What are warded locks and how do you pick open them

Warded locks are often the cheapest locks that you can find. For this reason, you often see them in a lot of low security settings. Gym lockers, actress panels, and sheds are some of the most common. The keys for warded locks often look like skeleton keys with a series of square cuts. When placed in a lock, square cuts will perfectly fit between a series of non moving gates when the key is turned. If the square cut is in the wrong place it will hit one of these gates. If the key can pass the gates it can push on the actuator, opening the lock. The roll of warded lock picks is the same. By trial and error you work your way through a number of different warded picks looking for one that can bypass the gates hitting the actuator picking open the lock.

What are Wafer locks and how do you pick them open

Wafer locks are often found in medium security situations. Almost all filing cabinets and tool chests are wafer locks. These have a series of special gates that need to be raised or lowered into the correct position for the lock to turn open. The best technique is to rake or rock the lock open using wafer keys. This is also a bit of trial and error as you cycle though the different wafer picks looking for a shape that is similar to the original key making it easier to manipulate open.

Buying the Right Set

The question we get most often is what tool someone should add to their lock pick collection after having purchased a standard lock pick set. First flat bars and heavy bars from our tension wrench section are your first additions. After that it is wafer picks. Wafer locks really are everywhere and a regular lock pick set just can’t do the same job as a set of wafer lock picks. The same can be said for warded picks. You just can not open a warded padlock with standard lock picks, you need warded lock picks to do the job. The small size and lightweight nature of these sets makes them an easy addition for any on-call LEO, Fire or Military member.

Why Choose Sparrows’ Warded & Wafer Lock Picks

The SPARROWS Warded and Wafer lock pick sets have been in our line up since inception and have a proven track record in the field for both their effectiveness and durability.