Ace/Chicago Tubular Pick in mm?

[stratmando]

What size pick for Chicago/Ace Tubular Pick? 7.0, 7.3, 7.5, or 7.8. Seem simple info to find, Not so Much. What size is it? Thanks

[Darkhigh412]

Every source and info I have from reading and experience is that the standard Ace, Ace2 and Chicago & ESD are 7.8mm. The problem I experience is not the key it's self but the tool your using. Now if you are SPPing it don't matter the size.....but what I have had problems with is my tubular impressioners. I have 6 different 7 pin center tubular lock picks THAT SAY THEY ARE 7.8MM, BUT, only my Southord, HPC, Haoshi, and the 7.8mm HUK FIT and work in these locks. My Goso, KLOM, Honest Dong Shi, and lockmall say they are 7.8mm but do not fit anything! I don't have a caliper to measure but they all look like the same size but when it's time to put into the lock they are too small by like a piss hair! Can't even force them in.... but back to your question, YES, Ace/Chicago tubular lock are 7.8mm standard..... just make sure you get a good pick b/c just because it says 7.8mm right on the tool it won't fit. Hope this helped you. Good luck.

[stratmando]

I have the gold anodized one buried somewhere, but tried the set of 3 you are probably talking about, supposed to be 7.3, 7.5, and 7.8. My 7.8 is also a hair small, almost fits, about to get it to force on, but stopped knowing just a little further it would have surely broke. waiting on a Daniu 7.8, hopefully it fits. May try to enlarge the small 7.8 carefully as it is already thin. Anyone ever make Comb Pick for the Ace type. I have seen an Ace Bump Key in action, Interesting.

[Darkhigh412]

I'm not sure about the Dainu..... but seriously if your needing a cheap but good quality pick....I would get the HUK SET.... you can find the for like $18 for all 3 sizes, and the 7.8mm is true and fits every 7 pin center I've tried it on....surprisingly good pick. The Hiroshi one is only liken35 bucks but you only get one. Looks and is build just like the Southord one....a little bit cheaper material you can tell be not bad at all but mine only worked for like 2 months. Same with my Southord, broke too soon. I think they make them to do that so you have to get another. So in my opinion. HUK is the best and cheapest. I've been using mine for well over a year regularly. Now I haven't mentioned my HPC. that's is a whole different class to me! Amazing pick....well worth the money. It worked so well and easy it's almost no fun! Hope this helps...let me know how the Dainu work out...im not sure but I know goso has a set that loos like the Dainu but they also have the gold looking ones also. They probably all come from the same Chinese factory anyway.lol. food luck

[stratmando]

It is the HUK set I have, blue, gold and purple anodized collar, I believe the blue is supposed to be the 7.8. seems to be largest, but none work. I love higher priced/better quality tools. Prefer cheaper over not being able to get, I bought the $46, free shipping klom Tubular cutter, works fine, mostly want to make a key for a Davit control box, and tinkering. I have single picked it many times, will use the pick to decode while picked between pins. While lock is picked to shear line. I insert to back of lock, wrap tape flush with lock face, then place pick on each picked pin, if it is about .0015 in, I know it is a 1. Want to make 7 tools with a lip, the one that is flush with face of lock when inserted is the pin length. Or a tool that slides within itself, with 7 marks to determine length. Currently I have to measure the gap. Hate to grind down end of dial caliper to fit the gap. Any tools you know of that tell the length of the picked pin, not to include the Impression tool? Thanks

[Darkhigh412]

Sorry indont know OF any tool To help with that
But, YES the HUK set is gold (7.0mm), purple (7.5mm) and blue witch is 7.8mm! My 7.8mm blue HUK has been a great pick for me.... fits every lock I tried it on. Now of course my HPC is the best but it well over $100! My close second is the Southord. Hope this helps.
..

[stratmando]

Guess I got a small 7.8? Will update with the Danui. I don't see a lot of tubular work. Do want to handle Emergencies. The depth guages shouldn't be too bad. Do want it to the thousandth. Slowly file til length is correct. What do you think of a Comb pick, seems? Easily done?

