Correct term for this type of lock

[SnowyBoy]

http://www.lockingsystems.com/images/CL1010-7.jpg

I've just been visualizing how these locks work without knowing, and it seems i was very close.

Also, i have had a nice idea for a tool to pick these locks (one probably exists, but i want to make my own)....but obviously, to make a tool i need one of these locks, and i don't know how to ask for them by name.

Thanks in advance

P.s if you got a nice one, i might want to buy it

[Shfake]

Thats a tubular lock, they are often saw on Vending machines here in the UK. you can buy special tools for those locks, search the forums.

[illusion]

http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=11134

SouthOrd sells tubular picks - if memory serves they cost around £80.

You can make a tool by using a key as a starting point and using thin strips of metal as sliders.

You can pick them suing a tension wrench and a thin rod.

Check Ebay - I have a few but they aren't very pretty.

[MacGyver101]

SouthOrd sells tubular picks - if memory serves they cost around £80.

The newer SouthOrd tubular picks work very well. I would suggest first taking it apart, though, and gently sanding down the rough edges on the sliders and the slider groves (a little oil and some 200-ish grit wet-dry sandpaper works well).

[blake1803]

Keep in mind that there are many variations of locks that look like this -- 7 pin, 8 pin, small bore, octagonal, etc... and then the different offsets, etc, etc, etc. No one pick will work with them all (except for maybe the Peterson Pro-1, but that thing is $350 just for the base model...)

The commercial tools don't really "pick" the lock so much as they impression it... the tool then acts as a key to the lock.

If you're making your own SouthOrd-style pick, you might save some time in the process by buying the feelers rather than making them -- it looks like http://www.lockpicktools.com/lockpicks.htm has them at the very bottom of the page for $13 or so. You could then rig something together from that... I'd guess, anyway. I've never tried making one before so can't offer any real advice.

Alternately these can also be picked "manually" by applying tension with a modified tool and then basically doing what you'd normally do with a pin tumbler. Search around a bit for tubular tension wrenches and you'll find a few pages of discussion.

[illusion]

The commercial tools don't really "pick" the lock so much as they impression it... the tool then acts as a key to the lock.

That's not really true tbh...

You can single pin pick tubular locks using tubular picks - It's not obligatory to use the self-impressioning technique. Learning how to SPP them will help you out when you run into AceII tubular locks that thwart self impressioning.

[SnowyBoy]

ooooh lots of replies

Cheers guys, Will get some locks on order tomorrow.

As for buying the tool, Even if it was free i would still want to make my own. I have an idea in mind and want to see if it will work as i think it might.

illusion, any more info on the AceII at all?

[blake1803]

illusion: true, and good point about the Ace II's! I was a bit sleepy as I tried to breeze over the basic idea

Search doesn't seem to be working for me right now, but here are some threads about Ace II's (looks like the very first search result has raimundo talking about a home-made tool, too... although it's a bit old). Tension is a big factor with them, although I suppose you could say that about any lock

[Nasydave]

Cheers guys, Will get some locks on order tomorrow.

try putting "vending locks" into Ebay search, you'll usually find some ace II and cheaper models there for $5 or so.

[raimundo]

The lock in the photo is a filing cabinet lock of the ACE type, ACE is a lock company that made them first, and the name is now a generic reference to tublular locks of this type. ACEII will have that stamped on the stem of the core, inside the circular keyhole.

The lock in the photo also has an anti drill pin in the center of the stem, and it has no slot for corestem pickup, this is because that type of lock pushes the pins to push on the core.

None of the commercial type of tubular picks will open that lock because of the lack of the internal stem pickup.

The common 7 pin ace lock was once used in vending machines, but those days are gone, If you see an ace type keyway on a vending machine in this millenium, there may be a bit more to the lock than you at first imagined. Its very unlikly that its an ordinary 7 pin ace.

[raimundo]

you can still open it with a bic pen, though, without the center pickup.

[Nasydave]

The common 7 pin ace lock was once used in vending machines, but those days are gone, If you see an ace type keyway on a vending machine in this millenium, there may be a bit more to the lock than you at first imagined. Its very unlikly that its an ordinary 7 pin ace.

I think it's an octagon

[Mr. Swell]

From what Ive heard, you dont even really need a "tool". Ive heard rumblings about a method detailed by Marc Weber Tobias (sadly I do not have his book) involving a Bic pen. Although I havent quite gotten this to work yet... Im working on it.

[illusion]

The bic pen can mean several things.

The first is using it on really poorly made locks with poor pin combos. You fit the lid of the pen into the lock, and use it as a jiggler. This technique works on a surprising number of locks, and can be perfomed fairly quickly.

Another use is to pick the lock with a wrench and a pick, but only turning it a fraction. Turning it any more means the pins align to the next chambers and thus requiring more picking. By inserting a pen when at the point just before it relocks, you can turn it quickly in the hopes of jumping the pin chambers and fully turning the lock in one go.
I've found that this is fairly tricky, but is worth trying since the alternative is to watse time picking the lock several times to fully unlock. By heating the pen gently before inserting it, it is sometimes possible to replicate the key, thus creating several great advantages.
Use of a modified plug spinner and a specially modified tubular key can have the same effect and increases the chances of success greatly. If you heat the

You can also use a bic pen to impression the lock. By inserting a wrench and turning it whilst the pen is in the lock you can make a makeshift key. Cut out a notch in the pen to fit the wrench, also preventing confusion when you forget which cut applies to a specific pin. Care is needed and a permanent pen helps make the pin marks more distinctive. A depth key makes the job a lot easier, but it is not obligatory.

[illusion]

Hmmm... I'm half tempted to appeal for this thread to be moved to the advanced forum... I wasn't really paying attention when I wrote it.

I'll leave it for a mod to decide.