need info on LAB .003 vs .005

[Squelchtone]

Hoping I could get some info I am in process of setting up a new locksmith business and was looking at ordering the Lab Kit pro pinning kit and noticed it comes in two sizes .003 and .005 what should a beginning locksmith be picking up.

[GWiens2001]

Personally, I'd go for the .003, since it will fit just about any lock with that pin diameter. You will be able to find the pin length you need without having to resort to filing pins.

Some locksmiths will say a .005" will be 'close enough'. For many locks, it will be. For others, nope. For the small difference in price, the .003" seems the way to go.

Gordon

[Aahicnow]

Thanks I will get the .003 kit then , they are both same price but did not want to have to buy both.

[RumballSolutions]

Far more versatile. It goes without saying that increments of .003 are usually going to get you closer to your desired size than increments of .005

[Big Jesse]

when i was a locksmith, i was told use .003 by itself, or .005 WITH proprietary pin sets.

so if you have a .005 set, you need to invest in sets that are proprietary to the lock you are working on like Schlage, or Kwikset, Best, or Corbin.

Thats what I was told. however .003 should cover most all sizes, i was told, there is still the likely hood of you finding a lock where it just doesnt cut it. some people will then file the plug on the top, or shape the pins, or modify the key, but in either scenario, you are screwing over the next locksmith that comes after you. i have also heard the same will happen with .005 kits. i have found many locks that have been tampered with or modified because of the fact that the previous locksmith didnt use proprietary pins.

i was also told once that .005 was the original pin kits, and most old school locksmiths prefer them, and that the .003 is new school and the younger locksmiths prefer them.

for all i know everything i just said is utter bullsh*t. thats just was i was taught. personally i think youll be fine with .003 on most locks, and more pins to do it with.


good luck!

[Aahicnow]

Thanks all for the responses, .3 it will be.

[jeffmoss26]

I have a Lab mini .003 kit that I use for most stuff. I also have several OEM kits, just depends what I am working on. The shop at my work uses all .005 pins unless they are doing Corbin.

[shutterstuff]

Since I purchased my initial equipment used, I have both. I have yet to use the .005 kit. I am probably going to sell it on Ebay. I am just too lazy to package stuff up to ship...

[Big Jesse]

I just found this link today, this is LAB advertising .003 pins over .005 pins, to the right, there are pros-cons to each pin.

http://www.labpins.com/files/003VS005PinCompare.pdf

[jimu57]

I have a large 005 kit and a small 003 kit. I like the domed top of the 003 series. But I haven't had any problems pinning anything with the 005 kit. 005 means fewer pins to deal with. There is some pin length duplication between 005 and 003 kits. With 005, worse case is that you will be off .003" in the ideal pin length.

[jeffmoss26]

Same as Jimu. My first kit was just a Schlage retail kit, then I got a Lab mini .003 (this was several years ago)
Last year I found a good deal on a Zipf .005 kit on ebay.

[CapeCodLocksmith]

You should be able to work with either. Every locksmith has their own preference, I like .003 myself.

[ltdbjd]

I had a .005 mini that I didn't care for. I ended up with a .003 Green Wedge. I find I can "fine tune" things easier, without resorting to a file.

[billdeserthills]

You should be able to work with either. Every locksmith has their own preference, I like .003 myself.

I agree and I'm presently using an .005 set

I would say to stay away from plastic boxes, much as you can, but my .003 set is a plastic Lab kit and it still works fine after 20 years
I got the .005 kit a few years back for $20 at a garage sale, it looked new

[tjohn]

always 3 (this coming from someone who started on both) when starting out then upgrade to dedicated kits as you see fit based on how often you rekey certain brands, set aside a bit out of your rekey jobs to save up for dedicated tools/kits for these.
The advantage of dedicated kits is the extra room for clips, springs, various parts that always seem to disappear while rekeying.