by raimundo » 25 Jun 2009 8:21
the eight pin pick works on 7 pin offset left and 7pin offset right.
Divide a circle into 8 equal parts. the common 7pin ace has pins in 7 of the 8 places, and the stem pickup in the 8th place.
The offset 7s have thier stem pick up at one of the bounderies between two of the 8 sections. this is exactly where the 8 pin has the stem pickup.
that said, yes you could modify it to do regular 7 pin locks simply by carefully using a madrel that fits in the tubular key and gently tapping perhaps with a wooden punch on the outside of the key to reduce the stem pickup. You will not be able to completely remove it, but you will be able to reduce it to no consequence. Thats all you need,
But without the stem pickup being what it was, you will have to learn the
technique of picking the locks very gently and useing the pins as the pickups to turn the stem. This works, but because the manufacturers put a handle on the tool that is suitable for driving screws, the typical user is putting too much force on the pick.
Wake up and smell the Kafka!!!