Having read the FAQ's you are still unfulfilled and seek more enlightenment, so post your general lock picking questions here.
Forum rules
Do not post safe related questions in this sub forum! Post them in This Old Safe
The sub forum you are currently in is for asking Beginner Hobby Lock Picking questions only.
by Gelmar » 30 Dec 2007 23:14
The post speaks for itself. I've looked at some local hardware stores and not been able to find anything directly stating it has security pins in it. Is there some kind of labeling that is more vague that I should be looking for on packaging? Or will i have to go to a locksmith, ask for them and pin it myself?
-
Gelmar
-
- Posts: 65
- Joined: 20 Dec 2007 17:46
- Location: Austin, Texas
by Pintumbler » 30 Dec 2007 23:22
You can buy security pins: Mushroom or Spool. From locksmith supply over the Internet and in real life. Recently I bought a lock from a hardware store and was surprised that a 17$CAD lock had a security pin. Look for midrange locks that boast high-security, and pick resistant pins. It's still a game of luck though unless you buy them selectively.
-
Pintumbler
-
- Posts: 11
- Joined: 22 Jul 2006 19:24
- Location: Toronto, ON
by Squelchtone » 31 Dec 2007 1:34
Gelmar wrote:The post speaks for itself. I've looked at some local hardware stores and not been able to find anything directly stating it has security pins in it. Is there some kind of labeling that is more vague that I should be looking for on packaging? Or will i have to go to a locksmith, ask for them and pin it myself?
Go to Home Depot, but American Lock Series 20, Series 50, Series 1105, Series 5200, Series 700.
If buying Master Lock, buy a No.532, 576, or the black ProSeries 6121.
All of these locks have security pins, the American Lock many more than the 1 or 2 pins found in the Master proseries.
At WalMart you can find the Brinks shrouded chrome padlock, it is rectangular and costs about $11 lots of spool pins for your picking enjoyment.
At your local locksmith, ask for ABUS padlock 55/50
have fun
Squelchtone
-

Squelchtone
- Site Admin
-
- Posts: 11307
- Joined: 11 May 2006 0:41
- Location: right behind you.
by FFVison » 10 Jan 2008 1:30
There is a thread on this forum somewhere that actually lists information about masterlocks. It lists which locks have security pins and how many pin stacks there are. A lot of locks have security pins though. The master 140 has security pins, the 141 has them too (these are easy to spot as they have a black plastic casing around the lock). If you are new to security pins, these locks may be easier than trying to tackle the American locks. I haven't had any experience with ABUS, so I couldn't tell you how they rank in terms of difficulty in comparison to the Master 532. BTW, if you are finding some of the beginner security pin locks to be easy, I think that you will find that the Master 532 is a fun, yet very pickable lock. Remember, LIGHT tension and have fun.
-
FFVison
-
- Posts: 161
- Joined: 8 Aug 2007 6:53
- Location: Cleveland, OH, USA
-
by dboeren » 10 Jan 2008 12:35
I had no trouble finding the Brinks Shrouded lock at Wal-Mart, but our local Home Depot doesn't carry any of the American locks.
You can however, get a Schlage deadbolt at Home Depot which contains security pins. Mine has one normal pin and four spool pins.
-
dboeren
- Supporter

