Two big paperclips, one to act as a tension wrench, one to act as the pick. There is no upper size limit, but you want to make sure that the width is not slim enough that it will fit into the lock and that the height is tall enough so that you can insert it into the lock while still holding onto enough length to turn them. Grab a pair of pliers to shape the two paperclips. It’s easier to use pliers than your hands.
Some locksmiths also put a tiny upward bend into the tip of the pick. This is to depress the pins inside the lock but is not strictly necessary.
Alternately, you could unfold an edge of your paperclip until a straight portion sticks out at a 90° angle. This is a basic tension wrench that is workable but not ideal.
It can take some practice to get the right amount of pressure. Too hard and you’ll twist your paperclip out of shape. Too lightly and you won’t put enough pressure on it to pick the lock.
If you know which way the lock turns to open, turn the tension wrench in that direction. If you don’t know what direction the lock opens, guess to one side; on the first shot, you’ll have a 50/50 chance of opening the lock. If you have a sensitive touch, you can also feel which way the lock opens by turning with the tension wrench. Turn clockwise first, then counter-clockwise. You’ll feel slightly less pressure when the wrench turns the right direction.
Keep pressure on tension wrench as you’re doing this. If you don’t the lock picking won’t work properly. Quickly doesn’t mean yanking it out, but you want to move quickly enough that the motion is smooth. Again this is something that you have to get a feel for which is why few people can pick a lock on their first try.
You’ll feel the pins against your lock pick when you insert it. This will tell you where you need to depress them.
Experienced lock pickers can do this in what looks like one swift motion, but inexperienced pickers will need to use more deliberate motions to set each pin.
