Spools vs. Mushrooms

[logosys]

What is the difference between the two? I know they are shaped differently, but other than that? They don't seem to act any differently... Also, why do you never see a lock with all 5 pins as spool/mushrooms?

[Romstar]

What is the difference between the two? I know they are shaped differently, but other than that? They don't seem to act any differently... Also, why do you never see a lock with all 5 pins as spool/mushrooms?

A spool pin is SUPPOSED to immediately pop over and jam at the shear line. You almost immediately know that is what you hit. They are best against raking, because you aren't really feeling the pins. They are also quite effective against some pick guns. When the gun throws the drivers up, the mild tension you are exerting causes the plug to turn BEFORE the bottom of the spool goes past the shear line.

A mushroom pin on the other hand is supposed to gently slide over with less indication. Giving you the idea that you have reached the shear line between the pins, when in fact the bottom of the mushroom is still below the line.

Normally you won't find all the cores filled with security pins, because at least one of them has to assist with aligning the pin stacks. It has been done of course, but eventually the pins, the plug and the cylinder get worn because of the misalignment.

Happy picking,
Romstar

[PickPick]

While I'm not sure I think when a lock has all spools it can get difficult to insert the key as the core can be turned to all sorts of strange angles. And if there's just the thin parts of the spool pins holding the lock shut I could imagine just shearing them of with sufficient force.

[reg]

In his last talk Picksman told us mushrooms are better than spools, cause spools only touch the wall of the hull with one point when caught whereas a mushrooms side is completely pressed against the hull.

I wish I had pictures, but I have none, I hope this description makes sense.

Cheers,

reg

[Luke]

Yes you can find a lock with all spools/mushrooms, i would believe most of the time these would be customs dont by a locksmith. I HAD a 7 pin Lane lock with 7 spool pins, and i lent it to a locksmith who hand picked it in 10 mins... 20 years experience. He still has not given it back but also when a lock has spools in all positions ESPECIALLY the first chamber, it can make it hard to insert the key. Hence yales generally inserting spools/mushrooms in the second and forth positon in five pin locks.

Sincerely,
Luke Cahir

[karl]

tri circle padlocks have all spool pins,each with a different depth in the notch part .

[Eagerpicker]

I have a Yale 5 pin tumbler cylinder, which has 5 mushroom drivers. It's an old and rather worn lock, which makes it easy to pick once you know the trick. It is really all about pick insertion, m'colleagues, with this lock, all about pick insertion...

*mad giggle*

[Chucklz]

Isn't it all about proper insertion? How could you ever dream of opening the lock with picks without putting your pick inside?

[Eagerpicker]

Iggzaggedly... sideways, full frontal, upside-down insertion... you gneim it.

Frt.

[skold]

i put 6 mushrooms in my abus cylinder once, took under 5 seconds to pick - i think it was just a gay lock.

[quasar]

what's the difference between a spool and a serrated pin? They are both trying to do the same thing right? Except one has a larger cut

[Romstar]

what's the difference between a spool and a serrated pin? They are both trying to do the same thing right? Except one has a larger cut

The hard thing about a serrated pin is that it is difficult to know how many serrations it has.

With a spool, you feel the "click" and know that you have to ease off the tension and then get the rest of the spool past the shear line.

With a serrated pin, it clicks, then it clicks again, then it clicks again. Was the third click just another serration, or was that the real shear line? Is there another serration AGAIN, and then the shear line? What?

That, and the fact that they do catch so often is why serrated pins were developed.

Romstar

[quasar]

I see,it's just that the serrationslook like they would be easier to get aroundthan a spool caught on the edge.

so in terms of security, what order would you put them in

[quicklocks]

i have a euro master keyed yale that has 6 pins, 2 spool, 2 mushroom.
it was fun to pick took a while till you get a feel for the mushrooms. i find its harder to pick a lock that has mixed security pins.

[Cat]

I have a master 930/6230 with all 5 spool driver pins. Yes, it came that way.