ACE IIs with a SO style pick

[hesevil]

So tonight I was working on another gun safe that I have. It has 3 Ace II locks on 2 doors. I had previously tried these with my SO style from southern specialties to no avail. The picks worked awesome on every single tubular lock I came across... except the Ace IIs. Every time I would try an Ace II, I would either get my feelers set too high or low, I could never get it perfect.

Now this safe has been sitting for almost 2 years unopened. I lost the key when I last moved and thought I would eventually come across the key, so I never called a locksmith. I had been practicing on other Ace IIs SPP style and had become very proficient, so I decided tonight I would do the safe.

I sat down in front of it, leaning way to the side because it's in the back of a closet. Put my tubular tensioner in, tensioned, and began manipulating. Took about 10 seconds to get, nothing too bad. I had planned on rotating a bit and then impressioning it with the SO style pick to complete the opening... but I messed up. I wasn't paying attention and turned it too far, re-locking the pins... sigh.

I worked on it SPP more until my arm holding the tensioner was about to fall off. I was going to give up until tomorrow but figured I'd try my tubular pick. I set all the feelers, hard tension, set it in the lock, and began impressioning. After about 5 cycles, it opened the rest of the way and I was surprised. I figured that because I had already partially rotated it, the stack that had the stronger/weaker spring was already set. I had to know for sure, so I tried the others.

I went to the other door, on the fully locked Ace II, and inserted my pick. I had the tension set very hard and began impressioning. I tried a bit and then pulled it out and checked the feelers; none had under or over set, so I put it back in and tried some more. After a few more twists, it opened fine. I locked the feelers and moved to the other lock... opened right up.

I'm very happy that I've finally gotten the technique down to be able to open these with the SO style pick. I had planned on buying a Peterson Pro-1 (and probably still will) for working with Ace IIs since I had thought they were relatively unopenable with SO styles. So far, I've been able to open every one of the approximately 10 Ace II locks I have, ranging from vending style to gun safes to bike locks.

Just thought I'd share this with you all. It's the first time I've been amazed with what I was able to do while picking locks and I'm looking forward to doing it over and over again.

-Matt

[UWSDWF]

too much words... but you gots to SPP with SO style pick

[hesevil]

too much words... but you gots to SPP with SO style pick

I didn't have to, that's what the post was about. I've successfully opened all of the Ace IIs I have (about 10) using the SO style pick without SPP.

On a sidenote, can anyone tell me the order of numbering on the pins of a tubular lock? I've impressioned the lock and I want to get some keys cut, but I don't know which direction to start (ie: clockwise while looking at lock, 1-7, etc).

-Matt

[JackNco]

Now its open the cheapest thing to do is buy a new lock on ebay and replace it. it will be cheaper than getting 2 keys cut from a locksmith.

[hesevil]

Now its open the cheapest thing to do is buy a new lock on ebay and replace it. it will be cheaper than getting 2 keys cut from a locksmith.

I was going to do that but they appear to be a special type of lock. It's an Ace II for sure, but the lock is built into a special casing which mounts to the safe. I'm assuming these are produced specifically for this application, but I don't know.

-Matt

[magician]

too much words... but you gots to SPP with SO style pick

what is SPP??
and i guess SO stands for southord??

[Schuyler]

single pin picking

[magician]

single pin picking

I thought SPP wasn't possible with ACE 2 locks

[Tygart]

SPP should open anything..

[JackNco]

single pin picking

I thought SPP wasn't possible with ACE 2 locks

Nope, u can happily SPP any pined lock if you can get the tension right.
(I say this because the tension slips alot with standard tools on a tubular lock. try doubling up southords standard no twisted tools.

SPP should open anything..

Except, Level, disc, waffer, and combo locks
j/k


All the best

John

[magician]

I read they require a ton of tension, this true?
and how much would someone recommand?

[magician]

has anyone heard of GREENWALD MINI-PICK for opening ACE II???

[UWSDWF]

WHY DO YOU NEED POP SO BAD?

all you've asked about since you've been here is how to open a vending machine and i'm not impressed

[magician]

WHY DO YOU NEED POP SO BAD?

all you've asked about since you've been here is how to open a vending machine and i'm not impressed

HAHAHAHAHA
I'm just doing research into opening ACEII and similar locks. Not looking for free pop.

Sorry about asking so many questions.

[baalpeteor]

WHY DO YOU NEED POP SO BAD?

all you've asked about since you've been here is how to open a vending machine and i'm not impressed

HAHAHAHAHA
I'm just doing research into opening ACEII and similar locks. Not looking for free pop.

Sorry about asking so many questions.

ya it def wouldn't be worth it... buying a 100 or so dollar pick for 50 cent/1 dollar pop. cheaper to just buy pop if u wanted todo that.

Hesevil I will message you. I'm interested more in the process. I'm going to buy a few ACE II's if I can find them online. They seem to be the only one worth a challenge. I have a SO and never brought a practice tubular lock yet, and i've successfully already picked a tubular lock off a paid dryer where my g/f stays (apartments) about 3 times over (of course it was just to practice as I had no lock and my blood was itchy to open something. No money was stolen).

I will also buy some ACE I's probably and generics.