Tubular (Ace/Chicago) picks with variable per-pin tension

[somenewguy]

I have seen a wide variety of picks for the tubular locks.

I have a farily old (about 20 years old) Majestic tubular lock pick. You can see a picture here ( http://www.extremely-sharp.com/majestic-tubular-lock-pick.html )

As you can see, it has a brass collar which is permanently staked into place, which provides tension on the sliding pins. Basically, this tool is a sort of automatic impressioning tool; simply set all the sliding pins flush with the end of the pick, insert, and rotate back and forth until the lock opens.

The flaw is that the tension across all of the sliding pins is the same, and can't be changed. I have had good luck with this pick on inexpensive tubular locks.

I have seen some newer tools that have a variable tension, which I guess is an improvement, which uses a threaded collar that tightens or loosens on the shaft. This would be a step up, but it would still be the same tension on all pins.

I believe it is common knowledge that 'good' tubular locks are made with different springs at each pin location, to change the per-pin tension, which makes a simple tool as described above fail to work.

I have seen two tools that seem to be SPP tubular tools: the Peterson PRO-1 (http://www.thinkpeterson.com/tubularlockpicks.html , US$425) and the Pro-Lok PKA2 ( https://www.pro-lok.com/pc-281-79-pka2-deluxe-tubular-ace-pick.aspx US$273 )

I have an American padlock with a tubular lock (owned legally) which I would like to experiment with, but my old Majestic pick won't do the job. I could bust off the brass collar and try to convert it to an SPP tool but then I'd lose the speed of the 'impressioning' type attack for cheaper locks.

My question is; is there any tool which will efficiently work on the American padlocks or other tubular locks with varying spring pressure?

The Pro-1 looks great, but a bit expensive. The PKA2 might be doable. A third option is one of the newer tubular picks with adjustable tension; turn the tension all the way down and attempt to SPP with the pick.

Are there any other options?

[somenewguy]

ETA:

The variable tension tools I am referring to are the SouthOrd, for example: http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-Tools/Tubular-Lock-Picks-Adjustable-Manipulation-TPXA-7.html

[billdeserthills]

I wanna say the loud funny words too,
I inherited my Dad's old pick, it looked just like the Majestic pick you have but it's design was likely stolen by A-1 . If your pick is over a year or so old or if you used it much the "O Rings" under that brass collar that holds the feelers in place are all worn out. You need to either get some new o rings
or I believe you could wrap an actual rubber band around the area the o-rings reside in, until you have an old-style ilco Tubular-type pick.
You can gently pry the brass collar off the front of the pick, I would lubricate with a wd-40 type spray liberally (oops no politics) before trying to take it apart. Changing these o-rings made my pick work again like new. I got a bunch of o rings at Harbor Freight

[billdeserthills]

Sorry Don't Pry the collar off, you really need to lube it up good & carefully push it off. You don't want to bend it as it has to press all those o rings evenly

[somenewguy]

Thanks for the reply! I see the brass collar has two dimples pressed in; I assumed it could not be slid off..? Oddly enough mine (even though it is ~20 years old!) still seems to have decent O-rings in it.

For a pick with varying tension per pin, I guess I really should just get the PKA-2 or the super expensive but super nice PRO-1

[somenewguy]

Let me ask one more question along these lines...

If you have a tubular lock with different pin springs (I assume there are only two tensions; high and low?)... With the (relatively) inexpensive SouthOrd pick; can you set it to low tension, use it for the typical (set all probes flush with the end, insert and twist) impressioning style manipulation (at which point I am assuming the pins with low-pressure springs have set the probes on the tool), and then set the tension higher and repeat the process (which I assume will set the pins that have higher pressure springs) and have a chance at successfully opening the lock?

[billdeserthills]

I use the Ilco tubular pick and I find it needs different tension with different locks. Thing is those o-rings look fine when they wear out, except the feelers will gouge a little cut on the inside and then tension will be lost. So when my pick doesn't work on a lock I set the tension higher and try it again. After that I get mad and then destroy the lock & replace it.

[billdeserthills]

With your south -ord pick you can try pressing individual picks, but with no tension control it might be hard to keep the feelers in place. The HPC peanut pick actually costs less & has adjustable tension, but it's very small and made out of plastic. I don't think mine has ever actually picked open a lock yet either, but it only gets taken out & tried maybe once a year or so.

[huxleypig]

Or, alternatively, you could do this:

http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=59001

By the way, if anyone wants this mod doing to their pick (and I have made all of my mistakes on my own conversion) then just let me know.

[assweasel]

Really you got questions about a 20 year old tubular. ???

Who is even using them any more?

I laughed so hard when I saw this.

Me thinks you just want to steal from some vending machine.

Then me thinks if that vending machine is using a 20 year old lock then maybe i should tell you to teach them a lesson.

LMAO

[1mrchristopher]

Am I missing something? I read through this entire thread and cannot find what on earth you're referencing assweasel.

[assweasel]

Am I missing something? I read through this entire thread and cannot find what on earth you're referencing assweasel.

I'm sorry if your having trouble reading or maybe command of the English language.

" My question is; is there any tool which will efficiently work on the American padlocks or other tubular locks with varying spring pressure? "


Is that clear to you now?????

[1mrchristopher]

So a forum member who has roughly half the posts you do asks for guidance on selecting a tubular pick, because he feels that the one he owns isn't up to the job of picking a padlock he owns, and you call him a thief? You then go on to insinuate that because I did not arrive at the same conclusion I must have not have any command (or even a feeble grasp) of the English language.

Bad form.

[1mrchristopher]

You then go on to insinuate that because I did not arrive at the same conclusion I must have not have any command (or even a feeble grasp) of the English language.

... must not have...

Clearly I should go to bed rather than concern myself.

[assweasel]

I did not call him a thief. But I can sure question from my professional knowledge?
And his not being capable with that majestic certainly makes me wonder.
Because the lock he is talking about can be opened with that majestic just as fast as a key can open it.


So i have questions?

He's all good I will help.

But just randomly advising people how to open locks is a dis-service to everyone.