How to Pick Open an Old Fashioned Lock

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Once you know what you're feeling effectually for in a skeleton key lock, information technology shouldn't accept you very long to selection it. Whether y'all're into antiques and came across a trunk that you can't become open or you lost the primal to an onetime door, you should be able to undo that lock with two allen wrenches and a piddling flake of patience.

1. 1

   Insert a ³⁄₃₂ inch (0.24 cm) allen wrench into the lock hole. This is the hole where you would insert a key if you had i. If it's besides small for the ³⁄₃₂ inch (0.24 cm) wrench, become downward to the next size, ⁵⁄₆₄ inch (0.twenty cm).^[1]

   • If y'all don't have an allen wrench, yous could utilize a sturdy piece of wire bent into a xc-degree angle at one end.
   • The reason allen wrenches work so well on skeleton key locks is that they have that ninety-degree bending. Using something straight like a bobby pivot or nail wouldn't work because they wouldn't be able to twist up to appoint the lever and deadbolt.

2. 2

   Wiggle the wrench around to find the lever. Information technology often helps to insert the wrench and then printing information technology as close equally possible to the side of the lock that is facing yous. From there, you should be able to push upwards and feel the lever moving. Move the wrench dorsum and along and up and down in the lock until you feel resistance that gives way when you button up.^[two]

   • A skeleton lock is made of 2 bones parts: a lever and a deadbolt. The lever sits on tiptop of the deadbolt and moves upward and down.
   • If you feel the lever moving up and downwardly just don't experience any resistance, that may mean that the interior jump is broken. If that'southward the instance, you won't be able to choice the lock yourself. Effort calling a locksmith, instead.

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3. 3

   Engage the lever and switch the wrench to your non-dominant mitt. If you lose the lever, just readjust the position of the allen wrench until it'south pushed upward once once more. It can have quite a few tries earlier you manage to hold it in place, and then don't get discouraged.^[3]

   • Picking a skeleton lock is a two-handed job. Unlocking the deadbolt includes more motility and finagling, which is easier if you lot use your dominant mitt.

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1. 1

   Insert a 2nd allen wrench behind the first one. Keep the lever pushed upward and put the 2d wrench into the hole, hooking it behind the other one. If information technology won't fit into the hole, use a smaller wrench or sturdy slice of wire.^[4]

   • An actual skeleton central is shaped so that it will simultaneously push up the lever while opening the deadbolt. Since you don't have a key, you're essentially crafting your ain makeshift key out of two pieces of metal.

2. 2

   Twist the second allen wrench clockwise to unlock the deadbolt. Equally you turn the 2nd allen wrench, experience for the resistance of the deadbolt. Continue twisting the wrench until the deadbolt slides back and the lock is picked.^[5]

   • If you demand to lock a skeleton lock, you'll follow the aforementioned process except you lot'll turn the second wrench counterclockwise.

3. 3

   Remove both wrenches from the lock once it has unlocked. One time that deadbolt has been pushed back, y'all should be able to turn the handle or knob to open the room, drawer, or antique. Skeleton locks were commonly used in old houses and pieces of furniture, so knowing how to pick them can come in handy if you collect antiques or are moving into a home that no longer has its original skeleton keys.^[6]

   • If the door or drawer still won't open even later you felt the deadbolt motion, the spring to the handle itself may exist broken or loose. The only way to admission that role of the lock is to remove the lock and open its backplate. You lot may need to call out a locksmith to help with that process.

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• If the lock is really old and rusty, information technology may help to grease the allen wrenches kickoff. You could also spray something similar WD-forty inside the lock to help lubricate it.^[7]

• If you can't open the lock on your own, consult a locksmith or an antiquarian dealer who would have feel with skeleton locks.^[eight]

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Things You'll Need

• 2 ³⁄₃₂ inch (0.24 cm) allen wrenches

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