rest of the pins stop binding as soon as you overset a pin. So that tells you that the last pin that you pushed down went too far. Now you know that you shouldn't push that pin down as far next time.

[@onazram1]

Great info, thanks!

[@boneinthebox]

I might be a better picker after watching this.

[@thtjt]

This is a great explanation. Thanks mate

[@PappaTrond]

Awesome video! Really helpful for a beginner like me!

[@martinstockbridge3449]

What about if the lock was the otherway around? Would the jiggle work?

[@UmamiPapi]

Amazing video.

[@LockpickingsGal]

Awesome video!! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!!

[@fourbanger83]

Thank you, sir!

[@hopefullockpicker9671]

That was good and I will watch it again and again and so will anyone else that I introduce to the sport. TQ

[@noahway13]

I commented on this video before. I still watch this video about once a month. Anyway, is there anyplace I can get one of those cut- aways you used?

[@bleh222234]

This is one that I made myself, but some people do list them for sale on ebay. If you don't have tools, then that's probably your best bet, but you should realize that you're paying $20-$30 for something that you can make yourself with a $2 lock and about an hour of time invested. I used a hacksaw to get it started, a dremel with grinding wheel to remove more material, and then some jeweler's files for the final touches. Here's a good guide for the process: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIPcZnybe5Vjm5o I don't think he does this in the video, but I immobilized the plug by running a brass rod through the top of the bible. Makes everything a little simpler.

[@wmcewa01]

This was really well done...

[@aldocoin]

underrated video

[@shortyjacobs]

I just got my first sparrows set and practice locks two days ago. This was SO HELPFUL in understanding what's going on and figuring out how to feel pins. Thank you!!!

[@khiggins7231]

Great video

[@jodo1971]

Well done! This vid earned you a sub

[@shadowshadow2485]

Very helpful , thanks , moe

[@Lockjunkie]

This is the go to video for jiggle test for sure love this 😀 👏 🙌

[@ABD4VIDS]

Great vid!

[@hillbillylocksport5547]

That cuttaway is damned nice!!!

[@JSTKSK]

This is what makes being left handed hard for this. All the locks you hold are upsidedown.

[@BytebroUK]

Very good vid. Kudos.

[@phpicker1552]

Wonderful explanation. New sub here. Have a great week!

[@NinjaLifestyle]

:)

[@pottervi]

Awesomr

[@alisonbekerssadmangillskangiso]

brother thank you share this video and i come from china the china not this video type and i mean in china no this video detail that learn video type

[@Chrisssssssssssssssssss]

You skipped oversetting..

[@bleh222234]

No I didn't. It starts here kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3ybhZ2rgamig8k&feature=shares&t=205 Oversetting is why I belabored the point about the pins being regularly spaced.