Slightly more advanced noob locks :)

[Matthais_31]

Hi

After 2 days of progressivly working my way through 1 pin, then 2 etc., ive finally picked my first 5 pin tumbler Question is, where do I go now? I dont want to go onto anything overly complicated, so could anyone recommend something that wouldnt be out of my league. The lock i was picking before was a £5 homebase 5 pin tumbler cylinder manufactured by Securit.

My front door has a 5 pin Union tumber on it (I think its called a European lock...the pins are upside-down...!), is this likely to be too hard to move onto?! Im fairly sure it doesnt have any spool or mushroom pins in it, but ive failed to pick it so far. Stick at it or get an easier lock? I can provide pics if needed....

Thanks for the help

Matt

[Varjeal]

Sounds like you've made great progress...your next step may be to take that same lock, and start switching pins around, trying to make it into more difficult configurations.

After that, get your hands on some varieties of security pins and drivers, and start adding those.

Just an idea.

[Cman22]

I don't know if these locks are sold in Europe but I would move on to a kwikset cylinder and then a schlage. A kwikset is a great lock for beginners. They have no security pins and they are fun to pick because you can almost always pick them. After you master picking the kwikset you can try the schlage. Schlages are very challenging at first but once you get the hang of them they're easy. The challenge with schlages is the keyway style and they have spools . By the way, congratulations on picking your first lock!

Happy Picking,
Cman

[Matthais_31]

Thanks for the info guys. The only problem I saw with changing the pins around is that the keys wouldnt work, and then if i couldnt pick it for whatever reason I would be screwed!!!

Ill have a look online/see if i can find a local lock smith to give me some locks. Im going to keep having a go at the front door, if i cant get anywhere with it, ill report back for help (as i really want to be able to pick it incase i ever get locked out etc.)

Thanks again

Matt

[Matthais_31]

Apologies but I couldnt figure out how to edit! Can you recommend any specific schlage or kwikset models? Again, being a noob I really dont know what im looking for!

Cheers

Matt

[Varjeal]

Tsk tsk tsk..."if i couldn't pick it..."

Not a good lock picking attitude...hehehe..that's part of the challenge in picking a lock. You're going to have the same problems picking your front door with the keys locked inside as you would a lock with no keys...besides, imagine the feeling you'll have picking a lock to which no key is in your possession!

That's part of the thrill in solving the puzzle. Besides, worse comes to worse you can always shim it open.

[MrB]

I don't think the Kwiksets and Schlages are the kind of locks typically found in the UK. You might want to ask over in the Euro forum about the kind of locks regularly found in Britain and their level of difficulty. I think you can get things like the Yale cylinders that go in night latches and the Euro cylinders that go in UPVC doors, but it sounds like these are way overpriced when bought in places like Homebase or B&Q. Someone said Euro cylinders are about £2 at source but sell for £20+ retail. I don't imagine you would want to pay the £20 for practice locks.

[Hak]

How many E (lol i dont how to make the pound symbol, so i using the letter E) is one US dollar? or vica versa or...something

[sj]

I wouldn't recommend trying your front door, mainly because if you break a pick in there or cause some other damage to the lock then you will have a problem. Euro cylinders are cheap (£4 upwards), almost any manufacturer will sell them, maybe try on Screwfix for some, at least then you can pick them in comfort rather then kneeling at your door (also handy for carrying around). I don't know about the Union cylinder, but Euro locks are not inherently easier or harder, but they are smaller than many North American locks and often have paracentric keyways. Whether they have spools and/or serrated pins depends on the lock. Just because it is cheap doesn't mean it can't have security pins. Some very cheap locks make up for their poor machining by adding a few spools, and making them difficult to open with a key, let alone a pick.

Varjeal does sell a Schlage keyway lock (US $34.95 + $8.00 postage) which I recently bought. This has a reasonably open keyway compared to most European locks (not paracentric), but is not too easy and also comes with a nice selection of serrated pins. The other big advantage of this lock is you can re-pin it just by unscrewing it, rather than having to fiddle with a circlip.

[sj]

How many E (lol i dont how to make the pound symbol, so i using the letter E) is one US dollar? or vica versa or...something

At the moment £1 (GBP) is worth $1.86 (USD) according to http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic

[Hak]

k thanx

[sj]

I think you can get things like the Yale cylinders that go in night latches and the Euro cylinders that go in UPVC doors, but it sounds like these are way overpriced when bought in places like Homebase or B&Q. Someone said Euro cylinders are about £2 at source but sell for £20+ retail. I don't imagine you would want to pay the £20 for practice locks.

I got a Yale lock, which is fun to pick, but even their cheapest 5 pin one has 2 spools, is reasonably well machined and has a fairly tight paracentric keyway. B&Q and Homebase are very overpriced, Screwfix are a lot cheaper (not as cheap as trade prices, but pretty good). They will sell you a cheap 5 pin Euro cylinder for £4, 6 pin anti-drill for £7. B&Q will sell you a Yale Euro cylinder for £25.18 (maybe a bit better security, but I doubt that much).

[MrB]

Where do you find Screwfix: are they high street or mail order?

[sj]

Where do you find Screwfix: are they high street or mail order?

I have used them mail-order but they also sell online http://www.screwfix.com/

[sj]

Where do you find Screwfix: are they high street or mail order?

I just read that they are owned by the same company as B&Q but they are a lot cheaper than them, and only sell online/mail-order.