Plug Holder?

[Peter Martin]

I see various plug holders for sale--HPC and ILCO.
Do professional locksmiths use these? I watch Youtube videos and most professionals when they're rekeying (especially multiple locksets), hold the cylinder, repin, then immediately reinsert, check for function, and reassemble... and move to the next lockset.
I guess a rubber mat can simple keep it from rolling it you have to put it down (to check driver pins, etc.)?
They just appear like they're extraneous equipment.

Pete
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

[stratmando]

Not a Pro, I use one, they do their job. Not a Necessity.

[billdeserthills]

I've been using my plug holder for many years because the tumblers have a habit of changing their height in many plugs, when they are held in the hand

[cledry]

Rarely, but they have a purpose. I generally hold it in my hand and use my thumb to push the key even with the bottom of the plug. As I slide the plug into the housing I can see instantly if I am too low on my pinning, if I am too high it is obvious as the plug won't go in, or I get really hungry.

[jeffmoss26]

only use one for Primus.
I do use a LAB pinning block

[Raymond]

I only use a plug holder routinely for Assa, Medeco, Schlage Primus and Everest. The plug holder allows me to dump pins without worrying about holding in the side bars or finger pins. I have made my plug holders from old discarded mortise cylinders because they already have the sidebar slot. For other brands it is not so needed. It is the same as rekeying an Abus padlock through the side opening or an American or Master padlock through the bottom of the cylinder housing.

Do it however makes it simple and accurate for you. Sometimes it helps and other times it just slows things down.

[Peter Martin]

I could see how a plug holder with a slot for Primus might be handy to hold the sidebar. ProLok even gave it a flat bottom so it can sit on your workbench and not flop over.
The ILCO/HPC have an odd bottom that doesn't look like it will stay upright... like you need a vise to hold them.

[GWiens2001]

Yes, it is intended to be held in a vise. That also puts the core at a more comfortable working height than sitting flat on the bench.

Gordon