by Prodigy » 21 Sep 2006 14:47
G'Day fellas,
Well I do like the pics posted, I have never in my time in locksmithing have seen a spool pin with a thread.
But it is my favorite thing when picking the lock. The cylinder turns as though it should open but alas the spool pin/s are holding it still.
This is a very good indicator that the lock is picked and you have to keep trying to lift the pins preferbly fron the back but this time ease off the tension a little.
When you get to the pin that is still locking you will feel positive pressure on the tension tool as if the cylinder is going to the rest or set position. This is where the tension control has to be practiced.
You ease off the tension tool and allow the cylinder to turn back a little while applying lifting pressure on the bottom pin.
Continue this until the pins can push the spool pin back into the cylinder and the lock should turn.
If it doesnt then there is another pin holding, just continue proceedure until it opens.
Trick for young players, PAY ATTENTION TO THE ORDER. when you get cylinders that have multiple spool pins (plenty out there) they can and do interfere with the picking order.
What I mean from this is that a typical standard cylinder when manufactured is not perfect. The chambers are slightly off. This what provides us with the picking order. When the tension is applied to the cylinder the pin that binds first is usually the chamber most out of centre.
Then when it is lifted the next pin the is bound at the shearline. This is when the spool pins mess things up. Because they (spool pins) have material removed they increase the shearline tolorence hence the cylinder turns a few degrees.
It is just a matter of changing the picking order, this can also be acheived by changing tension directon too.
Hope this helps and appologies for the BLAH BLAH ness of it.
