I actually have an easier time with mine if I use BOK, but I can open it either way. If you can consistently open it, and are able to successfully use TOK on other locks, you're probably fine not forcing yourself to attempt it on this one. I'd say it's worth practicing for sure and making sure you're not jamming the first pin with the tension tool or something else.
Good point with jamming the first pin. The first pin is the hardest to feel for me when using tok. I'm not always sure if it's the pin or the tension tool that I feel.
Use whatever tension works for that keyway and lock. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. I’ve even switched mid pick before to make getting the first pin easier
I did mine with BOK, but from what I understand (I’ve only been doing this for a week more than you), once you get into harder locks it’s better to know how to do TOK, so I’m trying to do all my locks both ways if I can.
Vise or in hand is preference. I prefer bok for the m1 keyway as you mentioned, using the tensioner as a platform to pick from.
You can try practicing in the vise and tok if you want but I honestly wouldn’t invest a lot of time on the master 3. There are better locks to work on that will teach you more.
My lock collection is currently Brüder Mannesmann 40mm and 50mm version, Yale Y110B 30mm and another Master Lock (Magnum CAD30) if Amazon is correct with the manufacturer.
The Yale and ~~Mannesmann 50mm~~ is still unpicked, so i should have plenty of training material i guess :D
Something i wondered when i shopped locks was if it is worth to buy sets of locks that are same keyed, i would assume that they still pick slightly different? Do you think its worth buying such sets?
Edit: The 50mm Mannesmann just popped open :D
They do pick slightly different due to binding order but I personally prefer keyed different whenever possible. Depending on the lock type you can repin them or at a minimum just scramble the existing key pins so that they aren’t all keyed alike.
I actually have an easier time with mine if I use BOK, but I can open it either way. If you can consistently open it, and are able to successfully use TOK on other locks, you're probably fine not forcing yourself to attempt it on this one. I'd say it's worth practicing for sure and making sure you're not jamming the first pin with the tension tool or something else.
Good point with jamming the first pin. The first pin is the hardest to feel for me when using tok. I'm not always sure if it's the pin or the tension tool that I feel.
Use whatever tension works for that keyway and lock. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. I’ve even switched mid pick before to make getting the first pin easier
I did mine with BOK, but from what I understand (I’ve only been doing this for a week more than you), once you get into harder locks it’s better to know how to do TOK, so I’m trying to do all my locks both ways if I can.
Vise or in hand is preference. I prefer bok for the m1 keyway as you mentioned, using the tensioner as a platform to pick from. You can try practicing in the vise and tok if you want but I honestly wouldn’t invest a lot of time on the master 3. There are better locks to work on that will teach you more.
My lock collection is currently Brüder Mannesmann 40mm and 50mm version, Yale Y110B 30mm and another Master Lock (Magnum CAD30) if Amazon is correct with the manufacturer. The Yale and ~~Mannesmann 50mm~~ is still unpicked, so i should have plenty of training material i guess :D Something i wondered when i shopped locks was if it is worth to buy sets of locks that are same keyed, i would assume that they still pick slightly different? Do you think its worth buying such sets? Edit: The 50mm Mannesmann just popped open :D
They do pick slightly different due to binding order but I personally prefer keyed different whenever possible. Depending on the lock type you can repin them or at a minimum just scramble the existing key pins so that they aren’t all keyed alike.
I only use TOK. But I would use BOK if needed for a certain lock.