Repinning, security pins

[Bahrg]

I just received my Schlage practice kit from Varjeal *dance*. Ive had a bit of fun picking it so far, and started adding security pins. Got a couple questions tho

1. The cylinder came with keys which makes repinning easy. However if I change the pattern and make it different than the key, and say I make it to tuff for me is there any other way to repin it other than picking it first?

2. Spool pins are for drivers only right? and serrated are the normal pins?

3. What is the actual security of serrated pins? I repinned with a couple of these and really cant feel much difference.

Thanx in advance for any info

[Gordon Airporte]

1. The cylinder came with keys which makes repinning easy. However if I change the pattern and make it different than the key, and say I make it to tuff for me is there any other way to repin it other than picking it first?

Yes, you can shim the cylinder open by sliding a thin piece of metal from the back through the shear line, manipulating the pins with a pick as you go. This will be slightly more difficult with serrated pins in, but you know you've made it past a pin when the shim pushes on to the next stack.

2. Spool pins are for drivers only right? and serrated are the normal pins?

Yep, although serrated can be either, like some Americal locks have both.

3. What is the actual security of serrated pins? I repinned with a couple of these and really cant feel much difference.

Um, well not much I guess

[Bahrg]

Yes, you can shim the cylinder open by sliding a thin piece of metal from the back through the shear line, manipulating the pins with a pick as you go. This will be slightly more difficult with serrated pins in, but you know you've made it past a pin when the shim pushes on to the next stack.

Awesome Never would have thought of shimming this type of lock, course I guess only way to do this is from the back of the lock

Thank you very much for the info

[Shrub]

Its very easy if you use a blank key

[Varjeal]

Since everything else has been answered correctly, I'll only answer your second set of questions. (Hope your enjoying the package, btw.)


Spool pins are normally for drivers only, and the ones in your package are in that format. (I hear someone may be coming out with some spool bottom pins though...)

You have two types of serrated pins in your package, including both driver pins and bottom pins. The difference is that the driver pins have both flat tops and bottoms, while the bottom pins have a slight point to them. It's not so bad if you end up using a bottom pin as a driver, but you definitely don't want to have a driver pin as a bottom. The driver pin will hang up on the pick/key.

Hope that helps.

[Gordon Airporte]

Yep, although serrated can be either, like some Americal locks have both.

Er - that's "American" locks, and it's a brand as well as a nationality in this case.

[Bahrg]

(Hope your enjoying the package, btw.)

U bet I am Nice variety of pins and drivers in there. I was actually able to match my Schlage doorway key on my house. Which is real good cuz it keeps me from being tempted to try picking it again, and looking like an idiot sitting in front of my door in the cold

Its very easy if you use a blank key

Hmm ok do you mean to bump it open? or do u mean by pinning it to a flat key with no changes? You got me confused

P.S. I would recommend one of Varjeal's kits to anyone, sent it out right quick, came with 2 plug followers, lots of different pins and drivers, extra springs, and a nice shiny new cylinder

[Bahrg]

Its very easy if you use a blank key

Hmm ok do you mean to bump it open? or do u mean by pinning it to a flat key with no changes? You got me confused

Or maybe impressioning......

[jimb]

Its very easy if you use a blank key

Hmm ok do you mean to bump it open? or do u mean by pinning it to a flat key with no changes? You got me confused

He means it's easy to shim the lock with a blank key. Just push the shim in the back of the lock until you hit the pin and move the blank key in and out gently pushing the shim in until the pin hits the sheer line. Continue until all pins are shimmed.

[Bahrg]

Its very easy if you use a blank key

Hmm ok do you mean to bump it open? or do u mean by pinning it to a flat key with no changes? You got me confused

He means it's easy to shim the lock with a blank key. Just push the shim in the back of the lock until you hit the pin and move the blank key in and out gently pushing the shim in until the pin hits the sheer line. Continue until all pins are shimmed.

Ah I see now. Unfortunately... or fortunately depending on how you look at it, this lock has such tight tolerances that I can barely get a piece of aluminum can in there. Oh well it just forces me to pick the lock if I make it too tuff

[dsdayl]

Cut open the RFID tags on a cd or dvd or anything else.

There is usually 2 very thin pieces of metal in there that work perfect for shims. Much thinner than a pop can.

[Gordon Airporte]

I've been meaning to try using old video tape to shim also. The strips from tags are so small - they're almost the minimum usable dimensions.

[Shrub]

Never push a key blank into a shimmed lock,
You insert the blank and then insert the shim (pop cans arent very good use the tag method or simular) and then pull out the key very slowly whilst pushing the shim in from the back, the angle cut on the key will drop the overlifted pins down slowly and contollably to the shearline, the shim slides through to the next pin which you drop carefully like the first one until the shim slides through the shear line again and then on to the other pins.
Pushing a blank in at all forces the pins into the shim and problems can arise.

Security pins are to hinder picking, someone not being careful 'sets' a security pin falsely and the plug gives feedback that youve picked that pin, its only when you go to rest another pn you relise it wont turn any more, you can tell quite well for security pins that are set bu pressing the pin you suspect, if its got a falsely set security pin then the plug will rock back and forth whilst tensioning the lock.

[Bahrg]

(pop cans arent very good use the tag method or simular) .

Now I definetly learned something.. I didnt think there would be much of anything thinner and still strong enough to use as a shim. *must search on shims*

As I dont have a key blank... altho im sure I could have someone around here sell me one, I cant use this method. I am thinking tho, I may just make a pick of sorts for this purpose with the leading edge angled.

Thanx again for info

[illusion]

Does nobody read the guides I make?!?!

All this stuff was explained fully...