Whats Before Schlage?

[commadore]

I probably spelt shilage wrong but i am seeing all these posts about people saying their moving on to schilage and i want to know what deadbolt i should buy to practice on before one of them so i keep going on the right track. I have 4 masterlock no 3s that are all keyed differently and can open them within 10 seconds to 2 minutes each.And i have another question, feel free to bash me but i ordered the ultimate challenge practice lock and have playing with it for some time. I can pick any 2 pin arrangement but as soon as i put a 3rd pin in i cannot get the goof open. I believe i have a real problem with recognizing when the pin is set. Can anyone recommend a good read or exercise that will help me with this? Many thanks! LP101

[MacGyver101]

I probably spelt shilage wrong

Schlage.

i want to know what deadbolt i should buy to practice on before one of them so i keep going on the right track.

Everyone's preference is slightly different, but a Kwikset or Weiser deadbolt would probably be a good stepping-stone before moving onto a Schlage deadbolt.

Can anyone recommend a good read or exercise that will help me with this?

I think what you're looking for is DB's Beginner's Lockpicking Exercise.

[commadore]

Thanks, what about a certain model or range of models?

[squelchtone]

Thanks, what about a certain model or range of models?

Kwikset (the old kind, not the new SmartKey version) is good, as is the Defiant brand sold at Home Depot

That Defiant I linked is good because you can take one half apart and learn how it works, or pin it up 1 pin at a time, and the other half you have always pinned up with 5 pins for practice.

If you prefer a mortise cylinder which is easier to hold when picking, you may opt for this model at Home Depot

look into a LAB plug follower, or make your own plug follower out of a piece of wood dowel or even a pen or marker. This tool will help when you are repinning the lock and keeps the top pins and springs from shooting out everywhere.

good luck,
Squelchtone

[commadore]

Yes a plug follower will come in handy, i learned that quick, i have a no name 5 pin tumbler from canadian tire that i took apart to re pin and it is not fun, my plug follower for that time was a tension wrench lmao.

[cyrano138]

The magic marker cap is a good trick, but if memory serves, you'll have to modify it before it will fit in a Schlage, if that's what you decide to try. It's a bit too big for those. I took a sharp knife and made a cut down the side of the cap so I could make it smaller if needed. It works alright but you have to be even more careful. Typing this makes me realize how foolish I've been not getting a proper plug follower.

Jack

[cledry]

If you prefer a mortise cylinder which is easier to hold when picking, you may opt for this model at Home Depot

Squelchtone

I have never seen those Kawneer type mortise cylinders at HD, probably an online only item. If you have a locksmith in the area he may just give you one of those, I throw them away because they are so sloppy they offer no security and they are off-space which makes keying them a pain. They are super easy to pick though.

[Capt_Tom]

I agree on going by your local locksmith's shop. Introduce yourself and mention the site. Many of us are aware of LP101, though most are too busy to participate, or use professional organizations for social input/output. We have used locks by the tub full. We use downtime for the store guy to re-key the cleaner used locks to sell in a bargain table setting.

When you get to the schlage locks, you will be into the spool pins in their deadbolts,(and what I call Devil pins on their knobs). A trick that I have found is to take the flat side of your pick and lift all pins at once, put some tension on your wrench, and then remove the pick, turn it over and begin picking. This helps get some of the "funny" driver pins preset. Then pick the rest. If a spool of devil pin is not set, but caught, put pressure on it and let a little off of the tension wrench until you feel it move. Many times, you will have to start over when one is just too bound.

I was out of the business for many years, until the economy sent me back to work. When I was previously in the locksmith business, we didn't have spool pins... and were just getting pick guns. A lot to learn for a new guy... or even a new old guy.

Enjoy it.
Tom