any tubular lock vets out there, heres 1 4 u

[mikedogy]

I fool around with old snack and vending machiens , fix them up and sell them just as a hobby type thing. i have come upon a very strange tubular lock that i need to get open. the best way for me to describe it is to compair it to a standerd tubular lock. first of all it has 7 pins but they are in a scatterd pisitions, not spaced they same distance apart from each other. next is the center piece , it is shaped like a punch,small at the end and gets larger as it goes deeper into the lock, like a funnel but not that pointed, and it has no slot for a turning device ,like the standerd tubular has . and last of all inside the lock on the part that doesnt turn " the outer primiter" there is a small metal ball, about the size of a B.B. I hope to take a picture of it soon and post it . If any one can define this lock and how to open it i would be the happiest guy on this form , i cant fix it up if i cant open it. thanks a million.

[joecool2727]

Are you fixing it for someone or is it yours? If your fixing it for someone then im sure that they would have the key or you could ask them what kind of lock it is. If its yours then where did you get it and why dont you have your own key for it?

[Romstar]

Is everyone here paranoid?

If you read his message, he says he fixes these things up and sells them. That would generally mean that he most likely owns this thing.

Why wouldn't he have a key? Most likely for the same reason I had many pieces of equipment, and furniture without keys. It was for sale in a garage, or estate sale, or flea market. Low price because "Well son, I lost the key twenty years ago......" You fill in the rest.

Even if he doesn't own it, he's given you no reason to assume he's going to commit a criminal act. While most smart people wouldn't try to give you that impression, it still makes his message a simple request for assistance.

Answer his question if you can, and let him deal with any consequences. If there are any other than a nicely restored piece of equipment.

[CobraOne]

mikedogy,

All of the post that you have made here at Lock Picking 101 have been about snack and vending locks. If in fact you are fooling around with old snack and vending machiens and fix them up and sell them just as a hobby type thing. Than your next step is to buy a Tubular Lock Drill bit. You have posted befor that you have a 7-pin Tubular Pick which I know they coast over $60.00 easy. Buy the Tubular Lock Drill bit which is about $ 50.00 here in the US and here is a site that has the bit.......
http://www.lockpicks.com/subcatmfgprod.asp?0=206&1=221&2=-1&6=1

With this tool you should have no problems opening these OLD snack and vending locks

[CobraOne]

Romstar,

Is everyone here paranoid?

I can only speak for myself, and with saying that ....

I am not paranoid to the point where I will not help anyone that is asking for the help with anything. There are a few reason why people help and do not help users here on this board. The main thing to understand is that this is a free site and anyone can join this board. A person could come here to learn for all the wrong reasons. Think about this : Someone makes a post saying they own a CarWash and needs help to open locks at a Carwash ( The Cash Box ) and someone tells the person how to do it step by step. Now the person that started the post was asking for help and they where doing nothing wrong. Now 3 weeks go by and a 18 year old young man joins this board and read the old post on how to open Carwask locks step by step. I think you know what happens next.... There is a level of resistance when it comes to posting on these topic's but no one is paranoid.

[Chucklz]

I have an idea, but I will wait for photo. I would second the need of a tubualr drill if you were often fixing up old vending machines. Sometimes locks have been glued, corroded, etc. and just can't be picked without a major hassle.

[Romstar]

Now 3 weeks go by and a 18 year old young man joins this board and read the old post on how to open Carwask locks step by step. I think you know what happens next....

Well, I should hope that nothing happens, other than he learns something new. Ask anyone, in any profession, and they will immediately point out that there is a huge gulf between knowing how something is done, and being able to do it.

Further, this has the rotten side effect of making us our brother's keepers. We can't make decisions like that, and what's worse we should be doing the courtesy of taking everyone here at their word. You'd be surprised how often it makes a difference. If it doesn't matter to that person, chances are nothing you say or do will turn him from his predestined meeting with the law.

Most theives are theives because they are either messed up, or because it's all they can do. Its the rare theif that steals for the sheer thrill of it.

In addition, even theives know that often the best way to steal is with a direct physical attack. They aren't going to pick the lock, they kick in the door, break windows, use bolt cutters, etc.. As the growing number of "home invasions" indicate, a house isn't all that secure.

