Any Tips for BEST Cores?

[bprzybyl]

Hello,
I recently acquired some more SFIC BEST cores off ebay. I believe they are E, M, and (dunno yet) keyway. The E is in a padlock, the others are in mortise cylinders. I've also got an R keyway, but I've got all the keys for it (Operating, Master, Control, and a magic key I'll put on here if I get a chance).

Anyways, I got them a couple days ago. M keyway Mortise Core - picked night I got it, as well as last night. Was picked to control line once, and has been picked to operating line 4 times now. The Mystery Keyway has been picked 3 times now, but not to the control line. I'm working on it, as I want that mortise housing.

But the Padlock....AHHHHH!!!! I have tried that thing time and time again. It is ruthless and mean. It refuses to be nice and open. I would like to use it as it looks like it would house a 7 pin core, but that's one of the wierd things about it. Using my half diamond, I can feel only 5 pins in there. I have heard of 6 pin, as well as seen them (the M is 6, R is 7), but never a 5.

And now my question - What am I doing wrong? It (padlock) is pretty weather worn. Sould I douse it in lube of some sort? If so, how, where, and what kind of lube (I know WD-40 is a no no). Would the peterson tools help? My birthday is in a month and 2 days. I can torment myself with it for that long and get the "Group 2" I-core tension set as a gift. I was probably gonna buy some peterson tools anyway, so I could just get both (as in I-core's and "Just Picks - Rubber handles"). I tried making my own, but it isn't worth the $10 diamond file set it was made with.

Thanks,
Brooks Przybylek

P.S. - I have yet to pick the R keyway. It has some Tough bitings. the 7th cut (closest to face of lock) is a 9, while the one just behind it has quite a difference.

[Omikron]

You probably aren't doing anything wrong, rather just not quite in tune with what's going on inside the lock. Although Best I/C's don't usually come with spool pins, it's POSSIBLE that this particular core may have some spools in it.

On a different note, the I-Core tension tools help immensely when it comes trying to pick the control line. I'd definitely reccommend getting one. Good luck!

[bprzybyl]

STILL! NOTHING!!

I hate this padlock. I have oiled it very well with some gun oil (supposed to clean while lubricating). Some of the pins regained the springy-ness, but it's still really gunked up. Usually when picking a padlock, you know how you can shake a lock and hear the pins rattle around? this lock will not do it. I can hear the pins settle back when I release tension after another failed attempt at picking, but they wont make noise when shaking. The 1st pin will also take a little "coercing" in order to get it to return to the lowest spot. Can Anyone give me any hints on how to lube this EVIL lock up? I think there was some graphite downstairs, would that be best?

even more worse, I can't even shim it open to give myself a little confidence of beating it. I HATE THIS LOCK! Any help would be great.

[vector40]

Flush it completely with some WD-40 to clean it out (really just hose it down), then lube with a synthetic (Teflon or silicone) or something similar.

[bprzybyl]

WD-40??? BLASPHEMY!!!

I remember hearing on here to never use WD-40. To be honest, at this point I could care less. I'm gonna be popping all the pins out to clean it anyway, so I really don't care what happens to it.

Also, is it possible to get the control & operating plug out without damaging the lock?

Thanks.

[vector40]

The idea is that you flush out the WD-40 when you chase with the second lube.

You can pick to the control shearline, or you could drill the retaining lug...

[bprzybyl]

...chase with the second lube.

Sounds naughty on 2 levels.

But yeah, I will try it. now.