Serrated Pin State

[Exodus5000]

I've been trying to pick a lock that has serrated pins. How do you recognize the pin state of a serrated pin? There are too many clicks for me to properly recognize when it is set, binding, or breached. I just got a grip on spools and mushrooms, and now this .

[rakemaster]

Everything I've ever read sais basically either get luck or use
a pick gun.

I think serrated pins jam hard when they are at the serrations,
harder than a set pin and you can feel the dif. I'm not good at
actually setting them tho.

Rakemaster

[Exodus5000]

I absolutely refuse to use a pick gun, ever. The only way I would ever remotely consider using one is if i'm a locksmith on a lockout job. The serrated parts of the pin Would probably be the most obvious clicks is my best guess?

[rakemaster]

I didnt mean to insult you I only said that's what Ive read. I don't
care if you use a pick gun or not personally.

Also reread what I wrote. If a serrated pin is set at the serration
its jamed harder than a set pin which you still feel a little
bit of a spring in. The problem is what to do then. I think theyre
much harder than spool pins to reset after they jam.

Rakemaster

[Exodus5000]

Terribly sorry, didn't mean to come off sounding so hostile. I didn't take any offense. To me pickguns are the devil, compeltely takes away the whole point of a picking a lock.

I'm surprised with as effective as serrated pins are, in most people's opinions the hardest of sercurity pins, that they aren't the most commonly used security pin. hmm.

[CycloneJack]

serrated pins tend to cause the plug to rotate father then if you set the pin correctly. if you notice a big jump in rotation, the pin has set on a serration.

[rakemaster]

No offense taken Exodus. Actually I thought your strong reaction was pretty funny.

Rakemaster.

[CaptHook]

A tip headhunterceo gave me was wd40, lots of it. Kind of fills in the serrations. I messed with an american round body for a few years, never could get the feel of it until I flooded it with the wd40.
Chuck

[Exodus5000]

The lock I'm reffering to in this post is a brinks shrouded padlock. I was just about to get out the WD40 on your advice when the plug gave part way, which means that I was hung on spool pins. These I know how to work with, so I set about 4 spool pins and the bugger opened!
This makes me curious as well. In order for the plug to turn part way must mean I have gotten past the serrated pins, and the next line of defense is the spool pins. I wonder if there is a way to go straight to the spool pins without even dealing with the serrated pins. hmm.

[Guitar_J]

Where are you putting your wrench in the Brinks lock? I've had best results with the top... But I've still yet to open it...

how much tension did it take?

[Exodus5000]

I put my tension wrench in the key way farthest from bottom of the pins. I use a standard amount of tension, which is just enough for the pins to bind. Im still have problems identifying the state when a serrated pin is set, but in general I think that the pin sets when i get a dull, subtle click instead of the high tension snapping click. Once I get the plug to false set due to spool pins I know the lock is pretty much as good as open, because its just a matter of finding the one that wants to turn the plug backwards, and its pretty obvious on this lock. I'm going to practice and fiend on this lock until I can interpret every feeling inside of it, and of course i'll report back on how to deal with serrated pins whenever I find that out.

[Hojo]

If im having trouble telling whether a pin is set, on a padlock or something, I turn it upside down, and the gravity pulls the set pins down....so try that, oh and it doesnt always work....

[Exodus5000]

Success. Here's my method:

The first pin in the lock is serrated, since I can see it, on your advice hojo, I picked it so that I could see when gravity could pull it back down. This occurred on the second "click" as I pushed the pin down. I simply applied this rule to every other pin, I pushed it down till it clicked twice.

I'm now consistantly picking the Brinks Shrouded padlock.

[Hak]

congrats

[CaptHook]

Another method is reverse picking/raking. Push all pins up all the way, hold with heavy tension. Then very VERY slowly let off the tension as you rake the pins, can help on certain occasions.
Chuck