Opening a Taylor Metal Filing Cabinet

[bcady]

I have a standard two drawer metal filing cabinate, with a push button lock. It became locked during amove, and now I cannot find the key. Is there a trick for opening these? Please help!

- Ben

[Freelancer]

I know the type of lock you are talking about but I never personaly tried to pick one. I'm assuming that it's just like a normal waffer lock with the exeption that when you turn the cylinder the housing will pop out. Just be carefull not to snap your picks when that happens and you should be fine. But like I sayed, I never tried one.

[Varjeal]

It actually could be either pin or wafer. Regardless, pick the lock clockwise and it should pop out towards you. It will likely have four or five pins, but if wafer then most likely 5.

[thertel]

Those things are a nightmare...Thats actually the first time I picked a lock was when I stupidly locked a filining cabinet that no one had the key for. I luckily knew someone who picked for fun and borrowed his kit (a small southord 8 piece) and after like 3 days I somehow managed to get the thing open and in my suprise snapped off the shallow hook pick in the lock and then had to extricate the curve from the lock with paperclips.

Moral of the story: Be careful with your picks.

Thomas

[Freelancer]

thertel... you got lot of explaining to do!!!

[Chucklz]

Ive had to pick two of these this summe. One wafer lock, no name stamped on the lock, and one Chicago pin tumbler. Both fell to raking quite easily (the tools I had at the time were not conducive to single pin/wafer picking). My tips with these locks are as follows.

1.) Use your strongest (thickest?) tension tool, regardless of keyway crowding.
2.) A rake or half diamond/half ball are probably among the best tools to do the job, at least IMO
3.) Once you pick the lock turn it a few degrees so you dont unset any pins removing your pick and, of course remove your pick. Choke up on the tension tool, and apply torque near the keyway. Put your free thumb fairly close to the cylinder as you "pop" the lock. The idea here is to let the lock pop into your thumb, and not to break your tension wrench. Many of the springs on these locks are supprizingly strong, so be prepared.