I bought three locks last night at Wallmart.
(1) Mountain Security 1 9/16" Laminated Steel (202-40011)
(2) Mountain Security 1 9/16" Solid Bradd (201-40001)
(3) Brinks Max Security Solid Brass (101-50001)
The ###-##### is the product code in the upper left corner of the packaging.
I have yet to get the warded Mountain Security steel lock open. I don't have any warded picks though so, that doesn't bother me.
The Mountain Security brass lock was the first I opened. It was a difficult lock to pick and I will tell you it gets harder every time. I think I might have damaged it applying too much force on the tension wrench. It does require more than one would imagine. I have opened it about 10-15 times though. I'm going to have to buy another one (or exchange this one
) and find out if I hosed it with too much torque.
The Brinks was amazingly simple to open - The FIRST time. I've popped it a few more times, maybe five to total but, I think I might have over torqued it too using too much pressure. I caught myself so engrossed in getting it open that my wrench hand was cramping from holding so much tension and litterally forcing the mis-alligned pins past the bind.
I will say that believe it or not, the Brinks that I know has at least one security pin was easier to open than the Mountain Security that I don't think has any.
Go figure, eh?
It has been about 10 years since I had picked anything. For some reason, I just got the urge again so, I got out my trusty SouthOrd 5-piece (once I finally found it). I actually made a tension wrench and short hook out of the ear pieces of some old wire eyeglasses first.
They work amazingly well against locks that they fit into. They're a bit big for these little padlocks though.
Maybe someone can fill us in on the possibility of damaging the lock to the point that they can't be picked but the key still works by using too much tension.
