So what have you opened?

by **SteveW** » 16 Dec 2005 20:41

Hah, got ya this time, the website doesnt give their opening times! Guess i wil have to phone them in the morning and see if anyone answers. :wink:

by **SteveW** » 19 Dec 2005 21:55

Ok ive just sent off my order to Chris for the complete set. Here is a big ask can anybody give me a good list of say six or seven locks that would give me a good learning curve. I want something real easy to start with and the rest geting progressivly harder. I am also after a good variety, different curtain styles, different gauges you know what i mean. Ive already got a g110 but im gonna need some practice befor i open that !!

All suggestions gladly welcome

by **quacking_duck** » 20 Dec 2005 10:28

Steve,

Start with the Union 2101 / 2201 / Chubb 3U115 non BS. Easy with curtain picks as there are no anti-picks and can be opened easily with wires.

The old Legge Yellow non-BS is also a good one to start with, as is easy to pick if you can get hold of any now.

From here, I would progress to Union 2134 series / Yale M560 / Chubb 3U114 BS locks, either the new 20mm bolt throw (easier to pick) or the old ones.

ERA Profits / Viscounts, with the 7g turner are probably a good one to go from there, followed by the ERA Invincible, Legge black / Asec BS and the Walsall A55 / Abus / WKS BS.

Be careful with the Walsall series, as your 1st and 3rd lever may not be the same lift, as there is no 'ABA' pattern to the key.

When you have mastered the Invincible, the Walsall and the Legge BS, then start on the Chubb 114e then Chubb 114 series.

Finally, the beasts, ie. the Chubb 110/3K70 etc. series.

Matt

by **SteveW** » 20 Dec 2005 19:39

Thanks alot QD
Ive already got most of these, though my 110 has a missing curtain, but i dont think i will need that for a while. The WKS i thought they were Wallsal rebadged by Keyprint?

by **quacking_duck** » 20 Dec 2005 20:35

WKS are, as you say, Steve are the Walsall A55. They are effectively the same and can be picked in the same way as the Abus and Keypsafe BS. (and probably more pseudonyms ).
A cheap and cheerful lock, but superior to than the Invincible in my opinion. - More key variations, as it uses a 9 cut key similar to the 110 and the hard plate is excellent. Nowhere near as difficult as a 110 to pick though!

Spare curtains for the 110 are available from SKS, (Product code CH3G110BT) and I'd imagine available from KP as well although I haven't checked.

I have the SV P&C for the 110 and even with this, I'm taking on average 15-25 mins to decode. It's far from easy by any means and I haven't got anywhere near to picking it manually yet myself.

by **NKT** » 20 Dec 2005 20:58

Just to add my 2p, the CB pick will open pretty much anything it will fit into. I just bought myself the 8g one to go with my 5/5.5g one, and I popped open a Pro-fit in about 10 minutes, by shimming the curtain turner. I have a really dodgy (brand new!) lock (Avocet) that the CB 5g just slips in, so I keep a bit of shim for that anyway. The Avocet was impossible till I got that shim. Then it was three minutes.

I'll add that the Legge yellow is dead easy, the Union red took me all of ten minutes the first time, and I can even beat things like the Securefast with a bit of fiddling and the CB wire (though only from the left). The ERAs are generally easy, and I can't wait to get hold of a new Fortress.

I can't beat the Chubb 3G114 or the 3K70 I've got. Not a hope yet. I'm going to have to buy the dedicated picking tools, which seems such a shame. Chris has more faith in my ability than I do, so I'm going to practise a whole lot over Christmas! If I can get them down, I can save myself a whole chunk of money!

by **SteveW** » 20 Dec 2005 21:22

Picking the 110 or the 114 for that matter is a long way of yet, ive got to get to grips with the basics first. Thanks for the SKS code no. but i dont think i am gonna need it for a while!!
Ive got a couple of of WKS Bs deadlocks and a non BS five leaver and they seem pritty good especially for the price. I am looking forward to having a go at them.

by **quacking_duck** » 20 Dec 2005 21:26

I know which curtain picks I'll be buying after Santa (hopefully) brings me some money.

Which SF are you opening with the curtain pick NKT? The old or the new 20mm bolt throw? I haven't seen the new one for myself yet, but believe the curtain doesn't turn through the full 360.

As for the ERA Fortress, no one, but no one has got any in Liverpool. Are they about your way up in Preston anywhere yet?

by **pixel** » 21 Dec 2005 6:16

Aldridge in Manchester should have some Era Fortress.

by **NKT** » 21 Dec 2005 15:12

It's SKS code SP317, for Â£10-19. The curtain does turn 360, so I use the CB wire and a different curtain turner that uses a bit of wire, rather than the actual curtain. Of course, the curtain blocks this from working on the right due to the design, so I would have to go with a bit of wire or something in the field.

Pixel, how much are they?

EDIT: M.E. Duffell have them for Â£22.21 for the 2.5" deadlock.

by **bonez** » 21 Dec 2005 15:42

i've got two avocet's here 7g keyway

absolute nightmare at the moment just waiting for cb to
get back to me! think i need it will let you know how i get
on with them in due course.......

by **pixel** » 21 Dec 2005 15:47

The Era Fortress sashlock I have from City Safe Wholesale was Â£14.17 (net).
Most suppliers are still waiting for the Fortress to be sent from Era.

by **acl** » 21 Dec 2005 17:53

Steve if you need a 110 curtain drop me a pm with your address and ill send you one
Andy

by **quacking_duck** » 21 Dec 2005 21:21

Excellent info NKT. It would be fair to say that I've been a bit lazy in studying possible Securefast picking methods as I've used the decoder in the past to open the BS and humble bent 'ward bypassing' wires to pick the old non-curtained type. I'd resigned from the start that it would be difficult to tension the bolt on the old BS with the curtain turning through 360.

I'll try your method with what I've got at the moment. (Although it may be difficult, the SF having such a narrow keyway). I have curtain picks and wires with which I've picked a fair few different types of lock, but have not got the CB ones as yet.

From what I have learned by browsing this site so far, I think it's essential that I purchase the full CB set as soon as possible to add to my tools.

Pixel, many thanks for advice as to where I may be able to get hold of the new ERA Fortress locks.

Matt

by **SteveW** » 21 Dec 2005 21:25

My complete CB set arrived today, its a steep learning curve, but you gotta climb it. I already think they are the most userfriendly curtian picks i have used

So what have you opened?

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