Spools

[Project]

how long and hard did it take for you guys to be proficient at picking spools? curious cause im having a bit of trouble with this master lock with 5 spools

[CaptHook]

I would suggest trying something easier to start with(the 140). 5 spools would take some time to tinker with. Its more in realizing what to feel for. I can give you some tips that work for me. if you are confident there are spools in certain positions, draw yourself a picture. It sounds silly, but if I am REALLY having trouble with a lock, I diagram it. I then work on my tension (light to heavy)and try to pick the stacks with spools first noting how deep the false set is compared to the shearline set. Once you have a pretty good idea (drawing) of the pins, start your actual picking again(most resistant pin first etc.). If you have noted that pin 2 has a deep "real" set, but it just set from brushing against it, lighten up on your wrench and try to pick the pin higher. 5 spools relies on some creative tension work. But to answer your first question, there is no set learning curve, just practice, practice, and yeah.... more practice.
Chuck

[Project]

this lock ? http://www.business-supply.com/dept/2014729/master-lock-solid-brass-padlock.html

[CitySpider]

I still wouldn't call myself proficient at picking spools, and I've been working on them for at least four or six months.

[Mad Mick]

this lock ? http://www.business-supply.com/dept/201 ... dlock.html

That lock would be fine for starting out with.

[yungning]

do you mean this lock?
http://www.masterlocks.com/Models.asp?T ... 20Padlocks

this is rekeyable and with 5 spool pins.

it took me 2 days to get it open at first, but now i can always pick it within 2 minutres. (after pick it again and again for days)

and mater no. 140 is a good practice spool lock, cheaper and easier..only 2 or 3 mushroom pins.

[yungning]

above link is a wrong lock, this is the one i have

http://www.masterlock.com/cgi-bin/produ ... late=style

[Project]

hahahaha thats the same one i bought, but when ipulled out the cylinder, i found 5 SPOOLS in it?

[Project]

okay ill practice with this lock, but the thing is that i can remove the pins/spring/spool but i cant for somereaseon put them back together
do i need an icore tool or something?. what i do is put the spring in, put a spool in, push them down while pushing the cylinder in, carefully rotate it so i can put the pin in, then im good?

[yungning]

i always have problem to put those sping, drive key pins back. especially the spring and drive pin....

it took me forever to do it (i don't have and i-core tool)

by the way, i found out if you take the core out and practice to pick it will be easier (that lock is too heavy)

[Project]

okay i got a masterlock 140, brass. Im not sure if it has spools but it was pretty easy to open. I first picked all the pins, and the plug/cylinder rotated a couple of degrees and them stopped. So I assumed that THIS was because of the spools that i supposed to have, so i loosen tension a bit, went around in it pushin them up, and it happened to open, was this correct?

[Project]

i also got a masterlock 930, its pretty darn hard and i cant open it yet, heard it has 5 spools. how hard is this on the difficulty level

[CaptHook]

Yes the small turn (exagerated on the master 140) is the spool pin trying to set in the hollow of the spool. With 5 pins you need to work on touch and figuring the pattern to the pin sets.

push them down while pushing the cylinder in, carefully rotate it so i can put the pin in, then im good?

Sound like you arent using a follower. Find a dowel rod or even a marker or inkpen that is the same size as your plug. Have your plug pinned and ready to insert and set it aside,as you load the pin chambers you are using the follower to keep the top pins in place. When all chambers are loaded, push the follower out with the loaded plug(turned about 10 degrees as to not allow the top pins to enter the plug), do NOT let them seperated from each other. When fully inserted turn the plug to the locking position.
Chuck

[Project]

so let me get this straigh if a lock has 1 spool and it was the last binding pin, and i pick it, it would turn, thus meaning i have to release tension to push it up to open.

now say i had 5 spools out of 5. does that mean if i pick one of the spools, the lock would have an exaggerated turn? or does that exageraated turn happen to happen on the last binding pin?

[CitySpider]

Not if you pick one of the spool pins, if you false set one of the spool pins.

Think about the mechanics involved. If you false set a spool pin, it can turn an extra degree or two.