Question on Plug Followers

[jeffmoss26]

I may or may not have used a sharpie marker as an emergency follower once...

[YouLuckyFox]

I've had to do that, but as I said, it wasn't favorable for master pins. A rolled up dollar bill sounds like a good idea, though! Any opinions on the following (with original product description)?

<

Adjustable Follower
No. SUT-22
HPC's Adjustable Follower does it all. The spring action bar allows the SUT-22 to fit all standard locks .495"/12.6mm to .600"/15.2mm in diameter.
>

[YouLuckyFox]

I am also thinking of the HPC top pin loader, but the quote I got on it was like $100 USD Ouch! Sure looks cool, though. You load all the tops in one go, then turn sideways and load the plug in with the bottom pins. Definitely a dream purchase. I'll probably start with a master follower and go from there, not wanting to pay more than $30 for a plug follower.

[YouLuckyFox]

I've been wanting to make a series of plug followers for myself.

I've measured a lot of the plugs I came across, but could you post the diameters of the plug followers you use too?

AG,
You've been a great help to me and I feel it's only right to do my best to help you. As is apparent, I do not have any plug follower yet, but if it would help, I can use my calipers on my collection of plugs if you'd like. Let me know!

[YouLuckyFox]

What I have than aren't already listed are as follows (measurements are of plug Outer Diameter taken with a .001 set of Vernier Calipers):
0,506 inches = 12,852 mm (Kwikset)
0,607 inches = 15,418 mm (ABUS IC)
0,556 inches = 14,122 mm (Kwikset)

[ARF-GEF]

Thanks YLF, that is very nice of you, but I I think I got a good picture about what diameters am I going to deal with most of the time

[YouLuckyFox]

You bet!

[cledry]

I've had to do that, but as I said, it wasn't favorable for master pins. A rolled up dollar bill sounds like a good idea, though! Any opinions on the following (with original product description)?

<

Adjustable Follower
No. SUT-22
HPC's Adjustable Follower does it all. The spring action bar allows the SUT-22 to fit all standard locks .495"/12.6mm to .600"/15.2mm in diameter.
>

Yes, it is horrible. I have one somewhere.

[cledry]

I am also thinking of the HPC top pin loader, but the quote I got on it was like $100 USD Ouch! Sure looks cool, though. You load all the tops in one go, then turn sideways and load the plug in with the bottom pins. Definitely a dream purchase. I'll probably start with a master follower and go from there, not wanting to pay more than $30 for a plug follower.

It only takes a few seconds to load a bible anyway. How does this deal with different spacings?

[YouLuckyFox]

Cledry,
Thank you again for your replies, it helps save me from buying a worthless product: I am somewhat of a minimalist and do not like more than is needed. I found a device that figures out the hole spacing problem (found it while purchasing picks today)--is it my understanding that this product is over-elaborate and that the Keedex would work out for my top loading needs? I actually only recently found out how to use a plug follower to load top pins, (before then I worked off the retainer (correct name?) and took the pin and springs off the top, and then loaded from the top and replaced the retainer . Haven't loaded with this master or plug follower method and am just a little inexperienced in this area of the art; thanks again, I appreciate your patience with me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=S3yrPkIfqM8

[cledry]

Retainer as used on its own is usually applied to the cap or ring that is found at the back of the cylinder that retains the plug. The part you are removing is sometimes called a spring cap, slide or occasionally spring retainer.

The Keedex may make loading top pins a little more difficult for a beginner due to the weight and the extra milled away part that is used to drop master pins. It would be perhaps best to use a standard hollow tubular follower. My own are just brass tubing from a hobby shop.

Cledry,
Thank you again for your replies, it helps save me from buying a worthless product: I am somewhat of a minimalist and do not like more than is needed. I found a device that figures out the hole spacing problem (found it while purchasing picks today)--is it my understanding that this product is over-elaborate and that the Keedex would work out for my top loading needs? I actually only recently found out how to use a plug follower to load top pins, (before then I worked off the retainer (correct name?) and took the pin and springs off the top, and then loaded from the top and replaced the retainer . Haven't loaded with this master or plug follower method and am just a little inexperienced in this area of the art; thanks again, I appreciate your patience with me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=S3yrPkIfqM8

[YouLuckyFox]

Thanks for helping me with my terminology, it's important for me to know correct terms so I can communicate clearly on the forum. I think I will go the cheapest route first and see if I can manage with that. I am finding that my main need is with consideration to master pins, with which your Keedex recommendation was most helpful. For other needs, I think I will go with some tubing as you have. Thanks again for the help. I will post my experiences in this topic once I have found something that works best.

[YouLuckyFox]

The following is for any new users who look at this thread in the future.
Here is a wonderful video on the purpose and use of a master follower:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuX3eo3PEpY

[ARF-GEF]

That's a really good vid YLF, you are really good at finding infos!
I too have never seen a master plug follower in work, so thanks for posting it!

[cledry]

The following is for any new users who look at this thread in the future.
Here is a wonderful video on the purpose and use of a master follower:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuX3eo3PEpY

A couple of errors were made in the video.

Firstly when he used the regular follower he didn't turn the plug before pushing it out with the follower. In this case he was OK doing this, but many 6 pin cylinders are keyed to 5 pin, the 6th chamber being empty. If this had been the case he would have dropped the 5th top pin into the empty 6th position in the lock, possibly locking it in place and at a minimum destroying a spring. So always turn the plug before inserting the follower.

Secondly he used the end of the follower with the cut out for mortise cylinder cams on a knob cylinder. While there is nothing really wrong with this, I feel it best to use the flat end. It serves the purpose of reminding you which is the front of the cylinder if you get into this practice.

Third, he states that it will remove all the master pins. It won't. Most of the time it will, but locks that use a long master pin, .120 or above will usually stay in the top chamber. Also occasionally it will drop top pins; many top pins are too short.

Lastly when he put the cylinder down he left the keys in it. In the trade we never do this as it is too easy to have the plug come out and ruin your work. We generally pull the key out half way, or all together.

I have a set of the Pro-Lock master followers and don't use them because IMHO the Keedex is superior. One thing with the Keedex there is a sharp edge that I smooth out with a bit of sandpaper before use.