The following answer and question references a book claiming that the heat of a torch somehow helps lockpicking:
Although it's been proven a false rumor nobody ever mentioned the name of the book or its location. What is it?
The following answer and question references a book claiming that the heat of a torch somehow helps lockpicking:
Although it's been proven a false rumor nobody ever mentioned the name of the book or its location. What is it?
The book you are looking for is called: Advances in Lock Picking
It exists in both Skyrim and Oblivion. In Skyrim it can be found at:
Excerpt (emphasis mine):
Sometimes the locks have weird spings. They all spring differently, which makes picking it hard. I hold my torch close to the lock. This makes it hot. When it's hot, the springs are all the same. They don't bounce so differently any more. Be careful not to burn yourself.