Anyway, as you well know. Putting these tools in the hands of just any punk doesn't make him a locksmith, or even a lock picker for that matter. It takes some measure of skill, talent, practice and determination. As I said, knowing how to do it doesn't always make you able to do it.

For my part, I do try and carefully read requests for help/information. However, I try to read them in favor of the requestor. I have to assume that the people who come here are here to learn, and that they are sincere. Otherwise, the entire point is lost. There will always be crooks, theives, con-artists, and twits. We can't be rid of them, some may be here, learning from everything we write.

The question is this. Will we allow the few miscreants to take away whatever knowledge we can share all for the false assumption of a little more security?


Romstar

[CaptHook]

Romstar, I agree with you to a point. I think that may be a little in the way of wishful thinking though. Not just on this board, but on many others,(concerning alot of different information that could be used in different ways legal or otherwise), there are always going to be lurkers etc. Does it mean they are professional thieves, no. But theres no need to supply sensitive information to someone who may use it in an inlawful manor. Most of the information on the regular boards here is of the common knowledge type info for anyone who chooses to research the subject. I think when you get into vending machines, payphones, safe combinations etc.... this is not the info that should be passed around for everybody, because its NOT for everybody. I can tell you ways to complete several illegal activities, I grew up with 3 uncles in law enforcement. Should I make that knowledge public? NO!
Chuck

[CobraOne]

Ok ok ok We have now gone way off topic these post started with needing help with old snack and vending locks and has moved to Emotional Potential and self beliefs and Values. This topic needs to be started in Gen. Chatter and we can go round and round about what should or should not happen.

Back to the Main Topic of this post.

mikedogy, I do hope that the infomation that was given does help you. If you need more help please come back a post. We all will be here to help you the best we can

[CobraOne]

soory for the bad grammer but it has been a long day and I do hope that you unstand what I am trying to say

[mikedogy]

HOLLY COW ! what did i get my self into here , first off i must say thanks to romstar for haveing a little faith in a guy . OK heres the deal , the truth and nothing but the truth , i get the machines at auction,junck yard , any dang place i see one thats for sale, and if it doesnt have a for sale sing i stop and offer to buy it any ways , i leave my number and some times they call back and some times they dont , BUT LET IT BE UNDERSTOOD I DONT STEAL THEM NOR THERE CONTENCE !!! i do understand some people may find this hard to believe but the heck with them . lets get back to the locks , yes i do own a tubular lock pick . but it only works half the time.And i must admit picking these locks has become a very fun thang for me " kinda like a rubix cube " but just locks i own ! once i get these things open i replace the lock any ways , some may say just grind the locks off or drill them out , i say theres no fun in that .if you remember i did say this was a hobby not a job . If any one would like to reply with some input that would be great , if not i understand and i hope i didnt waste any bodies time , that was not my intent .

I must say i feel this is still a great site and i hope theres no hard fillings
" ALLS COOL DUDES"
THANK YOU

[CaptHook]

Mikedogy, I in no way meant you, I was refering to lurkers etc.
Check out this pic and see if its similar?

If so, its probably one of LAIs.
The have several pull resistant models, as for picking..... not a freakin clue, never handled one.
Chuck

[CobraOne]

mikedogy,

I don't know if you are talking to me or not but just so I am clear about what I said.....

Getting a Tubular Lock Drill bit would be the next step for you to do. If you say that you are doing this for a hobby, that's Great!. But take it from someone who has worked on these OLD snack and vending locks. Picking them is fun because they are the most easest lock to pick. After I reviewed all the post you have made, I see that you said that you have a 7-pin Tubular Lock Pick. So that's why I said to buy the dill bit. But If you want to spend more money on picking tools that's cool too. $ 50.00 for a dill bit is better than buying 3 more picks that will coast you about $200.00 more. Not really a good deal for old snack and vending locks. But that is up to you.

mikedogy,
As to the going off Topic with what is right and what is wrong had NOTHING to do with You. It was a opinion of what could happen and the Subject was dropped because it was off Topic.

[mikedogy]

well let me say one thing ,all of you seem to be a great bunch of guys. its not often people can have a debate and still keep there cool and at the same time make sence!!! i now understand that my questions have been a little off base ,sorry for that. last thing to ask ,could this be what is known as a reversible tubular lock .

once again i must say thank you very much , keep up the good info !

[Chucklz]

If what you got is similar to the picture, than it would be an inverted tubular. Drilling it may be a pain.