Moving on to a schlage

[Teddy Picker]

If you have a flexible vice you can move it around in different ways. At the very least you can turn the lock upside down and pick it like that. I don't consider a lock beaten until I can pick it quickly in at least two different alignments.

This is one of the things I like about tensioning tools that stay in the keyway of their own accord (basically, if you take your hand off the tensioning tool, it doesn't move). This decreases the difference between different lock alignments. When tensioning isn't a complex interaction between door, hand, and lock, but instead is just a slight pressure in an arbitrary direction, switching alignments isn't such a big deal for the tensioning side of things at least.

[Fire Fox]

Thanks GWiens2001! I am going today to a Habitat for Humanity re-store to see if I can find a couple more Schlages. With them I can mix and match the pins just like I did with Defiants and I can put the Defiants away and mark them complete.

Teddy Picker - I just looked at my vice and it is flexible, so I'm going to try out a couple different alignments and see how I do

[daniel22747]

I have a nice schlage dead bolt that I just love. They are a good challenge.

However once I learned how to pick my specific lock it was not too hard after that.

I also have a defiant door lock now. Good lock to learn security pins on. Not too hard or too easy.

[soksavik]

I just got one of my Schlages open for the first time yesterday. Tension definitely mattered, and I've noticed I have a tendency to apply too much tension and then try to force the pins in. But even being aware of that, I find that I keep doing it without wanting to.

I have two of these particular Schlages. Currently trying to get the second one open. Success once was great, but I'm not to the point where I can do it consistently yet. I think I just need more practice.

[gwunsch]

This thread is a good inspiration for me, I recently inherited some retired door knob locks and was getting frustrated working with them. Time to take a step back and look the workings of the cylinder.

[dll932]

the cheaper ones (schlage) have more tolerance with their cast cylinders than the machined brass cylinders of the better ones. masterkeyed locks have multiple shear lines and are generally easier.

[knowspicker537]

I've found it to be true that Schlage knob locks are generally easier to pick counter-clockwise than clockwise almost every time. I haven't noticed this with the deadbolts or the locks made to be mounted in commercial-style levers.
Something fun to remember with those is how they come apart: for the knob locks and most of the in-lock levers it doesn't matter which way the lock is turned in the handle for dis-assembly, just that it is not longer in the locked position. Take it 90 degrees either way and you can disassemble the handle, granting entry.

I agree I had no luck at first trying clockwise but as soon as I switched I picked the schlage know lock fairly quickly but then I had to buy a plug spinner to unlock the things haha

-knowspicker537

[Shifty1]

I have not picked all Schlage locks. But the residential deadbolts I have picked have had a tension tendency for clockwise tensioning. An F-series kik was the first lock I ever picked and I recall it being a cast cylinder with t-pins and tensioned wellin any direction. I recently bested an Everest and was and went two to three rounds with me until defeated. When ever I put aside picking from time to time I will always go back to Schlage as to reassure myself against losing my touch. Rust never sleeps!