HT4 wrote:There doesn't appear to be anything particularly unusual about this lock. Multiple release points is pretty common (is that what you meant by "strange"? More to the point, you are learning that tubular impressioning tools are very limiting. Even if you have one that fits, they don't work on anything but the cheapest tubular locks. This lock may be a good opportunity to invest in a tubular tension tool and learn a bit more about tubular SPPing.
The common tubular pick can be used in a variety of ways. The self-impressioning aspect is reliant on several factors, including; the technique employed, the amount of tension from the locking collar, the exact tool used, and the lock itself.
The higher end tubular locks have specific defeats in them solely to defeat this type of tool (so the ACE II or the Gematic). However, this tool can still be used to SPP the lock. In practicality, if I can't get the lock to self-impression then I will employ a mixture of self-impressioning and then using the tool to SPP what is left. It may require a few modification to the off-the-shelf tool to make life a little easier but it can be done without messing about with frankentooling at all.
Then, when the lock is picked, you can use the tool once again in order to take a very good, precise impression of the lock by doing so when the lock is between pin stacks. Lock everything down and you will not need to continually pick the lock over and over again just to turn it.
