Schlage Cut-Away Practice Lock Review

[illusion]

Your best bet is really to make one yourself.

~The below instructions assume you wish to make several cut-aways and get the perfect.~

First get hold of some broken locks from a locksmith, or buy the very cheapest ones you can find. You'll find companies tend to make really cheap, but inferior copies of other locks, for example: Bluespot.

Now get a fair few of them and decide whether you want to use a dremel or hand tools. Both work great, but padlocks are very difficult without a Dremel. My advice: Get good with the Dremel, it'll be very versatile. Now hand tools are more likely to produce a good finish on your first attempt since hacksaws and files are far easier to control than a whirling Dremel. USe whichever, although I suggest you get used to using either.

You first cut-away will suck, deal with it. My first cut-away was a disaster, and I was really dissapointed I had wasted a too nice Yale lock in the process. The next one I tried was a cheapo Mila lock, and I found this time I ruined the lock, but at least the cuts were far more accurate, and I knew the best way to go about it. The third attempt was another Mila lock and I nailed it, not only were the cuts aligned fairly well, the lock still worked when reassembled. The one after was an Iseo euro cylinder, and I cut the plug accurately enough to expose the bottom pin action. It took me 4 attempts to make a good cut-away, the number will vary with the skill level aready present in each person however. I had never used a Dremel before I tried to make my cut-away.

A while after my first cut-away, I have used high security locks and exposed their internal mechanism. The process is the same, but requires you to plan out where the cuts will be, and how you will ensure that things like side-bars stay in place etc... Many people have ade cut-aways and search the forum to help you, the 'lock breakdown' thread contains many links to cut-away locks, yuse these as templetes for your own.

ACCEPT YOU WILL FAIL BEFORE YOU SUCCEED, LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES, and for the love of g*d, DON'T USE A LOCK YOU CARE ABOUT!

Oh yeah, and don't start with a padlock, they are bound to cause heartbrake.

Ben

[lockpickroy]

im happy with the one i got on e-bay. its better then anything i can make diy
http://cgi.ebay.com/LOCK-PICK-PRACTICE- ... dZViewItem

[New-York-Locksmith]

thanks for posting that link to ebay - It never occured to me to look for locksmith tools and stuff on ebay...even tough that schlage lock seems kinda pricey to me (shipment and all...)

[lockpickroy]

You'r welcome
I am also very happy with this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/CUTAWAY-BEST-CYLIND ... dZViewItem

[rewt]

hmm i wouldnt say accept you fail before you succeed
positive thinking has positive results!

maybe say, be prepared for a hard task and dont be surprised if you have to do it a few times before being fully pleased with your results

[New-York-Locksmith]

hmm i wouldnt say accept you fail before you succeed
positive thinking has positive results!

maybe say, be prepared for a hard task and dont be surprised if you have to do it a few times before being fully pleased with your results

absolutely right! there is no better teacher than failure - considering you get up and try again! failing to complete a certain task only means you have to learn from your mistakes and try again - I guess the entire human experience is based on constantly failing

[SmokieD]

Good thing it is a Schlage, and not a UltraMax Kwiset. Anyone trying to make a cutaway to learn how to manipulate security pins should stay away from the 6 pin UMKw. The way it is built, it would be a nightmare to try and make a cutaway out of that. Schlage on the other hand is tailor made to be made a cutaway.

Nice idea "I pick U", btw.

[uberwaboose]

After you cut away the parts, would it be possible to remove all the internals and replace them with place keepers and pour some sort of clear meltable plastic into the cracks?

Because that would look amazing.

[jpb06080]

Does anyone have any tips about using a dremel? its a tool ive never used before, but I plan to begin using one. In the past I've used hand files and a couple times tried an electric grinding wheel. Both strategies were far from perfect, although the grind wheel was very effective at exposing an abloy I bought. Thanks for any advice anyone can give.

[I Pik U]

When using a Dremel, work slowly. Don't push too hard into your work, let the wheel or stone do the cutting slowly or you'll break the cut off wheels.
Also take off just a bit of material at a time. Too much taken away cannot be added back again.
Once you've done one pin chamber, the next will be easier.

[I Pik U]

Don't forget to wear safety glasses when working with a Dremel/rotary tool.

[barbarian]

Safety glasses.. VERY important.

Also if you look around, there are reinforced cutoff wheels available. They seem to have a fiberglass web running through them. They are much tougher. The regular ones tend to shatter if the tool moves around.

[sir lot is here]

nice practice lock I PIC U, i'm just about to attempt the same thing but on a british euro lock 5pins, only have a grinder tho
sombody pass me a jonny & a hammer if i carnt fix it i'll fcuk it

[jaylsmith]

After all this, is there any good cut-away locks you can buy?

[pickmachinist]

I'd be happy to make cutaways for anyone that wants them. As long as you're not in a real big hurry to get them, I can usually make a simple one up in an hour or so, but finding that hour can be tricky sometimes. All I ask is that you either send me the lock to cutaway, or reimburse me for the one I give you. I would even be willing to barter for anything equal if funds are tight. I play with my milling machine in my free time and this will give me something to do. Pm me if interested.