How do you pick a tubular lock? Please help me!

by **Chubby** » 16 Oct 2003 12:40

Whilst we're on the subject of tubular picks, would it be possible to pick a 7 pin lock with an 8 pin pick, the reason I ask is I have come across 6 pin locks which seems a little unusual due to what I have read to date.I have counted the spaces on the key to make sure I was not mistaken and there are only six...! :shock:

by **Varjeal** » 16 Oct 2003 12:50

There are what's known as "small format" tubular locks. If your current pick is not small enough, you will either need to purchase/make a smaller tubular picking tool, or use tension wrench and small half-diamond as mentioned in other places.

Keep us updated on your progress and let us know if you decide to buy one and give us a review on how it works.

by **Chubby** » 16 Oct 2003 12:59

Many thanks I found to my embarrassment that Dr.Dave had already given an answer to the 7,8 pin question in another thread...I'll let you know how I get on, what is confusing is the 6 pin is a new and quite large state of the art spanish security lock..

by **Varjeal** » 16 Oct 2003 13:01

Really??? Do you have any pics or links to sites that have this hardware listed?

I'd be really interested in seeing/reading more about it.

More info, pleaaaaase :!:

by **Chubby** » 16 Oct 2003 13:35

I need to find out the name of the manufacturer I can't remember the exact name & I don't have the said lock in my possesion, I'll have to start writing them down, some of these locks would make your jaw drop, and security in Spain is high priority, steel doors, never less than two locks, and there is not one building I can think of without security bars on all the windows , the latter being the cause of many fatalities in house fires...

by **Varjeal** » 16 Oct 2003 13:59

That's too bad, cause there are models of bars that are removable from the inside.

Please post any links or even the brand name of the lock if possible when you find out.

Thanks.

by **skynet** » 21 Oct 2003 1:35

i got the southord tubular pick, and i see in postings here that its possible to adjust the loosnes of the needles and even lock them in place , how do i do that ? moving the golden middle ring up and down doesn't seem to do anything for me ...

oh and when you pick a lock Dr. said to move the needless in until you hit "stop" what dose that mean ? i just use southord instructions and it works some times , but not always. Also has anyone tried to lubricate the lock ? (would it help ?)

thanks

by **not_so_nimble** » 21 Oct 2003 9:14

Hi All,

I'm new to this site, kinda stumbled across it while looking up information on tubular locks. I almost wish I had read some of the posts before hand.

I have always had a fascination with locks, but the hobby has been on the back burner for so many years. Now that my job is less intense, lately I have been having more time for my hobbies.

Yesterday, I received a 7 and 8 pin tool. After reading the posts, I'm not so sure that I need the 7, but I do remember that the 7 fits better in some locks better than the 8, but that could also be due to many factors.

So I go over to my friends work last night because his manager is cool and lets us get away with anything. They have a pop machine and 2 small gumball machines. I look at the gumball one, and notice that there are 4 pins, I deduct that the 8 should work. After many attempts I end up only hearing pins pop, and the lock only makes a 1/4 turn clockwise and doesn't open. I must have been glued to that gumball machine for 30 minutes before giving up.

My friend comes back to the store and the guy across the street has a another pop machine and said he was curious if we could get it open. I said fat chance, I can't even open a gumball machine. So we walk over, try for 10 minutes and come back. On our way back to the store, we had to cross a four lane local street with really old asphalt cracks galore. My friend is carrying the tool, and was sliding the pins back to the asumed position when all of the sudden the brass piece holding the pins on launched and so did the pins. This was about at 8pm and the sun had been down for a while. I went into the store and got this rinky dink flashlight that could only light up a 3 inch circle. Needles to say after standing in the street dodging traffic for 30 minutes we were able to find all the pieces. What a nightmare.

All in all, after following Southord's instructions, I'm begining to believe I'm doing somethign wrong, or the instructions suck. I will read more information and watch the video that was posted earlier, then try again.

Thanks for listening to my rant.
-Not_so_Nimble

by **misspent youth** » 21 Oct 2003 11:43

to think i was actually going to purchase a tubular pick. These things sound to be more of a hassle than anything.

by **skynet** » 21 Oct 2003 13:31

try to pick the tubular lock manualy and see if that's a hastle.

by **GrodyCody** » 23 Oct 2003 16:10

Hey guys!

First off my buisness has been doing well for the past couple months(just started it) and iv had a couple people call me asking if i could open vending machine they lost keys to. I recently got a 7 pin South-Ord tubular lock pick. I went to lowes and bought a bike lock with the same lock and was able to open it no problem with what the directions said. So about a week ago I got a call asking about a vending machine so i went and tried to pick it. The lock was an AceII and im not sure what that means. The little notch where you alighn the pick with(where no pins go) was facing toward 3 o'clock. I put the pick in so that it was facing 3 o'clock put it wouldn't even impression correctly. anyways i wasn't able to pick it. Is it possible that i should have started the pick at 12 o'clock?
Any information would be helpful.

Ps. Iv already read this whole post.

by **Varjeal** » 23 Oct 2003 16:32

Try to get to www.chicagolock.com

There they should have descriptions of the Ace and ACE II, which, from what I recall, is a different breed of tubular lock. I haven't seen one in quite awhile, but I do know that they have a left and right offset as well as a standard center one.

I'd like to hear more about your business, in a seperate thread perhaps. Do you specialize or general locksmithing like myself?

by **Nasydave** » 7 Nov 2003 2:24

Just some info that might be handy to a lot of the posters in this thread.

To tell the 7, - 7 left / 7 right and 8 apart:

8's usually have the numbers 1-8 around the edge of the lock
If you look at a 7, look directly across from the guide notch. . If there is a pin directly (180 degrees) across from the notch, it is a normal 7 pin. If there is not a pin directly across, it is an offset, and needs the 8 pin tool.

The ACE II is a fancy lock that uses springs of different strength (usually 2) to defeat most picking tools. I haven't used a southord (I have HPC and a peterson pro) The HPC will open about 30 percent of the ace II's, and last night I picked my first ace II with the pro-1, although I used a different method than they one they teach. You might note that two of the feelers well be pushed all the way back, those will be the two "hard" springs. I don't know if Chicago lock would tell you that or not, I got the info by looking through the patents.

Hope that infop helps those who might have been a little confused.

by **snoopwogg** » 3 Dec 2003 22:51

by **Zelgadis** » 4 Dec 2003 6:14

DrDave, would you be so kind to make and post a video where you show your technique using the SouthOrd 7-pin, please?

Thanks in advance.

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