My plug spinner doesn't do its job

[SalaKrestu]

So here I am bothering you again.
I took a look at the homemade plug spinners in this site and decided to build one. I used a hacksaw blade, a hacksaw handle a mousetrap spring and some polyester body filler. At a first glance it looks like any other pulg spinner, and it also spins pretty quickly.
The problem is, when I try to spin a plug, the pins fall back into place everytime. I tried on a few locks , I tried loading the spring as much as I could, I tried almost anything but it still doesn't do what it is supposed to do. Do you think there is a flaw in my design or am I just using it the wrong way?

http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image ... inner1.jpg

http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image ... inner2.jpg

[barbarian]

It has to spin quickly, but also has to have the required range.

I suspect that your spring is loading up with force quite fast, but then it is only spinning enough to line up the pins, so they drop right in. You need a softer spring that can be wound two turns or so. That way it will spin very quickly past the vertical position and all the way to the other side, and still have a bit of force left.

If you are stuck using this spring, try to pick the lock and return it almost to where the pins drop in. Then use your spinner and it should zoom past vertical and finish on the other side.

[cryptocat]

I don't have a plug spinner, so I'm just handwaving, but ... wouldn't it be better to not start from a point just before the pins lock up again? The plug, pins and the rest of the junk hangin' off the back are physical objects with mass. I'd think you'd want to give the uncoiling spring a chance to really accelerate the plug. I agree with your suggestion that you want to have plenty of energy still stored in the spring, I just think that you also need to give the spring time to accelerate all the parts it's moving up to a sufficient speed.

[Buggs41]

I think the volume of body filler is fighting the spring. The mass of it is fighting the torsion of the spring, thus slowing it down. Try without the filler, or use something with less mass.

[SalaKrestu]

I think the volume of body filler is fighting the spring. The mass of it is fighting the torsion of the spring, thus slowing it down. Try without the filler, or use something with less mass.

Thanks Buggs41, that was really helpful!

[yono]

When i made my plug spinners, the first available spring that i installed was the one with a clockwise turn, the same with what i saw on the picture you just showed, and cocking the spinner by turning counter clockwise the spring spreads out instead of compressing. and it wasn't effective either.so i change the spring with a counterclockwise type and everything works well and so effective. why not experiment and change the spring.. try the one with a counterclockwise turn spring spread it a little to have a little space to compress. good luck

[SalaKrestu]

why not experiment and change the spring.. try the one with a counterclockwise turn spring spread it a little to have a little space to compress. good luck

Thanks, I will keep that in mind for my next plug spinner!

[thedominator7a]

I think it would be best to give the plug spinner some force by not placing the plug close to the unlock position..

[yono]

i've been able to design the simplest plug spinner that i can. and please see my submitted thread and see the video demo, for i really wish to help you in this regard. "the ama-Z-ing plug spinner". regards.

[SalaKrestu]

i've been able to design the simplest plug spinner that i can.

Thanks yono, that is a really nice design! One day I will try to reproduce it

[sugurfoot]

Forgive me for intruding on this but I didn't see where the key way was set at 11 or 2 o clock so it dosen't need to travel so far? Or did I just miss that?