Control locks pins with strong magnets?

[babe]

Since first time I knew how a lock looked inside I been wondering if it is possible to control the locks pins with magnets separating them like ur bumping the lock but holding the pins in place so you have more time to turn the wrench.

I made an example so it should be easyer to understand what I'm talking about: http://img174.imageshack.us/my.php?image=magnet3rg2.jpg

If this should have any chanse working the lock pins need to be of metal and the magnet have to be strong enough to pull the light pins inside the lock, I think it will fail here because the magnets and pins wont work as I want them to do in my fantasy but I have never been able to test it myself and I never seen anything about it so Im asking u guys.. somone must have tested this before?

Is it possible this might work on some locks? Mabie with some help of other tools?

/ Babe

[ToolyMcgee]

You are of course under the impression that standard driver and key pins are made of steel. They are brass, which is not ferrous and therefore not magnetic. Even assuming that they were steel, then that would probably mean the plug would be steel, so your magnet would be acting on the lock as a whole increasing the friction of the pins in the bible and making the key pins stick to the driver pins which as I am sure you know make bumping pretty difficult.

Nice diagram though.

-Tooly

[n2oah]

Indeed, magnets will not work on standard pin-tumbler locks. However, some electromechanical and electronic locks have been able to be manipulated by magnets. The Winkhaus blue chip is a fine example of a lock that was flawed because it could be opened with a magnet (a very large one, may I note). Magents can be moved to induce a current into a solenoid, which can prove very useful in some locks.

[Legacy712]

IF it was possible, there is no way to cause the flux of the magnet to only pull the top pins and leave the bottom ones alone. Especially since the amount of flux needed to overcome the springs would most certainly be strong enough to pick up the light bottom pins.

[Eyes_Only]

Even if this method was possible, if the lock is installed on a door I would find it difficult to manuver the magnet directly on top of the bible of the lock to make it happen. Maybe on a knob or lever set but not on store front doors or deadbolts.