Can U help me make a cutaway ?

by **LordDragon** » 19 Sep 2006 22:01

Well, this is only my 2nd post,but I've ben practising and browsing LP101 for a while now and am getting pretty good.I recently aquired a box full of old padlocks from my job(security)and most of them were old and had no keys.To my suprise one of them was a Medeco padlock and it still had the key with it!

.So can anyone tell me how to make a cutaway to practice with?BTW,I realize Medeco is difficult to pick and above my level(for now)and I also searched several times for posts on this subject.Any help is sincerely apreciated.

by **Romstar** » 19 Sep 2006 22:35

Making a cutaway lock with a standard cylinder is one thing. As a matter of fact, there are a few ways to do it, and I even wrote a method for making standard cutaways a while back. You can find that article in this thread: http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=3183&highlight=romstar+cutaway

The problem presented here is that in a Medeco you have to deal not just with the rotating pins, but with the sidebar as well. This presents problems in deciding where to make the cuts and how to make them.

To make matters worse, you are dealing with a padlock. Now, without seeing which padlock it is, I can't be sure of what cylinder design is being used, but I am willing to bet its not the same as normal mortice cylinder.

That being said, there are a lot of pictures and diagrams on the net showing the insides of various Medeco cylinders. Get your hands on a few of the ones that are similar to the one you have and stare at it for a long time. Sooner or later an idea will form, and you will begin to plan out your cuts.

Also, do some searching to find other threads about members making their own cutaway locks, and learn from the mistakes and triumphs each of them have had.

In the end, you will appreciate this lock far more, and be vastly more proud of your new cutaway.

Good luck,
Romstar

by **SFGOON** » 19 Sep 2006 23:11

Medeco was the first lock I ever dissassembled. Unfortunately, It's doesn't lend itself to being made into a cutaway. Take it apart and you'll see why. :wink:

by **LordDragon** » 19 Sep 2006 23:24

Hmm,Looks like this is gonna be harder than I thought.I'll just take my time though and see what happens.Thanks for the help,and for pointing out the link Romstar.I'll post picks if it works out.

by **Romstar** » 19 Sep 2006 23:43

LordDragon wrote:Hmm,Looks like this is gonna be harder than I thought.I'll just take my time though and see what happens.Thanks for the help,and for pointing out the link Romstar.I'll post picks if it works out.

You are very welcome. I wish you all the best of luck with this. It can be done of course since Medeco do it themselves all the time.

If you haven't discovered yet, we love pictures here. Just send them along.

Romstar

by **5thcorps** » 20 Sep 2006 15:48

Romstar, Do you have any photos of some of your cut-aways? I'd love to see some. I'm working on a couple right now and will post phots once I'm done.

by **Shrub** » 20 Sep 2006 16:00

Heres a Medeco cylinder cut away, its a bit rough but you get the idea,

by **5thcorps** » 21 Sep 2006 12:05

Thanks for the pics Shrub, Did you make that yourself? That's some good work!

by **Shrub** » 21 Sep 2006 12:07

Well yes i did make it but im ot happy with it, i find anything i make is never good enough but others say things are good, im a bit of a perfectionist really when it comes to making things,

But thanks for your comments,

by **dmux** » 21 Sep 2006 16:30

nice milling, what exactly did you use to do that?

by **Shrub** » 21 Sep 2006 18:01

Milling machine and 2.5mm slot drill,

by **dmux** » 21 Sep 2006 18:10

man, i wish i will still in high school and in metals, i could make tons of them, now they are impossible to find, all i find is mostly cheap locks, but they are not so cheap

by **bumpit** » 21 Sep 2006 22:37

man, i wish i will still in high school and in metals, i could make tons of them, now they are impossible to find, all i find is mostly cheap locks, but they are not so cheap

Visit your old metal teacher. I am sure he would not mind to give you some help after school and would be glad to see you.

by **dmux** » 22 Sep 2006 5:03

that is about 2000 miles away from where im at

by **atrix** » 22 Sep 2006 7:58

To Shrub.

Wow your Medeco cutaway is great :shock:

It is very exact and accurate work , interestingly how many it has borrowed time. Sorry my English :oops:

Can U help me make a cutaway ?

Can U help me make a cutaway ?

Medeco

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