How to Pick a Mailbox Lock

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Losing the key to your mailbox can be frustrating, especially when you have important mail inside you need to get to. Fortunately, you may be able to pick the lock on your mailbox using a couple of simple tools. Using tools designed specifically for lock-picking will give you the greatest chance of success, but if you don’t own a lock-picking kit, you can fashion a lockpick and lever out of hairpins or paper clips.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Preparing a Lockpick and Lever

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  1. Using a lock-picking kit will save you time and make it easier to get your mailbox unlocked. Lock-picking kits come with multiple lockpicks and levers to choose from, so you have options in case something doesn’t fit in your mailbox lock. If you don’t own a lock-picking kit, you can order one online or look for one at your local hardware store. [1]
    • Lock picking uses a rake and a tension wrench. You’ll need both. The pick's purpose is to slide along the pins of the lock quickly and push them up into the cylinder. While doing this, the tension wrench applies slight pressure to the cylinder. It takes two hands. One applying pressure, the other sliding the pick back and forth.
    • It would be very difficult to make a tension wrench out of a hairpin, because you’d really have nothing to hold onto to keep pressure applied. The best substitute for a tension wrench is a small screwdriver.
  2. To create the lockpick, bend one of the hairpins so the ends are 90-degrees apart and remove the rubber caps from the ends. Then, slightly bend one of the ends of the hairpin upward so the end is no longer perfectly straight. To make the lever, bend the second hairpin at the point that’s about .5 inches (1.3 cm) away from the curved part of the hairpin. Once you’ve made a 90-degree angle, stop bending the hairpin. [2]
    • Use a pair of needle nose pliers to help you bend the hairpins if you’re having trouble.
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  3. To make the lockpick, straighten out half of the paper clip, leaving the other half as is. Then, bend the end of the straightened half of the paper clip upward slightly. To make the lever, straighten out the second paper clip almost all the way, leaving one of the bent curves at one end of the paper clip. Bend down the bent curve until it’s at a 90-degree angle from the rest of the paper clip. [3]
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Picking the Lock

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  1. Hold the long end of the lever between your fingers. Once the lever is inside the lock, press the long end of the lever in the direction you would turn the key to unlock your mailbox. While you’re picking the lock, continue to press the lever in this direction to apply pressure to the barrel of the lock. Without the pressure on the barrel, you won’t be able to pick the lock open. [4]
  2. Inside the lock, there are 5 pins that need to be raised to the same height in order for the barrel of the lock to turn and unlock the lock. You’ll use the bent part of the lockpick to lift the pins to the right height. When you insert the lockpick into the lock, keep it close to the opening of the lock. That’s where the first pin you’ll need to raise up is. [5]
  3. Seized pins are pins that prevent the barrel of the lock from rotating and unlocking. To find out if the first pin is seized, push up on it using the end of the lockpick. When you feel something push up, you’ve found the first pin. If the pin pushes up without any resistance, it’s not seized. If it’s not seized, push it up and continue onto the second pin. If it is seized, wiggle the lockpick up and down to force the pin up above the barrel. [6]
    • You’ll hear a click whenever a seized pin is raised up all the way.
  4. Each time you lift up a pin with the lockpick, push the lockpick into the lock a little further to find the next pin. If you encounter a seized pin, force it upward using the lockpick. Make sure you hear a click after you raise a seized pin before you move on.
  5. Once you’ve raised all 5 pins, the barrel of the lock should immediately rotate since you’re applying pressure to it with the lever. Finish rotating the barrel all the way with the lever until the lock is unlocked. Remove the lever and the lockpick from the lock and open the door to your mailbox. [7]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do rake and tension wrenches work?
    Robert Vallelunga
    Locksmith
    Robert Vallelunga is a Locksmith and the Owner of ACME Locksmith in the Phoenix Metro Area. Robert has over 15 years of experience in the industry and specializes in working with automotive ignitions, locks, keys, and master key systems. Robert and the team at ACME are the #1 Rated Phoenix Locksmith Service and the Winner of the Better Business Bureau Ethics Award. Robert has his Residential & Commercial Contractor’s License and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University.
    Robert Vallelunga
    Locksmith
    Expert Answer
    The goal of a rake and tension wrench is to apply just enough pressure to catch the top pins and hold them in place so the cylinder will spin.
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    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 12
  • Question
    How can I open my mailbox when it won't open with a key?
    Rudy Toth
    Community Answer
    Try some WD-40 with a red hose nozzle and spray into the lock. Then wait for a few minutes before trying to use your mailbox key.
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    Not Helpful 24 Helpful 13
  • Question
    How to get a broken key out of the lock of a post box?
    Rudy Toth
    Community Answer
    Use a pair of pliers to grab the tip of the broken key and pull straight outwards. If it doesn't work, then contact maintenance about it.
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      Things You’ll Need

      • Lock-picking kit
      • 2 hairpins
      • 2 paper clips

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTZddvAws9M
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjuT_63Ioig&feature=youtu.be&t=52
      3. ↑ https://revolar.com/pick-a-lock-with-a-paperclip/
      4. ↑ https://thehomeimproving.com/how-to-unlock-a-door-with-a-bobby-pin/
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjuT_63Ioig
      6. ↑ https://www.itstactical.com/skillcom/lock-picking/how-to-make-a-paperclip-lock-pick-that-works/
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjuT_63Ioig&feature=youtu.be&t=200

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you’ve lost the keys to your mailbox, you may be able to pick the lock using a few simple tools, like hairpins and paperclips. While you’ll get the best results with a lock-picking kit, you can also bend 2 hairpins or paperclips into the right shapes. Simply straighten one of the clips or pins out so you can bend it into an “L” shape. When you’re ready to pick the lock, insert the short side of the lever into the lock and turn the longer side as if you’re turning the key. Then, insert the other pin or clip and push it up to help release the lock fully. To learn how the inside of the lock works, keep reading!

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