Poor man's paperclip lockpicks

Using a squashed paperclip, and a tension wrench you can begin learning the art of lock picking!

Step 1: Supplies

You will need:
1. Fairly large paperclip
2. Hammer
3. Something to smash the paperclip on, anvil, rock, concrete
4. Tension wrench

Possiblities for tension wrenches:
1. Small screw driver with a bent tip
2. Another paperclip
3. Model rocket engine clip
4. An actual tension wrench out of a lock picking set

Comments

[Jake9528]

I made a set awhile back and one of the best things for a tension wrench was cutting open an old windshield wiper blade and using the metal part.. It worked great!

[Fried Potatoes]

Think you could use a vice tightened all the way?

[nak]

no, I don't think so, a hammer works great

[james4]

I can't get the paper clip to get flattened.I tried using a vise and a pair of pliers but it own't work.As for the screwdriver tension wrench, I can only bend it like a millimeter.

[freakyqwerty]

I believe that the clip of a uni-ball pen can be bent and used as a tension wrench although I haven't tried...

[Great Wight Ninja]

I'd hate to bastardize such an amazing mechanical pencil, but the clip from a Zebra M-301 is also a pretty good tension wrench

[blin2]

there is no more "MIT Guide to Lockpicking" !


>:(

[coolo52]

there is i am on the website and using it right now

[nak]

http://www.google.com/search?client=ubuntu&channel=fs&q=mit+guide+to+lockpicking&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

oops!

[amelder]

i wanna hear more about these pranks. ;)

[zcbaker]

Can you make an instructables guide on making a lockpick and picking the lock without a video? I have dial-up because its $10 a month for unlimited 3 kb download speed and $40 for not much better download speeds with Dish or similar companies. I live out in the middle with a bunch of hills everywhere.

[nak]

The video isn't necessary :)

[Madmartigan95]

so... how thick is the right thickness?

[nak]

"flat enough to fit into the lock." depends on the lock, but if you have vernier calipers and like to be precise, I'd say no more than 1mm, probably closer to .7 or .8mm. However, what really matters is: "Does it fit into the lock?" and "Does it break when I try to use it?" if the latter occurs try again and don't smash it so hard ya goof! ;)

[coolo52]

i like using screwdrivers that are tiny enough for screws on toys to pick locks inside my house like the ones on bedroom doors

[Pasit]

what did u use for a tension wrench in the video??

[burdockwing]

He used a paper clip the first part and i think a bent up mini screw driver the next. I use the mini screw driver

[jinaiiiii]

LMAO stick the camera halfway in your pants. Interesting, I'll try it!

[mg0930mg]

Are you trying the paperclips, or stuff halfway down your pants? o_0

[jinaiiiii]

camera down pants, DUH

[mg0930mg]

haha, I can't believe you just saw this, that was 2 1/2 years ago.

[nexxtecharmy]

make an instructable for the rocket I whant to make one

[Loki_Peverell]

Just buy a kit at Walmart. They have all the supplies and instructions.

[Virisenox]

weird.

[nak]

Yeah I was confused at first, then I realised the rocket was in the picture :P
I don't want to make an instructable on that, it was too long ago, and I used a wood lathe (my grampapas for the nose)

[Coranu]

Just thought I'd mention, it's illegal to own a lock pick in D.C., Illinois, New York State, Canada and New Jersey if it can be used on a motor vehicle. So no one gets in trouble with the law.

[wat.]

It won't be legal in the UK!

[Cheezpaper]

And it's 100% legal to own one and use it in Canada if you're not caught using it with criminal intention as it is seen by the Canadian government in the same category as hammers and crowbars. And since they are legal to use unless you do something wrong with it, then they can't press charges against you for using it to get into your own house, for sport, or just for the luxury of knowing how to pick a lock.

[orangewolf22]

would this work on a motor vehicle, then?

[Coranu]

These? Probably not.

[Javin007]

To be technical, it's not illegal to OWN a kit in D.C., only illegal to carry it outside of your house.  :)

[wat.]

Using in britain by crowbar if you don't use it as a weaponed, it's not an offence.

[schwabie]

its considered a burgalry tool if ur caught unless u are a locksmith.i bought a starters lockpicking kit and a book for about 20 bucks.i can pick a masterlock in about 1 minute.and ive only had it for a week.

[nak]

You're super awesome and smart!

[icedog515]

you could just, well, make a sandwich ya no.

[beehard44]

i agree....

PIE IS BETTER
I LIKE PIE!!!!

[Ivion]

What pranks did you do at the college. I'm a bit skittish when it comes to pranks. But I go there on occasion for classes.

Paperclips fricken awesome!!!!!!

[pyrorower]

I found that those metal clips you find on pens work well for tension wrenches and would be a great pick if I had some way of cutting it so it would be narrower. Any suggestions?

[Elementix]

just get a couple bumpkeys :-)

[Wolf Seril]

One lockpick and tension wrench can get past nearly all locks in the right hands. With a bump key, it has to fit in that specific lock, which means you need a key of the same kind of the lock you are trying to break into. For homes that's easy. For commercial buildings... not so much. Not that I would ever break into a commercial building. Ahem.