False advertising

[cjames73]

I got my first set of picks the other day. I went for the Southord 8pc set. After a hour i was managing to open 3 cheap padlocks quite consistantly so bought this as i thought it would be a bit more of a challenge. It only took a few minutes and it was open! Last night i dismantled the lock but didnt find any mushroom pins like it said on the packaging but a steel first pin and 4 spool pins! Surely this is false advertising? I was thinking of repinning the lock but where could i get extra pins?
Any help on this will be much appreciated.

[Keyring]

Abus have been describing their spool pins as mushroom pins(Pilzkopfstiften) for years. At first it disturbed me but I guess that it's just a question of terminology. After all, each end of a spool pin looks like a mushroom. I would have thought that the action is the same in each case, and spool pins have the manufacturing advantage that you can put them in either way round.

As to why you found that one specially easy? Dunno.

[cjames73]

thanks for that keyring, is it possible to use pins from a different brand of lock to repin?

As to why you found that one specially easy? Dunno.

i think it must be all the good advice from this website

[iNtago]

i dont think so unless a locksmith/DIYer repined it before you got it

some how pins are put in randomly so that might be why

one thing i want to see the the manufacture of locks just to see how...ok everyone field-trip!

[JackNco]

welcome to the forums!

As for repining, im not sure how good an idea it is but i interchange pins between this type of lock (Yales) and euro cylinders. seems to work fine.

John

[cjames73]

cheers JackNco,
i just put the lock back together again but intentionally mixed the bottom pins. i put the longest pin first to make it a bit harder. i might go up to focus in the morning and buy a euro lock to practice on and maybe swap pins about.

[JackNco]

ebay is ur friend i usualy pay about 3.50 including postage

[xorb]

Some people call them mushroom pins some call them spools, there is such a large variety of security pins that it is a common reference to just call them by these two names.

[Tattoo Guy]

If it's just locks for practicing on dont buy a new one from a diy store as you will be paying well over the odd's for just one lock I think it's between £16 and £22 at B&Q. Im sure if I have a look around I can find about 10 old euro's to stick in a box and post off for about £25 all in (UK Only), and I'm sure some other lockies on here have some old stuff they would rather see go to a good home rather than in the bin, just ask.

(To the mod's, I haven't listed these in the buy and sell section as I am just responding to the post and I wasn't looking to sell my old locks I just thought someone else could benefit from them. Hope thats OK)

[cjames73]

Hi Tattoo Guy,
Thanks for the offer.
I recently sourced 6 new locks(not from diy store!) which should keep me busy for a while.
I will definately need more locks in the near future though and i will get in touch with you about them then if thats ok?

cheers,
cjames73

[2octops]

one thing i want to see the the manufacture of locks just to see how...ok everyone field-trip!

www.kaba-ilco.com

They are in Rocky Mount NC and have a video on their site about how they make keys and locks. The plant was featured on The Discovery Channel a few times.

[raimundo]

Pins are generally interchangeable, thats what LAB built their business on, though some locks have their own pin sizes, never throw out a lock before salvaging parts like pins, springs, tailpieces, etc.
To make your ABUS harder to pick, you could replace the springs with some strong springs, such as are often found on euro cylinders, also euro cylinders may have thicker pins. Im not sure if this just the euros that I have seen or if its generally true.