[Darkhigh412]

Comb picks are cool the only problem I run into with them is finding the correct spacing between the comb teeth and the proper keyway that will allow you to even fit a come pick in there.

[stratmando]

Drilled rivet and dissembled one, shear line looks like about 3/16" further than the tip of key, When the Dainu arrives, will extend the picks 3/16" beyond the tip, insert and see if it works, if you get to I before me, let me know how it worked. One pin had a pin with a smaller diameter extension pin attached, looks like it goes through the spring. Still looks looks like all could be forced up, and turned. Later

[stratmando]

Found this tool, plan on making it decode a Picked Tubular, $5.40, Free Shipping:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-sh ... autifyAB=0

Going to make an Index line across from the 20 in the clear area, then allow for the 3/16" and make first mark a 0, then a mark for each pin depth. Will use a razor to scribe the line in the metal, then Black marker in the groove, then wipe off, should leave accurate marks, which should increase accuracy. Any easier way, or ways to improve? Thanks

This is to read the depths of a picked Tubular lock.

[GWiens2001]

Having used a lot of tire depth gauges, I can promise it won't fit in the narrow gap of the keyway. The steel is usually cheap and will bend if filed thin enough to fit.

Gordon

[stratmando]

When I get it, will update, if you go to the link, it appears to maybe be thin enough, maybe just narrow down?

[billdeserthills]

Found this tool, plan on making it decode a Picked Tubular, $5.40, Free Shipping:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-sh ... autifyAB=0

Going to make an Index line across from the 20 in the clear area, then allow for the 3/16" and make first mark a 0, then a mark for each pin depth. Will use a razor to scribe the line in the metal, then Black marker in the groove, then wipe off, should leave accurate marks, which should increase accuracy. Any easier way, or ways to improve? Thanks

This is to read the depths of a picked Tubular lock.

This is my fav tubular lock pick decoding tool. Once the lock is picked, you can decode the lengths of the picks
and cut a key --I use a Herty Gerty to cut mine https://www.lockpickshop.com/MDC1.html

[stratmando]

Found this tool, plan on making it decode a Picked Tubular, $5.40, Free Shipping:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-sh ... autifyAB=0

Going to make an Index line across from the 20 in the clear area, then allow for the 3/16" and make first mark a 0, then a mark for each pin depth. Will use a razor to scribe the line in the metal, then Black marker in the groove, then wipe off, should leave accurate marks, which should increase accuracy. Any easier way, or ways to improve? Thanks

This is to read the depths of a picked Tubular lock.

This is my fav tubular lock pick decoding tool. Once the lock is picked, you can decode the lengths of the picks
and cut a key --I use a Herty Gerty to cut mine https://www.lockpickshop.com/MDC1.html

I have that tool, and the Metal tool, They Decode the Key, I want to decode the PICKED PINS in the lock. The pick I use is like a regular pick with the tip cut off and squared. I can push to back of lock between pins, then tape around the pick at the Face of the lock, then if I place on a #1 Pin, tape will be about 15 or what ever thousandths it is, and move around the keyway to determine which pin number it is. I have the Klom, would love the Herty Gerty.

I mentiond a Comb pick for this, seems like it would work, The needles on the pick need to extend about 3/16"(whatever the length of the front turning piece of the lock is)past the front of the key? Thanks

[GWiens2001]

Make a tool like mine right below the tubular pick:



Take two pieces of small paperclip, straightened out and cut to exactly the same length. Now take the plastic insulation off of a short piece of wire. Discard the wire - it is the insulation you want.

Put the two pieces of paperclip into the insulation and tap them on the table or the face of the lock to set them at the same height.

Now to use it, put the tool so that one of the two wires are on a pin of your picked lock and the other wire is beside it.

Now use the insulation to push the wires down. The wire on the pin stack won't move down, but the other wire will keep going down until it is stopped by the end of the keyway.

Now remove the tool, and you can visually see how deep the cut on the key needs to be. You can even use your key decoder or a set of measuring calipers.

Gordon