BRINKS R70

[Frankenstien]

Hey all ... new here ... am I in the right place to try and figure out key bitting ... by way of learning to pick the Subject lock?

Or is that not how bitting determination is done?

Thanks, FFF

[MBI]

1. if you pick the lock, and rotate the plug, you could get an idea on the pin depths, by feeling the longer pins, vs the shorter pins, and their respective positions, as they are now no longer moving, they are stuck.

2. to my knowledge there is not a gauge or a decoder for pin tumblers, that would measure the depth of the pin. If it was a wafer lock, you could pretty much do it by feel, some people claim they can do it by feel on pin tumblers. i for one cannot.

3. decoding the pins on a 4 pin lock, that costs less than $10 new, could be considered a waste of time. but your motives are unknown to me. either your trying to replace a lost key, or your just curious, or your experimenting. however you could probly impression a key decently quick, assuming you had the tools and knowledge.

So to sum it up, nope.
Hope that helps.
ps. there are much smarter more experienced people than I on here, but i dont think too many will respond to your query.

[Frankenstien]

Thanks for the help wrench214 ...

I am trying to replace a lost key ... and ... you are right, the time spent to follow any one of your protocols far outweighs the value of the lock ... I was just trying to prevent it from becoming scrap metal.

My local locksmith eventually said the same thing ... and he's a pretty good sport (about investing a little time on dead-end stuff) ... as I give him my share of other lock-smithing work, periodically.

Then there's the curiousity angle ... I am curious about pursuing this particular skill-set ... just to understand what's happening in there.

FFF

[MBI]

As wrench said, it is theoretically possible to feel in the keyway with a pick to decode the pin lengths after picking it, but it's a pretty rare skill and I don't know many who can do it.

Most of the time when you don't have a key, after picking it open you just disassemble the core to measure the pins with a caliper or micrometer to decode the lock. Unfortunately in your case the Brinks R70 can't be disassembled without destroying it.

If you want to try to impression a key, here is a thread with some excellent tips:

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=62259

In that same sub-forum there are many other impressioning threads you can read to help you along the way. You just need to buy some key blanks for your lock cylinder, a pair of vise grips and an impressioning file or other similar file like a chainsaw sharpening file.

[Frankenstien]

Thanks MBI ...

I'll read that impressioining thread over ... FFF