3 Best Bobby Pins for Emergency Locking Situations + Buying Guide

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1

MetaGrip Black Premium Bobby Pins

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These MetaGrip bobby pins are highly practical and useful for hairstyles and lock-picking.

They have optimal shape and construction, which simplifies the picking process.

You don’t need to apply a lot of pressure to form them in the appropriate shape.

Additionally, the pin won’t break easily.

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2

Marilyn Faye's U-Shaped Crinkled Hair Pins

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Marilyn Faye’s bobby pins have a thick structure and U shape.

They are also durable and wear-resistant.

Moreover, you can bend them and form the shape you need to pick your locks.

You can get them in four sizes – 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 inches.

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3

Yishenyishi Pack of 10 Curved Jumbo Bobby Pins

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The Yishenyishi bobby pins have a flat texture, which makes them more suitable as lock-picking tools.

They are quite long and can be used for multiple-pin cylinders too.

The pins have metal construction and are 3.4 inches long.

Each packaging includes 10 pins.

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3 Best Bobby Pins for Emergency Locking Situations + Buying Guide Buying Guide

The majority of standard locks include pin and tumbler and they seem secure.

However, these locks are vulnerable and people who understand how they work can come up with a way to break open them.

Most pin and tumbler locks have a plug, driver pins, key pins, spring, shear line, and lock body that hold everything together.

Can you Use a Bobby Pin to Unlock the Door?

With a bobby pin, you can lift the key pins to the correct height which will help the door to unlock without the key.

It works only with a lock-in in which the holes that hold the pins aren’t properly aligned.

Even the slightest misalignment will help the bobby pin to hold the key pins and unlock the door without the key.

Can Bobby Pin Pick All the Locks?

Bobby pins can unlock pin and tumbler locks, which make 90% of all locks.

However, some locks are more difficult to pick than others.

It has to do with the quality of the lock and the number of pins in the mechanism.

The more pins the lock has, the harder is to pick open it with any tool, not only a bobby pin.

Some locks are picking-proof.

Those are the locks that don’t have the keyway in the first place but have other vulnerabilities.

Still, you cannot use a bobby pin to open them.

Is Learning How to Pick a Lock Useful?

Even though you weren’t when you needed lock-picking skills so far, it doesn’t mean that you won’t be.

If you are locked out of your apartment, lock-picking skills will be quite handy.

Is Lock-Picking Illegal?

Having lock-picking tools is legal in most states.

However, using them for other people’s property is illegal.

Also, there are some states in which having a bump key is illegal.

So you should check the local states and authorities to be completely sure.

For example, Nevada, Mississippi, Virginia, Ohio, and Tennessee consider owning lock-picking tools illegal if you aren’t a locksmith.

You have to prove that you weren’t using them to commit a crime.

How to Use a Bobby Pins to Pick Locks

You can learn to pick pin and tumbler locks with two bobby pins using the following guide.

Step 1

The first thing to do is to create a lever or a tension tool.

Use one bobby pin and bend it to the right angle.

The pin needs to be sturdy and doesn’t break when you apply the pressure.

Most likely, you can bend the pin with your fingers.

Insert the pin in the lock straight up.

Step 2

Take another bobby pin and pull it apart until you get the long metal part.

I also recommend stripping the pin ends, so they won’t cause issues while you pick the lock.

Insert the long flat pin in the lock and push the rest of the bobby pin to the left.

That way, it will bend the first pin you have already inserted.

Turn the other pin end to the handle, which will enable you a firm grip.

You can do so by making a small loop at the end.

Step 3

Insert the lever (the first pin) as low as possible in the lock.

Step 4

Next, you should turn the lock in one direction as if you are holding the key.

Hold the lock in that position until you open the door.

If you aren’t sure about the opening direction, try both ways.

The wrong way will make unpleasant clicking sounds.

Step 5

Next, put the remaining pin on the top side of the lock.

Push the pin inside and start looking for pins to move.

Count them and jiggle the bobby pin up and down as if the key is stuck in the lock.

That way, you will loosen the inside pins, which will allow you to complete the picking process.

If you cannot move the pins inside, release the pressure from the lever (the first bobby pin you inserted in the lower part of the lock) and try again.

Step 6

Move the bobby pin in the upper part of the lock to see how far it can reach.

If you cannot fill the pins, it means you need a longer bobby pin.

Step 7

Find all the pins, and until you find the one inside pin that is stuck, it means it is the seized pin.

Push the seized pin with your upper bobby pin until it clicks.

Be slow and apply consistent pressure when pushing the pin upwards.

You will hear a click as you move that pin from your way.

Continue to do it for the rest of the pins in the lock.

It will take time as you need to release all the pins along the way.

More Tips for Lock Picking with Bobby Pins

The pressure is an important part of locking skills.

Only by practicing you will determine what amount of pressure is suitable for lock picking.

You cannot learn how to pick locks only by reading the guide, you need to practice.

Start by applying too much or too low pressure and work your way up, until you get satisfying results.

Also, I recommend you practice on an old lock because the improper technique can damage the lock and leave it vulnerable to real burglars.

Once you master the bobby pins pick locking, you can consider investing in a picking kit.

What to Do if a Bobby Pin Breaks in the Lock?

A broken bobby pin can be annoying if you have just started to learn how to pick locks.

It will be stuck inside the lock, and the reasons might be poor bobby pin quality or improper lock-picking technique.

You can grip the broken part of the pin and remove it with your fingers.

However, if you cannot grip the pin with your fingers, a pair of needle-nosed pliers will be useful.

Insert the pliers and grab the broken pin to remove it from the lock.

If you still cannot pull the broken pin out from the lock, try to apply lock lubricant.

It will loosen the lock and make it easier to pull out the broken pin with pliers.

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Conclusion

The practice is the most important step in mastering the lock-picking technique, apart from having the right tools.

Bobby pins are quite useful for lock picking, but they have to be able to withstand a certain amount of pressure.

Also, the pin needs to be flexible so you can bend it and make a lock-picking tool.

The MetaGrip bobby pins win, but you still have to learn how to use them to open pin and tumbler locks.