Hacker News Reader

I have a sincere question: are 3D printing materials strong enough to print a useful lock picking set? The pieces need to be extremely thin to fit into an average sized keyhole.

Fortunately you can buy a lock picking set pretty easily and inexpensively. I have a Sparrow lock picking kit, and IIRC it was around $20

View on HN

I'm just an amateur lock-picker, but AFAIK plastics would be completely unsuitable for use as general lock-picking tools. Maybe for circular/tube-type locks -- but I doubt it.

Might be easy to print parts of a tubular lockpick/universial key(ing) tool.

For regular lock picks, metal 3d printers might work -- I'm not sure how brittle thin pieces would be. But those things costs a fortune, so I think making by hand would make much more sense.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com