My DIY CoatHanger SnapGun

[v12v12]

Okay folks here it is, it's a HORRIBLY hazy pic from my POS cam phone... I'll try and get a more clear pic tomorrow. It snaps from literally pulling and releasing the trigger, or you can use your thumb on the top of it to push down and release. I lost my dremel (HTF do you lose a dremel!??!) so I couldn't grind down the tip yet and filing would just take too long and lead to mediocre results, so when I find it or buy a new one, I'll grind it down and give it a test! It should work fine...



{db edited: corrected spelling in thread title at author's request}

[zeke79]

It will work fine upside down maybe .

[v12v12]

It will work fine upside down maybe .

Upside down? Oh it snaps upward pretty hard, I can very it by either adding tension on the larger spring or reducing it. Thanks for posting!

[grit1]

It will work fine upside down maybe .

That's what I've always thought about these wire-made pick guns that resemble the real mechanical pick guns. I first saw this on the cover of that book that talks extensively about pick guns. It always struck me as odd that it would snap downwards...maybe I'm missing something ... ~Grit.

[helix]

I'm sure it would work mighty fine where I am,

but looking at a map it is probably 'cause we are

upside down LOL.

[digital_blue]

I've never really gotten the idea of these either. I'm usually not bad at these kind of things, but any time I look at a picture of one of these, I wonder how the heck it works at all. Are you supposed to pull in the trigger, then let it go quickly to snap the pick (maybe?), or does it require a fast pulling of the trigger?

I don't get it at all.

db

[wtf|pickproof?]

I'd say pulling the trigger and releasing it makes the gun snap. For US style mounted cylinders turn the gun upside down. (Just guessing btw.)

[Dent]

No, for US (pins on top), the pick gun works as shown.


The pick part stays stationary throughout the windup and snap part.

The loop that goes around the pick part gets pulled down, with the pick touching the pins.

Then the trigger is released(thumb sliding off the top or in this case letting go of the trigger), the loop jumps UP and hits the pick, which transfers energy to the pins and you get your opening.

The pick part itself is never manipulated, it basically stays stationary touching the pins waiting for the snap imparted from the loop.

[digital_blue]

Your description makes perfect sense to me if you were describing the more conventional snap pick that I think we're all familiar with. But I guess I could see how this one might work as well, but if you have to "snap release" the trigger to get this to work, I can't imagine how useful that might be.

Cheers!

db

[Dent]

When you pull the trigger the loop comes down, when your first finger slips off of the trigger, the loop comes up...

The motion of pulling back the trigger and releasing and pressing down on the top part and then releasing are the same in regards to the loop and pick.... its only finger placement that changes(i'm guessing for comfort).

[v12v12]

When you pull the trigger the loop comes down, when your first finger slips off of the trigger, the loop comes up...

The motion of pulling back the trigger and releasing and pressing down on the top part and then releasing are the same in regards to the loop and pick.... its only finger placement that changes(i'm guessing for comfort).

Hey, man you really saved me a lot of explaining to do! But yes, all you have to do is pull the "trigger" and let it glide off your finger and it rapidly snaps upward. Or you can use your thumb to push the lever down and release in the same manner and it snaps up... actually even harder than using the trigger portion.
In regards to "upside down" (depending on the lock type - abus etc.) you could just flip the pick, use your thumb to push the lever upwards and it will snap down etc... again soon as I find my dremel I"ll grind it down and give it a trial run. Theoretically it should work fine, minus user error. I've never used a real snap gun, are they really that effective with mediocre locks? Thanks everyone for posting!

[digital_blue]

Hmmm.. than I don't really see this as being much of an improvement over the conventional snap picks. Does it work any better? The ones I've made in the past work pretty well. As good or better than my SO pick gun.

db

[v12v12]

Hmmm.. than I don't really see this as being much of an improvement over the conventional snap picks. Does it work any better? The ones I've made in the past work pretty well. As good or better than my SO pick gun.

db

Oh I didn't intend to impy that at all... I just posted it so that others could see my homebrew'd example. I just added the trigger thingy for experimentation. Thanks for the reply.

[v12v12]

IT WORKS! Yes the coat-hanger-snap-gun WORKS! Though I did grind the tip a little too thin, I can snap them Kwiksets in 1-2 snaps w/ the right tension. It also works on master locks. But... when I got a tad bit over confident and tried out the old stubborn American 700, the pick met it's match and bent! Though it didn't break, it surely is not up to the task of said lock.
And that's when I was walking and found a nice Stainless Steel wire loop and proceeded to make another gun which is MUCH stronger and the tips/picks are brazed on as to be replaceable. It works even better than the Hanger-gun! I also made a traditional style snap pick which works well, though it doesn't have the "feel" of the gun so it's less telling. But it still works well. The only prob was the hours of hand filing the SS picks, since I didn't have my dremel with me!

Okay so here's a question - Has anyone ever snapped some locks with security pins in them, say AM700, Abus etc? I'm going to try and snap a BEST SFIC door style lock... Hope it works!

[Chrispy]

Do Yourself It?