-
- Posts: 56
- Joined: 27 Dec 2007 12:18
- Location: Roswell, GA
by Beyond » 10 Jan 2008 12:53
dboeren wrote:You can however, get a Schlage deadbolt at Home Depot which contains security pins. Mine has one normal pin and four spool pins.
4 spools? Wouldn't that cause the key way to tilt some? I'm pretty sure theres an entire section in LSS about how you can't have anymore than 3 security pins, unless they're S pins, in a lock because it would cause the keyway to tilt and make using it very tough.
I thought the Schlage's only had 3 spools?
-
Beyond
-
- Posts: 412
- Joined: 23 Nov 2007 1:00
by FFVison » 10 Jan 2008 13:24
dboeren wrote:I had no trouble finding the Brinks Shrouded lock at Wal-Mart, but our local Home Depot doesn't carry any of the American locks.
You can however, get a Schlage deadbolt at Home Depot which contains security pins. Mine has one normal pin and four spool pins.
Check your local hardware stores. There is only 1 hardware store by me that has American locks, but they have them. I checked a LOT of other hardware stores and they have stuff like Master, a bunch of rebranded padlocks, KwikSet deadbolts, and Schlage deadbolts.
The American locks that I saw at the one hardware store didn't have any special packaging, just a clear plastic resealable bag (looked like a small sandwich bag) with a pricetag on it and the lock inside. It looked about as OEM as you can get  . Sorry, I'm a computer geek. I did see some other type of circular American lock in a box, but I have no idea what that was or what it was used for. All I know was that was more money than I wished to spend. The American padlock, on the other hand, was only $14 compared to the far inferior Masterlocks which sold for even more.
On a side note, I saw my first Medeco lock last week. I was at Best Buy and a buddy I was with was checking out laptops for his parents, so we were in the computer section. One of the cages that housed the boxes of computers had a Medeco padlock on it. I thought wow, Best Buy must really care about their security. This delusion was shattered when I walked down to the next area where they had a similar cage locked by a master number 3, and then a third with some unlabeled wafer lock. Talk about an interesting spectrum of security.
-
FFVison
-
- Posts: 161
- Joined: 8 Aug 2007 6:53
- Location: Cleveland, OH, USA
-
by Beyond » 10 Jan 2008 14:26
FFVison wrote:On a side note, I saw my first Medeco lock last week. I was at Best Buy and a buddy I was with was checking out laptops for his parents, so we were in the computer section. One of the cages that housed the boxes of computers had a Medeco padlock on it. I thought wow, Best Buy must really care about their security. This delusion was shattered when I walked down to the next area where they had a similar cage locked by a master number 3, and then a third with some unlabeled wafer lock. Talk about an interesting spectrum of security.
What was each lock guarding?
-
Beyond
-
- Posts: 412
- Joined: 23 Nov 2007 1:00
by Squelchtone » 10 Jan 2008 14:59
Beyond wrote:FFVison wrote:On a side note, I saw my first Medeco lock last week. I was at Best Buy and a buddy I was with was checking out laptops for his parents, so we were in the computer section. One of the cages that housed the boxes of computers had a Medeco padlock on it. I thought wow, Best Buy must really care about their security. This delusion was shattered when I walked down to the next area where they had a similar cage locked by a master number 3, and then a third with some unlabeled wafer lock. Talk about an interesting spectrum of security.
What was each lock guarding?
The Medeco was guarding a Nintendo Wii
The Master was guarding a PS3
and the wafer lock was guarding the keys to the other 2 padlocks.
=)
-

Squelchtone
- Site Admin
-
- Posts: 11307
- Joined: 11 May 2006 0:41
- Location: right behind you.
by Beyond » 10 Jan 2008 15:01
Rofl.
-
Beyond
-
- Posts: 412
- Joined: 23 Nov 2007 1:00
by Afisch » 10 Jan 2008 15:13
The maximum spool thing makes sence, I can't see it being a problem with less than all spools though.
-
Afisch
-
- Posts: 461
- Joined: 18 Apr 2007 8:12
- Location: Devon, England
by FFVison » 14 Jan 2008 17:18
heh, that's funny. They looked like they were guarding laptops and desktop computers. I didn't pay too close of attention to which was guarding which. It seemed like they were just under the impression that a lock is a lock is a lock. We all know that is just not true. I did noticed, going back there, that there were a several Medeco padlocks that they had. Once again, I guess this just demonstrates to me that, in general, people at best buy have no clue as to what they have in the store and what features they have. Here, all this time I thought it was just computer stuff that they had no clue about, and this just demonstrates that they have no idea in regards to their security as well. Oh well.
-
FFVison
-
- Posts: 161
- Joined: 8 Aug 2007 6:53
- Location: Cleveland, OH, USA
-
by dboeren » 15 Jan 2008 10:29
Beyond wrote:dboeren wrote:You can however, get a Schlage deadbolt at Home Depot which contains security pins. Mine has one normal pin and four spool pins.
4 spools? Wouldn't that cause the key way to tilt some? I'm pretty sure theres an entire section in LSS about how you can't have anymore than 3 security pins, unless they're S pins, in a lock because it would cause the keyway to tilt and make using it very tough. I thought the Schlage's only had 3 spools?
My understanding is that you can't have ALL the pins be spools because then it is possible for the lock to become tilted so that a key cannot be inserted. But, if the lock has five pins (most deadbolts do) then four pins should be OK. The front pin is the normal one, which I gather is the common setup.
I'm definately sure there are four of them though, as I opened the lock and spilled out all the bits to see.
-
dboeren
- Supporter

-
- Posts: 56
- Joined: 27 Dec 2007 12:18
- Location: Roswell, GA
by guest5999 » 15 Jan 2008 13:45
i've bought master locks off the shelf with all spool top pins. they've worked fine. Master #911 if you're interested. Laminated lock covered in black and yellow plastic.
I've also been sold KIK cylinders from the locksmith that were pinned the same way.
Theoretically, the reasons for all security pins makes sense, but after seeing it implemented, it doesn't seem to matter. Unless it becomes an issue as you get into higher quality locks with tighter tolerances than master locks.
-
guest5999
-
- Posts: 62
- Joined: 23 Sep 2007 17:04
Return to Got Questions? - Ask Beginner Hobby Lockpicking Questions Here
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests
|