Tubular Spinner

[CaptHook]

Heres one to ponder.... on a tubular, you have a few degrees of rotation before the pins reset in the next position correct? Would this be enough room to be able to fashion a spinner for? What Im getting at is this... pick the pins manually(for those of us too cheap to buy tubular picks), then be able to spin the lock past the shearlines to the open position. Im not sure if it could be done, but its something to tinker with
Chuck

[Romstar]

Given the ease with which you could make a tubular pick, I am questioning the point of making a spinner for them.

Keep in mind, that a tubular pick is mostly manual, whereas there is some mechanization in a spinner. While it isn't much, you may just be adding more work to the problem.

Experiment with making a pick, and I think you will be much happier.

Just my two cents,
Romstar

[Mad Mick]

A spinner is designed to turn the plug in the opposite direction to which it has been turned....period. It will spin fast enough to stop the springs from pushing the top pins into the plug and locking it, turning the plug to the opposite state from when picked. It will not, however, be a magical tool which unlocks tubular locks, pin tumbler locks, wafer locks, etc.

[CitySpider]

I don't think he's implying that it is, and I think there's some merit in this idea. I have very little experience with tubular locks, though, so would someone explain to me why his idea _wouldn't_ work? After all, it's the same premise -- you're spinning the lock fast enough that the springs don't have time to move.

[CaptHook]

Me thinks my point was missed.... Imagine the pins are picked, post is able to be turned the 5 degrees or so before the stacks reset. The spinner would go over the post with a "key" to fit the notch in the center post. Spinner is spring loaded and "whips" the pins past the shearline to the open position. Im basing this theory on the main use of my regular plug spinners, and that is when I have a wafer cylinder for example, that has to be picked at every 90 degrees to complete a full rotation, I pick once and spin the plug open to save a minute or two of the other 3 pickings the lock would require.
Chuck

[HeadHunterCEO]

i like the idea

[CobraOne]

There are a few diffrent types of tubular locks and the housing of each lock are diffrent as well. Some will go the 360 but others will not because of the housing around the lock. Alot of people would say No to your question but for those rare locks...... mmmmm seems it might work. It would be fun to see. But I do agree with the fact of why would you use a spinner on those locks ?

[LittlePeaceful]

Personally I don't own a plug spinner but I think your idea is good. I see at least three problems:

1. Find a way to fit the spinner in the lock; the lock is rotated a few degrees and the outer key indentation is no more fully aligned with the inner one; after some tests I think you can still insert the eventual spinner tip inclining it, but you have to be careful the plug not to spin back to the locked position;

2. When picking manually a Tubular, due to the tension and to the short distance often I can't stop the rotation after a few degrees and it locks again in the following position. It would be useful to have some kind of device that allows to avoid such problem;

3. With the tubulars I own (mainly bicycle locks) when in unlocked position the key is trapped in the keyway. With such kind of locks your spinner will be likely too caught at the end of the rotation range. Then you will have no more room to place your tension wrench to relock and free your spinner unless you design the spinner in a way that can be estracted from (and reinserted in) the keyway when in unlocked position (problem 1. would be solved too) or in a way you can use the spinner itself as a tension wrench.

[Romstar]

I'd love to see this work, but I honestly feel there is way to much work for way too little benefit.

Keep in mind that in order to make the spinner, you are almost making a tubular pick anyway. In addition, as someone else has said, once you get it spun you may not be able to get the spinner back off the lock.

If you make a tubular pick, you can insert the pick, open the lock, and close the lock. Remove the pick, and you still have the key image. Reinsert the pick, and it will open the lock again without effort.

You can either make notes about the positions if your pick is graduated, or you can make a key. Or, you can simply reset the pick, and practice again.

The tubular pick was invented specifically to overcome the limitations of standard tools on tubular locks. It is the best, most effective, most efficient picking method for these types of locks. While I believe it is useful to be able to pick such locks with standard tools, if you are in the business, the tubular pick is the best option.

Even as a DIY project, the pick is most likely the best way to spend your time. If you have access to a locksmith, ask to see his tubular picks if he has them, and make notes.

Good luck, no matter what you try,
Romstar

[CitySpider]

I think we'd all appreciate it you'd post more often, LP. That post was very helpful.

[CaptHook]

Ive made makeshift tubular picks before, and I understand how the store bought picks work (played with them, just never owned one because Ive never actually needed one). Im just curious as to if I can make this idea work..... What Im invisioning is a tubular key, the outside diameter ground down (removing the positioning nub on the outside and thinning it down about .020 to give picking clearance). The key is already attached to a plug spinner that has been prewound with the "arm" set. Using the bow of the key to tension the lock while picking with a pin, as soon as the last pin has set, carefully move the plug between the pin sets. If all goes to plan, release the spinner and the plug should rotate. Its a theory...... not necessarily the most practical of theories, but as I said in the original post... something to tinker with.
Chuck

[CitySpider]

Let us now how it goes. Whether it works or not, it's an idea that I've never seen before, and I, at least, always get a kick out of that.

[imaKi]

hey, i was wondering what/how you made those makeshift picks?
i have a fireproof safe i put some documents in a while back and now i cant find they key

[CaptHook]

Will do, thanks CitySpider. I dont know when Ill get around to it, but it should be an interesting project.
Thanks everybody for your thoughts and humoring the idea
Chuck