First Picks and Lock: SouthOrd and Brinks 50mm

[nip1024]

After a week or more trying to pick a Brinks 50mm padlock with paperclips and saftey pins, I broke down and bought a real pick set: SouthOrd PXS-17 with nifty brass handle. It took me about 10 min to rake the Brinks open with an 'M'-rake (or am I holding it upside down?) and I've been able to pop it open 5 times in 10 min now. I've tried to pick it for over an hour with a hook, but no luck. I know it has a security pin or two (mushrooms, I think), but should it really be this difficult? I figured I was unable to open it with the saftey pin because I was using a freakin saftey pin. But, felt certain I would be able to open it at least once with all of the futile practice I've had, once I moved up to real picks. The last pin is deep followed by a shallow one (I think both security pins), while the front two are nothing special. Also, in hope of soothing my now dented ego, is this a fairly difficult lock? Thanks


nip

[Krypos]

well, as for difficulty, i dont know, try doing a search for brinks AND 50mm ro something of the like.

as for single pin picking it, try going slow- feel the pins more thoroughly, start and the front and work your way back, after pushing one pin, then use that reference to go to the next pin and feel from there, repeat until you reach the back and then do it forwards. i usually use a gentle (GENTLE) rocking motion with a weird lever arm kinda movement, up and down while slowly going forwards and then back. gotta find your own style though.

or start at the back and go forwards from there.

also, since it is a padlock, i would assume it is not a removable core (although it might be) but if you were brave enough to break down and buy a pickset, then try going to the local hardware store and buying a couple different (read: not the same brand) deadbolts.

this will do a couple things for you:

1) you will be able to disassemble the lock and the cylinder in particular. this gives a more thorough understanding of whats going on.

2) you can be sure of whats inside the lock by opening it.

3) you can adhere to digital blues beginner exercise, this can be found in the NEW USERS START HERE page. (just find that, or click on DB's sig i think, and you're there, or better yet, learn your search fu and use the search)

i (almost) guarantee that you will be able to single pin pick after reading that guide.

dont buy expensive locks. they arent worth the trouble a lot of the time in the beginning. go with something basic, such as a kwikset, or something common and fairly cheap.

as for raking, i can rake most of my locks with just about any of my picks (including picks like my ball, my half ball and my hook...lol)

good luck!

[bpc293]

i don't no if brinks 50 mm is allot different from the other 50 mm cheapo locks out there. i have about 5 different 50 mm, mostly no names. three of them pop easy two of them are funny. once you get the pins set you need allot of tension like a screw driver to get it to open. i no theres a post around about it. because after i read it i was like why didn't some one tell me.