Paperclips and bobby pins can sometimes be used to open locks, but not always. Most high-quality locks have tiny, weirdly shaped keyholes that are too small for paperclips.
You don’t have to call a costly locksmith if you get locked out of a room in your house. Luckily, a bobby pin can be used to open many types of doorknob locks.
So you now know how to pick a lock using a tension wrench and a rake. This is a very useful skill that will let you get into your home without calling a locksmith and help you help others who have locked themselves out. You might even have to pick a lock if someone is stuck inside and needs help right away.
Paper clips aren’t very strong, so if you put one in your lock, it could break. This happened to me when I was fixing up one of the doors in my house. I need to change the lock right away. Doh! Paper clips are weak, so you shouldn’t try to pick a lock with one unless you’ve tried everything else. Keep a real lock-picking kit close by. There is one open on SERE Pick.
Picking a lock with paper clips is essentially the same as picking a lock with a standard tension wrench and rake. Just turn two paper clips into the same tools, and then use them as usual to open the lock.
Even though most of us don’t use bobby pins to keep our hair in place, it wouldn’t hurt to know how to use them to open a lock in case we ever needed to get into a safe, like the broom closet we were locked out of.
A bobby pin is a small hairpin with a spring that can be used to open locks. At least two bobby pins are needed to finish. Most bobby pins have rubber knobs on the ends, which you should take off so they don’t get in the way.
By putting a little bit of pressure on the way the lock turns with the second bobby pin, you’ve made a small ledge inside the lock. This has caused the pins to get stuck.
I DID THIS JUST YESTERDAY after locking myself out of my bedroom and trying bobby pins instead of calling a locksmith. Before I tried to open my lock, I went out and bought a pack of pins. To succeed, I had to work for at least 15 minutes!
Can a paperclip be used to open a lock?
Picking a lock with paper clips is essentially the same as picking a lock with a standard tension wrench and rake. Just turn two paper clips into the same tools, and then use them as usual to open the lock.
How can a paperclip be used to open a door without a key?
Most internal locksets have an emergency hole for a pin on the outside knob. A straightened paper clip can be used instead of the pinhole door knob key to open one of these locks. After you put the paper clip in the pinhole, you can push on it to open the door.
How do you open a lock if you don’t have the key?
On the side of the door that doesn’t lock, there should be a small hole in the knob. To open the door, you have to push a small button that is hiding in the hole. To open it, you only need a strong, straight tool. Use a paperclip that has been straightened or a tiny screwdriver made for fixing glasses.
How do I pick locks? What do I need?
The best tools to use are a strong paperclip, a hair pin, or a small screwdriver or hex wrench. You can also use a cotton swab with one end cut off or a bamboo skewer from the kitchen. From a hair pin or paper clip, you can make a long, straight piece of metal by opening up the metal.
How do you use a screwdriver to unlock a door?
Once you’ve put the screwdriver in the hole, push forward. With a push-button privacy lock on your doorknob, the door should open with a loud click. If pushing on the door doesn’t work to open it, you probably have a turn-style lock.
How do you use a knife to open a lock?
Put your knife in the crack between the door and the doorframe at the height of the doorknob. Feel around until you find a piece of metal sticking out of the door. It should be springy. Use your knife as a lever to push the lock into the door.